theirgracegrace's review
- 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: Animal death, Blood, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Alcoholism, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Medical trauma, War, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Police brutality, Torture, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Colonisation, Cursing, Racism, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gaslighting, Islamophobia, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Vomit, Addiction, and Excrement
Minor: Ableism and Cultural appropriation
cardanrry's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Racism, Gun violence, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Sexual content, Slavery, Xenophobia, Child abuse, and Murder
Moderate: War and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Blood and Death of parent
annamariemreads's review
- 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
"Maybe this was not the kind of thing that moved the borders between hearts and changed the shape of empires. Maybe this was only a gasp of a moment, something they wouldn't even be able to recollect in twenty years, not even to remember fondly, not even to regret. In a week, in a month, it could flare and disintegrate into ash, burning them both up along with everything they cared about. Maybe it was nothing at all."
The Faithless by C.L. Clark is the stunning second installment of the Magic of the Lost trilogy. Once again, the reader is faced with the uncomfortable topic of colonialism and what it looks like to stare the oppressor straight in the face and say: FUCK. YOU. The second book in any series or trilogy can either make or break a story. Well. Let me make one thing clear: The Faithless makes this story come even more alive, 10 billion times over. When I tell you I was not bored ONCE during this book, I mean it.
What I loved:
- The Faithless is equal parts a character driven narrative as well as a plot driven narrative.
- The pacing of this book is TOP TIER. I found myself saying "One more chapter... nope, wait, one more chapter after this..." oops it's 1am and now I have to work in 6 hours. Like!!! I honestly cannot tell you the last time I stayed up this late to read a book.
- Touraine's journey to finding herself. Her wants, her needs, her desires. What SHE wants. Not what Luca wants from her, not what Jaghotai wants her to accomplish, not what Pruett wants from her, not what Qazal expects of her. Touraine finally gets to put herself first and DAMN was that incredible to read about.
- Luca's character development is Chef's FREAKIN kiss. Our princess is ready to RISK IT ALL for our girl Touraine and tbh, I'm here for it. Not only is Luca coming to terms with what kind of queen she aspires to be, but she is also coming to realize that not everything has to be done the way her ancestors would have wanted her to do it. Luca will ascend the throne and rule Balladaire the way she wants and the way Touraine wants her to. And, similar to Touraine, Luca is deciding things for herself. What kind of person SHE wants to be, who SHE wants to be for Touraine, for Balladaire, for Sabine, for Gil. Someone Tiro can learn from and aspire to be. Not who her parents expected her to become and certainly not someone who Nicolas expects to start thinking for herself. Luca takes Touraine's opinion of her very seriously. The growth is outstanding.
- Gil is a wonderful character. I love his relationship with Luca and how he's practically her father. I am so happy we get more queer representation with him.
- Sabine is such a great character, sometimes infuriating, but a wonderful addition to the story. Her flirtatious nature is excellent. Can C.L. Clark please
Spoiler
give us our threesome between Luca, Sabine, and Touraine in the next book? PRETTY PLEASE?
What I didn't love/why I didn't give it a 5 star rating:
- Pruett's storyline is a tad boring in the sense that I’m not fully invested in her character the way that I am with Luca, Touraine, Sabine, etc. Her POV is clunky and takes you out of the story in a way that doesn't flow well with the book as a cohesive.
- I missed Jaghotai in this book a lot. I hope we see more of her in the next book.
Here are some quotes that made me stare into the void and dissociate:
"I think it might be her, Aranen. I may be the world's biggest idiot, but I think I want her. And for the first time, it won't hurt anybody else."
"We are who we are. We want what we want."
"My girl, you haven't been just a soldier in a very long time."
"We're all just pretending. Keeping shields up and hiding as best as we can, from friends and enemies alike. They were all so unbearably lonely under the masks."
I truly cannot wait for the third and final installment to arrive. It's going to be everything and more, I just know it.
Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Grief, Gun violence, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, War, Blood, Kidnapping, Child death, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, Death, Slavery, Medical content, Mental illness, Violence, and Vomit
alexalily's review
- 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
Graphic: Classism, Murder, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, and Death
Moderate: Child death, War, Cannibalism, Gore, Medical content, Medical trauma, Confinement, Death of parent, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcohol, Kidnapping, Racism, Torture, Grief, Animal death, Slavery, and Cursing