wandering_not_lost's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
4.0
I nearly gave up on this book a few times, but each time I then got caught up in a great scene or three and realized that no, actually, I was really invested in the characters and wanted to know what was going to happen next.
The book does sag a bit in the middle, since after Nahri and Dara's action-filled meeting and subsequent race to Daevabad, the machinations of the city itself take over, and it feels a bit more like a standard "special young person must learn to use their Special Powers while outmaneuvering the Mean People who don't like them" story. I feel like the politics itself is reasonably and entertainingly done - I can understand why everyone is doing what they're doing, and there are multiple factions in the city who all have legitimate grievances against each other. Nahri's being caught in the middle and constantly unsure of what her best move is is also understandable, because she ALSO has no idea what's going on, and the people who are her best "allies" constantly are hiding things from her to try to manipulate her.
This sort of politics-laden story can easily tick me off either due to a too reckless or too naive protagonist bumbling about, or to the other characters' motivations and goals not being convincingly drawn or paced. In the end, Nahri's character pulled me through, as she gets fairly screwed over from all sides, but doesn't make any boneheaded mistakes herself. Honestly, by the end of the book I was determined to read the next book just in the hope of seeing her get some payback for the wrongs done to her.
The book does sag a bit in the middle, since after Nahri and Dara's action-filled meeting and subsequent race to Daevabad, the machinations of the city itself take over, and it feels a bit more like a standard "special young person must learn to use their Special Powers while outmaneuvering the Mean People who don't like them" story. I feel like the politics itself is reasonably and entertainingly done - I can understand why everyone is doing what they're doing, and there are multiple factions in the city who all have legitimate grievances against each other. Nahri's being caught in the middle and constantly unsure of what her best move is is also understandable, because she ALSO has no idea what's going on, and the people who are her best "allies" constantly are hiding things from her to try to manipulate her.
This sort of politics-laden story can easily tick me off either due to a too reckless or too naive protagonist bumbling about, or to the other characters' motivations and goals not being convincingly drawn or paced. In the end, Nahri's character pulled me through, as she gets fairly screwed over from all sides, but doesn't make any boneheaded mistakes herself. Honestly, by the end of the book I was determined to read the next book just in the hope of seeing her get some payback for the wrongs done to her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Minor: Sexual assault
jennn_3's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
The idea behind the book and the magic was interesting but it really didn’t keep my attention. The writing didn’t intrigue me. I was rooting for Nahri but didn’t care much about the other problematic male characters at the center of the story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Blood
Minor: War
ash_lees_library's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Cursing, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Sexual content
kat1105's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Child death, Death of parent, Grief, Gaslighting, Rape, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Confinement, Death, Gore, Child abuse, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Racism, Toxic friendship, Torture, Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Hate crime, Racial slurs, and Slavery
ienbdri's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Death, Child death, Medical content, Blood, Murder, Grief, and Violence
Minor: Slavery, Homophobia, and Rape
francestea's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
An exciting and enjoyable read!
The first hundred pages were slow-medium paced while Chakraborty set the scene, but once I was accustomed to the world and characters I flew through the next 400+ pages completely engrossed. She’s so clever at not giving everything away at once, there are some elements of the story we are kept in the dark about right up until the epilogue and others not resolved at all! This book is laying all the ground work for (what I hope is) very exciting book 2!!
The first hundred pages were slow-medium paced while Chakraborty set the scene, but once I was accustomed to the world and characters I flew through the next 400+ pages completely engrossed. She’s so clever at not giving everything away at once, there are some elements of the story we are kept in the dark about right up until the epilogue and others not resolved at all! This book is laying all the ground work for (what I hope is) very exciting book 2!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: War and Violence
Minor: Police brutality, Slavery, Racism, Rape, and Trafficking
kitwhelan's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“Yes.” That’s what I said as soon as I finished the epilogue and it made me want to immediately get the next book. It’s a thrilling adventure with fantastic world building, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
It’s quite violent and filled with many men doing very stupid things, but thankfully it seems that women will be taking more control from here!
It’s quite violent and filled with many men doing very stupid things, but thankfully it seems that women will be taking more control from here!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
gabbyisbaking's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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: Blood, Violence, and War
bsmulca's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, War, and Violence
not_today_seitan's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
5.0
Finally, diverse fantasy written by a woman. I am addicted.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Classism, Racism, Violence, and Xenophobia