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crissimarie's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
bookrecsplease's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
4.0
This is written definitely in a younger YA style than I typically enjoy. The narrative frequently gets redundant from over-explaining, and basically anytime something is shown, it’s then immediately told as well. Although a lot of the subject matter is definitely mature, the audience is definitely more of a mid-teenage group, and is really successfully written for that target audience.
Still, I came to really fall in love with the characters and Noni did a really good job of introducing lots of different mysteries/questions as the narrative went on, even if most of the answers were obvious to me as an adult reader.
Still, I came to really fall in love with the characters and Noni did a really good job of introducing lots of different mysteries/questions as the narrative went on, even if most of the answers were obvious to me as an adult reader.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Bullying, and Abandonment
Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Self harm
Minor: War, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, and Vomit
daelynbiendarra's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.0
lisamgregory's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.0
alyssa_reads08's review against another edition
4.5
reread it from like 8th grade and still liked it
noemi1010's review against another edition
4.0
I devoured this book in just an afternoon. I've been seeing around in bookstore, but I finally got the Italian edition which was released recently. Kiva is a healer. She works in the prison of Zalindov, and has been there since she was seven. Now 17, her life starts changing when a new prisoner arrives. Kiva doesn't know what attracts her to him, but the two get closer. But when a rebel queen is imprisoned her world starts falling apart. Taking the place of the rebel queen in the trials to prove the queen innocence, Kiva finds out more truth about the people around her. And now she's ready to reclaim what is rightful hers.
I wasn't expecting that plot twist at the end!!! Actually, there were a couple, but the final one made me scream. I can't wait for Sperling & Kupfer to release book 2. I need to know how the story continues.
I wasn't expecting that plot twist at the end!!! Actually, there were a couple, but the final one made me scream. I can't wait for Sperling & Kupfer to release book 2. I need to know how the story continues.
theblacklodgebookshelf's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I am a little annoyed by this book. I was extremely close to DNF’ing (it took me almost the whole month to read it) as I just found the story a bit boring and familiar. Then the last 60 pages happened.
BIG SPOILERS – I really wish that the ‘twist’ had been revealed to us much earlier. The whole time it was Kiva’s mother laying in that infirmary, and we didn’t get to understand any of her inner thoughts or feelings about that. The fact that Kiva is actually the lost rebel princess and had her evil ‘mwa ha-ha’ moment in the carriage at the end, felt like a bit of an afterthought. I don’t mind an unreliable narrator, but this didn’t feel like it was orchestrated very well.
I’m a bit on the fence about whether I’ll continue the series or not.
bobojuju's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
kproctor2's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
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
4.25