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jessie_the_bibliophile'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 death, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
emdeannah'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
4.75
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Blood, Grief, and Religious bigotry
magyklyxdelish's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
amy_reading_23's review against another edition
4.25
I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as the first, but I still really enjoyed it. The first half was a little slow but it picked up around the middle and then raced towards the end. At some points I thought maybe it was becoming predictable, bit then the unexpected would happen.
I enjoyed the whole lore around Pheobe's clans. Since book one was so heavily monotheistic and christian-like, it was interesting for this book to have some focus on a matriarchal society who is pagan and believes in multiple gods, yet still has a prophecy about Dior, hinting that maybe all could be true.
I think something the writer does well is complicated characters. Even though some of the characters themselves believe in a black and white world of good and evil, its shown throughout the books that this isn't the reality, and every character comes with as many flaws as redeemable qualities. Even some of the more "villanious" characters can be enjoyable (like the Marquis and Kiara) and understandable in their own way. Book one very much was anti vampire - all vampires are evil - whereas this one was a bit more complex in that regard.
These books are so rich with world building, lore, love, loss and emotion. I'll truly miss this world when the third one is finished.
I also think his sister is in on it. I think their fight is a rouse and I think maybe the grail isn't truly lost. But what keeps me afraid is that the author has said he doesn't believe in happy endings. So whether the dark days end or Gabriel lives or dies in book three I really don't know.
There is more explicit horror in this book. I didn't find the first book too disturbing horror-wise but this one does contain more torture and brutal deaths so definitley check the trigger warnings.
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
kayceeisbookish's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
t_higgsreviews's review against another edition
#SpeakUpSMP
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit
aecacia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I raged, I laughed, I trembled, I almost threw this book across the room. It’s the best book I’ve read in the new year, and I’ll be hard pressed to find one that beats it.
Bravo Mr Kristoff, but also f*ck you man.
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Blood
missindyrose'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
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
kelleyannelyse's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Violence, and Blood