kylieqrada's review
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5 ⭐s. This was, dare I say it, even better than the first one. And no fatphobia?!?!? You go, Glen Coco!!!! I'm v excited to finish out the trilogy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, and Death
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child death, and Murder
Minor: Domestic abuse, Rape, and Slavery
catapocalypse's review
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I greatly enjoyed the first book, but unfortunately this one dragged a bit for me.
This is the second installment in Banker's Burnt Empire saga, and actually takes place concurrently with the events of the first book. We see this timeline from perspectives in the lands Jarsun is building into his Reygistan Empire, where the Burnt Empire of Hastinaga is only a distant power. Most of the narrative is dedicated to the perspectives of Jarsun's wife Aqreen and daughter Krushita as they flee from him, as well as the perspective of Tyrak, a boorish crown-prince who inherits a monstrous legacy.
The title and commonly posted blurbs/synopses imply that the main focus is on Krushita, but Tyrak's portions take up at least half of the book. Unfortunately, I didn't find him very enjoyable. He's not poorly written; the fragile ego of an insecure and often ignorant man causing anger issues, violence, and oppression is very realistic. Maybe too realistic, because with so many real life issues originating from such people, spending so much time with a fictional one was not appealing to me. I'd hoped for much more time with Krushita and Aqreen.
Still, it was interesting to see what was going on in Mraashk, Reygar, etc. during the events of the first book. And hearing interesting perspectives about the Krushan from those far removed from the Burnt Empire itself. Though I didn't enjoy all the time with Tyrak, it wasn't a bad book, and I do look forward to the next in the series.
This is the second installment in Banker's Burnt Empire saga, and actually takes place concurrently with the events of the first book. We see this timeline from perspectives in the lands Jarsun is building into his Reygistan Empire, where the Burnt Empire of Hastinaga is only a distant power. Most of the narrative is dedicated to the perspectives of Jarsun's wife Aqreen and daughter Krushita as they flee from him, as well as the perspective of Tyrak, a boorish crown-prince who inherits a monstrous legacy.
The title and commonly posted blurbs/synopses imply that the main focus is on Krushita, but Tyrak's portions take up at least half of the book. Unfortunately, I didn't find him very enjoyable. He's not poorly written; the fragile ego of an insecure and often ignorant man causing anger issues, violence, and oppression is very realistic. Maybe too realistic, because with so many real life issues originating from such people, spending so much time with a fictional one was not appealing to me. I'd hoped for much more time with Krushita and Aqreen.
Still, it was interesting to see what was going on in Mraashk, Reygar, etc. during the events of the first book. And hearing interesting perspectives about the Krushan from those far removed from the Burnt Empire itself. Though I didn't enjoy all the time with Tyrak, it wasn't a bad book, and I do look forward to the next in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Animal death, Murder, Body horror, Blood, and Gore
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Slavery, Trafficking, Vomit, Domestic abuse, and Rape
madarauchiha's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
3.5
❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜 my about / byf / CW info carrd: uchiha-madara 💜 💙 💚 💛 🧡 ❤️
It took three hours to finish, but felt more like four and a half. Incredibly long, kind lagged in some places, very entertaining, graphic but in an over the top horror movie eay. The pace was pretty slow but it's more because there is a huge cast to it. I was grossed out by the breastfeeding fetish(?) thing. You can absolutely tell a cis man wrote this lol
I was a little disappointed that the main characters from from first book didnt feature too much. I had expected a straight continuation. It's not a bad thing that it wasn't. I'd rather the story move on rather than linger especially because if the slow pacing. don't expect a conclusion. This is at least a three parter, as far as I can tell.
At times it did feel a little cheesy and like a b movie? I chalk it up to Bollywood flavored storytelling. It did make me skip a few scenes, like the Colosseum, just because I wanted to know what was happening with other characters.
I am interested in seeing how this concludes, but I'll wait until I know the series is finished before diving back in.
Content warnings:
minor: slavery, animal stillbirth, sexual violence, rape, domestic abuse, poisons, child death, death,
medium: animal death, body horror, child death, death, disease, drugs, insects, marital infidelity, murder, paranoia, parasites, self harm, sexual harassment, sexual violence, snakes, unsanitary
major: ageism, animal cruelty, animal death, arson, body horror, breastfeeding, cannibalism, casteism, child abuse, child death, child soldiers, colonization, confinement, death, demolition, domestic abuse, elder abuse, fire, genocide, gore, house fires, misogyny, murder, prisons, torture, unreality, unsanitary, violence, wars
It took three hours to finish, but felt more like four and a half. Incredibly long, kind lagged in some places, very entertaining, graphic but in an over the top horror movie eay. The pace was pretty slow but it's more because there is a huge cast to it. I was grossed out by the breastfeeding fetish(?) thing. You can absolutely tell a cis man wrote this lol
I was a little disappointed that the main characters from from first book didnt feature too much. I had expected a straight continuation. It's not a bad thing that it wasn't. I'd rather the story move on rather than linger especially because if the slow pacing. don't expect a conclusion. This is at least a three parter, as far as I can tell.
At times it did feel a little cheesy and like a b movie? I chalk it up to Bollywood flavored storytelling. It did make me skip a few scenes, like the Colosseum, just because I wanted to know what was happening with other characters.
I am interested in seeing how this concludes, but I'll wait until I know the series is finished before diving back in.
Content warnings:
minor: slavery, animal stillbirth, sexual violence, rape, domestic abuse, poisons, child death, death,
medium: animal death, body horror, child death, death, disease, drugs, insects, marital infidelity, murder, paranoia, parasites, self harm, sexual harassment, sexual violence, snakes, unsanitary
major: ageism, animal cruelty, animal death, arson, body horror, breastfeeding, cannibalism, casteism, child abuse, child death, child soldiers, colonization, confinement, death, demolition, domestic abuse, elder abuse, fire, genocide, gore, house fires, misogyny, murder, prisons, torture, unreality, unsanitary, violence, wars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Self harm, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Murder, Self harm, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
Minor: Slavery, Animal death, Sexual violence, Rape, Domestic abuse, Child death, and Death
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