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rouge_red's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
4.5
What a joy of a book to read! Overall it was just so damned amusing, seeing Mara one-up all these naysayers and all her enemies. I'm only docking points because it seems like it was fairly easy for her to get to this point. So I hope going forward, someone is actually able to throw a spanner in the works.
thomas_hense's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
abinnh's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
rebeccazh's review against another edition
3.0
This is a political fantasy centered around a girl coming into power and taking on the family mantle. I usually enjoy these types of stories, and I really liked the first few chapters, but the prose and some story decisions just didn't work for me. The prose started to grate on me - it's way too descriptive. The fantasy language seems to be exoticized words, some of which sound Japanese, and it really irked me because the language rules don't even seem consistent (pet peeve of mine). You have words like tsurani, Mara-anni, etc., then you have words like Keyoke, Papewaio.
Also, Mara is WAY too powerful, competent, intelligent, etc. It made me feel like we're just witnesses to her brilliance and how she wows everyone. There are no stakes to the story.
Even more bleh was the 2nd book -- I've read a bit of it and she falls in love with a slave from a clearly Western culture (his name is literally Kevin) and realizes her culture (Japanese/East Asian inspired) is quite shit and has few redeeming qualities. This cultural clash/white savior/master-slave romance did NOT age well.
Also, Mara is WAY too powerful, competent, intelligent, etc. It made me feel like we're just witnesses to her brilliance and how she wows everyone. There are no stakes to the story.
Even more bleh was the 2nd book -- I've read a bit of it and she falls in love with a slave from a clearly Western culture (his name is literally Kevin) and realizes her culture (Japanese/East Asian inspired) is quite shit and has few redeeming qualities. This cultural clash/white savior/master-slave romance did NOT age well.
ghenghizcohen's review against another edition
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
pickledcraig's review against another edition
Really enjoyed it in the beginning but did not care for anything involving Buntokapi. May finish in the future but for now I'm burnt out
isabel2022's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.25
lissydizzy's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mousegrey's review against another edition
I paused at the wrong point and couldn’t talk myself into restarting- it’s a slower paced political intrigue fantasy book, and that’s a specific mood I haven’t been in. I do want to revisit this though, and I remember loving this book as a teenager