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lovelee's review against another edition
misogyny off the rails and jokes about SA ðŸ˜
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture and Violence
Minor: Rape
sheyri's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
What story is this even trying to tell? Because it sure isn't the one set up in the prologue. That barely comes up again throughout the book.
There were some good scenes and the descriptions of grief and the horrors of battle towards the end were well done.
But overall I didn't enjoy it.
Overly info-dumpy, sometimes the same details again and again. I didn't care about any of the characters. The women especially felt flat; the "strong" ones are just bad-ass warriors but little else. There was so much going on, but at the same time, nothing was really happening, or at least the plot wasn't going anywhere. Some scenes are very Bollywood (which, fair, just not my kind of thing).
I also feel like the summary doesn't really describe the book. Yes, that's roughly what it is about, but it promises more than it delivers.And why is Mati in the summary? She barely shows up. Shishupal has way more page time and isn't mentioned at all.
There were some good scenes and the descriptions of grief and the horrors of battle towards the end were well done.
But overall I didn't enjoy it.
Overly info-dumpy, sometimes the same details again and again. I didn't care about any of the characters. The women especially felt flat; the "strong" ones are just bad-ass warriors but little else. There was so much going on, but at the same time, nothing was really happening, or at least the plot wasn't going anywhere. Some scenes are very Bollywood (which, fair, just not my kind of thing).
I also feel like the summary doesn't really describe the book. Yes, that's roughly what it is about, but it promises more than it delivers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Violence, War, and Classism
Moderate: Animal death, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Torture, and Blood
Minor: Cursing and Genocide
sophiearaujo's review against another edition
the use of 'motherfucker' by a character in historical fantasy india didn't sit well with me
it (the novel, not just this word) felt vulgar simply for the sake of vulgarity
it (the novel, not just this word) felt vulgar simply for the sake of vulgarity
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and War
mermaid42's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Homophobia, Rape, Sexism, Transphobia, and Violence
2treads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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
I was hooked! I love a layered fantasy with every increasing stakes: villains and heroes, who knows who is who; political maneuverings that always change, and cunning minds that move allies and enemies alike as chess pieces on a board. Looking forward to the next book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, War, and Classism
Minor: Child death, Drug use, Misogyny, Grief, and Murder
naimar's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- 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
3.25
Extremely slow in the beginning, so much that I put it down the first time. This was my second attempt reading this book. It does take a while but the action picks up and becomes very compelling. I do wish some of the characters like Mati had more time to shine, but I hope the second book will change that. It’s full of interesting fantasy mysteries and epic battle scenes. The treatment of women, like in Game of Thrones, was misogynistic at times, but I enjoyed the female characters and want more about them. And I’m always on the lookout for more good Indian-inspired fantasy. Game of Thrones fans who want to diversify their reading should definitely pick this up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Rape
aseel_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
What an interesting and engaging high fantasy!! Was definitely confused at the start and got the details wrong/assigned them to the wrong sides, but by page 80, was all over it and was super intrigued by everyone's story and their connection to the grander picture. I have only read the story about the queen and her five husbands, so this was such a good retelling, but explaining a wider sphere of characters and influences. Keen for the next book
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
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