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robyn_vennard'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: Death, Violence, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Physical abuse, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Minor: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, and Fatphobia
danibatista's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.5
For the first half of the book I was really struggling to actually reading it… I was bored and quite confused, I didn’t connect with the characters and I just wanted to DNF or to go through with it the fastest I could…
The writing itself is amazing! I just think the first half of the book could be cut in half 😅
For the second half of the book… that really saved it entirely! The last 100 pages were the most interesting! Some twists and full of plot in the end… sadly I think the beginning was so slow and the ending so rushed…
There is dual POV - we get to know Alizeh, a Jinn and a lost queen, and we get to know Kamran, the prince of Ardunia. About Alizeh - she is a badass but I was hoping to know more about her powers…
Kamran I liked from the beginning! He is so intelligent and we can see his character development very well. And the way he talks to Alizeh is just wow.
When Kamran says “You have consumed my thoughts since the moment I met you (…) I feel now, in your presence, entirely strange. I think I might fetch you the moon if only to spare your tears again” I can definitely ignore the fact that I don’t like instant love trope.
There is a brief knife to the throat scene - always a good add to a book 👌🏼
And what about that ending? A major cliffhanger! Now all I want is that second book please!
Overall, due to the fact that a bit more than 50% of the book I was quite bored, I give it 3,5⭐️
Moderate: Death, Physical abuse, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Murder
teri_b's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The fairy tale retelling from the a thousand Arabian nights, the setting, the slow, careful world building and the female main character, that I just had to respect for the love she holds for humanity even though her parents are long since gone.
And, of course, there is excellent representation of female craftmanship on these pages as she knows her way around with sewing and tailoring and clothing someone beautifully, making them look truly beautiful.
I would have loved to immediately continue with this story, as a good fairy tale retelling that also has some djinns involved, I simply cannot resist.
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Death
mynotsolittlelibrary's review
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Xenophobia, Blood, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Classism
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
sydneyluxford's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Anyway, this is arguably the best book I have ever read. The prose in this book was unlike any other. Like, damn, since when were we so formal.
Love, love, love Alizeh. She was such an amazing main character and, I can’t lie, her plan of staying low as a snoda servant is smart because who is going to think a servant can take down five grown men trying to ambush her?????? I definitely didn’t. Also, I just know she’s so fine.
BRO, KAMRAN. I NEED ME A MAN LIKE HIM. I need me a man that’ll fetch me the moon because he hates to see me cry 😪. Never has a character radiated BDE like Kamran does. I had to take breaks when reading the scenes between him and Alizeh because they would literally make me blush so much. It’s so bad
I don’t think I can wait until February next year for the second book. Tahereh Mafi can’t just end the book like that and expect me to be okay??????? I NEED ANSWERS.
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Medical content, Death of parent, and War
kommatator's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
bookedandbusy'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
Moderate: Death, Physical abuse, Blood, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
queen_melliott's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and War
abiofpellinor's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Blood
stormywolf'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
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, this book utterly enchanted me. From its intelligent and passionate main characters, its magical yet logical world, and its promise of even more political intrigue and supernatural twists, this story is absolutely full of things to love and become obsessed by. I'd highly recommend it to anyone interested in non-European-based fantasy, strong (and memorable) female characters, or a flirty forbidden romance. I'm very curious to know more, both about the characters and story to come, and about its inspiration, as the summary posits, from Persian mythology, and I know I'm not alone. But until the next book decides to magically appear, I'll have to find another series to tide me over.
Moderate: Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Child death and Genocide