sosopablo's review against another edition
2.0
A lot of the book seemed to be stuck in act 1. Very focused with building the world and setting the scene but not enough happened in terms of plot. The writing is beautiful in my opinion and the characters are really well done. The world feels so real from its economy, the food and people, a truly vibrant setting but not enough happens within it. Taj, our protagonist, lacks agency for a lot of the story and merely has things happen to him for the sake of the plot. By the time we reach the climax, everything develops a very rushed feel to it and we are just propelled along to the end which is a bit jarring if you've spent the past hundred or so pages taking everything slow.
dlberglund's review
4.0
I was captivated by this world of sin-eaters and dangerous smoke monsters, of Mages who wield their power like a scythe, and too many street urchins to count. The aki have the power to eat the sins of others, taking the physical embodiment of the sins (and the guilt associated with them) into themselves. The Mages control the religious practice as well as the decision of whose sins may be purged (Spoiler alert: it's not the poor), leaving them pure and guilt free. Taj is known as one of the most powerful aki in the land, which leads him into traps and palace intrigue.
The ending leads us directly to book 2, and was honestly a little perplexing to me. But the world and the characters insist that I will be reading the second book.
The ending leads us directly to book 2, and was honestly a little perplexing to me. But the world and the characters insist that I will be reading the second book.
wombat_88's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
5.0
librosydragones's review against another edition
2.0
Rating 2.5/5 ★
En la ciudad amurallada de Kos, los Magos corruptos pueden conjurar las perversiones cometidas por un pecador en monstruosas bestias: criaturas letales engendradas por los sentimientos de culpa. Los aki son jóvenes devoradores de pecados al servicio de los magos para deshacerse de dichas bestias.
Cuando a Taj, un joven y talentoso aki, se le ordena devorar un pecado de un miembro de la realeza, se ve arrastrado a una oscura conspiración, y deberá luchar por salvar a los seres que ama y su propia vida.
❧
Tenía muchas expectativas puestas en este libro, por ser una novela de fantasía con influencia Nigeriana, ya que he leído muy pocas novelas con influencia Africana. Sin embargo me decepcionó bastante el desarrollo de la historia, el autor no supo aprovechar la mina de oro con la que estaba trabajando. La historia parece una introducción interminable para algo que no pasa nunca.
❧
No se sabe absolutamente nada sobre los Magos, ni del origen de sus poderes, ni qué los hace especiales. Tampoco se habla sobre los aki, sobre qué los hace especiales, ¿por qué de repente las pupilas de los niños se tornan blancas, y pueden devorar pecados? Se toca superficialmente el tema de la mitología de Kos, que fue lo más interesante de la novela. Se describe mucho a la ciudad y sus costumbres.
❧
Los personajes si están bien construidos, sobre todo Taj, el protagonista. Los aki son necesarios para devorar los pecados de la gente, ya que si el volúmen de pecados supera cierto límite, según las leyendas de los Magos, una catástrofe va a suceder. Sin embargo, los aki son despreciados por todos, son poco más que esclavos con una posición favorable por su habilidad única de devorar pecados.
❧
El romance me pareció poco realista, ya que se da de forma instantánea, de hecho difícilmente se lo puede llamar romance. Sin embargo tiene importancia hacia el final. Como verán, no quedé impresionado con la historia, pero el autor se reservó una sorpresa o dos para el final, así que quedé intrigado, y quisiera leer la conclusión de esta bilogía.
En la ciudad amurallada de Kos, los Magos corruptos pueden conjurar las perversiones cometidas por un pecador en monstruosas bestias: criaturas letales engendradas por los sentimientos de culpa. Los aki son jóvenes devoradores de pecados al servicio de los magos para deshacerse de dichas bestias.
Cuando a Taj, un joven y talentoso aki, se le ordena devorar un pecado de un miembro de la realeza, se ve arrastrado a una oscura conspiración, y deberá luchar por salvar a los seres que ama y su propia vida.
❧
Tenía muchas expectativas puestas en este libro, por ser una novela de fantasía con influencia Nigeriana, ya que he leído muy pocas novelas con influencia Africana. Sin embargo me decepcionó bastante el desarrollo de la historia, el autor no supo aprovechar la mina de oro con la que estaba trabajando. La historia parece una introducción interminable para algo que no pasa nunca.
❧
No se sabe absolutamente nada sobre los Magos, ni del origen de sus poderes, ni qué los hace especiales. Tampoco se habla sobre los aki, sobre qué los hace especiales, ¿por qué de repente las pupilas de los niños se tornan blancas, y pueden devorar pecados? Se toca superficialmente el tema de la mitología de Kos, que fue lo más interesante de la novela. Se describe mucho a la ciudad y sus costumbres.
