cameronreads's review against another edition
4.0
I’m really liking this series so far. I understand why some people may not like it; I feel like people might find this book in particular quite boring, as it’s mostly political, but I really enjoyed it. I really love exploring these complex characters and the moral questions that come into play, especially when it comes to a retribution arc. I think the relationship between our two main characters is so intriguing, and I love how slow it burns. I like the discussions it brings up about colonialism and racism, and I think the representation in all areas, especially the Black, sapphic and disability rep, is great. I would have liked it if Pruett and Fili’s points of view were developed a bit more, as I often forget they existed and was surprised when they came up again, and therefore wasn’t very invested in them as characters or their little sections of plot. This did feel a little like a filler book, with a degree of second book syndrome, but I still really enjoyed it and can’t wait for the final instalment I’m the trilogy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Murder, Child death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Alcohol, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Blood, Colonisation, and Gore
Moderate: Gun violence, Vomit, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, and Ableism
Minor: Death of parent, Racial slurs, and War
theirgracegrace's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
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
4.5
This second instalment of the Magic of the Lost has magic, romance, and intrigue galore. Luca is desperately trying to get one step ahead of her xenophobic uncle Nicolas, who threatens to dismantle all of her work with the Qazāli and take the throne from her. Touraine is now an ambassador to the Balladairan court and has to once again navigate a world where the colour of her skin makes her a target. And Pruett desperately tries to form solidarity between her ragtag soldiers and somehow overcome the Balladairan forces in Masridān across the river from Qazāl. An incredibly powerful and heart-wrenching sequel that deals with themes like colonization and identity with flair. Beyond excited for the third instalment!
Content Warnings
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
dark
emotional
reflective
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
3.0
Content Warnings
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
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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
4.75
"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.
Content Warnings
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
professor_jango's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Classism, Confinement, Colonisation, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, War, Xenophobia, Racism, Violence, and Toxic relationship
eegekay's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, Violence, Alcohol, Blood, Colonisation, War, Medical content, Gun violence, Ableism, Death, Physical abuse, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racism, and Classism
Moderate: Cannibalism and Drug use
lbelow's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Colonisation, Blood, Sexual content, Cursing, and Alcohol
Moderate: Gun violence, Murder, Gore, and Death
Minor: Vomit and Torture
alexalily's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-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
5.0
Content Warnings
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
rjtheodore's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, War, Vomit, Alcohol, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Sexual content, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping
purrson's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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
5.0
I received this as an giveaway (ebook) ARC, and took my time with it. I enjoyed this installment in the Magic of the Lost series better than the first, but that’s not a dismissal of how good the first book is. They both are incredibly difficult to put down, and deliciously queer.
While The Unbroken (which is told through either Luca or Touraine’s eyes) is heavy with the work of laying down foundations and building rich, complex characters trying to survive constant complex trauma—and adds beautiful world-building, magic, and cultures that feel familiar but are different enough to be fantastical—it never flinches from the depth and breadth of colonialism and all the harm it brings. The Faithless builds well on that base, so when our main characters are far from home we still feel the pressures of those strong personalities and the vibrant homeland counting on their success. That’s helped along by shifting the perspective throughout the book more frequently than The Unbroken; while we’re still mainly given the story through Luca or Touraine’s perspectives, at times The Faithless gives Aranen, Pruett, or even Fili the lead, and we’re privy to their thoughts and feelings. Those shifts help The Faithless’ plot feel as if it moves faster, as it introduces more moving parts without sacrificing any depth or detail. The machinations our protagonists work to uncover and survive are constantly spinning, even on the last page, which just builds my excitement for Book 3. The villains are both straightforwardly evil but are also unreliable narrators throughout; they present different faces to different characters, but there’s also a sense that things are going on behind their closed doors even we have yet to see. Some things they’ve hidden are revealed by the end, but some threads aren’t connected, some mysteries left unsolved for now.
This series is truly shines at representing the constant onslaught of colonialism and violent white supremacy and the bottomless hunger and violence of its adherents. We see how this structure harms everyone, even the colonizers themselves aren’t without their losses, and their working class in Balladaire is struggling and ripe for rebellion or political exploitation, or both. But the plot doesn’t lose itself in pity for the those at the top or even the middle of the heap, and focus is kept on the Qazāli; we’re led to understand a bit more of Touraine’s broken & bruised soul and her trauma, and what’s at stake for their future. All of the characters are complex—even the villains, with all the cruelty and dehumanization they show certain characters, have some depths beyond their evil.
