jarichan's review against another edition
3.0
Der zweite Teil der Trilogie lässt sich deutlich besser lesen als noch Band eins. Dennoch fand ich nicht so recht in die Handlung hinein. Sie ist zu lang gezogen, geht einmal hierhin, dann wieder dahin. Schlussendlich war ich mir nicht mehr sicher, was die Autorin nun eigentlich will. Alles in allem fehlte der Fokus. Hätte die Reihe mehr als drei Teile, hätte ich hier abgebrochen. Aber ein Buch passt wohl noch rein.
spinecorset's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
5.0
ilikereadingactually's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
4.75
lucaengelhard's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-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
4.5
areaderintime's review against another edition
* DNF @ pg 65 *
This book is just too boring for me to continue with. I don't particularly care about the characters and just don't feel the need to continue with this series...
This book is just too boring for me to continue with. I don't particularly care about the characters and just don't feel the need to continue with this series...
myfavoritefiction's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
mj_them's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
I wish I knew there were books like this when I was younger.
talon1010's review against another edition
5.0
WOW. There were moments where I wondered if, between this and Tiger's Daughter, Rivera only had one trick. Even if that were true, she nailed it twice.
For less cloudy and spoiling reviews, the book was absolutely excellent. At first and later on, there were other stories I hoped we may hear, but the story we did did not suffer for its lack. The mastery of time and perspective were, if anything, upgraded from their use in the previous book. Where Tiger's Daughter made use of them in order to manipulate the narrative, each facet in this book spoke to the vast and significant themes: marriage, war, personhood and autonomy, responsibility, language....
I'd especially emphasize that the manipulation and mastery over character development, relationships, and nature hit really hard for me. As Shefali and Shizuka evolve as people, they do so as gods, too, and neither is separate from the other, even when it is. Somehow, Rivera does something I normally detest-- an extremely soft, ill-defined world and magic-- and makes it work like I've never seen. I caught myself several times accounting for what exactly a character could or could not do, magically, and even when I couldn't come up with an answer, or when I didn't expect something that did happen, it didn't throw me off. Learn as I might about how to and to not use magic to solve problems or characterize, Rivera breaks the molds and still shines.
For less cloudy and spoiling reviews, the book was absolutely excellent. At first and later on, there were other stories I hoped we may hear, but the story we did did not suffer for its lack. The mastery of time and perspective were, if anything, upgraded from their use in the previous book. Where Tiger's Daughter made use of them in order to manipulate the narrative, each facet in this book spoke to the vast and significant themes: marriage, war, personhood and autonomy, responsibility, language....
I'd especially emphasize that the manipulation and mastery over character development, relationships, and nature hit really hard for me. As Shefali and Shizuka evolve as people, they do so as gods, too, and neither is separate from the other, even when it is. Somehow, Rivera does something I normally detest-- an extremely soft, ill-defined world and magic-- and makes it work like I've never seen. I caught myself several times accounting for what exactly a character could or could not do, magically, and even when I couldn't come up with an answer, or when I didn't expect something that did happen, it didn't throw me off. Learn as I might about how to and to not use magic to solve problems or characterize, Rivera breaks the molds and still shines.
milointhewoods's review against another edition
3.0
what i actually wanted was shefali’s story. and at times, i truly didn’t understand what was happening. but i enjoyed this.