❧
Los personajes si están bien construidos, sobre todo Taj, el protagonista. Los aki son necesarios para devorar los pecados de la gente, ya que si el volúmen de pecados supera cierto límite, según las leyendas de los Magos, una catástrofe va a suceder. Sin embargo, los aki son despreciados por todos, son poco más que esclavos con una posición favorable por su habilidad única de devorar pecados.
❧
El romance me pareció poco realista, ya que se da de forma instantánea, de hecho difícilmente se lo puede llamar romance. Sin embargo tiene importancia hacia el final. Como verán, no quedé impresionado con la historia, pero el autor se reservó una sorpresa o dos para el final, así que quedé intrigado, y quisiera leer la conclusión de esta bilogía.
alisarae's review
In the Nigerian-esque city of Kos, there are basically three types of people: sin-eaters who take people's sins and live with them so the sinner can walk free of guilt, mages who call the sin-beasts out of the sinner so the sin-beasts can be eaten, and people who need their sins taken away. Beasts Made of Night follows an extra-special sin-eater who is asked to become the personal sin-eater of the royal family, and gets wrapped up in a political conspiracy along the way.
Things I liked:
* Nigerian influences—I really enjoyed the Arabic words that were woven into the story, the traces of Islam in the religion of Kos, the foods and even the way that characters interacted (if you have hung out with Nigerians before, you will recognize a lot ;)
* The concept of sin, the weight of guilt, and how the society of Kos revolves around sin, purity, and dealing with both.
Things I didn't like:
* I'm still confused about the political conspiracy??? What is the motivation behind people who already have absolute power and wealth to want to change an-y-thing about that power structure??
* I could care less about all of the characters except for the nerdy mage girl. She was cute. Let's have this story told from her POV.
* The story was setting up the world for a very long time (I was patient; I thought it would pay off), lots of key details of the world are poorly explained or not explained at all (I was patient; I thought the story would answer my questions eventually), then suddenly the MC gets wrapped up into a political conspiracy, there is a lot of demon fighting, and the book ends. I guess the ending is a cliffhanger and there will be a sequel. The pacing is weird though, and I'm disappointed that I was so patient without being rewarded.
There was such a strong concept and start to the book, but the end appeared to be way less polished than the beginning. I got the feeling that this one was taken out of the oven a little too soon and maybe the editor and author were just sick of working on it.
Things I liked:
* Nigerian influences—I really enjoyed the Arabic words that were woven into the story, the traces of Islam in the religion of Kos, the foods and even the way that characters interacted (if you have hung out with Nigerians before, you will recognize a lot ;)
* The concept of sin, the weight of guilt, and how the society of Kos revolves around sin, purity, and dealing with both.
Things I didn't like:
* I'm still confused about the political conspiracy??? What is the motivation behind people who already have absolute power and wealth to want to change an-y-thing about that power structure??
* I could care less about all of the characters except for the nerdy mage girl. She was cute. Let's have this story told from her POV.
* The story was setting up the world for a very long time (I was patient; I thought it would pay off), lots of key details of the world are poorly explained or not explained at all (I was patient; I thought the story would answer my questions eventually), then suddenly the MC gets wrapped up into a political conspiracy, there is a lot of demon fighting, and the book ends. I guess the ending is a cliffhanger and there will be a sequel. The pacing is weird though, and I'm disappointed that I was so patient without being rewarded.
There was such a strong concept and start to the book, but the end appeared to be way less polished than the beginning. I got the feeling that this one was taken out of the oven a little too soon and maybe the editor and author were just sick of working on it.
reemofbookingdom's review
4.0
Please, please tell me there’s a sequel. There has to be a sequel!!
Soo.. Beasts Made of Night is a Nigerian inspired fantasy. This is something absolutely new and unique. Although at first I had some trouble fully understanding some new words, it was an awesome read and I enjoyed every bit of it.
The story plays on something that not many people give much thought to, I, myself never thought about it like this. Sins. I was entranced by this beautiful, dark world where sin-beasts are summoned from people -sinners- and are devoured by Aki -sin-eaters- . The world somewhat reflects on our reality, mainly the part where people commit sinful acts and they just ignore it and blame it on others.
The concept of the story is simply amazing. The main character, along with other characters as well, are just wonderful. The world and it’s darkness, the culture.. everything, everything is amazing. It was fast-paced, which made even harder to put down. Although, the actual plot, started to unwind after about half the book. But that doesn’t mean it’s not good, actually I think it was very good. First you had the chance to understand this new world and see it unravel, with its new words, its rules and its morals, then you moved on the shocking plot.
