slangston10's review against another edition
5.0
Man these have sucked me in. Quick fun read with a slow sizzle
cursedherondale's review against another edition
4.0
I want to hate this book, I want to rate this for 3 stars, I want to lash out, get mad and cry! But I can't, the last chapter and that crazy twist won me over and I have to give Tahir that credit, despite of a very disappointing start, she somehow produced a gratifying ending. Just a heads up, the next entries will be filled with spoilers, complaints, bias opinions and book comparisons.
As a big fan of villains, and unapologetic badass heroes, Elias disappointed me when he showed his mother mercy. On that particular moment, he did what his mother regretted- showing mercy. I get that he valued his soul, I get that he is not like all other Masks who kills without flinching, but if it is a person who is capable of genocide, of such unimaginable evil, would you still spare her? Yet Elias did, and I have been annoyed since then. I can't help but remember Clary in The Mortal Instruments series of Cassandra Clare she did what she had to do, she killed her brother, with a heavy heart she did because his death will be the survival of many. And here I will mention August Flynn in Monsters Of Verity by Victoria Schwab who said, “He could be the monster if it kept others human.” because I was so sick reading of Elias sulking about the deaths he caused, I was kinda hoping that he could see why it was necessary to kill and I was thinking, if he's gonna go around sulking I wish he would think about all the Scholars who are slaughtered under the Commandant's order, their deaths will be on his hand because he let her live. If that witch died, I think there would be no need to make this a 4-book series, an end will be possible for the third book, and I understand that this book has so much to tell that the Commandant's survival is essential, I just wished Tahir could have wrote it in a way that left Elias with no choice but to leave his mother to survive and not leave her with his own will.
I was so ready to rate this as 3, I was grumbling the entire time and every death that I read, I blame Elias. I know I am being immature but he just irritated me, specially when he keeps on sulking, and I was thinking of an alternate end of this series, if he killed Laia in book one, it reminded me so much of the story in A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness the one where the prince killed his lover and blame the witch so he could have the throne and the support of his people, it would have been the same for Elias, well, that story didn't sound so appealing but if I were honest, it was an easy way out, the prince carry that guilt and burdened him to his grave but it was (in a way) worth it, the witch was overthrown and left the kingdom in peace and prosperity, and I was wondering, if Elias did kill Laia, would it be the same? He would have the chance to defeat his mother as an emperor, but then I wouldn't know since the series is going on a different path.
So what changed my mind and gave A Torch Against The Night a 4-star rating? It was the revelation of Keenan's treachery, the thought that he was just a spy surprised me (though I really disliked him, I didn't think of him doing such betrayal), but I was blown away when Keenan's true identity was revealed, I didn't see that coming and I have to praise Tahir for that, finally I can put a finger on why it always unnerved me when he makes a move over Laia. One thing, the Nightbringer has so much story to tell, he is not just another villain intent on distraction, he was someone before and he reminds me so much of Aleksander Morozova aka The Darkling from Leigh Bardugo's Shadow And Bone Trilogy, the similarities were there, the ploy to make the heroine fall for him, the ideals of setting their kin (Jinns for the Nightbringer and Grishas for the Darkling) free, their painful past, and their complicated feelings for those heroines. My gaaaad, I think I found my new fave villain, added to my long list already! lol!
Then there's Helene Aquilla that broke my heart so much, who is so brave and torn, she is like the female version of Cassius au Bellona in Red Rising Trilogy by Pierce Brown, both of their friendship to the lead characters in their respective book has affected me and it was more heartbreaking with Helene because she had her own POV, and I have a feeling that Dex will break my heart too, the looks of how loyal he is to the empire was everything like Roque au Fabii of the same series I mentioned. This book's plot is similar to most dystopian books, but what made it apart from the others? The myth incorporated was very intriguing, I have read of jinns and efrits but books were very few who discussed about them, and to have them in this nerve-wrecking world of Tahir, it was a breath of fresh air, new myth, new tale and more secrets yet to be told. I am still fidgeting about Laia's identity (since she's asked by two unnatural creatures what she is, I want to know too!), Elias' fate now that he is a Soul Catcher, and Helene who (I believe) suffered most of all. 2018, hurry please!!
