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starrysteph's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
dreadspawn's review against another edition
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, and Colonisation
bookish_hollyx's review against another edition
3.0
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, and War
seubecca's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Colonisation, War, and Classism
blakeandbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I had such high hopes for this book. A fantasy novel set in 16th century New Spain with Mexican history and Mesoamerican mythology?! Along with the stunning cover?? I had to know! Sadly, it didn’t live up to my hopes. The pace felt very confusing, and the plot holes made it even more difficult to follow. I also felt that the romance was… nonexistent? They had no compatibility or connection whatsoever that it felt forced. I will say I really enjoyed Leonora as the FMC, and I felt like she was definitely a badass that fit her role well.
Graphic: Death, Violence, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
khakipantsofsex's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
belleanndthebook's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Racism, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: War
Minor: Colonisation
vexatiousbird's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
My only complaint is Leonora’s brother- his character is a little too flat to have as big an impact on the resolution as he does in the end, and his part of the plot wrapped up too neatly and suddenly. I think there could have been another chapter or two to get there more realistically.
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Racism, Violence, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Animal death
lisashelves's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Grief, Religious bigotry, and War
Minor: Pregnancy
jashanac's review against another edition
3.75
I REALLY loved the first 40% or so of this book. Then around the middle mark it started to get wonky for me and around 60% is when I feel like the plot and pacing got pretty muddled and clunky. In particular the mini quest that happens in the second half of the book... the pacing of that just felt really off to me.
However, I thoroughly enjoyed the mythology and just, this fantasy world that is entirely unique in the current adult fantasy market. More Latin American and South American mythology and fantasy, please!!!! There is so much THERE to pull from and create amazing stories from, and I really hope that the recent slight uptick in those kinds of stories getting attention from publishing is going to continue... !
I am intrigued by this story and will definitely be picking up the second book, because I think that this author has a solid foundation to build from and with some experience and practice the issues I had would be easily "fixed" and just, wouldn't be a problem in future installments probably. We shall see!
I did LOVE the characters, but I rarely LOVE characters -- I liked these characters well enough though. I felt more positively than negatively toward them and didn't just feel "meh" about that. I liked them and found them to be interesting in general.
Graphic: Violence and Xenophobia
Moderate: Colonisation