Soo.. Beasts Made of Night is a Nigerian inspired fantasy. This is something absolutely new and unique. Although at first I had some trouble fully understanding some new words, it was an awesome read and I enjoyed every bit of it.
The story plays on something that not many people give much thought to, I, myself never thought about it like this. Sins. I was entranced by this beautiful, dark world where sin-beasts are summoned from people -sinners- and are devoured by Aki -sin-eaters- . The world somewhat reflects on our reality, mainly the part where people commit sinful acts and they just ignore it and blame it on others.
The concept of the story is simply amazing. The main character, along with other characters as well, are just wonderful. The world and it’s darkness, the culture.. everything, everything is amazing. It was fast-paced, which made even harder to put down. Although, the actual plot, started to unwind after about half the book. But that doesn’t mean it’s not good, actually I think it was very good. First you had the chance to understand this new world and see it unravel, with its new words, its rules and its morals, then you moved on the shocking plot.
joshgauthier's review
3.0
Despite some odd pacing and development of the story, Beasts Made of Night is an interesting YA fantasy that tackles themes of justice, guilt, and power enmeshed in a unique world of mages and commoners, sin eaters and royals. An unwinding journey through this place of sin beasts and ancient lore builds into a larger conspiracy and a dramatic conclusion setting the stage for the story still to come.
alyssakwriter's review
3.0
I have a mixed feelings about this book. Overall I did enjoy the book and thought it was written well. This story is unique and unlike anything I have ever read before. The author did an amazing job of showing the reader Nigerian culture and mythology. However, with all of that being said I feel like there were some issues with the plot and flow of this book.
In the beginning the book was good and the pace was set well. The minute that Taj ended up in the palace as the King's personal sin eater is when things got a little weird to me. The plot seemed to jump and seem like one thing was going to happen, but then boom he's out in the forest training aki. Okay, that's plausible. However the odd relationship with Princess Karima threw me off and I felt like that was forced. Especially the the this-could-be-the-start-of-a-romance with Aliya was touched upon. The ending seemed a little rushed and there were so many things happening all at once. What happened with all of Taj's original sin spots? Suddenly Bo has the same power as Taj with the inisisia and he teamed up with Karima? Like whattttttttt. I think that was meant to be a plot twist but it just added to the confusion of what was going on at the time. And then the Sky-face and Lightbringer nickname wasn't explained until the end?! Personally I felt like there were a few opportunities where it could have been brought up prior.
Anyway, other than those issues I did enjoy the book and am interested to see what happens in the second novel.
In the beginning the book was good and the pace was set well. The minute that Taj ended up in the palace as the King's personal sin eater is when things got a little weird to me. The plot seemed to jump and seem like one thing was going to happen, but then boom he's out in the forest training aki. Okay, that's plausible. However the odd relationship with Princess Karima threw me off and I felt like that was forced. Especially the the this-could-be-the-start-of-a-romance with Aliya was touched upon. The ending seemed a little rushed and there were so many things happening all at once. What happened with all of Taj's original sin spots? Suddenly Bo has the same power as Taj with the inisisia and he teamed up with Karima? Like whattttttttt. I think that was meant to be a plot twist but it just added to the confusion of what was going on at the time. And then the Sky-face and Lightbringer nickname wasn't explained until the end?! Personally I felt like there were a few opportunities where it could have been brought up prior.
Anyway, other than those issues I did enjoy the book and am interested to see what happens in the second novel.
browneyesblue84's review
4.0
This was the first YA novel written by a Nigerian author and it won’t be my last. Though, I am not familiar with the culture reading this story made me want to know more and learn more. Taj is an awesome protagonist. He kept me completely engaged. I enjoyed watching him flourish. Despite the odds, he remained determined to do what was right and necessary. Even at the end of the story, he made the right decision after learning the truth. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book because that ending left me wanting more.
katietheman's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
This book was ~fine~
Interesting concept and story generally. Like many others, my biggest gripe was the pacing of the story. We made it to 50% in (at least) and I wasn't sure where the story was going. Around page 250 we finally get an answer to the world building that got skipped over at the start. And the last 50 pages kind of came out of nowhere and the sense of time was nonsensical (yes, it's fantasy but also, it should still follow some rule).
Some of the characterizations were inconsistent- primarily our main character Taj, but I liked what the author was trying to do with the characters
Interesting concept and story generally. Like many others, my biggest gripe was the pacing of the story. We made it to 50% in (at least) and I wasn't sure where the story was going. Around page 250 we finally get an answer to the world building that got skipped over at the start. And the last 50 pages kind of came out of nowhere and the sense of time was nonsensical (yes, it's fantasy but also, it should still follow some rule).
Some of the characterizations were inconsistent- primarily our main character Taj, but I liked what the author was trying to do with the characters