Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

A Fire Born of Exile by Aliette de Bodard

2 reviews

avacadosocks's review

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challenging tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

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adancewithbooks's review

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emotional
  • 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

  Thank you to JAB Books for the review copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion in anyway.   

A Fire Born of Exile is another long novel set in Aliette de Bodard's Universe of Xuya, a collection of various stories set in the same universe. This book reminded me a lot of The Red Scholar's Wake from last year but in the end I think this book is much more approachable to a wider audience. 

This book is said to be sapphic the count monte christo in space. I'm not that familiar with the count monte christo so I can't quite judge that but it is a great sapphic story in space. While I'm not usually drawn to revenge stories this one I really felt. 

We meet Minh, daughter of the ruling prefect, sneaking out to the festival with her best friend. An unfortunate attempt at kidnapping puts her in the path of Quynh who has some ulterior motives for 'befriending' the young girl. 

Like I said, this is a story of revenge, Quynh's story of revenge. So much was taken from her in her previous life, just to make an example. She has decided to take revenge on those that wronged her. And she will do it by any means nessecary. 

But this story questions if one must keep going with that revenge. If it is really worth it when other paths open up to you? When perhaps you could have a life again. And is by any means nessecary something one truly wishes to lose their soul over? 

I wasn't immediately a fan of Quynh. She's guarded but as she slowly opens up to the possibility of others, of happiness we see her for who she is. 

I also loved that we got multiple sides to the story, like Minh who feels incredibly trapped and sees Quynh as her ticket out of under her mothers thumbs. It was interesting to see how others saw her. Because while she doesn't have a great life she also has a lot of priviledge compared to those in the lower parts of the belt. It kept balancing everything out. 
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