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blissfullybroken's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
red_raven22's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
3.75
coppacabana's review against another edition
3.0
It was a creative premise with a medley of tropes and retellings. However, lots of plot holes. There was a lot of info dumping about the city without actual proper world building. Vivid descriptions of how gross and awful the streets are but very little investment into the actual people that exist in this slum that Calla is supposedly fighting to liberate from poverty. And not nearly enough understanding of how San amd Er are different and why or any important cultural references other than "the old gods".
Honestly, there are just WAY too many components in this book with the *very loosely* assigned Antony/Cleopatra obsession dynamic, Hunger Games ripoff death game, monarchy infighting and scheming, fantasy elements of body jumping and "old magic", rebellious provinces, rival country with war trauma, AND a secret society to boot.
There's just too many things to actually be properly invested in and fleshed out.
Don't get me wrong, I was entertained and will probably read the next one to see if it ties up some loose ends. But really I had a large amount of suspended disbelief and filled in a lot of gaps with my own imagination. I ignored a lot of holes with the expectation that they would be filled later.
Specific issues I had:
The eye colors as identifiers has way too many holes and loose ends that did not get explained or plugged by the end. She makes Anton a smart/observant enough character to guess Calla's big secret but not wonder about her eyes not fitting that narrative. No shot.
She made Calla a smart and cunning enough to kill a room full of the trained royal guards and the king and queen in her mission to rid the country of its selfish monarchy but is dumb enough to think that putting August on the throne is the society solution she wants. And she's had 5 years to ruminate on this while in hiding...? And even when Anton calls her out on it. Like her own motives aren't even consistent. She recognizes throughout that August is manipulating her but still thinks he'll make a good king?
And she says she hasn't been able to work while in hiding cause she's too identifiable but can somehow afford an apartment to herself despite Gong describing how people are starving to death in the streets.
There's honestly more but there's plenty of other reviews that go off on it
Honestly, there are just WAY too many components in this book with the *very loosely* assigned Antony/Cleopatra obsession dynamic, Hunger Games ripoff death game, monarchy infighting and scheming, fantasy elements of body jumping and "old magic", rebellious provinces, rival country with war trauma, AND a secret society to boot.
There's just too many things to actually be properly invested in and fleshed out.
Don't get me wrong, I was entertained and will probably read the next one to see if it ties up some loose ends. But really I had a large amount of suspended disbelief and filled in a lot of gaps with my own imagination. I ignored a lot of holes with the expectation that they would be filled later.
Specific issues I had:
The eye colors as identifiers has way too many holes and loose ends that did not get explained or plugged by the end. She makes Anton a smart/observant enough character to guess Calla's big secret but not wonder about her eyes not fitting that narrative. No shot.
She made Calla a smart and cunning enough to kill a room full of the trained royal guards and the king and queen in her mission to rid the country of its selfish monarchy but is dumb enough to think that putting August on the throne is the society solution she wants. And she's had 5 years to ruminate on this while in hiding...? And even when Anton calls her out on it. Like her own motives aren't even consistent. She recognizes throughout that August is manipulating her but still thinks he'll make a good king?
And she says she hasn't been able to work while in hiding cause she's too identifiable but can somehow afford an apartment to herself despite Gong describing how people are starving to death in the streets.
There's honestly more but there's plenty of other reviews that go off on it
becca_power4's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kennie_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Chloe Gong you’ve done it again
booksthrilljessica's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed the premise of this book, especially the unsettling concept that people in this world can take over someone else’s body using their chi. The idea of a deadly game where participants fight to the death and "body snatch" each other is wild and gripping. However, I found the middle of the book to be overly drawn out, with excessive detail that caused me to lose focus. This had the opposite effect of creating meaningful connections with the characters. Additionally, the constant body switching became quite confusing, especially when listening to the audiobook. That said, I loved the twist at the end and the abruptness of it, which left me eager to continue the series.
abbyminzer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- 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
3.25
lostinabookishworld's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
I really liked this. The audiobook was excellent, I loved the narrator and enjoyed how they told the story. Overall, I was a bit confused by the magic system and exactly how it worked but I was happy to go along for the ride. This was such a unique book and I found myself excited to keep listening. I loved the ending, I genuinely didn't see it coming and don't really understand how it worked, and can't wait to read the next in the series.
dhavalasv's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
At first I started reading it and felt like it was a hunger games retelling but the writing of this book really sold it for me!
I’ve read Chloe Gong’s other series and I really love how much effort she puts into fleshing out her characters. I love all of the three characters- Anton, Calla, and Augustus and how they were all super flawed but were doing the best with what they were handed. I also like how plot progressed to display the structures of power and how access to power can change intentions.
I also really liked the dynamic between Calla and Anton - the enemies to hesitant allies to lovers, now to enemies pipeline was very well written and loved every minute of their time together.
Overall, really loved it and looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
I’ve read Chloe Gong’s other series and I really love how much effort she puts into fleshing out her characters. I love all of the three characters- Anton, Calla, and Augustus and how they were all super flawed but were doing the best with what they were handed. I also like how plot progressed to display the structures of power and how access to power can change intentions.
I also really liked the dynamic between Calla and Anton - the enemies to hesitant allies to lovers, now to enemies pipeline was very well written and loved every minute of their time together.
Overall, really loved it and looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
oh_hai_its_lena's review against another edition
2.0
I tried so hard to love this but it just didn't work for me. Ah well