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marciabrilhante's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
shadow_cat94's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Maiya Ibrahim writes with beautiful imagery woven throughout the entire book as we travel through various locations during Imani's journey to her brother. The poetic language I found quite enjoyable to read from page to page. The pacing in each location also felt evenly timed for the journey without feeling rushed or dragging.
The things I didn't like about this book was the ending and the main character, Imani. I will be as vague as possible for the ending to avoid spoilers. In the final 20 pages we finally reach the climax of the story only for it to get resolved peacefully with an exchange of a few words. It felt anticlimactic, rushed, and frustrating even after I finished the book.
As for Imani, I was hoping for her to go through more character development during her journey than she did. There is nothing wrong with starting your book with a stubborn, selfish, and prideful main character as long as they end somewhere else at the end of the book. She is also a warrior known for these great feats, but she quickly gives up when confronted with large obstacles which made her warrior characteristic feel conflicting. Her only saving grace is her love for her family, which is to an obsessive point. Overall, I think Amira - the sister - should have been the main character.
The things I didn't like about this book was the ending and the main character, Imani. I will be as vague as possible for the ending to avoid spoilers. In the final 20 pages we finally reach the climax of the story only for it to get resolved peacefully with an exchange of a few words. It felt anticlimactic, rushed, and frustrating even after I finished the book.
As for Imani, I was hoping for her to go through more character development during her journey than she did. There is nothing wrong with starting your book with a stubborn, selfish, and prideful main character as long as they end somewhere else at the end of the book. She is also a warrior known for these great feats, but she quickly gives up when confronted with large obstacles which made her warrior characteristic feel conflicting. Her only saving grace is her love for her family, which is to an obsessive point. Overall, I think Amira - the sister - should have been the main character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Medical content, and War
empress_of_the_sun's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
scjsasha's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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
3.75
_nika_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.75
About the book:
Author: Maiya Ibrahim
Published: 2023
Pages: 488
Genre: YA-Fantasy
Read in English
What you can expect:
-arabian-inspired setting
-magic tea
-a handsome djinni
-a fiercely loyal fmc
-a grumpy beastseer
-themes of grief, betrayal and colonialism
Plot:
Seventeen-year-old Imani, part of her desert cities defensive forces, is known as the djinn-slayer. Through a secret spice tea she gains the ability to manipulate her iron dagger into any weapon she chooses. After her sister runs out into the desert to catch the fleeting horse of their presumed dead brother, she uncovers evidence that her brother was giving away the spice to rebellious forces of another kingdom. Desperate to save her brother she suggests a search and rescue to the cities council. However, the council parnters her up with the more expierenced scout Taha and his cousins. Imani accepts to join her greatest rival on the mission, not having another choice if she wants to bring her brother home safe.
I was invested in the plot from the very beginning. I wanted to learn more about the magic, the setting and the mysterious kingdom waiting beyond the desert. From the beginning of the journey until the end the pacing stays enticing. Even at moments were I expected it to slow down there were always new details being uncovered. The end of course gets even tenser and delivers a thrilling finale.
Characters:
Our female main character is the djinn-slayer Imani, with an affinity for iron. She is fiercly loyal to her family and has a clear moral code. Following her through the story she has to battle fitting the new impressions into her moral code and world view. This makes for a well done inner conflict, that doen't need to rely purely on a love interest.
The male main characters are Taha and Qayn. Taha being Imani's rival through their family history and opposing perspectives. His affinity allows him to see into the minds of different animals and controlling their actions. Imani struggles to understand his motivations through out the whole book as Taha himself is under pressure coming from his father and tends to act unpredicably. Qayn on the other hand is a centuries old djinni, who promisises Imani to assist her with finding her brother in exchange for his life and a ride to the kingdom Imani's brother was last seen in.