As a big fan of villains, and unapologetic badass heroes, Elias disappointed me when he showed his mother mercy. On that particular moment, he did what his mother regretted- showing mercy. I get that he valued his soul, I get that he is not like all other Masks who kills without flinching, but if it is a person who is capable of genocide, of such unimaginable evil, would you still spare her? Yet Elias did, and I have been annoyed since then. I can't help but remember Clary in The Mortal Instruments series of Cassandra Clare she did what she had to do, she killed her brother, with a heavy heart she did because his death will be the survival of many. And here I will mention August Flynn in Monsters Of Verity by Victoria Schwab who said, “He could be the monster if it kept others human.” because I was so sick reading of Elias sulking about the deaths he caused, I was kinda hoping that he could see why it was necessary to kill and I was thinking, if he's gonna go around sulking I wish he would think about all the Scholars who are slaughtered under the Commandant's order, their deaths will be on his hand because he let her live. If that witch died, I think there would be no need to make this a 4-book series, an end will be possible for the third book, and I understand that this book has so much to tell that the Commandant's survival is essential, I just wished Tahir could have wrote it in a way that left Elias with no choice but to leave his mother to survive and not leave her with his own will.
I was so ready to rate this as 3, I was grumbling the entire time and every death that I read, I blame Elias. I know I am being immature but he just irritated me, specially when he keeps on sulking, and I was thinking of an alternate end of this series, if he killed Laia in book one, it reminded me so much of the story in A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness the one where the prince killed his lover and blame the witch so he could have the throne and the support of his people, it would have been the same for Elias, well, that story didn't sound so appealing but if I were honest, it was an easy way out, the prince carry that guilt and burdened him to his grave but it was (in a way) worth it, the witch was overthrown and left the kingdom in peace and prosperity, and I was wondering, if Elias did kill Laia, would it be the same? He would have the chance to defeat his mother as an emperor, but then I wouldn't know since the series is going on a different path.
So what changed my mind and gave A Torch Against The Night a 4-star rating? It was the revelation of Keenan's treachery, the thought that he was just a spy surprised me (though I really disliked him, I didn't think of him doing such betrayal), but I was blown away when Keenan's true identity was revealed, I didn't see that coming and I have to praise Tahir for that, finally I can put a finger on why it always unnerved me when he makes a move over Laia. One thing, the Nightbringer has so much story to tell, he is not just another villain intent on distraction, he was someone before and he reminds me so much of Aleksander Morozova aka The Darkling from Leigh Bardugo's Shadow And Bone Trilogy, the similarities were there, the ploy to make the heroine fall for him, the ideals of setting their kin (Jinns for the Nightbringer and Grishas for the Darkling) free, their painful past, and their complicated feelings for those heroines. My gaaaad, I think I found my new fave villain, added to my long list already! lol!
Then there's Helene Aquilla that broke my heart so much, who is so brave and torn, she is like the female version of Cassius au Bellona in Red Rising Trilogy by Pierce Brown, both of their friendship to the lead characters in their respective book has affected me and it was more heartbreaking with Helene because she had her own POV, and I have a feeling that Dex will break my heart too, the looks of how loyal he is to the empire was everything like Roque au Fabii of the same series I mentioned. This book's plot is similar to most dystopian books, but what made it apart from the others? The myth incorporated was very intriguing, I have read of jinns and efrits but books were very few who discussed about them, and to have them in this nerve-wrecking world of Tahir, it was a breath of fresh air, new myth, new tale and more secrets yet to be told. I am still fidgeting about Laia's identity (since she's asked by two unnatural creatures what she is, I want to know too!), Elias' fate now that he is a Soul Catcher, and Helene who (I believe) suffered most of all. 2018, hurry please!!
thecaptain's review against another edition
4.0
A worthy successor to the first book. I enjoyed the grittiness of some aspects, the violence of some scenes, and the grimdark vibe of Kauf Prison. We get a bit more magic and bit more oomph out of Laia. Helene's conflicting, turmoiling emotions remain a stand out. I am unsure where Tahir is going to take us from here, but I look forward to it.
lifeislikealemon's review against another edition
4.0
Soms moet je niet meer hebben dan een meer dan degelijke fantasy reeks om je vakantie op te fleuren en dit is een geweldige reeks om dat te doen. Op naar de volgende!
caylieratzlaff's review against another edition
5.0
y’all I really read THE SPOILER before getting to the SPOILER AND I AM MAD.
ciarrashaffer's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
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? No
4.0
spookyspooder's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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