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cosmicwillow's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- 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
2.5
the world and lore of this world is so interesting, and i loved learning about it! however this book suffers from being Extremely Predictable, and it took me out of the story. also the romance was dreadful. i'm going to give this series another chance with the second book, but i honestly won't be moving forward with it if the second book continues with the same issues as this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexual violence, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Genocide and Torture
_paperserpent's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Mixed feelings ⊙﹏⊙
This book feels like every other YA book, cliche, predictable, and typical. I HATE the romance :)). But I do like how the magic system has a lot to do with bloodlines and gods. I think the world-building is amazing with just the right amount of description. I LOVE the character development of Zelie and Amari, they were well fleshed out. I'm not really sure about the ending, but I will definitely continue this series.
I don't know why, but I'm getting a little Nikolai Lantsov vibe from Roen lol. I'm kinda hoping for a Zelie-Roen relationship in the next book.
I hate INAN with all my heart, he's such an idiot. He sees through everything and still can't do the right thing?! I usually LOVE stories with angsty boys with daddy issues, but this guy is such a complete idiot, I can't stand him at all.
This book feels like every other YA book, cliche, predictable, and typical. I HATE the romance :)). But I do like how the magic system has a lot to do with bloodlines and gods. I think the world-building is amazing with just the right amount of description. I LOVE the character development of Zelie and Amari, they were well fleshed out. I'm not really sure about the ending, but I will definitely continue this series.
I don't know why, but I'm getting a little Nikolai Lantsov vibe from Roen lol. I'm kinda hoping for a Zelie-Roen relationship in the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Sexual violence
carpechristi's review against another edition
As a Black woman, I wanted to read only Black authors during Black History Month. While this book is incredibly well written, and the world already seems so lush and beautiful, I was not ready for the slavery, colorism, racism, child abuse and sexual assault. I read enough of these kinds of stories growing up and thought this was going to be a little bit more joyful. I understand that setting the tone is probably important for showing off just how victorious the characters are going to be in the end, but I just wasn’t ready to encounter all of those triggers within the first two chapters. I own a physical copy and will revisit it again someday.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Genocide, Racism, Slavery, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Trafficking, Murder, and War
Moderate: Sexual violence
miss_fish's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Standard "teen girl will save the world once she understands her full magical potential" YA novel, but set in an alternate Nigeria rather than an alternate Europe for something different. I felt there were some world building issues but they were fine for YA, but some scene continuity moments occasionally took me out of it.
Enjoyable, and I found this and the second book at a library sale, so I'm definitely still reading the next one.
For content warnings, there are several mentions of sexual violence and a couple of references to consensual sex. All are very vague, so maybe appropriate for a younger crowd? But if I were 9 or 10 and came across these vague allusions it would have stuck in my head more from curiosity. I kind of wish she'd been a little clearer on the threats of sexual violence front. I felt like the vague and undefined threat felt so much worse than naming it. Also a reasonable amount of non-sexual violence.
Enjoyable, and I found this and the second book at a library sale, so I'm definitely still reading the next one.
For content warnings, there are several mentions of sexual violence and a couple of references to consensual sex. All are very vague, so maybe appropriate for a younger crowd? But if I were 9 or 10 and came across these vague allusions it would have stuck in my head more from curiosity. I kind of wish she'd been a little clearer on the threats of sexual violence front. I felt like the vague and undefined threat felt so much worse than naming it. Also a reasonable amount of non-sexual violence.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual violence
bookishperseus's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
leyza052's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Sexual violence
internalnonsense's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-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
4.75
A beautiful, heart-warming and heart-rending YA adventure. It is tropey in the best way, refreshing a hero's journey with a West African-inspired fantasy setting, filling it with meaning informed by very present struggles. It has a strong sense of adventure, companionship, humor, but it is ultimately about children, growing up trying to survive a violent world ruled by oppression, given a chance to change it. It demands empathy, but an empathy that does not excuse.
.25 off for a character who would have benefited from having a POV, because, as is, he's flat, more there for conflict than character. Also, a section in the middle of the book, while having some significantly cool scenes, felt far too disconnected from the rest, almost filler-like.
.25 off for a character who would have benefited from having a POV, because, as is, he's flat, more there for conflict than character. Also, a section in the middle of the book, while having some significantly cool scenes, felt far too disconnected from the rest, almost filler-like.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Minor: Cursing, Fatphobia, and Alcohol
ehmannky's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a wild ride and I loved it. Zélie is a member of the oppressed magi class, hated because of their magic lineage. Together with her brother Tzain, and her newfound friend and runaway princess Amari, she rushes across Orisha in an attempt to bring magic back to the land. The book toggles between Zélie, Amari, and Inan's (the crown prince) points of view. I don't particularly know how I feel about Inan's POV, as he continues to irritate me, but I do think it adds an interesting level to your understanding of the plot and internalized hatred of oneself.
I've made no secret of my love for female protagonists that are unabashedly angry at the world, and the protagonist Zélie was so angry all the damn time I loved it. Adeyemi writes a brilliant afterward that creates a tie between real-world events (the murder of black people at the hands of police) to the anger in her novel. The book does have very brief mentions of sexual violence and a whole lot of physical violence/torture and death. If those are not things you would like to read, then perhaps this book isn't for you.
I've made no secret of my love for female protagonists that are unabashedly angry at the world, and the protagonist Zélie was so angry all the damn time I loved it. Adeyemi writes a brilliant afterward that creates a tie between real-world events (the murder of black people at the hands of police) to the anger in her novel. The book does have very brief mentions of sexual violence and a whole lot of physical violence/torture and death. If those are not things you would like to read, then perhaps this book isn't for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Slavery, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence