Reviews

Darius the Great Deserves Better by Adib Khorram

lermonysnickers's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective relaxing tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This is probably the most I've ever enjoyed a book I've had to read for a class. I read most of it in one day and it really does just speed by at a nice pace. The ending is a little open for my liking, but also finished off with certain character relationships exactly where I wanted to see them. It feels like there's still more to the story, though, so maybe a third book will come someday.

someweirdthing's review against another edition

fast-paced

4.0

anteus7's review against another edition

3.0

I wanted to like this book more than I did. I really liked the first book, Darius the Great is Not Okay, but this one just didn't do it for me. I still enjoyed the experience of reading it, don't get me wrong. It's funny and poignant at times, has some great Star Trek references, and is awkward in so many horrifyingly great ways.

I think that this could definitely be someone's most important read of the year, though. It's a teen coming-of-age (specifically gay teen coming-of-age) story which I can see myself recommending to people, but not applying much to my own way past teen years self.

Fun, though!

anxiousnachos's review against another edition

4.0

Trust Adib Khorram to write a book that makes me look like a fool - I was literally talking to someone just yesterday about how I felt like I had completely outgrown YA contemporary as a genre and then BAM, I decide to finally pick up the Darius sequel and of course it is amazing. There’s something about Khorram’s writing style and voice that I find so special and emotive, and the way he so accurately portrays what it’s like to live with depression, even when not in the midst of a depressive episode, is fantastic. Add in one of the best father/son relationships in YA, some soccer gays, and I am completely sold.

Content warnings: depression, bullying, homophobia, Islamophobia, sexual content (including being pressured into sexual activity), terminal illness, death of a grandparent, grief

suchita_r's review against another edition

3.0

This was a good book with important messages. It’s great to hear about the characters from the first book and what the outcome of their newfound relationships/learnings etc is

3 stars because it lacked the zing of the first book

lexxii's review against another edition

inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

scarles_books's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

rayne_1906's review

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Audiobook - 5 hours 3 minutes - This was a great sequel, even if it didn't go in the direction I expected given the first book. 

jennnaa_'s review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

kaygo2490's review against another edition

5.0

Hope there is a third book