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maralaene's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
My favorite thing about this first book is the way that the chapters are split between the stories of one woman’s descent into the villain and one’s path to the hero. But at the same time, there was so much information in each and every chapter that I did find myself getting somewhat lost until about 60% of the way through the book. And the first ~1/3 was quite slow as well, which made it hard to keep invested and probably harder for me to follow. However, the last 1/3 was definitely more exciting and had some crazy reveals that I wasn’t expecting, for sure! And for a YA fantasy, this is definitely on the spicier side…
On the audiobook side, I did really enjoy the narrator, but I find that books that flip flop POVs frequently are harder to follow if the narrator is too similar between chapters (as is somewhat the case here). But nonetheless, I definitely enjoyed the reading and the writing in this book. I will definitely keep reading the series, as I have quite a few questions I need some answers to.
On the audiobook side, I did really enjoy the narrator, but I find that books that flip flop POVs frequently are harder to follow if the narrator is too similar between chapters (as is somewhat the case here). But nonetheless, I definitely enjoyed the reading and the writing in this book. I will definitely keep reading the series, as I have quite a few questions I need some answers to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, and Sexual content
gardens_and_dragons's review against another edition
The first chapter was literally amazing, and did not set the tone for the rest of the book. The second that we got into the present timeline of the novel, I really could not connect with the main character at all. It was very Tropey and immature.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Violence
meredith_williams_'s review against another edition
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? Yes
3.75
I’ve had this book on my TBR for awhile and finally decided to give it a try. The beginning was a bit slow and some of the world building was a bit confusing. However, the story eventually picks up and I ended up enjoying it. The dual timeline was especially intriguing. I feel it made the mystery aspect more engaging and allows the reader to sympathize with both main characters even as they becoming increasingly more morally gray.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death of parent, Blood, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Pregnancy, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Cursing and Sexual content
mxdegroot's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
2.5
I have to be honest, I almost DNF'd this book multiple times purely because it started out as such a drag. It's a five-hundred-pages-long brick of a book and should have been about three hundred pages shorter, because that's how long it took for the plot to finally pick up properly. I do have to be honest and say that, once the plot did pick up, I was hooked until the end. But on to the actual book now.
I quite liked Eliana as a character. The writing of her perspective at the start of the book showed how indoctrinated into her society she is really well and it was fascinating to read how she justifies some of the things she does, as unacceptable as they may be. It was also a good writer's choice to not have her morality make a 180 when she is literally face to face with the consequences of her actions. However, that is about where the logical character development ended for me. Legrand set up some beautiful storylines and relationships - Navi and Remy's friendship, Eliana and The Wolf's eventual friendship - but those were either thrown away or rushed. Additionally, Eliana's deal with The Wolf felt weird and forced. For someone who was willing to go to horrific lengths and had such faith in her repuation and importance to her society, she was very quick to turn her back on that same society and make a deal with a man who she had absolutely zero reason to trust. To summerize, a lot of the character development in this book felt forced and weird, especially on Eliana's side.
cw/tw: talk of NSFW and non-consent
Every moment that the characters were engaged in sexual activities or anything adjacent to it was, in my opinion, either too graphic or completely unnecessary. I mostly don't have any problem with sex, but it was mostly unnecessary to the plot and a bit too graphic for a book that classifies as Young Adult (12 - 18). Legrand should have especially been more careful with the way she describes certain sections that were either explicitly or assumably non-consensual but were described as fine. Again, Furyborn classifies itself as Young Adult, which means it is aimed primarily at minors, most of which will be just starting to explore their sexuality and comfort/discomfort and so might think that certain sections in the book are okay while they are not. This is just plain dangerous.
Also, except for one, maybe two times, the sex didn't add anything to the plot or characters except to show that 90% percent of the characters are predators, so in YA book it would have been better to just leave those sections out.
Finally, Rielle and Audric having a relationship in which Audric is so loyal to her and risking everything while he is betrothed to Ludivine, while Rielle is horny for Corien is really fucked up . In conclusion, the sexual parts of this book generally made me quite uncomfortable.
end of content/trigger warning
Will I read the rest of the series? Yes, I will, because the worldbuilding and main plot is generally quite good, if fairly poorly executed, and Legrand have a pleasant and enjoyable writing style. I really hope the 1100 pages the next to books take up combined will be worth it.
Rep: gay characters (MLM).
February 7th, 2023 - March 9th, 2023.
I quite liked Eliana as a character. The writing of her perspective at the start of the book showed how indoctrinated into her society she is really well and it was fascinating to read how she justifies some of the things she does, as unacceptable as they may be. It was also a good writer's choice to not have her morality make a 180 when she is literally face to face with the consequences of her actions. However, that is about where the logical character development ended for me. Legrand set up some beautiful storylines and relationships - Navi and Remy's friendship, Eliana and The Wolf's eventual friendship - but those were either thrown away or rushed. Additionally, Eliana's deal with The Wolf felt weird and forced. For someone who was willing to go to horrific lengths and had such faith in her repuation and importance to her society, she was very quick to turn her back on that same society and make a deal with a man who she had absolutely zero reason to trust. To summerize, a lot of the character development in this book felt forced and weird, especially on Eliana's side.
cw/tw: talk of NSFW and non-consent
Every moment that the characters were engaged in sexual activities or anything adjacent to it was, in my opinion, either too graphic or completely unnecessary. I mostly don't have any problem with sex, but it was mostly unnecessary to the plot and a bit too graphic for a book that classifies as Young Adult (12 - 18). Legrand should have especially been more careful with the way she describes certain sections that were either explicitly or assumably non-consensual but were described as fine. Again, Furyborn classifies itself as Young Adult, which means it is aimed primarily at minors, most of which will be just starting to explore their sexuality and comfort/discomfort and so might think that certain sections in the book are okay while they are not. This is just plain dangerous.
Also, except for one, maybe two times, the sex didn't add anything to the plot or characters except to show that 90% percent of the characters are predators, so in YA book it would have been better to just leave those sections out.
Finally,
end of content/trigger warning
Will I read the rest of the series? Yes, I will, because the worldbuilding and main plot is generally quite good, if fairly poorly executed, and Legrand have a pleasant and enjoyable writing style. I really hope the 1100 pages the next to books take up combined will be worth it.
Rep: gay characters (MLM).
February 7th, 2023 - March 9th, 2023.
"Have you always been this unspeakably irritating?"
"Has your face always looked so temptingly carvable?"
"Belief doesn't keep you alive."
"But, given time, it can win wars."
"I have heard rumors of what is done to them, these missing girls, and I hope my daughter is safely dead."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Cursing, Blood, Violence, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Stalking, Trafficking, Confinement, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Kidnapping, and Grief
Minor: Infidelity
aoife_taylors_version2413's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
I LOVED this book so much!! It is so worth it. In my top five greatest books of all time and probably has the 1st place spot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Fire/Fire injury, War, Violence, Sexual content, and Death
oliverreeds's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Torture, Body horror, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, War, Child death, Kidnapping, Gore, Cursing, Sexual content, Confinement, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Blood
saukittome's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Blood, Death, and War
Minor: Kidnapping, Sexual content, War, Torture, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Confinement, Cursing, and Gun violence
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
apersonfromflorida's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content and Kidnapping
Minor: Child abuse
lanid's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Murder, Body horror, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Violence, Suicide, Animal death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Blood