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bkwrm1317'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
Meanwhile, a young child queen, Kosika, takes power in White London and foreshadows much to come in this new trilogy.
In Grey London, things are much as they once were, although Tes, our newest beloved character, gets to meet Ned Tuttle and experience Grey and White London briefly herself as she fights against a coup planned by an organization calling itself the Hand, hoping to murder Red London’s king, Rhy Maresh.
More swashbuckling, elemental and Antari magic, and adventures through and across the varied Londons will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment.
Moderate: Self harm, Torture, Violence, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Blood, Grief, and Kidnapping
Self harm CW is not a traditional use of this CW but is somewhat apt. Ditto for grief and kidnapping.bessadams's review
- 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
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Torture, and Child abuse
Minor: Alcohol and Sexual content
annmeyer's review
- 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
4.75
as far as this specific novel goes, it takes place in the same world but is set 7 years after the conclusion of a conjuring of light. it introduces new characters who find themselves fitting in nicely alongside the old ones. tes is my favorite new addition to the series, and i really liked the parts dedicated to her past.
much of the story is told through flashbacks (for all characters) of events that have happened in that time, but they were generally enjoyable. the pacing in these parts will certainly be an issue for some, but i am fond enough of the characters/world i had to persist. i definitely felt like some of the white london sections were a slog to get through, which led me to put this book down a lot more than the other three set in this magical universe (thus why i don't want to give it 5 stars), but it's clear that schwab used those sections to set something larger up. in a similar vein, i did enjoy the plot twists throughout this story (and was caught surprisingly off guard by some things) and the ending, which implies of more to come. great prose and imagery as usual, with lots of nice quotable bits and small pieces of wisdom.
i think my favorite concept / recurring theme in this book, and perhaps all the ones set in this universe, involves the ways in which peoples' magical powers can be weaponized against them by people who seek to control or enslave them. how this affects the character development of said powerful people as well as their decision-making and their ability to empathize with those like them is pretty interesting; it also serves as a sort of "thread of power," so to speak, throughout the overarching story.
delilah bard remains one of my favorite female main characters that i've encountered in a fantasy series, and i was so grateful to read from her perspective again. she's up there with aelin galathynius, which is to say that thieving, cunning women who love as bright as they burn hold a dear place in my heart. after reading some other reviews of this book online, it's clear that some other readers strongly dislike lila because she is so brash and rude (maybe akin to criticism of nesta from sjm's ACOTAR series), but whatever, the world she lives in is much more brash and rude and violent than she is. she's a badass and not everyone needs to be likeable — even though i, personally, do like her a lot. nobody could ever make me hate you, pookie.
i will simply wait for more and read it hungrily when it comes
Graphic: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
sharkleggings's review
- 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
Graphic: Torture and Blood
some_random_person_hi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
All around, felt like fanservice for ADSOM fans but I'm the fan that's getting served so I'm not complaining. Kosika chapters were kinda draggy at times (but also really engaging at other times!) From a pacing standpoint this book has so many problems. I also doubt that it can be understood well/easily/at all by someone who didn't read the ADSOM trilogy beforehand because of the sheer number of characters.
Graphic: Violence and Death
Moderate: Torture, Death, and Ableism
Minor: Domestic abuse, Self harm, Kidnapping, Homophobia, and Blood
Self harm is to get blood for magic.chellybell's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Self harm and Blood
jackiepreston's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Kidnapping, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
Moderate: Homophobia and Child abuse
artmuseam's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Violence, Death, Torture, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: Cursing
snapbea's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Child abuse
quinnyquinnquinn's review
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Blood, and Torture