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lilmollyjo0301's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Homophobia, and Death of parent
weirdassfanta's review against another edition
adventurous
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
An amazing book that kept me hooked the entire time. Usually with multiple povs, some of them get boring and I’ll always be wanting to skip ahead to get to that one character, but with this book, each character really had their own storyline that kept me interested in seeing what they had to say. The romance in the book often was frustrating, but that’s how it tends to work anyways. Plus it keeps you more excited for when it finally gets somewhere. I plan to buy the sequel today, and can’t wait to mainly see Tristan and Leo’s romance plot line continue.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
aap124's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Homophobia and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Child death, Racism, and Death of parent
spaghettii's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Predictable but cute ♡
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Homophobia, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
reflectiverambling_nalana's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? It's complicated
4.5
Have you ever picked up a book and been absolutely delighted not necessarily because of the book itself, but because you know that it is going to be THE story for someone? One that feels gloriously nostalgic rather than cliche despite not having encountered it before? "The Buried and the Bound" dragged me right back to the day when a teenage me discovered Holy Black's "Tithe" during its first publication round and the doors that it opened up as to what the face of fantasy could look like.
Now of course, the world of magic and fantasy is now notoriously almost over saturated with gritty urban and contemporary settings. What this story accomplished that so many of those that have tackled the intended vibe that the other book was hooking into have fallen short or stale to me is that it brought back the passion of , the concern behind, ferocity.
At first blush Aziza might seem like just another brash I'll take on the world alone and kick butt doing it heroine that has flooded the market. Maybe Tris comes off as the cliche outcast. What this captures is that each of these characters are relentless. They are relentless because of how very much they care. Found and blood family do not have to be separate. They do not have to negate or trump. They don't have to dissolve into petty or hormone fueled reaction alone.
This book also does something that I've only seen writers more like Seanan Maguire achieve. It does not use magic as a trope, a hook, of sorts. It doesn't cash in on the 'sexy monster of the year' choice. It brings in a variety of mythical sources, has them exist together, and displays the variety of the beautiful and the terrifying with all its shades in between.
There are open ends. Another skill I appreciated, however, was that it didn't feel like a catch to try to secure further publications. I would have been satisfied if this was a stand alone. Sometimes the potential for adventure is better than any happily ever after.
This wasn't a perfect novel. It wasn't entirely original if you will. But a book doesn't HAVE to be absolutely unique. It simply has to treat its elements with care and deliver an experience that brings something to the genre - a new combination, a way of expressing an idea, an interesting framing. I know deep down that this is going to set some young reader on the same path I was once upon a time. For them, I am delighted.
Now of course, the world of magic and fantasy is now notoriously almost over saturated with gritty urban and contemporary settings. What this story accomplished that so many of those that have tackled the intended vibe that the other book was hooking into have fallen short or stale to me is that it brought back the passion of , the concern behind, ferocity.
At first blush Aziza might seem like just another brash I'll take on the world alone and kick butt doing it heroine that has flooded the market. Maybe Tris comes off as the cliche outcast. What this captures is that each of these characters are relentless. They are relentless because of how very much they care. Found and blood family do not have to be separate. They do not have to negate or trump. They don't have to dissolve into petty or hormone fueled reaction alone.
This book also does something that I've only seen writers more like Seanan Maguire achieve. It does not use magic as a trope, a hook, of sorts. It doesn't cash in on the 'sexy monster of the year' choice. It brings in a variety of mythical sources, has them exist together, and displays the variety of the beautiful and the terrifying with all its shades in between.
There are open ends. Another skill I appreciated, however, was that it didn't feel like a catch to try to secure further publications. I would have been satisfied if this was a stand alone. Sometimes the potential for adventure is better than any happily ever after.
This wasn't a perfect novel. It wasn't entirely original if you will. But a book doesn't HAVE to be absolutely unique. It simply has to treat its elements with care and deliver an experience that brings something to the genre - a new combination, a way of expressing an idea, an interesting framing. I know deep down that this is going to set some young reader on the same path I was once upon a time. For them, I am delighted.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Self harm, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief
roseleebooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book was outstanding. The magical lore, setting, and characterizations were all so immersive. The audiobook was very well done, loved all three narrators. Can't wait for the next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Child death
betweentheshelves'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
4.0
This was a delight! Hassan does a great job of developing our three narrators and crafting this magical world that they all live in. There's a bit of a mystery as to who the Hag is and how to defeat her, and how to break Leo's curse. But the way it all unfolds is really masterful, and I was hooked the entire way through.
