I absolutely adored this book. 
There are so many reveals in the second half of the book. I loved everything leading up to it, and then we get the rug pulled out from underneath us. The shifting relationships feel earned, even if the character’s logic is flawed, and everyone feels very real. The entire book is character-led, and their emotions, rationalizations, trauma… it all is very raw and rings true. 
The world is also so gripping. I can’t wait to explore it more. The only disadvantage to that I can think of is my newly renewed desire to learn various Scandinavian languages. 

Overall, the characters are absolutely the best part of the book, but the writing is excellent and the worldbuilding is slow, but lush. I can’t wait to read the next book, bout I dread having to wait for the rest of the series. I can’t wait to read more from Demi Winters!!
🌶️🌶️

Gear up, I have THOUGHTS. 

First of all: as sad as I am to say this, Bryce definitely is not the glorious badass she was in the first book. And now Hunt isn’t who he was in the first two books. It’s kind of devastating to see him reduced to being this at-times whiny sad sack. I understand that he feels guilt and shame for the things he has been a part of and made to do, but he seems to completely lose sight of himself for most of the book. As soon as he and Bryce are reunited, their arguments with each other don’t make sense. He’s blaming himself for absolutely everything happening, and the debate comes up at random, nonsensical times. There’s no logic to when they start up again, which isn’t necessarily unrealistic, but Hunt’s refusal to let anyone else take the blame for things that were not his fault, then sudden acceptance that he was manipulated again makes no sense. 

Speaking of Hunt, even though I guessed his backstory at the end of book one, the reveal is so… unsatisfactory. Unless we get a series about Hel (which I would read the hell out of, pun intended), I don’t think I’ll find it as anything but flat. 

The book starting with Bryce in the world of ACOTAR also feels off. It’s a great idea, and I do like that Maas is connecting her universes. But her petulant attitude feels like character assassination. I was so worried about it going into the second and third books… and I didn’t realise it would devastate another universe I care about in the process, which makes it hurt more. I DO love the hints of the TOG connection, though. 

Bryce (and a lot of the other characters) feel a lot less mature in this book. I felt that in the second one, as well. But Bryce previously came off as irreverent, and here she just feels childish. The crossover stuff honestly reads like fan fiction. However, I am desperate to know what happened with Nesta, Cassian, Ember and Randall. I need to read about their time becoming best friends/family. 

Other things: The sex scenes continue to be cringy. Tharion is intensely annoying. Lidia is a goddess and I love her. She makes the most sense to me out of all the other characters in this book, and her arc is fabulous. She is really the best part of the book for me. 

Overall, it was another interesting and diverting excursion into a world I find fascinating, though the sci-FI elements seem a bit forced. I also really want to know more about what happens with Sitha and Ariadne and their stories, but I assume the next book will continue with that, whenever it comes out. I just would really not enjoy an entire book centered around Tharion. 

Not as good as the first book, but THAT DAMN ENDING. 

One of the biggest things I’ve noted in this one is just how male-gaze-y a lot of things are. Maybe I just didn’t notice it as starkly in the first book, but the description of female characters especially, even more so when it comes to sex scenes, feels like it was written by someone who only knows how to describe women by how they dress (and what color/fabrics they wear) and as though they all exist to serve out some male fantasy, specific body types and all. Considering how self-aware and anti-asshole Bryce is in the first book, I find this especially grating. And the sex scenes are just so cringy. I honestly don’t know if I somehow missed this in previous SJM books, or if it’s the fact that Midgard is also ridden with modernity that makes me notice it more. Regardless, it really bothers me, and somehow lessens Bryce’s character in the process, which is even worse. 

That all being said, the story continues to be very interesting. Learning more lore is awesome, and the ultimate revelation about the Astari is fascinating but damning. 
Day was exactly who I thought it would be, but that doesn’t really bother me. 

The ending really sent me reeling, and in the best way, but I’m worried that it’s going to make things very weird in the SJM-verse. 

It’s a mixed bag, over all. But I absolutely must start the next book ASAP, because I’m even more invested in finding out what’s going to happen. 

Good things first: this book had some truly stunning imagery. Though similes may have been overused at times, the writing is beautiful. It’s well-written, the world feels a bit hazy, but still believable. The premise is fantastic. 
The not-as-great things next: there is a dirth of decent men in this book. When the content warnings say “misogyny”, they MEAN it. I understand that the almost-historical nature of the text hearkens to an even darker time when women were viewed as empty playthings with little to offer beyond their physical features, but it was so depressing to read. It’s not unrealistic, even these days, but the fact that there is exactly one decent male character (and a half for the professor we meet at the very end who at least appears to be more progressive, or open to the possibility that—shocker—women are people, too) is hard to swallow. The main chatacter’s mother is also horrid, even though she gets little time on the page. The FMC has a lot of shit to deal with, emotional and mentally. But she’s still brilliant, even if she’s not convinced of her own worth. And that’s not surprising when you live in her world. The only other things I’d mention is that the ultimate discovery and center point of the students’ thesis was easy to guess, and the villain being taken down felt… shockingly easy. Not that I’d have wanted it to be stretched out, but it was still quite swift. 
All in all, I’m glad I read the book. I do want to know more about the world, so I may look into the sequel when it comes out. But I’m also a bit traumatized by the utter failure of men in this, which means I’ll have to read some (possibly spicy) romances with decent men in them as a palate cleanser beforehand. 

