Reviews with content warning for Death - Five Broken Blades

Other than a few mildly spicy scenes, the book reads more like a YA fantasy adventure, which is a genre I actually rather enjoy. Lots of tropes in this one. Things are pretty predictable due to tropes, foreshadowing, and the various POVs.

That all being said, I picked this up because of the pretty stenciled edges and due to it being marketed for fans of Six of Crows....and it absolutely delivered on those fronts. I'm intrigued by these characters and want to follow their journey across the next two books in the trilogy. I'm curious how things will pan out.

I do believe this book would have done even better with a few of the mild spicy scenes removed/toned down (though even with them, there's nothing overly explicit), because it would do well with SoC audiences (teen, maybe new adult).

I'll be recommending this one to a few friends.

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elizabeth_lepore's review

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adventurous dark 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? Yes

3.0

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valthegervs's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

5.0

This book just keeps grabbing your attention in every chapter - all I wanted to do was to keep reading like my life depended on it! You don't know where this is going until it happens and the chapters are short enough that you can easily make progress without realizing it.

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lindan's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Each character has their own POV so the reader gets to understand their backstory gradually while each character is meshing with the team dynamic. Corland keeps the reader engaged and theorizing how the book will end by not letting the reader have all of the pieces to the puzzle. For the most part, the reader only knows as much about the characters as they let each other know. I very clearly saw the characters going on a journey through the realm, the way the travel periods and lodgings were set up allowed for the characters to become closer to each other as well as the reader. The overall pacing of the story was timed quite well, I never became disinterested at any point along the way.
I definitely did not see the twist at the end coming! I kept trying to speculate what it would be, but none of my theories were solid enough. As it turned out, they were all wrong! Corland set up the next book seamlessly.
I am most excited to see what happens to the character in the next book! I hope that some reconciliation happens in the crew!

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amateur_bookworm's review

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adventurous dark 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? No

5.0

My summary:

Five unlikely assassins are summoned together to overthrow the treacherous and evil king. Each of them has their own motivation, as well as deeply hidden secrets. The odds stack up against them as they band together in an increasingly difficult assassination attempt. But, remember, it’s only treason if you fail.

My thoughts:

This book turned into such an adventure! Like most fantasy books, I had no idea what was going on in the first hundred or so pages. It initially felt like a lot of characters, but as the story goes on, switching between the different POVs is my favorite part. It leaves you on such a cliffhanger in some parts when it jumps to a different character in the next chapter. Once I sorted out the who’s who of the book, I really fell into the rhythm of the story. And I flew through the last hundred pages. I can’t wait for the next book in the series and I preordered it as soon as I shut this book.

I really came to love all the characters and the way they band together in parts of the book. Each character’s backstory is unique and complicated, which gives depth to the story. It’s hard to pick a favorite, because they’re all so different. Ok, so, really, my favorites are Sora and Royo. But, I do like all of the main characters.

I had seen a handful of reviews for this book but the gorgeous special edition is the real reason I bought it. I adore the design on the sprayed edges. It is legit almost too pretty to read. I honestly mostly read this on my Kindle and stared at the book on my shelf as a trophy.

There’s a pronunciation guide at the beginning (of the Kindle edition)! Ya’ll! At the start! Pronunciation! I don’t have to think “aghjhseh” in my head every time I can’t guess how to say a name or a place! And I don’t have to wait and listen to the audiobook to realize that I’ve mispronounced every single name! Please, every fantasy author, please do this.

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madam_tatas's review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book was an incredible fantasy tale. Five liars and thieves come together for the plot of the century.

And in the end, they end up betrayed.

Other than the ending making me giggle because of a connection I made to something else, I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the sequel.

Every one of these characters has their own secrets, and not knowing their secrets just makes you eager to read more and find out about them. Although they're all thieves or liars or murderers, you can't help but love them. Because none of them CHOSE the hand they were dealt.

All in all, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy adventure books.

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flyinglark's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I will admit it. My expectations were low on the discovery that this was published under Red Tower, but the synopsis sounded something right up my alley.

I liked the characters, they had their archetypes and fleshed-out motivations. Everyone had a secret close to their hearts. They checked off most of your original character questionnaires floating around. Some were likeable, and some were irritating.

What was delivered in the book differed from what was advertised.

There was more romance than plotting to kill the king. The story meandered on the journey to bring the six together and go to the capital. It seems the plot was moulded around the characters and progressing their relationships then the other way around.

The book was filled with many tropes. You’ll probably find one that appeals to you like

second chance romance, love at first sight, et cetera.

The world-building was a mixed bag. The world itself was carefully thought out, with various climates and accurate travel distances. The magic system is straightforward - the magic items will give you a gift but it comes with a consequence. But there was a lot of telling of the lore through the character’s POV. The world is filled with

sexism, classism, miscarriages of justice and a genocide mentioned. It left me wanting more discussion on those in future books.

Was this a well-crafted piece? No. The first-person POV became repetitive sometimes. But I still continued reading and found it comedic at times. One can say that the characters grew on me, especially when

they went into full assassination plot mode in the last arc

. It left me wanting to read the next book out next year. I hope to see more communication now bonds are formed.

POV: 1st Person (Multiple - Six in Total)

Author’s Trigger Warnings:

Violence, blood, death (including the death of parents, children, incarcerated people, and animals), poisoning, substance abuse, alcohol, sexual activity, animal abuse, gender-based violence, sex work, suicidal ideation, indentured servitude are depicted. Rape, assault, and graphic genocide are described.

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erins_bookrecs's review

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-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

5.0

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