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jenamatic's review against another edition
2.0
The overall story was okay but I could not bring myself to like Ayla and that kind of ruined the whole thing for me. As the main character’s love interest, I also couldn’t just ignore her for the sake of the story. She wasn’t even dark, she was just straight up violent, exploding on Flowridia and breaking her arm and nearly her back at one point.
Speaking of Flowridia, she has a dark past but not a dark heart and yet we see her wish for Sora’s murder because Sora threatened her familiar. She also wished for it to be done in a way that wouldn’t link her and Ayla to Sora’s death so when Sora is brought back to life, does she expect to get away with it? What is stopping Sora from ratting her out?
I also cannot figure out the order between this series and the Sea and Stars series because Khastra dies at the end of this book but is alive throughout that series so I assume it has to take place after? But I could have sworn Alauriel Solviraes was the ancestor to the monarch in Sea and Stars.
For as much as I loved the Sea and Stars series, I was really looking forward to this one. I barely finished this book, however, and don’t think I can bring myself to read the rest of them.
Speaking of Flowridia, she has a dark past but not a dark heart and yet we see her wish for Sora’s murder because Sora threatened her familiar. She also wished for it to be done in a way that wouldn’t link her and Ayla to Sora’s death so when Sora is brought back to life, does she expect to get away with it? What is stopping Sora from ratting her out?
I also cannot figure out the order between this series and the Sea and Stars series because Khastra dies at the end of this book but is alive throughout that series so I assume it has to take place after? But I could have sworn Alauriel Solviraes was the ancestor to the monarch in Sea and Stars.
For as much as I loved the Sea and Stars series, I was really looking forward to this one. I barely finished this book, however, and don’t think I can bring myself to read the rest of them.
demongrrl's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
4.5
theduchess93's review against another edition
2.0
The dissonance between how much I WANTED to like this book and how upsetting this book was to me instead is...fairly large. Gay dark fantasy? Super into it! It wasn't terribly written and the characters were all fairly multi-faceted and not just stock characters, with some development throughout. HOWEVER.
The relationship between the protag and her love interest was just riddled with red flags of abuse, to the point where I had to stop reading it and pick it up again a week or two later because it was genuinely triggering given my history with abusive relationships. Don't get me wrong; I'm all for realistic portrayals of abusive relationships! They're important to show and, while painful, can be really cathartic for some! Unfortunately, this one was just...not handled in a way that I could personally deal with very well. Rather than making it clear that this situation was Bad and Abusive, it seemed as though the protag /finally got her abuser to change/ which is an incredibly dangerous move, considering that's the emotionally manipulative hook that often convinces folks to stay in abusive relationships. Honestly, this portrayal felt a lot like how I would explain away and describe my own abusive relationship while I was in it -- ie., my friends were all just wrong, they didn't see who I saw, he didn't mean to hurt me, he was just troubled -- without really challenging that. If anything, it seemed to encourage it. I really wish I could have liked it, and I am really genuinely glad this book worked for others and was cathartic for them, but it was just triggering for me.
The relationship between the protag and her love interest was just riddled with red flags of abuse, to the point where I had to stop reading it and pick it up again a week or two later because it was genuinely triggering given my history with abusive relationships. Don't get me wrong; I'm all for realistic portrayals of abusive relationships! They're important to show and, while painful, can be really cathartic for some! Unfortunately, this one was just...not handled in a way that I could personally deal with very well. Rather than making it clear that this situation was Bad and Abusive, it seemed as though the protag /finally got her abuser to change/ which is an incredibly dangerous move, considering that's the emotionally manipulative hook that often convinces folks to stay in abusive relationships. Honestly, this portrayal felt a lot like how I would explain away and describe my own abusive relationship while I was in it -- ie., my friends were all just wrong, they didn't see who I saw, he didn't mean to hurt me, he was just troubled -- without really challenging that. If anything, it seemed to encourage it. I really wish I could have liked it, and I am really genuinely glad this book worked for others and was cathartic for them, but it was just triggering for me.
egexe's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.5
Where to begin? I absolutely fell in love with this world from the get go and feeling torn for the main character. I'm not sure where things will end up but even as a book of its own this was such a good read.
andromedafalls's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Custom Rating: A Large Boozy Milkshake/5
renstrange's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-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
3.5
while the writing itself is good, the character work leaves a lot to be desired. flowridia and ayla have little chemistry. i don’t know that i’ll continue this series, but i would like to read more by this author
reiviluola's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.0
tonedevoured's review against another edition
4.0
3,5
sofrendo da mesma maldição que gideon the ninth e the traitor baru cormorant só que em DOBRO, que maravilha
sofrendo da mesma maldição que gideon the ninth e the traitor baru cormorant só que em DOBRO, que maravilha