Holy crap. 
Somehow the worldbuilding wasn’t as in-your-face as I was told to expect. In fact, I think it was beautiful and well done, even if there was minor infodumping. But the characters and the world they inhabit is so damn vivid. The relationships are believable and real, the subplots prove to be just as vital in future books as the main plot was in this one, and I am aching for more of all of it. To be fair, I saw the revelation about Bruce coming early on in the book, so I wasn’t surprised in the least, but the payoff was still incredibly satisfying. 
I truly love the main characters, and am so invested in this world. I love it, I love it, I love it. Maas’ best, in my opinion. 
🌶️

I am actually crying having just finished this. One of the best, funniest and truly cleverest books I’ve read in a while. Generally, Scalzi’s books are always funny and well-written, and this is absolutely no exception. I laughed out loud many times, and the characters were wonderful to read about. The situation is so silly, and the writing is so sharp, especially with its dialogue, that I can easily picture this presented in film form. If this ever happened and it’s just like the book, it may become one of my favorite things. As it stands, I’m being extremely effusive about a book I’ve already established I genuinely loved and am basically just talking in circles because it keeps me in the world of Starter Villain a little longer. Thank you, John Scalzi. Your work continues to make me so happy. Even if my cat doesn’t buy me a pub. 
(If the dedication didn’t give it away, it’s obvious this book is written by someone who has lived with—and loved—cats. The cat-person life insights are so on the nose.) 

I’m coming back to this review having read the next few books in the series, and this is what I feel compelled to say about Gild:

This is truly just the first chapter in an epic saga of a woman coming into herself and her power. The story, character progression, and worldbuilding is worth it. However, getting through this first book is just the beginning— and not usually a pleasant one to deal with. 

At times it feels stagnant. Some moments seem to drag out and not end. All of it paints a rather horrific picture of a misogynistic, cruel world that has held our main character, Auren, at bay. She is a victim. But she doesn’t recognize it yet. I’m a fast reader, but I lost momentum 100 or so pages in, because it was painful to experience what Auren and others were subjected to, and where Auren was mentally. 

But I promise the story really starts gaining momentum in the second half of the book, and then the next book is where the growth truly starts to happen. As Auren starts to recognize just how bad things have been for her, we also get a widening world that is far larger and more interesting than Auren’s led to believe based on what we see in this book. That’s very intentional, and it’s very well done. 

So, the only reason I don’t give this book five stars is because you don’t have the hope or momentum yet. This one is really rough, especially for anyone triggered by rampant misogyny or SA. The trauma is well-steeped in the FMC’s life. But the journey that comes out of this initial chapter is beautiful, and the payoff is visceral when you get it. 

I really hope you give this book a chance the way my sister helped me give it a second chance, even when the subject matter is very, very dark. 

No real spice in this one, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of sexual situations that arise. So be careful. But Raven Kennedy has a sweeping epic to tell, and this is a potentially painful but crucial first step to experiencing it. 

The fact that I read this entire trilogy in a day and a half should probably give you a good idea of how I feel about it. 
But I truly didn’t think it could have such a satisfying ending, considering how it felt that there was so much left to go at the end of each of the previous books. That being said, it somehow didn’t feel like the ending was rushed. Maybe that’s just because of the pacing of the books and the fact that I read them in such quick succession, but it was a great ride, and I’m so glad I took it. I just wish there was more to read about this world. 
Also, Thryvi is probably the best character in the world. Kain is excellent and the portrayal of broken confidence and mental health with Maddy is wonderful. But the foul-mouthed bear is still my absolute favorite, and I would read an entire series of her going on adventures. 
🌶️🌶️🌶️

ELIZA RAINE HOW CAN YOU END THE BOOK LILE THAT??!!?

I think I read this in two hours? The story is so amazing. I love the lore, I love the characters, I love the little bits of information we find out even though there are a hell of a lot more questions. 

Best bits: Sarra and her love of cheese and brandy. (Very relatable). Thyrvi’s bloodlust and incredibly satisfying cursing/personality in general. (Less relatable, but brings me more joy). 

Seriously. These books are incredible and I don’t know how I can function once I’m done with the next one. 

🌶️🌶️🌶️

I have been so excited to read this book since I heard about it. And I absolutely blew through it once I started. The world is fascinating, there are obviously a lot of mysteries to be solved, and I am fully invested in the characters and their journeys. It may not be the best writing, but it is still well written, with clear and evocative language. The FMC’s mental/magical issues are both fascinating and, I feel, very similar to the way some people’s brains work (helloooo, ADD?), and I love that it is a source of strength for her, even when others may not see that. I am devastated by the cliffhanger, though. It did feel like I ended just the first part of a larger book, which I find frustrating, but I’m very happy to be able to get directly into the second one. Overall, I love the setting, am intrigued by the characters, and desperate to know more about this world. 
🌶️

Favorite line: