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scynth's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
grumpykitten16's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
3.5
em_2's review
3.0
To be honest, this book did not pull me in too much, and it was a bit hard to push through and finish it. I did like the character of Tea, the plot was nice, but it just felt sooo slow. I don't know how the individual pieces seem so interesting, the characters, the places, the plot, and yet it felt boring.
Oh well, we'll see if the next one is better...
Oh well, we'll see if the next one is better...
thebookstackattack's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
3.75
queermothman's review
5.0
World: 4.5/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
Overall: 4.5/5 stars for me. I really, really liked this but I think I read it at just the right time.
Plot & Characters:
This book is not for everyone.
It’s very weird in it’s narrative choices compared to lots of YA fantasy and reminds me more of adult fantasy in that it starts with a younger protag and over the course of the story she ages up. It also has an alternating timeline between the past and present, and the way this is done could be considered spoilery for scenes of chapters ahead. Heck, one of the last “present” chapters semi-spoils things for bk2! So if this is something that bothers you, STEER FAR AWAY or don’t read the “present” chapters.
At first I didn’t really understand why this was being written this way, so I skipped the “present” chapters and read all the past ones first since they’re the main story for this first installment. After that, I went back and read all the present chapters and WOW I’m glad I did because it made them and some other world things make a lot more sense. The "past" chapters are told in a way like she’s sitting there telling you everything because technically she is, only through the bard character we're introduced to in the present chapters.
She’s also an unreliable narrator, which makes some of the “holes” make more sense once you understand this. I just really appreciated this type of writing and the potential risks with it. It’s definitely more character and world focused, and if you don’t like the characters or if the world bores you, then you might not enjoy this book. Me? Couldn’t get enough.
The plot is pretty thin in the sense of the stakes aren’t huge, other-wordly, must destroy the One Big Bad like in many fantasies. It’s very exposition heavy and spends a lot of time on Tea’s journey to become an asha (something akin to geisha in Japan but with ~magic~). If you're wanting something with lots of high action, steer away from this book.
There was one issue I had plot wise: There is a big reveal towards the end that felt like it came out of nowhere to me, but then again, I could have missed some of the clues pointing toward this character. I dunno though.
I also really liked Tea as a character. She reminds me of me when I was younger, but with more spirit. From how the “present” chapters show her, it makes you wonder just how “good” she is, and I’m looking forward to how this will be explored in later books. My other favorite character has to be her brother, the one she resurrected, named Fox. I’m a sucker for protective older brothers, okay? All her fellow asha were fun to see as well, and they all had their own unique personalities so I was never confusing anyone.
World:
The world is my favorite part of this book. It’s very thick, more akin to an adult fantasy, and it’s the type that makes you work to discover some of its secrets. In that way, it reminds me more of how Truthwitch’s world building is placed: things are thrown at you and you have to use context clues to find out what some things mean.
The world feels familiar while also not at the same time. I found inklings of influences from ancient Japan, from Russia, and from various European countries, yet all these places had their own histories and customs that felt like their own. Better yet, it felt lived in, and this is what I’m always looking for in fantasy novels. I want it to feel authentic and thought out, not the next Generic White Medieval fantasy.
The magic system was super cool too, and it does take a bit to figure it out (context cluesss). Tea is a Dark asha, and one of her abilities is that she can raise the dead and kill monsters called daeva. I loved these monsters and want to know everything about them. /sob
Conclusion:
- slower storytelling with interesting characters and world
- low on action until the end
- well thought out world
- fun magic system
- narrative style could seem spoilery so be cautious
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
Overall: 4.5/5 stars for me. I really, really liked this but I think I read it at just the right time.
Plot & Characters:
This book is not for everyone.
It’s very weird in it’s narrative choices compared to lots of YA fantasy and reminds me more of adult fantasy in that it starts with a younger protag and over the course of the story she ages up. It also has an alternating timeline between the past and present, and the way this is done could be considered spoilery for scenes of chapters ahead. Heck, one of the last “present” chapters semi-spoils things for bk2! So if this is something that bothers you, STEER FAR AWAY or don’t read the “present” chapters.
At first I didn’t really understand why this was being written this way, so I skipped the “present” chapters and read all the past ones first since they’re the main story for this first installment. After that, I went back and read all the present chapters and WOW I’m glad I did because it made them and some other world things make a lot more sense. The "past" chapters are told in a way like she’s sitting there telling you everything because technically she is, only through the bard character we're introduced to in the present chapters.
She’s also an unreliable narrator, which makes some of the “holes” make more sense once you understand this. I just really appreciated this type of writing and the potential risks with it. It’s definitely more character and world focused, and if you don’t like the characters or if the world bores you, then you might not enjoy this book. Me? Couldn’t get enough.
The plot is pretty thin in the sense of the stakes aren’t huge, other-wordly, must destroy the One Big Bad like in many fantasies. It’s very exposition heavy and spends a lot of time on Tea’s journey to become an asha (something akin to geisha in Japan but with ~magic~). If you're wanting something with lots of high action, steer away from this book.
There was one issue I had plot wise: There is a big reveal towards the end that felt like it came out of nowhere to me, but then again, I could have missed some of the clues pointing toward this character. I dunno though.
I also really liked Tea as a character. She reminds me of me when I was younger, but with more spirit. From how the “present” chapters show her, it makes you wonder just how “good” she is, and I’m looking forward to how this will be explored in later books. My other favorite character has to be her brother, the one she resurrected, named Fox. I’m a sucker for protective older brothers, okay? All her fellow asha were fun to see as well, and they all had their own unique personalities so I was never confusing anyone.
World:
The world is my favorite part of this book. It’s very thick, more akin to an adult fantasy, and it’s the type that makes you work to discover some of its secrets. In that way, it reminds me more of how Truthwitch’s world building is placed: things are thrown at you and you have to use context clues to find out what some things mean.
The world feels familiar while also not at the same time. I found inklings of influences from ancient Japan, from Russia, and from various European countries, yet all these places had their own histories and customs that felt like their own. Better yet, it felt lived in, and this is what I’m always looking for in fantasy novels. I want it to feel authentic and thought out, not the next Generic White Medieval fantasy.
The magic system was super cool too, and it does take a bit to figure it out (context cluesss). Tea is a Dark asha, and one of her abilities is that she can raise the dead and kill monsters called daeva. I loved these monsters and want to know everything about them. /sob
Conclusion:
- slower storytelling with interesting characters and world
- low on action until the end
- well thought out world
- fun magic system
- narrative style could seem spoilery so be cautious
kblackmon's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
It's definitely young adult - the protagonist is 12-15 for the whole book, there's a handsome prince, and the younger asha behave like they're highschoolers, but those elements were balanced by an interesting premise and decent prose. I think this book is suitable for a YA audience but not so juvenile it would alienate adults.
I like the frame story/flashback structure and think it provides a nice ominous note to contrast with the fairly standard fantasy coming of age plot that's the bulk of the action.
The asha are basically just magic geisha who eat Persian food (it was fun seeing gormeh sabzi mentioned in a fantasy novel).
I originally picked this up because I wanted a revenge story, but apparently the meat of that occurs in later books because this one seems to be all backstory and dead monster army raising. I'm not that mad about it and will probably read the second book.
I like the frame story/flashback structure and think it provides a nice ominous note to contrast with the fairly standard fantasy coming of age plot that's the bulk of the action.
The asha are basically just magic geisha who eat Persian food (it was fun seeing gormeh sabzi mentioned in a fantasy novel).
I originally picked this up because I wanted a revenge story, but apparently the meat of that occurs in later books because this one seems to be all backstory and dead monster army raising. I'm not that mad about it and will probably read the second book.
sydneythekydneybean's review
Just couldn't get into it. I will try to pick it up again when I am in the mood for it