lanid's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Classism, Gore, and Violence
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Deportation, Xenophobia, and Pregnancy
lcgordon's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Death, War, Violence, Racism, Pregnancy, Xenophobia, Torture, and Gore
Moderate: Animal death, Genocide, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Child abuse, and Death of parent
zombiezami's review against another edition
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Death, Torture, Police brutality, Classism, Xenophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit, Infidelity, and Death of parent
Minor: Rape
Colorismtahsintries's review
4.25
Graphic: Xenophobia
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Genocide
seanml's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, Violence, Classism, Xenophobia, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Racial slurs, Child death, Genocide, Abortion, Animal death, Gore, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief
Minor: Medical content, Miscarriage, Cursing, and Bullying
lauraglovestoread's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
There is so much that I appreciated about this book, and I'm glad that it is going to be a series because I look forward to reading more set in this universe. The world-building is incredible -- complex histories, social and political dynamics, and spiritual and cultural worldviews are really well developed. I found Okungbowa's use of multiple POVs effective -- each one added to the overall story, and this structure allowed for rich character development as the reader learns more about each character in part based on how they view others. If I had a complaint, I would say that the first 15-20% or so felt a little bit slow in terms of plot -- it picked up from there, though, and held my interest throughout. I look forward to picking up the next book in the series.
<i>Content warnings:</i> violence, gore, xenophobia, blood, torture, death, murder, animal cruelty, animal death, fire injury/death
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Xenophobia, Blood, Torture, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
ok7a's review
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Xenophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Hate crime
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, and Pregnancy
hannia222's review
- 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
Graphic: Violence, Animal death, and Xenophobia
jashanac's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The character development was *chef's kiss* for me personally. I cannot wait for future installments to see what happens with these characters... the dynamic between Danso and Lilong is so great!
Graphic: Death, Murder, Torture, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Colonisation
There is also a sort of abortion-adjacent/miscarriage-adjacent situation... there's magic involved and it's not an outright abortion or miscarriage but I could see it being an issue for some who have experienced either of those things.2treads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Davies has also depicted the troublesome perceptions of albinism as it exists even to this day on the continent and within the diaspora and is also weaving in the complexities of existing within a society that demands excellence through mastery of a craft and elevation of the family name at the expense of self-expression and freedom.
He also explores the complexities of immigration, forced or chosen and how the treatment and relationships forged between immigrant and country can have less than humanitarian purposes; serving to demonize a people while indenturing another.
Davies is also committed to giving us rich characters with personalities that leap off the page: ruthlessness, strength, cunning, and drive. Building the foundation of his story amidst power plays, resistance, and a nation's crumbling influence and reach.
He uses this fantastical setting as a medium to examine how societies can establish standards and borders to elevate a people above all others, engendering systems of oppression and exclusion; where collaboration is sneered upon and differences in culture, speech, and ways of being are stamped out of any who come within its walls.
This is a complex, layered and nuanced telling and reflects the many ways in which peoples are being failed by their leaders.
Moderate: Child death and Xenophobia
Minor: Death of parent, Murder, and Violence