I personally really enjoyed the characters and getting to know their indivual motivations. While Imani occasionally made some rash decisions, in my opinion that is to be expected from a 17-year old getting their world view turned upside down. Taha's hot and cold with Imani had me guessing at his motivations along side with her. Qayn's mysterious past had me intruiged from the first meeting. Like Imani I found myself questioning his honesty and true plans for Imani and her brother.
Final Thoughts:
The main selling point of this book for me is the beautiful writing. It is so stunningly executed that I constantly felt in awe of an unreal world. The main themes of grief and in the later half colonialism felt very real yet tastefully done. Especially Imani's struggle to face this other, cruel world outside of her sheltered home resonated with me. The romance plays mostly a smaller part in the plot, however the ending has me excited to see how it will develop in the next book!
All in all I can definitely recommend this to anyone still fond of YA! I can't wait to read the next book and see how Imani deals with everything she's learned.
Published: 2023
Pages: 488
Genre: YA-Fantasy
Read in English
What you can expect:
-arabian-inspired setting
-magic tea
-a handsome djinni
-a fiercely loyal fmc
-a grumpy beastseer
-themes of grief, betrayal and colonialism
Plot:
Seventeen-year-old Imani, part of her desert cities defensive forces, is known as the djinn-slayer. Through a secret spice tea she gains the ability to manipulate her iron dagger into any weapon she chooses. After her sister runs out into the desert to catch the fleeting horse of their presumed dead brother, she uncovers evidence that her brother was giving away the spice to rebellious forces of another kingdom. Desperate to save her brother she suggests a search and rescue to the cities council. However, the council parnters her up with the more expierenced scout Taha and his cousins. Imani accepts to join her greatest rival on the mission, not having another choice if she wants to bring her brother home safe.
I was invested in the plot from the very beginning. I wanted to learn more about the magic, the setting and the mysterious kingdom waiting beyond the desert. From the beginning of the journey until the end the pacing stays enticing. Even at moments were I expected it to slow down there were always new details being uncovered. The end of course gets even tenser and delivers a thrilling finale.
Characters:
Our female main character is the djinn-slayer Imani, with an affinity for iron. She is fiercly loyal to her family and has a clear moral code. Following her through the story she has to battle fitting the new impressions into her moral code and world view. This makes for a well done inner conflict, that doen't need to rely purely on a love interest.
The male main characters are Taha and Qayn. Taha being Imani's rival through their family history and opposing perspectives. His affinity allows him to see into the minds of different animals and controlling their actions. Imani struggles to understand his motivations through out the whole book as Taha himself is under pressure coming from his father and tends to act unpredicably. Qayn on the other hand is a centuries old djinni, who promisises Imani to assist her with finding her brother in exchange for his life and a ride to the kingdom Imani's brother was last seen in.
I personally really enjoyed the characters and getting to know their indivual motivations. While Imani occasionally made some rash decisions, in my opinion that is to be expected from a 17-year old getting their world view turned upside down. Taha's hot and cold with Imani had me guessing at his motivations along side with her. Qayn's mysterious past had me intruiged from the first meeting. Like Imani I found myself questioning his honesty and true plans for Imani and her brother.
Final Thoughts:
The main selling point of this book for me is the beautiful writing. It is so stunningly executed that I constantly felt in awe of an unreal world. The main themes of grief and in the later half colonialism felt very real yet tastefully done. Especially Imani's struggle to face this other, cruel world outside of her sheltered home resonated with me. The romance plays mostly a smaller part in the plot, however the ending has me excited to see how it will develop in the next book!
All in all I can definitely recommend this to anyone still fond of YA! I can't wait to read the next book and see how Imani deals with everything she's learned.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Racism, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Colonisation
Minor: War
kbairbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The growth of the main character was perhaps the most authentic and well done I've seen in a long time. I actually really liked the fierce and wise beyond her years younger sister. There were a fair variety of intense triggers so readers watch out! I'm very interested to see where the rest of the trilogy takes us.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
red981456's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
nitha_ni's review against another edition
adventurous
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
3.5
louiselee3396's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.0