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vireogirl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Good but not as well written as the first one. Some of the plot twists seemed forced. People forgave too easily.
There were beautiful descriptions such as the flying scenes.
There were beautiful descriptions such as the flying scenes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual content
jackiepreston's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
readwithria's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The Rose & the Dagger was a beautiful conclusion to Renée Ahdieh’s debut series. It took the lush world we were introduced to in the first book, and brings it even more to life.
I think this book did a better job of fleshing out the characters. I felt a lot more connected to the cast, and believed their motivations more strongly.
One thing I didn’t fully understand was how magic works, and I don’t understand it because it isn’t explained. This is a historical fantasy romance series, and while I felt the history and romance quite strongly I was missing the fantasy elements.
Even nearly ten years after publication this duology stands up quite well, and it was definitely worth the read. 4 stars.
I think this book did a better job of fleshing out the characters. I felt a lot more connected to the cast, and believed their motivations more strongly.
One thing I didn’t fully understand was how magic works, and I don’t understand it because it isn’t explained. This is a historical fantasy romance series, and while I felt the history and romance quite strongly I was missing the fantasy elements.
Even nearly ten years after publication this duology stands up quite well, and it was definitely worth the read. 4 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Death and War
Minor: Sexual content and Sexual harassment
picaresquedreamer's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and War
Moderate: Death, Blood, and Pregnancy
sarah_royal04's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War
celery's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
noellelovesbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Content Warnings: violence, blood, and death.
Mention of: murder, death of loved one[s], pregnancy, classism, sexism, grief
OMG this duology was so good! I will definitely be rereading this story and imagining the lives the characters lead after the story ends 🥰
Mention of: murder, death of loved one[s], pregnancy, classism, sexism, grief
OMG this duology was so good! I will definitely be rereading this story and imagining the lives the characters lead after the story ends 🥰
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Death, Sexism, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Classism
beckyyreadss's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.0
I really enjoyed the first book in this series. The first book in this series was gifted to me by my friends for my birthday and I was really excited to read it. I loved it and I was instantly wanting to read the second book as soon as I could. I liked how it ended even if it scared me for a second.
This book has dual POV. The first is Shahrzad had a plan to take down to Khorasan, but now she has discovered the man she married and the man that everyone believed to be a mass murderous king was plagued by a powerful curse and she is determined to break this curse. Now she has been torn from her husband and taking refuge with her family among his enemies, Shahrzad finds herself a prisoner caught between loyalties to the people she loves. She is determined to find her way back to Khalid before the kingdom is attacked, Shahrzad awakens the powers inside her to attempt to break the curse and unite with her true love once more. The second is Khalid, he is an eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, and he is under a curse and in love with his latest bride Shahrzad. He is split between wanting to hide away and be the bad guy they all expect to him to, trying to be the righteous leader and wanting to be the good guy that he can be for Shahrzad.
I loved the characters in this book and the romance between Khalid and Shazi. I love that we got to see another side of them both that wasn’t them hating each other. I would have loved to see more of Irsa, and I would love to have another book with her finding love because her story was heartbreaking and I just want them to be happy. The storyline was strong and there was so many twists and turns that I was gasping the whole way throughout this book. I loved the character development that Shazi had and how she was so strong and powerful and that she stood up for everyone and her country that she turns to like.
I felt like the pace was a little too fast at times and then at times it was a little too slow. I would have loved a constant pace. I still struggled a little bit, but I think that’s because I spent too long in between books rather than reading them back-to-back. I still didn’t know this was a retelling. But overall, it was such a fun read.
Overall, this series has been powerful and fun. I would love to have another book in ten years to fifteen years on Khalid and Shazi’s kids and them having their own adventures.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
imaginationindex's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.5
“In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad has been torn from the love of her husband Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once believed him a monster, but his secrets revealed a man tormented by guilt and a powerful curse—one that might keep them apart forever.
Reunited with her family, who have taken refuge with enemies of Khalid, and Tariq, her childhood sweetheart, she should be happy. But Tariq now commands forces set on destroying Khalid’s empire. Shahrzad is almost a prisoner caught between loyalties to people she loves. But she refuses to be a pawn and devises a plan.
While her father, Jahandar, continues to play with magical forces he doesn’t yet understand, Shahrzad tries to uncover powers that may lie dormant within her. With the help of a tattered old carpet and a tempestuous but sage young man, Shahrzad will attempt to break the curse and reunite with her one true love.”
I loved this conclusion; it was both expected and not what I was expecting at the same time.
What I enjoyed:
- Irsa. I am starting with her as my new favourite character (Shahrzad is still alright, less decisive this round) as the presence and growth was so important. I’m glad we had her POV added.
- Even though Shahrzad and Khalid were apart more in this book, the romance was clear. We get passion, we get action, though it remains that Shazi is not just the damsel in distress while Khalid is not always the knight in shining armour. They get their eventual happy ending.
- Renee Ahdieh knows how to write a scene. I swear at times I could feel the fabrics or taste the herbs that were described. It’s world-building at its finest!
Adding this final point. To be clear this is not something I loved, but rather how it was addressed.
- TW: Attempted rape. A scene addressed the horrendous acts a side character could have taken were acknowledged in this book. It also further showed the fight Shazi had in her!
What I didn’t enjoy
- While the first book focused so much on the curse, it was brushed under the carpet (ha, flying carpet humour) in a brief plot point.
- Despina. Not her character and the reveal (I actually liked that since I truly didn’t see it coming) but I felt like her role as a spy was not utilized to its full potential. Also her and Jalal, was hoping for more scenes between them.
- The magic system didn’t always make sense to me. Maybe I misunderstood but
Shahrzad’s father has to kill a horse but Shahrzad can just absorb it… like a sponge??
This is one of the first duologies where I’ve given both books the same rating. I don’t think this is a bad things, but further shows how equal in romance, action, heartbreak, tension, humour, and passion they are.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Death, Blood, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
meghansarmiento97's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
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: Confinement, Death, Rape, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail