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sayurim's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
What I enjoyed about this is how confrontational Thomil is to Sicona. He does not allow her to live in her delusions and faulty beliefs at all. Pretty early on he set the theme for the novel. What is ultimately considered a good act ? A person who has good intentions but it leads to harm or a person who has bad intentions but leads to good for the people? Sicona had to face both situations in the end and through her beliefs she took the actions that she did. She let go of all illusions she had about herself and embraced herself as who she is. And even though I still didn't like her in the end , I commend her for that.
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Xenophobia
sairc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I can see how others felt it maybe dragged a little at times with over explanation, and an epilogue would have been nice but honestly, I didn’t care, and the lack of epilogue was kind of a refreshing change.
Overall, this was beautifully written and explored some incredibly tense themes that are all too common in the real world as well. So so so so good! I will be recommending this to everyone.
Graphic: Sexual assault and Violence
Moderate: Sexism, Xenophobia, and Suicide attempt
darreck's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Classism
mari_epub'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, Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
roaming_enn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
We have taken so that one day we may give back.
And now the taking is done.”
~the Caldonnae hunter’s prayer~
One of my new favorite books. The book begins brutally. And the book ends brutally. It follows two characters as they make their way in a city, Tiran, that doesn’t appreciate them: Sciona, a woman, and Thomil the Kwen/“Blighter” janitor. Sciona mistakenly assumes that she would be respected once she passes her exam to become the first ever female highmage. But of course, she lives in a world and profession dominated by men some of whom will go out of their way to make her miserable. Thomil was the janitor of the building that she works in until one of the male highmages makes him Sciona’s (untrained) assistant as a humiliation to them both. As Sciona and Thomil work together and get to know each other, they come to learn the truth of the magic that Tiran is powered by.
I honestly didn’t know what to expect from this book. I’d heard that it was like Kuang’s Babel, and it certainly was. But they are also two very different stories. I feel like I enjoyed this one more! It explores themes of racism, sexism, xenophobia, cultural assimilation, theft of culture and language, and mass slaughter and genocide. I cried a lot throughout this book. Often I’d cry near the end of it, but I was crying in like every other chapter. Anyway, this was an AMAZING book. Be prepared for racist and sexist language though. And for one SA scene. Oh, and gory death scenes too, sprinkled like blood throughout the book. In fact, just look at all the trigger warnings. I’ll add as many as I can think of.
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
soeffl'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: Body horror, Genocide, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent
stijlwaters's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death, Xenophobia, and Death of parent
Moderate: Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Animal cruelty, Homophobia, Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Cannibalism, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
razalicious's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Genocide, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
alite428's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Xenophobia, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Torture
celina246's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
I was NOT expecting it to be this dark or the characters to be so flawed, but it was an excellent read. although the themes were a tad on the nose and in your face.
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gore, Racism, Sexism, Blood, Police brutality, Murder, Gaslighting, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Gun violence, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Bullying and Vomit