Reviews with content warning for Panic attacks/disorders - The Faithless: Magic of the Lost, Book 2

Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'

The Faithless: Magic of the Lost, Book 2 by C.L. Clark

7 reviews

cameronreads's review against another edition

4.0

I’m really liking this series so far. I understand why some people may not like it; I feel like people might find this book in particular quite boring, as it’s mostly political, but I really enjoyed it. I really love exploring these complex characters and the moral questions that come into play, especially when it comes to a retribution arc. I think the relationship between our two main characters is so intriguing, and I love how slow it burns. I like the discussions it brings up about colonialism and racism, and I think the representation in all areas, especially the Black, sapphic and disability rep, is great. I would have liked it if Pruett and Fili’s points of view were developed a bit more, as I often forget they existed and was surprised when they came up again, and therefore wasn’t very invested in them as characters or their little sections of plot. This did feel a little like a filler book, with a degree of second book syndrome, but I still really enjoyed it and can’t wait for the final instalment I’m the trilogy.

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annamariemreads's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

4.75

"Maybe this was not the kind of thing that moved the borders between hearts and changed the shape of empires. Maybe this was only a gasp of a moment, something they wouldn't even be able to recollect in twenty years, not even to remember fondly, not even to regret. In a week, in a month, it could flare and disintegrate into ash, burning them both up along with everything they cared about. Maybe it was nothing at all."

The Faithless by C.L. Clark is the stunning second installment of the Magic of the Lost trilogy. Once again, the reader is faced with the uncomfortable topic of colonialism and what it looks like to stare the oppressor straight in the face and say: FUCK. YOU. The second book in any series or trilogy can either make or break a story. Well. Let me make one thing clear: The Faithless makes this story come even more alive, 10 billion times over. When I tell you I was not bored ONCE during this book, I mean it.

What I loved:

The Faithless is equal parts a character driven narrative as well as a plot driven narrative.
The pacing of this book is TOP TIER. I found myself saying "One more chapter... nope, wait, one more chapter after this..." oops it's 1am and now I have to work in 6 hours. Like!!! I honestly cannot tell you the last time I stayed up this late to read a book.
Touraine's journey to finding herself. Her wants, her needs, her desires. What SHE wants. Not what Luca wants from her, not what Jaghotai wants her to accomplish, not what Pruett wants from her, not what Qazal expects of her. Touraine finally gets to put herself first and DAMN was that incredible to read about.
Luca's character development is Chef's FREAKIN kiss. Our princess is ready to RISK IT ALL for our girl Touraine and tbh, I'm here for it. Not only is Luca coming to terms with what kind of queen she aspires to be, but she is also coming to realize that not everything has to be done the way her ancestors would have wanted her to do it. Luca will ascend the throne and rule Balladaire the way she wants and the way Touraine wants her to. And, similar to Touraine, Luca is deciding things for herself. What kind of person SHE wants to be, who SHE wants to be for Touraine, for Balladaire, for Sabine, for Gil. Someone Tiro can learn from and aspire to be. Not who her parents expected her to become and certainly not someone who Nicolas expects to start thinking for herself. Luca takes Touraine's opinion of her very seriously. The growth is outstanding.
Gil is a wonderful character. I love his relationship with Luca and how he's practically her father. I am so happy we get more queer representation with him.
Sabine is such a great character, sometimes infuriating, but a wonderful addition to the story. Her flirtatious nature is excellent. Can C.L. Clark please
give us our threesome between Luca, Sabine, and Touraine in the next book? PRETTY PLEASE?

What I didn't love/why I didn't give it a 5 star rating:

Pruett's storyline is a tad boring in the sense that I’m not fully invested in her character the way that I am with Luca, Touraine, Sabine, etc. Her POV is clunky and takes you out of the story in a way that doesn't flow well with the book as a cohesive.
I missed Jaghotai in this book a lot. I hope we see more of her in the next book.

Here are some quotes that made me stare into the void and dissociate:

"I think it might be her, Aranen. I may be the world's biggest idiot, but I think I want her. And for the first time, it won't hurt anybody else."

"We are who we are. We want what we want."

"My girl, you haven't been just a soldier in a very long time."

"We're all just pretending. Keeping shields up and hiding as best as we can, from friends and enemies alike. They were all so unbearably lonely under the masks."

I truly cannot wait for the third and final installment to arrive. It's going to be everything and more, I just know it.

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anxiousnachos's review against another edition

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adventurous dark

5.0

I bow down to C.L Clark for breaking my reading slump and causing me to read 350 pages in one day.

