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mme_carton'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
3.75
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and War
Moderate: Confinement, Slavery, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
abookstereotype1'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? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, and Death of parent
corriejn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
4.25
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Minor: Torture, Cannibalism, and War
vashtanarada42'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
Moderate: Confinement, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Slavery, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting
maryannsophia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
But her characters are morally ambiguous and tortured. I got tired reading chapter after chapter of PTSD, trauma, anxiety, and distress without a real sense of hope.
The characters' sense of right and wrong is very tied to their feelings.
Lastly, there is no clear bad guy, or good and evil. While there is a place for "No bad guy" in fiction, the forces in this book are tricksters out for their own agendas, manipulating and backstabbing as they see fit. If that's your cup of tea, then it's up to you.
As good as the wonderful cultural and folklore references are, I can't in good conscience recommen this book. As a third-culture kid who grew up in Africa, that's why I was drawn to this book. But it's tone and worldview are too bleak and disatisfying to justify recommending it.
Minor: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent
ghouligan'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? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Xenophobia, and Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Blood, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Although the story is historical fiction inspired by West African folklore, the author has created a story that mirrors many current events in the U.S. and across the globe.valpyre'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
3.5
the worldbuilding here was fairly interesting, but i found this a fairly slow listen overall, and it took me right till around 80% to really get into it.
i did actually appreciate that the two protags spent a lot of time apart in the book -- i think it set them up really well as independent characters with their own goals -- however i was never really taken up with the romantic part of their relationship.
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
queenie_ofthe_void'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
4.0
Moderate: Body horror, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and War
mn0rgan'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? No
4.75
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, and Death of parent
Moderate: Self harm
pagebypaigereviews's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
--A Song of Wraiths and Ruin
Once every 50 years a comet passes by Ziran, and its people hold a week long celebration to usher in a new era. But unbeknownst to the majority, the comet's passing has even greater significance than just a reason to party. Malik and Princess Karina each harbor dangerous secrets, which leads them on separate, deadly missions to save someone they love.
A Song of Wraiths and Ruin is told from two perspectives: Malik and Princess Karina. Each main character has their own mental health struggles and unresolved trauma. It features a unique magic system and world building. I was fascinated by the concept behind the belief system, but the amount of world building did make it slower for me to get into. Most of the action picks up in the second half of the book. The end was a series of shocking reveals that had me yelling at my book!
One thing that kind of bothered me was the ease with which each of the characters considered murder. I thought there would have been more moral qualms associated with the act. It also seemed a little repetitive at times. At the end, I still had a hard time understanding everything about the magic system, so I hope we get more explanation in the next book.
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, and Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, and Blood
Minor: Genocide, Slavery, and Vomit