boba_n_books'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
5.0
This gorgeous novel takes readers on a fantastical journey throughout the djinn world in the Middle East: Daevabad. Told through two perspectives, one insider and one outsider, you slowly learn more about the politics and racial tensions between the different tribes of djinn and the half-breed shafit.
Tensions run high, and allegiances will be tested as both POVs learn to navigate the world of Daevabad. Everything is not as black and white as it seems. Who can they trust? And how can they tell what is right?
You will absolutely fall in love with this world and the characters who inhabit it. I’m immediately picking up book two because I have to know what happens right now.
Graphic: Blood, Racial slurs, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death, Racism, and Slavery
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexism, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Grief, Trafficking, and War
Minor: Rape
corvusastrum's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.25
I was on the fence throughout most of this book. I didn't love it, but I also didn't hate it. The ending absolutely changed that though and makes me think that this is a villain origin story, because both Nahri and especially Dara are horrible and I don't know in which universe I could/should like them.
I don't know what she sees in him. He's utterly psychotic, and has been a jerk from the very beginning. I don't care that they spent a month travelling together, or that he's oh so good looking. He tried to marry her off so she can produce offspring. He tried to kidnap her by threatening to kill her (only) friend and would have succeeded. He mercilessly killed over 20 soldiers in front of her eyes, and after all thag she STILL loves him. Woman. Does he have to ram the red flag into your f a c e?
Anyway, as said, most of this book was okay to me. Nothing much happened, but the writing was rather pleasant and I admittedly like the concept of the story, though I would have liked seeing a bit more of the other djinn tribes. A bit of a pet peeve of mine is all the sexism in this book. I understand it's realistic, I just have personal issue with it and it gives me a very sour taste reading. I also really like that this story takes place outside of the USA or Great Britain for once, it's very refreshing to get a glimpse into another culture.
Sadly I won't be continuing this series, for as much as I like Ali, I don't want to put up with Nahri or Dara ever again.
Graphic: Sexism and Misogyny
Moderate: Rape
lighterthaneyre's review against another edition
I only got 1 chapter of the prince POV character and. He's just naive to the point of stupidity and has huge racism blinders. I wasn't having a good time so I stopped.
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Blood, Violence, Slavery, Misogyny, and War
Minor: Sexual harassment
madamenovelist'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
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, War, Slavery, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Drug use, Drug abuse, Death, Colonisation, Child death, Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Trafficking, Torture, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Racism, Misogyny, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
lauraglovestoread'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: Xenophobia, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Blood, Torture, Self harm, Slavery, Confinement, Animal cruelty, Misogyny, and Violence
Minor: Rape, Homophobia, and Sexual assault
fayesreads_'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
4.75
🍂 positives:
- I love all of the characters and how complex they are & the dynamics between them all!
Spoiler
Nahri is such a bad bitch, Ali is so intriguing & his dynamic with Nahri makes my heart go pitter patter, Ali’s dad Ghassen honestly gives me president snow vibes if he had like a shred of empathy?? & his intensity is so wild & his almost cat and mouse game with Nahri is everything, I NEED to know more about Dara he is such an intriguing character, & also Ali’s brother!!! Is queer!!!!????? We love to see it!!- the world is so interesting & vivid & the magic system is so unbelievably cool & unique
- I love where the storyline is going & how this set up the next book is absolutely *chefs kiss*
- I love how easily digestible this writing style was
🍂 negatives:
- the beginning 1/3 of this book felt a tad info dumpy on Ali’s perspectives,
Spoiler
I really didn’t comprehend his entirely until he was with Nahri like halfway through the book.- the pacing throughout the middle chunk of the book did feel quite slow at times & almost took me out of it here and there
Graphic: Misogyny, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Gore, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Violence, Colonisation, Classism, Kidnapping, Medical content, and Murder
Moderate: Child death, War, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, and Sexual violence
macknificent'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
3.0
I was fine with only reading one of the books until I got to the very end, now I'll need to read the next entry in the trilogy. I'm not mad it's just a rather cliche trick to pull.
Graphic: Classism, Xenophobia, War, Slavery, Sexism, Religious bigotry, and Misogyny
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Islamophobia, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Grief, Infidelity, Islamophobia, Cancer, Confinement, Kidnapping, Medical content, Mental illness, Rape, Religious bigotry, and Sexual content
_savannahreads_'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
3.75
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Rape and Terminal illness