This had all of the in-depth political machinations, interrogation of colonisation and brilliant character relationships that made me adore the first book in this series. Dark, brutal, angry - this book is one of rage against the colonial powers who will do everything to keep control. It is about discovering that freedom doesn’t mean a lack of duty.

Content warnings: graphic depictions of colonisation, imperialism, racism, graphic depictions of injuries, torture, blood, sexual content, gun violence, violence, kidnapping, panic attacks/ptsd, child death, vomit, cannibalism, war

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plume_de_renarde's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense medium-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

5.0

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eegekay's review against another edition

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challenging dark 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

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hailstorm3812's review against another edition

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adventurous dark 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

4.0

This is the most toxic relationship and I can't get enough of it. I need more lesiban psycho sexual mind games while grabbling with the effects of colonialism. I never quite tell where these books are going but I am holding on for the ride.

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purrson's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

I received this as an giveaway (ebook) ARC, and took my time with it. I enjoyed this installment in the Magic of the Lost series better than the first, but that’s not a dismissal of how good the first book is. They both are incredibly difficult to put down, and deliciously queer.

While The Unbroken (which is told through either Luca or Touraine’s eyes) is heavy with the work of laying down foundations and building rich, complex characters trying to survive constant complex trauma—and adds beautiful world-building, magic, and cultures that feel familiar but are different enough to be fantastical—it never flinches from the depth and breadth of colonialism and all the harm it brings. The Faithless builds well on that base, so when our main characters are far from home we still feel the pressures of those strong personalities and the vibrant homeland counting on their success. That’s helped along by shifting the perspective throughout the book more frequently than The Unbroken; while we’re still mainly given the story through Luca or Touraine’s perspectives, at times The Faithless gives Aranen, Pruett, or even Fili the lead, and we’re privy to their thoughts and feelings. Those shifts help The Faithless’ plot feel as if it moves faster, as it introduces more moving parts without sacrificing any depth or detail. The machinations our protagonists work to uncover and survive are constantly spinning, even on the last page, which just builds my excitement for Book 3. The villains are both straightforwardly evil but are also unreliable narrators throughout; they present different faces to different characters, but there’s also a sense that things are going on behind their closed doors even we have yet to see. Some things they’ve hidden are revealed by the end, but some threads aren’t connected, some mysteries left unsolved for now.

Fili’s experiences with the Fingers, for example, provoke questions of their backing—who’s giving them orders? How do they know where to attack Luca’s carriage on its return from Champs d’Or? Why is Luca’s abdication not enough for them, that they must assassinate her too? Between her quest for the lost religion and the stability she brings to Qazāl’s independence—not colonization, motives abound. When Fili’s master brings them hot chocolate after our MCs only experience it with Ghislaine Bel-Jadot—which she says Evrard De Travers gave it to her—it’s a clue one of them is involved. Which of them are the key to the Fingers, and are they working on orders from the Duke? I felt sorry for Fili, who’s drenched in naïveté and such an easy mark given her mother’s former career. As eager as she is to prove herself, she’s clearly taken advantage of, and has no idea the Princess she hates would protect her gift with their god, or that she is key to protecting the Qazāl. Just as her master’s assurances of allying with Qazāli ‘later’ ring false to the reader, we don’t know how assuaged she is by them. She brings another point: the religion. While Bel-Jadot’s explanations make sense, the murder of children seems at great odds with Fili’s experiences and even Touraine’s use of blood in healing Luca. Jadot’s claims seem more in line with the darker use of magic, using death to get your aims met, instead of just blood. There must be enough blood involved with using scythes in the harvest (just as Pruett is nipped by the vulture), that such measures aren’t truly necessary—we never catch wind of the Many Legged regularly feeding children to their animals, for instance. And for as much as the Duke has ensured the Balladaire god won’t be fed, the connection of the grain and the Withering says otherwise.

This series is truly shines at representing the constant onslaught of colonialism and violent white supremacy and the bottomless hunger and violence of its adherents. We see how this structure harms everyone, even the colonizers themselves aren’t without their losses, and their working class in Balladaire is struggling and ripe for rebellion or political exploitation, or both. But the plot doesn’t lose itself in pity for the those at the top or even the middle of the heap, and focus is kept on the Qazāli; we’re led to understand a bit more of Touraine’s broken & bruised soul and her trauma, and what’s at stake for their future. All of the characters are complex—even the villains, with all the cruelty and dehumanization they show certain characters, have some depths beyond their evil.

Abuse—emotional, psychological, physical; systemic and familial—its all handled well in this series too. As Luca & Touraine come closer to unpacking their childhood experiences and finding themselves in their present, their growth makes me more excited about Book 3. The slow burn romance worked well too

I was relieved we finally got some spicy scenes

🔥
Absolutely recommend ⭐️

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