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unicornbanzaiiking's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Sexism, and Torture
misandryclem9's review against another edition
- 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
I loved all the characters without exceptions.
Zilan was such a great main character, I love how driven she was for alchemy (which she probably truly was the best) and for her family. I loved her personality and her relationships with her family and the Prince. I really liked that she was the « strong » one in the relationship while the Prince was the « sensible »one.
And the Empress was an amazing villain who was a villain just for power and not cause of a trauma which I found to be a change and very cool. She was very charismatic and offered lots of shocks for the twists she gave.
I’m still very shocked that at the moment the Prince is still dead ? Even if she’ll bring him back next book, I wasn’t expecting him to die or her not to bring him back immediately but props to her for thinking about her family first. I’m just really wondering what next book will be about cause there doesn’t seem to be a plot for it right now. Like apart from bringing back everyone I can’t see what it’ll be about.
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
lochanreads's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Lee Baker's writing is graphically vivid and full of suspense as we read about Zilan constantly having to surmount the next obstacle that comes her way and deal with the many twists and turns that are thrown at her.
I believed in the close sibling-like yet fraught relationship between Zilan and her cousins, Wenshu and Yufei, who were both endearing characters to read about. And the shy romance that started to surface was an embracing relief from the relentless depictions of death and decay and rotting corpses, which became very stale the more I read.
I thought the ending was both strange in a way that didn't sit well with me, but also clever in it's unexpectedness. However, it did diminish the feeling of high stakes that the novel would've otherwise had. Overall, I liked the intensity of the story and how well it sets up the next book in the duology.
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Animal death and Child abuse
kirstenf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Confinement, Cannibalism, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
ezz1234's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death
frantically's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, War, and Classism
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
Minor: Chronic illness and Sexual content
eas2's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death and Blood
Moderate: Racism and Violence
Minor: Animal cruelty and Abandonment
campisforever's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Blood, Medical content, Cannibalism, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Death of parent
miranda_lynn1234's review against another edition
- 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: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
mollieweitzman's review against another edition
- 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: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail