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megdconway's review against another edition
2.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Moderate: Death, Slavery, Trafficking, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Racial slurs, Grief, and Death of parent
cheynwilson'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Trafficking, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
ccrowley18'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
4.0
I loved both MCs character development, Karina going from the reluctant crown princess to knowing that she has to do everything she can to save Ziran. And Malik’s character development took a bit longer I felt as though his didn’t really start until book 2, he was all over the place there was a time I thought he was going to have to die because he seemed so evil.
But most of all the character development I enjoyed the most was Idir!!!!! What?!? Who saw him coming as the voice of reason?! By the end he didn’t even want to get free and he respected Malik too much to try and harm him any more than he’d already been harmed.
I enjoyed the storyline and the plot twists. It wouldn’t be a YA fantasy without some plot twists! I also loved the narrator in book 2, talking about the Farid and Hanane history, it was very well added.
Graphic: Self harm and Trafficking
Moderate: Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Murder
toy_masterpiece'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
5.0
*Spoilers for the first book*
Dude, if the first book was a 5/5, this one is a 6/5. In this book, we get to see our heros seriously grapple with their internal demons as the world falls apart around them. Karina with her inferiority complex, her loneliness, her self-destructive tendencies, her grief and Malik with his anxiety, his trauma from childhood, his very negative sense of self, and his loneliness.
First and foremost, the voice actors continue to put their whole chests into this performance. Oh my god. We're back with Jordan Cobb (Karina), A.J. Beckles (Malik), and surprise, Bahni Turpin. Like not only do they deliver in drawing you into their world and into their minds, but the dialogue delivery goes so hard. Most notably, Beckles' performance of Fareed (the antagonist) is excellent. Makes me want to slap something. And Cobb really made me fall in love with Karina, more of which I'll discuss later. Like all the performances go so well with Brown's quirky dialogue, and emotive writing style.
Don't even get me started on the writing. The world-building, the magic system, the stakes! So expertly choreographed to form this story.
On the less fantastic side of things, Brown tackles some themes of suicical ideation, generational trauma, having a faith crisis, and grooming to name a few, like how do you juggle all that in a duology? Idk, but Brown did it.
Also a sprinkling of autistic rep, queer rep, diversity in hair texture/style, culture and food, gender, and sexuality.
Lastly, these characters, Karina and Malik, so flawed, so compelling, lemme talk about it. Karina: she always has to have the last word, she is resilient to a fault, she is so so caring and that really comes through in the voice. Malik: constantly battling with his inner demon who isn't even as bad as his actual inner demon while being subject to the expert manipulation of Fareed. They make mistakes, they doubt themselves, each other, their friends. It's good stuff, I assure you.
5/5
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Death, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Trafficking, and Death of parent
grooming, nice guy syndromenettle_'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? It's complicated
4.75
It has a more deep dive into the same topics so many fantasy YA books have so don’t run away because of the content warnings.
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
melinajoy'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? No
4.75
Wow did I love this book! It's book 2 and I found it answered a lot of questions I'd had in the first book and was also just easier to understand. Karina and Malik are amazing characters and I also love Ife. A story of perseverance!
I appreciate how the author presents Malik's mental illnesses, his anxiety, and his self harm, suicidal thoughts/attempts.
I love Karina's queerness.
And I just appreciate most of the characters' tenacity, will, and how very much themselves they are.
I loved the journey we go through with them all separately and then together.
I WISH we got a third book and that this wasn't a duology. We need a part 3 of them living their lives! But I guess I'll just deal with the end chapter.
This book is definitely getting added to my favorites list!
*This book is graphic and contains a lot of trauma. Please check content warnings*.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Confinement, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting
Minor: Chronic illness and Injury/Injury detail
CW: groominglady_valhella'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
4.75
Graphic: Death, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Confinement, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Trafficking, and Injury/Injury detail
aseel_reads'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
2.75
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Self harm, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, War, and Injury/Injury detail
meganivy04's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Sexual content and Trafficking
blueberry0531'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
4.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Torture, and Blood
Minor: Sexual assault and Trafficking