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volanscore's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Gore, Murder, and Animal death
Minor: Colonisation and Child death
eve_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Overall Thoughts:
⁕ I usually don't enjoy dual point of views, but Legrand does it so well. The chapters are relatively short and almost every single one ends on a cliff hanger, so I was completely hooked from start to finish. I truly don't think there was one moment I was bored.
⁕ There is zero info dumping in this book, but it did take me almost 300 pages to get a firm grasp on the important historical and religious context of the world. I really hope the next 2 books in the series further grows upon this knowledge.
⁕ Legrand starts each chapter entry with a journal/text/letter excerpt that is dated with months from the Gregorian calendar. I really wish she had devised her own system for time/date keeping because this was a really small and easy detail that detracted from the world-building.
⁕ SPOILER: The magical kingdom(s) that this story take place in exists largely outside of heteronormative, patriarchal society. LGBTQ+ and women characters are in positions of power without being questioned or explained as "outside of the norm." WHY THEN does Legrand make a point to highlight that the "crawlers" (Frankenstein monsters born from the experiments of the Empire) are made of mutilated women and girls that were stolen?! Without any further exploration or discussion?! I'm still trying to find the words as to why this made me feel so icky but it did.
⁕ To whoever labeled this book as a YA on Goodreads and Storygraph: Why?!?! There are brutal beheadings of children, assault, body horror/experimentation, and at least one sex scene. I'm not complaining (especially since the author expertly used these moments to explore themes of morality, loyalty, and survival), but I think a lot of audiences looking for mature reads might accidentally pass this one over because of false advertising.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online/
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
⁕ I usually don't enjoy dual point of views, but Legrand does it so well. The chapters are relatively short and almost every single one ends on a cliff hanger, so I was completely hooked from start to finish. I truly don't think there was one moment I was bored.
⁕ There is zero info dumping in this book, but it did take me almost 300 pages to get a firm grasp on the important historical and religious context of the world. I really hope the next 2 books in the series further grows upon this knowledge.
⁕ Legrand starts each chapter entry with a journal/text/letter excerpt that is dated with months from the Gregorian calendar. I really wish she had devised her own system for time/date keeping because this was a really small and easy detail that detracted from the world-building.
⁕ To whoever labeled this book as a YA on Goodreads and Storygraph: Why?!?! There are brutal beheadings of children, assault, body horror/experimentation, and at least one sex scene. I'm not complaining (especially since the author expertly used these moments to explore themes of morality, loyalty, and survival), but I think a lot of audiences looking for mature reads might accidentally pass this one over because of false advertising.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online/
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, Grief, Sexual content, and War
mypatronusisajedi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, War, Torture, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Death, Death of parent, Cursing, Child death, Blood, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual harassment
okays1331's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.75
"Don't pity me. When I can, I take the blows meant for you. You are my queen and my life is yours. It has been since the day you were born."
Rielle is a very different heroine. She has a lot of darkness in her. She craves the love of the masses and to prove her power. And she is POWERFUL. I think this confidence in her bearing turned some people off these books, but honestly, it's refreshing. Get it girl. That's not to say she doesn't have a lot of self doubt and self hatred, but to the world, she shows only the person she needs to be to get what she wants. Corien was always a creep, her father doesn't deserve a redemption arc, and Taliesin is not her friend. All of these men are abusive in different ways, and she savors every little bit of affection she gets from each of them. In the very first chapter of the book, we see her go supernova as the Blood Queen, and it is not hard to figure out how she got there when we see all the authority figures in her life and the manipulation, emotional abuse, physical abuse, and gaslighting. She does however, have the best friends.
Audric is perfect. I love him so much. He's mischievious, good to his core, loyal to a fault, blessed with sun magic, sweet and kind, and also gorgeous. He is the knight in shining armor you want on your side. He never falters from Rielle's side for one moment. Girl stop hiding things from you! He won't stop loving you!
Ludivine is a different kind of girl friend. I was waiting for the cringe-y jealousy and competition between women, but it never came. She is supportive through and through. Though of course, she's actually a centuries old angel who isn't actually interested in marrying the prince, and views Rielle and Aldric as her precious charges.