Leo, Aziza, and Tristan all had heartbreaking moments, but I think Tristan's storyline was possibly the most heartbreaking. He feels like he doesn't deserve love or happiness because of his past and just...ugh. You know there are teens out there that also feel that way because of the way they were treated by adults.
I love that the three of them made a little coven, and I'm honestly excited to see what they get up to in the next book! Because there are definitely story threads that need to be wrapped up.
Leo, Aziza, and Tristan all had heartbreaking moments, but I think Tristan's storyline was possibly the most heartbreaking. He feels like he doesn't deserve love or happiness because of his past and just...ugh. You know there are teens out there that also feel that way because of the way they were treated by adults.
I love that the three of them made a little coven, and I'm honestly excited to see what they get up to in the next book! Because there are definitely story threads that need to be wrapped up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Child death, Vomit, and Death of parent
lilifane's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
5.0
I was skeptical at the beginning, and it started out as a 3-star book, maybe. I needed some time to get into the writing style. Also, I'm not a big fan of fairy stories, usually. I don't know what it is. I love fantasy, supernatural beings, demons, mythology, whatever. But as soon as fairies, the fairy realm or this kind of folklore is involved, I lose interest very quickly. And this had a LOT of fairy folklore. But there were other fantasy elements as well, so it was okay, and towards the end I actually enjoyed even the fairy parts. There is a miscommunication trope that I usually hate. But it was done really well here. Or rather, the miscommunication of other characters caused the problems for the protagonists. And it was refreshing to be mad at adult side characters instead of the main teenagers for a change.
What I really loved were the characters and their dynamics. They felt so real and authentic. I think the author did a fantastic job of portraying emotions. They felt believable and personal. There is one chapter. And it's only memories, not even the characters interacting... but I was sobbing and crying.
Still, this is not a character focused story, it's actually very action packed and fast-paced. But I loved how the character moments we got really made an impact.
The plot was mostly predictable, but I think that was intentional. At least for me, it worked to know more than the characters. And it never got boring. So many things were happening all the time.
Despite not being perfect, my reaction to the ending and the release date of the sequel made it clear that this had to be 5 stars for me in the end.
What I really loved were the characters and their dynamics. They felt so real and authentic. I think the author did a fantastic job of portraying emotions. They felt believable and personal. There is one chapter. And it's only memories, not even the characters interacting... but I was sobbing and crying.
Still, this is not a character focused story, it's actually very action packed and fast-paced. But I loved how the character moments we got really made an impact.
The plot was mostly predictable, but I think that was intentional. At least for me, it worked to know more than the characters. And it never got boring. So many things were happening all the time.
Despite not being perfect, my reaction to the ending and the release date of the sequel made it clear that this had to be 5 stars for me in the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Homophobia, and Suicidal thoughts
squisheebee_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.0
This is one of those books that is absolutely worth it in the end.
Three plot lines all interwoven with loads of complications.
Three plot lines all interwoven with loads of complications.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Islamophobia, and Abandonment
Moderate: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Child death, Homophobia, Blood, and Death of parent
booksthatburn's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
THE BURIED AND THE BOUND follows three teenagers trying to deal with curses and keep the boundary intact between the magical and the mundane in their town.
Aziza, Leo, and Tristan make a strong trio. Their various strengths, weaknesses, and histories lead to a good balance between narrative tension and general ability to work together to fight the hag. While many things end up working out in their favor, it’s never perfect. This creates an air of them fighting for everything that goes right, but not always winning. They're developed separately and together, with Aziza and Leo feeling more like a duo in the first half, then cohering with Tristan into an actual trio by the end.
Aziza is a hedgewitch, living with her grandfather and maintaining the magical boundary near the town. Leo has been cursed to forget his true love, unable to even process it if anyone tries to tell him details of the person he's forgotten. Tristan is working for a hag in exchange for getting a curse broken, finding himself more and more horrified by what the hag is asking him to do.
