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cec1010's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
saraeliss's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
mascara_and_fae's review
dark
emotional
medium-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
4.0
Not too much actual plot happens in this book, but it has a wonderful set up for more in the second.
This book mainly focuses on the main character, Carmen, and her journey to The Blood Tournaments and how she even qualifies, since she isn't supposed to be able to. The MMC is stormy, cold, calculated but also very emotional when it comes to Carmen. She makes him angry, she challenges him, she captives him without even knowing. Several lines he said to her made me melt.
There are some flaws in the writing that I noticed but I enjoyed the story and writing style enough to continue reading happily.
This book mainly focuses on the main character, Carmen, and her journey to The Blood Tournaments and how she even qualifies, since she isn't supposed to be able to. The MMC is stormy, cold, calculated but also very emotional when it comes to Carmen. She makes him angry, she challenges him, she captives him without even knowing. Several lines he said to her made me melt.
There are some flaws in the writing that I noticed but I enjoyed the story and writing style enough to continue reading happily.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Gun violence
Moderate: Addiction, Sexism, and Blood
Minor: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
carternc_1's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a dystopian fantasy set in a Spanish speaking world. While I didn’t understand all of the Spanish, it was easy to keep up and it deepened the story. The story is of a young woman, Carman, with a deadly secret- she has blood magic, which only members of the elite are supposed to have. She gets thrown into a world she doesn’t understand, and struggles to stay afloat. Good world building in a limited period of time, and a cliffhanger ending making me excited to see how the story ends in July! I received this book as an ARC, but the opinions here are my own.
tay_reads92's review against another edition
3.0
I received an ARC copy of this book in return for an honest review. I like the idea of the plot, and I think she did a good job of executing it, for the most part. There are quite a few grammatical errors that need to be fixed, but she did warn us in the very beginning of the book that going back and forth from English to Spanish is hard and understandably so.
That being said, I believe the author did a great job explaining the different social classes and showing how they're interconnected yet not comfortable with each other. It's almost maddening how accurate it is to real life and to see the way that the artistas and troubadoures are treated by the Elites.
It would be nice to have more back story on the Familia Real and Carmen's existence. Carmen's story was almost there, but it was still not quite enough. That could be an opportunity for the next book, though. I just have so many unanswered questions, and I feel like a lot of detail could have been added in the entire book as it was mostly build-up until the last few chapters.
The twist at the end had me nearly hollering. I just could NOT believe what happened, and that cliffhanger has me a little stressed. I need to know more. I need to know what happens as the fallout. I need to know what Antonio thinks of this new information... or if he knew already and just didn't tell her. I need him to actually act on his feelings. So I will be reading further as those last few chapters got me hooked.
That being said, I believe the author did a great job explaining the different social classes and showing how they're interconnected yet not comfortable with each other. It's almost maddening how accurate it is to real life and to see the way that the artistas and troubadoures are treated by the Elites.
It would be nice to have more back story on the Familia Real and Carmen's existence. Carmen's story was almost there, but it was still not quite enough. That could be an opportunity for the next book, though. I just have so many unanswered questions, and I feel like a lot of detail could have been added in the entire book as it was mostly build-up until the last few chapters.
The twist at the end had me nearly hollering. I just could NOT believe what happened, and that cliffhanger has me a little stressed. I need to know more. I need to know what happens as the fallout. I need to know what Antonio thinks of this new information... or if he knew already and just didn't tell her. I need him to actually act on his feelings. So I will be reading further as those last few chapters got me hooked.
bensonmorgane's review against another edition
5.0
Ah the cliffhanger! Loved loved this book. As a person studying Spanish, this was a great read to work on reading in Spanish without needing a full translation. Cannot wait to read the 2nd book!
kaileehopkins's review against another edition
3.0
just felt a little slow for me until the last 50 or so pages
theannotatingbabe's review against another edition
4.0
HUGE HUGE Thank you to @bookofmatchesmedia and @authordaniela.a.mera for sending me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was completely sucked into the world and the culture of The Gilded Survivor from page one. Though there were a few parts that were a bit slow, I constantly stayed in a “what happens next” frame of mind so they didn’t bother me too much. The magic system was a bit new and was unique but easy to follow. I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump lately so the enemies to lovers and forced proximity was excellent. A few grammar errors that brought me out of the story, but please keep in mind I had an advance uncorrected copy of the book.
I was completely sucked into the world and the culture of The Gilded Survivor from page one. Though there were a few parts that were a bit slow, I constantly stayed in a “what happens next” frame of mind so they didn’t bother me too much. The magic system was a bit new and was unique but easy to follow. I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump lately so the enemies to lovers and forced proximity was excellent. A few grammar errors that brought me out of the story, but please keep in mind I had an advance uncorrected copy of the book.