Rielle must complete a series of trials to prove her power and more importantly her control and become the Sun Queen, the long prophesied savior of the world. Or fail, and mark herself the Blood Queen, the downfall of humanity.
Cut to the other half of the story:
Eliana, who should be the heartless one in the story being trained from a young age to be an assassin and all, is actually full of love and loyalty for her family. And, despite how often she denies it and shoves it down, she is also full of love and compassion for the innocent and helpless. She feels no loyalty to home and country and has seen way too much to have much faith in anyone but herself.
Navi is again such a good friend. I hope we get more depth on her, but for now, she's a person to trust for Eliana and a maternal figure for Remmy (who is viewed by Eliana as a child to be protected, but I think he will surprise her with his own capabilities).
Finally, Simon! Gruff, sarcastic, stoic, dangerous, and troubled. Yep he's my favorite. He's constantly getting under Eliana's skin by pretending to flirt with her. Well, maybe not pretending. He's got a cause to fight for, and he will do literally anything for that cause.
Simon and Eliana are assassins/spies operating on opposite sides of the war. Simon working for the rebels and Eliana working for the Empire turning in rebels to be executed. But Eliana agrees to team up with Simon on a secret mission when her mother goes missing along with girls all over the country.
-------------------------------------------------
I had some issues at the beginning because I am so bad with names, so I was not making the connections between the characters that I should have. Hopefully this review will help me keep them straight when I read book two!
Rielle is a very different heroine. She has a lot of darkness in her. She craves the love of the masses and to prove her power. And she is POWERFUL. I think this confidence in her bearing turned some people off these books, but honestly, it's refreshing. Get it girl. That's not to say she doesn't have a lot of self doubt and self hatred, but to the world, she shows only the person she needs to be to get what she wants. Corien was always a creep, her father doesn't deserve a redemption arc, and Taliesin is not her friend. All of these men are abusive in different ways, and she savors every little bit of affection she gets from each of them. In the very first chapter of the book, we see her go supernova as the Blood Queen, and it is not hard to figure out how she got there when we see all the authority figures in her life and the manipulation, emotional abuse, physical abuse, and gaslighting. She does however, have the best friends.
Audric is perfect. I love him so much. He's mischievious, good to his core, loyal to a fault, blessed with sun magic, sweet and kind, and also gorgeous. He is the knight in shining armor you want on your side. He never falters from Rielle's side for one moment. Girl stop hiding things from you! He won't stop loving you!
Ludivine is a different kind of girl friend. I was waiting for the cringe-y jealousy and competition between women, but it never came. She is supportive through and through. Though of course,
Rielle must complete a series of trials to prove her power and more importantly her control and become the Sun Queen, the long prophesied savior of the world. Or fail, and mark herself the Blood Queen, the downfall of humanity.
Cut to the other half of the story:
Eliana, who should be the heartless one in the story being trained from a young age to be an assassin and all, is actually full of love and loyalty for her family. And, despite how often she denies it and shoves it down, she is also full of love and compassion for the innocent and helpless. She feels no loyalty to home and country and has seen way too much to have much faith in anyone but herself.
Navi is again such a good friend. I hope we get more depth on her, but for now, she's a person to trust for Eliana and a maternal figure for Remmy (who is viewed by Eliana as a child to be protected, but I think he will surprise her with his own capabilities).
Finally, Simon! Gruff, sarcastic, stoic, dangerous, and troubled. Yep he's my favorite. He's constantly getting under Eliana's skin by pretending to flirt with her. Well, maybe not pretending. He's got a cause to fight for, and he will do literally anything for that cause.
Simon and Eliana are assassins/spies operating on opposite sides of the war. Simon working for the rebels and Eliana working for the Empire turning in rebels to be executed. But Eliana agrees to team up with Simon on a secret mission when her mother goes missing along with girls all over the country.
-------------------------------------------------
I had some issues at the beginning because I am so bad with names, so I was not making the connections between the characters that I should have. Hopefully this review will help me keep them straight when I read book two!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual assault
Moderate: Violence, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
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