randiriel's review against another edition
Why, in a fictional world with fictional locations, is a slur etymologically based on a real world location used? He could have said travelers. He could have said nomads. He could have said anything. Instead he chose a slur. I would have DNFed and returned it at that point if it wasn't a library book. Instead, I pressed on, and found lazy and mediocre writing. Phrases are repeated within sentences, worldbuilding is dumped through clumsy character dialogue, the editing is poor, the characters are shallow and not consistent (one claims to be vehemently opposed to killing, but proceeds to have no problems with it minutes later), the worldbuilding and magic system are the only things worth reading this book for. Even the contrived swearing is lazy; swears roll off the tongue, these don't. Not the worst book I've read this year. Not remotely the best. Compared to the other titles I've read this year, I'd call this firmly below average.
I wrote that much partway through reading. I've come to amend. This has now passed into bad book territory. 75% through and I'm officially DNFing it. An extremely rare occurrence, which should say something.
I wrote that much partway through reading. I've come to amend.
Spoiler
If you can use anything but rape, DON'T USE RAPE.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma and Mental illness
Moderate: Slavery, Medical trauma, Trafficking, Suicide, Sexism, Murder, Mental illness, Violence, Torture, Sexual assault, War, Death, Kidnapping, Cursing, and Classism
Minor: Cannibalism, Vomit, and Racial slurs
milkelves's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Body horror, Classism, Medical trauma, Medical content, Slavery, Trafficking, and Misogyny
planetesastraea's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
I am fond of steampunk universes and this one is no exception: the way technology and magic are intricated builds a fascinating mystery.
The mythology of this world is thought through, clever and refreshing.
The characters are diverse and complex, carrying the weight of their past trauma and current conditions of existence.
Each of them has a pivoting role into the unfolding of events and seeing them work together to achieve something much bigger than themselves is extremely satisfying.
The representation of various ethnic origins, gender and romantic orientations among the main characters made the story even more valuable.
I'll definitely be reading the second installment shortly!
I am fond of steampunk universes and this one is no exception: the way technology and magic are intricated builds a fascinating mystery.
The mythology of this world is thought through, clever and refreshing.
The characters are diverse and complex, carrying the weight of their past trauma and current conditions of existence.
Each of them has a pivoting role into the unfolding of events and seeing them work together to achieve something much bigger than themselves is extremely satisfying.
The representation of various ethnic origins, gender and romantic orientations among the main characters made the story even more valuable.
I'll definitely be reading the second installment shortly!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Violence, and Injury/injury detail
Moderate: Vomit and Blood
Minor: Car accident, Cannibalism, and Sexual violence
alaynatabor's review
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Trafficking, Slavery, and Murder
Minor: Sexual content
micheala's review against another edition
4.0
This was technically a reread for me. I originally read this back in December of 2018, and we'll I remembered the overarching story for the first 75% I did not remember anything about the climax and conclusion of this book.
I still don't really understand how the magic system works, and for most of the book I didn't feel confident saying that the author understood it either - kinda like if technology was treated as a soft magic system. As someone who prefers hard magic systems, I'm hoping that things get more fleshed out in the next book.
I think the characters are what really shine in this book (don't get me wrong, the plot is well done and yet what I remembered most from my original read was the characters). I loved some characters from their introduction, hated others, and had some grow on me (or free to hate others as the story progressed) and I can't wait to see what happens with certain relationships as the trilogy continues.
The final book come out at the end of the month and so I'm planning on picking up the sequel before then so I can read it as soon as I get my hands on it.
CW: slavery, sexual abuse of minors (mentioned but not graphic), gory, violence, murder, discussions/depictions of treating poor people as disposable/sub-human
I still don't really understand how the magic system works, and for most of the book I didn't feel confident saying that the author understood it either - kinda like if technology was treated as a soft magic system. As someone who prefers hard magic systems, I'm hoping that things get more fleshed out in the next book.
I think the characters are what really shine in this book (don't get me wrong, the plot is well done and yet what I remembered most from my original read was the characters). I loved some characters from their introduction, hated others, and had some grow on me (or free to hate others as the story progressed) and I can't wait to see what happens with certain relationships as the trilogy continues.
The final book come out at the end of the month and so I'm planning on picking up the sequel before then so I can read it as soon as I get my hands on it.
CW: slavery, sexual abuse of minors (mentioned but not graphic), gory, violence, murder, discussions/depictions of treating poor people as disposable/sub-human
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Death, Gore, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Colonisation, Murder, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Misogyny, Trafficking, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
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