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nonesensed's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I started this book, got two chapters in, then realized I needed to re-read the first book to remember who all the side-characters where. Whoops! Didn't mind revisiting the first book though, it was thrilling the second time around too.
Enjoyed this sequel! It builds on the first book and gives you the progress and the setbacks that the events in the first book logically would lead to. Don't want to spoil anything. Let's just say that all character development and relationship developments were well foreshadowed and interesting to come along with, and meshed well with the plot developments related to the magic and politics.
Can't wait for book three!
Graphic: Child death, Violence, Medical content, Murder, and Colonisation
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
lady_valhella's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Torture, Grief, and Gaslighting
becca303's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
cameronreads's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Kidnapping, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Racial slurs, Death of parent, and War
risaleel's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Violence, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Murder, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual content, Torture, Kidnapping, Grief, and Medical trauma
Minor: Child death and Death of parent
theirgracegrace's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Excrement, and Vomit
Minor: Ableism and Cultural appropriation
professor_jango's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
eegekay's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Ableism, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Drug use and Cannibalism
alexalily's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Gore, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Kidnapping, Grief, and Alcohol
deedireads's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
TL;DR REVIEW:
The Faithless, sequel to The Unbroken, is a pretty good book two. I found the pacing a little uneven, but the ending was great and I’m looking forward to book three.
For you if: You read and liked The Unbroken (lesbians + magic + dismantling colonialism).
FULL REVIEW:
Thank you, Orbit, for the review copy of The Faithless! This is the second book of C.L. Clark’s Magic of the Lost trilogy, the first of which (The Unbroken) I enjoyed a lot. I liked this one a lot, too.
To recap without spoilers, the Magic of the Lost trilogy is about two countries, Qazāl (colony) and Balladaire (colonizer), which are inspired by a historical Morocco and France. Tourraine begins The Unbroken as a Qazāl conscript in the Balladairan army. Luca is the princess of Balladaire, waiting until she’s old enough to be crowned while her uncle rules as regent. Also, the Qazāli have a magic rooted in their faith, while Balladaire has outlawed all religion (and magic). The Unbroken takes place in Qazāl and focuses on the Qazālis’ rebellion, and The Faithless picks up a few months later and mostly takes place in Balladaire. (Also yes, these books are very sapphic.)
My main criticism — although it’s not a loud one — is that I found the pacing uneven. All the action happens in the second half, especially the last 20% or so. (That’s pretty common for a second book; the author has resolved the first big plot arc and turns their attention to deeper character development.) But while I was impatient for more action, I can also say that I was never bored. I loved getting to know our main characters better and some characters (Sabine! Pruett!) for the first time.
But overall, I remain deeply impressed by Clark’s nuanced depiction of colonialism and how hard it is to disentangle it — to overthrow from a rebellion’s perspective, to dismantle from the inside, and to undo its effects on how people see themselves and each other. I can’t wait to see where the story goes in the trilogy’s final book.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Colonisation
Moderate: Death of parent