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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
karinlib's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
ohennui's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Genocide, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Classism
Minor: Death of parent
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
jadehusdanhicks'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? It's complicated
4.25
The blight kills without shame and destroys anything with life that it touches from trees and plants to unravelling a human infront of your eyes.
We see our main character develop a lot throughout this book, as an academic she questions everything and despite Kwen being frowned upon in their city when she is mocked by her all male peers for being the first female archmage ever she takes the Kwen janitor under her wing as her assistant.
Its narrative addresses issues such as genocide/ seeing certain groups as lesser beings as well as colonisation in the form of
Overall despite being deep and at sometimes saddening I truly loved this book and could not put it down. It’s unique from its magic system, to how it addresses social issues and I think is a vital addition to diversifying the worlds of sci fi and fantasy.
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
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