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
Colorismbesnee's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Racism, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Miscarriage
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
daniellestarredpages's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pregnancy, Death, Death of parent, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gore, Violence, Vomit, and War
Moderate: Grief, Slavery, and Cursing
rabon_g's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Racism, Violence, and Murder
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
bookswithjk's review
- 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
4.5
Pacing wise, the story does start out slow - Part One does the hefty job of outlining the author’s vision, but the two subsequent parts run much faster. As for the characters, I didn’t really bond with them as much as I would have liked. Danso is at times irritatingly naive, although he does mature, Lilong is a wary outsider (understandably so), and Esheme is…well, she reads as sociopathic. They’re all interesting characters, however, and I’m more invested in our emperor, given the special circumstances of her powers.
All in all, I enjoyed it and am now eagerly waiting for the sequel!
Moderate: Death, Gore, Murder, Violence, Racial slurs, and Fire/Fire injury
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.