Reviews with content warning for Emotional abuse - Empress and Aniya

Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Empress and Aniya by Candice Carty-Williams

7 reviews

beckyyreadss's review against another edition

emotional hopeful fast-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

3.0

I wanted to read this book because I enjoyed the other books by Candice Carty-Williams, this book was in Waterstones during one of my visits and I couldn’t resist. It was a very quick and adorable read.

When Empress starts at Aniya’s school, they’re not exactly best friends. Aniya is the Queen Bee at school, who never has to worry about where her next meal is, her only biggest worry is making sure she gets good grades and to live up to her parents' expectations. Empress is the opposite, she has a neglectful mother, a dad who is nowhere to be seen, she is expected to look after her little brother, and she can barely afford her school lunch. She is now at a preppy school where she is keeping her head down and trying to get through the day. On her first day at school, she gets an assigned friend of Aniya where she needs to show the ropes of the school. But the two teenage girls get closers and on their 16th birthday, they end up accidentally casting a spell and ended up switching bodies and they quickly learn that friendship is the most important magic of all. South London’s answer to ‘Freaky Friday”, Empress and Aniya is a moving portrayal of the importance of real relationship and the ups and downs of being a teenager.

I loved the idea of this book, and I loved these two main characters. It was easy to get into. And the plot was easy to follow. Both characters were both very developed for such a short book. I liked how they discussed serious topics within a short time, and it showed that you never know what is going on in someone’s life and to not make insensitive jokes, I would have loved for the subjects to have been discussed more deeply, it was just slightly mentioned and then moved on.

I think the thing that I struggled with was because it was so short, a lot was glossed over, and I would have loved more. I wanted to know how Empress did once she was settled at Aniya’s house and how did Aniya’s friends react. Did Aniya stop being friends with Dani and Bolu because of how mean they were being? Did Empress’s mum fight to get her back after she had settled at home? I just wanted it longer. I felt like at times especially during the school chapters was that they were talking like they were twelve or thirteen when these girls were fifteen/sixteen, like you should be worrying about exams and your future not some girl's appearance and how she is acting.

I would love to see how these girls are getting on at university and how Pauline is doing, maybe we could get a sequel soon

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hjb_128's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad fast-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

4.0

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haddy's review against another edition

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emotional sad fast-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

3.5

Nice quick easy listen, lovely story about female friendship

Only issues were not sure how changing bodies affected the storyline at all, and bit sly of the dad to say they were gonna adopt Empress and then just didn’t🥲

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bookbird's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective fast-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

4.0

What's not to love? A class-based, teenage, British Freaky Friday retelling by Candice Carty-Williams? Sign me up. There's a lot packed into this tiny novella, and the two central characters will stay with me. This book is a great example of why I still dip back into YA fiction.

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empressofbookingham's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful reflective relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

"...You've always attracted good people, Empress. It's because of who you are.”

Empress and Aniya, Candice Carty-Williams

~~~

When I started the book I was like" miss why didn't you flesh out the book more?" Then boom! Like 80% in, she knocks me with a scene. Nothing new with this storyline but it just cuts deep and the kindness Empress received back was moving to say the list. What's it about kindness please?

The story is told in the 3rd person pov and follows Empress as she starts at Aniya's school. Being from a different background from the school's body, Empress has its rough but Aniya comes to her aid. The two teenage girls accidentally cast a spell on their 16th birthday and end up switching bodies, they quickly learn that friendship is the most important magic of all.

I still do feel the author could have fleshed out the book just a bit. But bearing in mind who the age gap the story I written for it can't go to deep without some triggers that might scar some malleable mind.

I did care about the well being of our main characters but we didn't really forge a bond with them, the kind you finish a book and feel you have lost a friend? I feel that usually adds ummph and the book being about friendship....

That being said I felt the strength of this book was the message, friendship, kindness, hope, redemption.

But what happened to Aniya's other friends? Did the dynamic of those friendships flourish or wither the longer Empress stayed on scene?

All in all, was a short read that the youngings might relearn something about being kind, appreciate friendships and those from broken homes know that there is hope of a better future.

“This story is for the Empresses; you are loved. And this story is for the Aniyas;we are grateful for you," Candice Carty-Williams

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brandie_abbie19's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

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

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jodierose14's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective fast-paced

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

3.75

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