sunniva174's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, War, and Colonisation
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death and Ableism
lavenderdolmeh's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia and Colonisation
Moderate: Violence and War
good_names_dont_exist's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Colonisation
Minor: Death
brogan7's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
3.75
This book has some fascinating aspects, and a real "feel" that makes you want to like it. However, I was a little discouraged at its simultaneous critique and glorification of war, the whole concept of 'squires' so romanticized and even though the book points at disillusionment and the realities of a life as a warrior, it can't quite keep itself from its admiration.
Although it has ambitions to find a way to revolution and change, the authors' understandings seem a little too limited, as though it came down to eliminating one leader and then life would be wonderful. This over simplification is tempting as a plot solver, but doesn't make the story very believable or give an avenue for people seeking models of real change.
I wanted to like it more than I did.
Although it has ambitions to find a way to revolution and change, the authors' understandings seem a little too limited, as though it came down to eliminating one leader and then life would be wonderful. This over simplification is tempting as a plot solver, but doesn't make the story very believable or give an avenue for people seeking models of real change.
I wanted to like it more than I did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Xenophobia, Racism, and Colonisation
robinks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
This graphic novel is visually stunning, and the commentary on colonialism is quite nuanced because of the range of character perspectives we get to know. The ending was very satisfying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Racism, and Colonisation
Moderate: Classism, Racial slurs, Injury/Injury detail, and War
Minor: Death
booksandteatime's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Death, and Blood
whatisjordyreading's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and War
Moderate: Vomit, Xenophobia, Ableism, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Colonisation
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
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? N/A
disclaimer if you’ve read other reviews by me and are noticing a pattern: You’re correct that I don’t really give starred reviews, I feel like a peasant and don’t like leaving them and most often, I will only leave them if I vehemently despised a book. Thus, no stars doesn’t indicate that the book wasn’t worthy of any starred system. It just means I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all. Everyone’s reading experiences are subjective, so I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Happy reading! Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial
This is an excellent graphic novel about a scrappy, plucky young female main character Aiza, in Bayt-Sajji (which is influenced by Arabic nations/history), who comes from the conquered Ornu people, & partly because she seeks adventure & glory as a future sword-wielding knight, she enlists to become a Squire. The more important driving factor for her to do this is to gain full citizenship in this Empire. Sounds hard enough, right? On top of all that, she has to to hide her ethnicity! 💔🤯
Aiza makes friends and I appreciate the way they represent different perspectives of the empire and government. She trains under a disgraced squire and begins to unpack so much about the way that patriotic propaganda from the government should not be taken lightly, & it should also be questioned and challenged. This story interrogates imperialism, heroism & glory, oppression of ethnic identities, militarism & biased history/storytelling. The ending did feel a bit rushed but it didn’t ruin the reading experience for me.
The colors and art are inspired by the authors’ lived experiences and travels, which makes this beautiful story that much more meaningful and impactful! I read this via e-book & I really want my own copy now!
This is an excellent graphic novel about a scrappy, plucky young female main character Aiza, in Bayt-Sajji (which is influenced by Arabic nations/history), who comes from the conquered Ornu people, & partly because she seeks adventure & glory as a future sword-wielding knight, she enlists to become a Squire. The more important driving factor for her to do this is to gain full citizenship in this Empire. Sounds hard enough, right? On top of all that, she has to to hide her ethnicity! 💔🤯
Aiza makes friends and I appreciate the way they represent different perspectives of the empire and government. She trains under a disgraced squire and begins to unpack so much about the way that patriotic propaganda from the government should not be taken lightly, & it should also be questioned and challenged. This story interrogates imperialism, heroism & glory, oppression of ethnic identities, militarism & biased history/storytelling. The ending did feel a bit rushed but it didn’t ruin the reading experience for me.
The colors and art are inspired by the authors’ lived experiences and travels, which makes this beautiful story that much more meaningful and impactful! I read this via e-book & I really want my own copy now!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Colonisation, and War
kaitlinlovesbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Colonisation, War, and Violence
electricute's review
adventurous
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
A beautiful and thoughtful graphic novel.
Content Warnings
Minor: Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Racism