The worldbuilding is very character-focused, giving information as it matters to the characters for specific things that are happening. Part of this is because they are navigating the ways that magic intertwines with the mundane parts of their lives. There’s very little focus on the non-magical aspects, with almost no focus on school despite the ages of the characters. The main way that that comes up is in backstory about missing school or changing schools. Otherwise, most mundane details relate to family life or the challenges of being an unhoused teen. I prefer books which lean into the magic and avoid the daily grind of being a teenager going to school, so this balance was perfect for me. I like how Aziza's background becomes increasingly relevant as the story goes on, moving from minor details into a driving aspect of her decisions going forward.
The main thing that I didn’t like is that towards the end there’s some language used around changelings which mirrors the real world language used around autistic children when parents think that they have changed or somehow "lost" the non-autistic child they thought they had until that point. I'm aware that the book isn’t trying to be about autism, but culturally and linguistically these ideas are so intertwined that in Western literature anyone writing fantasy and using the concept of changelings ought to at least be aware of the connection. It's important to either write their changelings in a way that doesn’t evoke descriptions of autistic children or or to acknowledge and deal with that situation in some way. This fails to do either, playing the trope straight, slightly marring my enjoyment of the story.
I also didn't like one of the three audiobook narrators at first, but gradually he was less annoying as I got used to his voice. This does mean that anyone sensitive to the vocal tone of audiobook narrators might be better off reading a text version instead.
As the first book in a planned series, THE BURIED AND THE BOUND only resolves one of the three major issues introduced in the first half of the book. By the time I got to the ending I had forgotten that this was book one in a series and not a standalone, which means I was emotionally unprepared for the technically-not-a-cliffhanger ending which leaves the characters in a better place than they were before the book started, but with a lot of complications that will need to be dealt with as the series continues.
I like this as the first book in a series, and I plan to read the rest when they're available.
Aziza, Leo, and Tristan make a strong trio. Their various strengths, weaknesses, and histories lead to a good balance between narrative tension and general ability to work together to fight the hag. While many things end up working out in their favor, it’s never perfect. This creates an air of them fighting for everything that goes right, but not always winning. They're developed separately and together, with Aziza and Leo feeling more like a duo in the first half, then cohering with Tristan into an actual trio by the end.
Aziza is a hedgewitch, living with her grandfather and maintaining the magical boundary near the town. Leo has been cursed to forget his true love, unable to even process it if anyone tries to tell him details of the person he's forgotten. Tristan is working for a hag in exchange for getting a curse broken, finding himself more and more horrified by what the hag is asking him to do.
The worldbuilding is very character-focused, giving information as it matters to the characters for specific things that are happening. Part of this is because they are navigating the ways that magic intertwines with the mundane parts of their lives. There’s very little focus on the non-magical aspects, with almost no focus on school despite the ages of the characters. The main way that that comes up is in backstory about missing school or changing schools. Otherwise, most mundane details relate to family life or the challenges of being an unhoused teen. I prefer books which lean into the magic and avoid the daily grind of being a teenager going to school, so this balance was perfect for me. I like how Aziza's background becomes increasingly relevant as the story goes on, moving from minor details into a driving aspect of her decisions going forward.
The main thing that I didn’t like is that towards the end there’s some language used around changelings which mirrors the real world language used around autistic children when parents think that they have changed or somehow "lost" the non-autistic child they thought they had until that point. I'm aware that the book isn’t trying to be about autism, but culturally and linguistically these ideas are so intertwined that in Western literature anyone writing fantasy and using the concept of changelings ought to at least be aware of the connection. It's important to either write their changelings in a way that doesn’t evoke descriptions of autistic children or or to acknowledge and deal with that situation in some way. This fails to do either, playing the trope straight, slightly marring my enjoyment of the story.
I also didn't like one of the three audiobook narrators at first, but gradually he was less annoying as I got used to his voice. This does mean that anyone sensitive to the vocal tone of audiobook narrators might be better off reading a text version instead.
As the first book in a planned series, THE BURIED AND THE BOUND only resolves one of the three major issues introduced in the first half of the book. By the time I got to the ending I had forgotten that this was book one in a series and not a standalone, which means I was emotionally unprepared for the technically-not-a-cliffhanger ending which leaves the characters in a better place than they were before the book started, but with a lot of complications that will need to be dealt with as the series continues.
I like this as the first book in a series, and I plan to read the rest when they're available.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Slavery, Torture, Medical content, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
Minor: Lesbophobia
CW for memory loss (graphic), intrusive thoughts (minor).