Scan barcode
alwaysairie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
It is basically a murder mystery with magic and disease as a focus. The story is nothing revolutionary and the resolution is quite predictable. This said it wasn't something displeasing! In fact, it gave a lot of space to be with Firuz which was a great character to follow throughout the story.
It will also serve as a good representation for queer folks of Persian background, I'm very happy that this story exists for them
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, and Vomit
onegalonelife27'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? It's complicated
4.0
I also liked the way the story was format, dividing Firuz's story into three chapters or years. First, the first year with them trying to get a job as a healer and adjusting to their new life. The second focusing on the new plague spreading on their relationship with their brother and student. The last one a dramatic conclusion to everything!
Though I have to admit, I do feel this book does more telling and showing. Like different parts of characters' backstory are just told to the reader at certain moments with not much hinting. The backstories make sense, but I'd prefer to not be used as dramatic fodder.
Overall, pretty good if you want a different kind of fantasy story that keeps you on your toes.
Graphic: Death, Blood, Medical content, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Xenophobia, Colonisation, and Dysphoria
Minor: Vomit, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
talonsontypewriters's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Genocide, Self harm, Colonisation, Dysphoria, and War
Minor: Animal death, Vomit, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
bisexualwentworth's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
The blood magic was fascinating and dark, and I feel like we receive just enough information about it for its role in the story to land the way its supposed to. The main character and the antagonist are both well-meaning, flawed people. The plot didn't go the way I expected, and it was much more compelling than what I was expecting!
And I loved reading the author's afterword at the end of the book. I generally try to judge books on their own merits, but I do think that authorial intent is relevant, and I always love a thoughtful reflection on why something was written. It made me appreciate the book even more.
The beginning was a bit rough. I didn't get into the book right away. But was I was engaged, I finished the rest of it in one day. I look forward to more from this author/this world!
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Racism, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, and Medical trauma
bea__reads's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Genocide, Xenophobia, Fire/Fire injury, and Colonisation
Minor: Child death, Torture, and Dysphoria
rhi_'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
3.75
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Colonisation
letsgolesbians'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
3.75
confession: i do not world build in my head when i read books. i rarely imagine the characters. which is one of the reasons i rarely read adult fantasy and i am not really the person to listen to when it comes to adult fantasy—i can’t tell you if the magic system or world or conflict made sense because it usually doesn’t make sense to me anyway. i can talk to you for hours about the magic systems in disney movies but that’s about it.
what i can tell you is that i loved the nuance in this book—the protagonist and antagonist are not hero and villain, the problem has been caused by an attempt at healing, and the problem is solved in a way that does not make the protagonist a winner.
in the author’s note, they say they didn’t initially intend to examine the question “what does it mean to be oppressed when you were once an oppressor?” but found themself writing about it as they deepened the story. i think the question, which firuz (the mc) asks themself several times throughout the book, strengthened the story and the character development. jamnia relates it to their being persian and persian history, and about unlearning things they originally never questioned about empire.
this is a quick read and i recommend it for fellow queer folks who want or need to step into a queernormative world.
photo review here: https://www.instagram.com/p/C5GmLQLr6VQ/?igsh=NzBmMjdhZWRiYQ==
Graphic: Self harm, Medical content, and Colonisation
Moderate: Genocide
shelvesofivy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Death, Xenophobia, Blood, and Medical content
Moderate: Violence, Vomit, Grief, Colonisation, and Pandemic/Epidemic
bazer63's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
All in all a good book that could have used a couple dozen more pages to really flesh out the characters and world and make it great. Additonally, the author's thoughts at the end are worth considering and I'm open to the idea that someone of a different background could connect to the themes more than I did.
Graphic: Blood and Medical content
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Racism, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, and Colonisation
Minor: Physical abuse and Dysphoria
gcrkl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Self harm, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Death, Gore, Hate crime, Racism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Colonisation, and Dysphoria