Abuse—emotional, psychological, physical; systemic and familial—its all handled well in this series too. As Luca & Touraine come closer to unpacking their childhood experiences and finding themselves in their present, their growth makes me more excited about Book 3. The slow burn romance worked well too 🔥
Absolutely recommend ⭐️
While The Unbroken (which is told through either Luca or Touraine’s eyes) is heavy with the work of laying down foundations and building rich, complex characters trying to survive constant complex trauma—and adds beautiful world-building, magic, and cultures that feel familiar but are different enough to be fantastical—it never flinches from the depth and breadth of colonialism and all the harm it brings. The Faithless builds well on that base, so when our main characters are far from home we still feel the pressures of those strong personalities and the vibrant homeland counting on their success. That’s helped along by shifting the perspective throughout the book more frequently than The Unbroken; while we’re still mainly given the story through Luca or Touraine’s perspectives, at times The Faithless gives Aranen, Pruett, or even Fili the lead, and we’re privy to their thoughts and feelings. Those shifts help The Faithless’ plot feel as if it moves faster, as it introduces more moving parts without sacrificing any depth or detail. The machinations our protagonists work to uncover and survive are constantly spinning, even on the last page, which just builds my excitement for Book 3. The villains are both straightforwardly evil but are also unreliable narrators throughout; they present different faces to different characters, but there’s also a sense that things are going on behind their closed doors even we have yet to see. Some things they’ve hidden are revealed by the end, but some threads aren’t connected, some mysteries left unsolved for now.
Spoiler
Fili’s experiences with the Fingers, for example, provoke questions of their backing—who’s giving them orders? How do they know where to attack Luca’s carriage on its return from Champs d’Or? Why is Luca’s abdication not enough for them, that they must assassinate her too? Between her quest for the lost religion and the stability she brings to Qazāl’s independence—not colonization, motives abound. When Fili’s master brings them hot chocolate after our MCs only experience it with Ghislaine Bel-Jadot—which she says Evrard De Travers gave it to her—it’s a clue one of them is involved. Which of them are the key to the Fingers, and are they working on orders from the Duke? I felt sorry for Fili, who’s drenched in naïveté and such an easy mark given her mother’s former career. As eager as she is to prove herself, she’s clearly taken advantage of, and has no idea the Princess she hates would protect her gift with their god, or that she is key to protecting the Qazāl. Just as her master’s assurances of allying with Qazāli ‘later’ ring false to the reader, we don’t know how assuaged she is by them. She brings another point: the religion. While Bel-Jadot’s explanations make sense, the murder of children seems at great odds with Fili’s experiences and even Touraine’s use of blood in healing Luca. Jadot’s claims seem more in line with the darker use of magic, using death to get your aims met, instead of just blood. There must be enough blood involved with using scythes in the harvest (just as Pruett is nipped by the vulture), that such measures aren’t truly necessary—we never catch wind of the Many Legged regularly feeding children to their animals, for instance. And for as much as the Duke has ensured the Balladaire god won’t be fed, the connection of the grain and the Withering says otherwise.This series is truly shines at representing the constant onslaught of colonialism and violent white supremacy and the bottomless hunger and violence of its adherents. We see how this structure harms everyone, even the colonizers themselves aren’t without their losses, and their working class in Balladaire is struggling and ripe for rebellion or political exploitation, or both. But the plot doesn’t lose itself in pity for the those at the top or even the middle of the heap, and focus is kept on the Qazāli; we’re led to understand a bit more of Touraine’s broken & bruised soul and her trauma, and what’s at stake for their future. All of the characters are complex—even the villains, with all the cruelty and dehumanization they show certain characters, have some depths beyond their evil.
Abuse—emotional, psychological, physical; systemic and familial—its all handled well in this series too. As Luca & Touraine come closer to unpacking their childhood experiences and finding themselves in their present, their growth makes me more excited about Book 3. The slow burn romance worked well too
Spoiler
I was relieved we finally got some spicy scenesAbsolutely recommend ⭐️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Racism, Classism, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Child abuse, Xenophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Death, Violence, Blood, Gaslighting, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Child death
Queernormative worldbuilding, Queer romance, references to Polyamory, WLW romance