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hematthews's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Violence, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Grief, Murder, and Torture
Moderate: Alcohol
kenzaett's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
My first read of 2024, yay!
I picked this up in a bookshop on vacation for half price as a beach read, no clue what it entailed, just knew it was on my tbr, and
what a surprisingly good riiiidddee.
We're taking into an urban fantasy setting within a town that has teenagers fighting to death over the world's biggest magic source for their families (and nobody seems to have ever questioned it? Capitalism I guess), on the eve of the next tournament starting. This round is different though, as a traitorous voice from the village has spilled news about the tournament and now viewers from other villages have gathered to see the gorey spectacle. We follow the children of the 7 families from their nomination to the final fight... And end with a cliffhanger 😭
This book has a wonderful gloomy gothic dark academia witchy creepy village in the woods in the 50ies vibe but with modern and an interesting magic(k) system I haven't seen before.
I disliked the many POVs, 2-3 would have definitely been enough already. We can antagonize the protagonists even when we don't see them from other perspectives!! But that might just have been due to this novel being co-authored by two writers.
I feel like some of the characters could have been more fleshed out, had we had more time with them and their thoughts, and they tend to fall into a few archetypes, but the incredible writing, the scenery, and the way the authors are able to pull you into the world, make you see and hear and smell everything around you.. That makes up for it.
It's also like 1/5 on a spice level, which is amazing for YA. Instead we get brotherly love, manipulation, betrayal, family feuds, academic rivalry, emancipation from who you thought you were or would turn out to be, and a lot of BLOOD.
And I want MORE.
I would have loved a proper ending and to see this as a standalone, but I'll have to soon pick up book two for the conclusion 🥴👍🏻
Graphic: Death, Vomit, Murder, Toxic relationship, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
Moderate: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Cursing, Misogyny, and Murder
jessy4550's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, Blood, Death, Body horror, Child death, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Cursing, Torture, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Medical trauma, and Self harm
Minor: Alcohol, Confinement, Alcoholism, and Kidnapping
isitcertain's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Torture, Violence, and Self harm
gardevoird's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Murder, and Body horror
Moderate: Torture
evanreads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Kidnapping, Blood, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Child abuse, Gore, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Body horror, Cursing, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Vomit, Alcohol, and Eating disorder
katymat18's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Torture, Murder, and Death
marareading's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
There is a curse, and every 20 years seven champions (one from each family) come forward to compete in the tournament. The winner gets to control the high magic until the next tournament. This time is different. Some families will change forever.
I am HOOKED. This story is dirty, gruesome, treacherous, and you never know what is going to happen. I am going to make it a new mission to make sure people read this book immediately!
Graphic: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Blood, Bullying, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder
Moderate: War, Violence, Alcoholism, Toxic friendship, and Torture
Minor: Confinement
sunsetcity's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, Toxic friendship, and Violence
honeyreads1066's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The book follows 4 of 7 champions, chosen by their families and mostly born and bred to be part of a competition that has been going on for generations. To determine which of these champions families has access to a finite source of powerful magic until the next tournament.
In the past, the Lowe family often win the tournament but this time each family has something to gain and so much to lose that the sole winner is not so clear.
The characters in this we're easily it's the strongest aspect. With multiple POV's it's often that some characters are more interesting than others but here I got something from everyone's story even from the characters I wasn't exactly fond of. (If the title is anything to go by that's the majority of the characters).
The plot was also strong, not as much as the characters but gripping. I loved the setting and the modern world as the background for this tournament as usually anything involving magic is set during medieval times.
My only issue was with the pacing, I found the beginning to be quite slow which is probably what took me so long to finish it but once I got to the competition I couldn't stop. Despite this, the bits before the competition reveal so much about the characters going in that I'm glad that it wasn't the focus of the whole book.
Overall I enjoyed myself and with that incredible ending, I am 1000% waiting eagerly for the next one.
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Torture, Child abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Confinement and Body horror