tebs's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
leanne_miron's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Suicide
jmbz38's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
scrow1022's review
5.0
One of those books where, when I got off the train, I had to step to the side of the station so I could keep reading, desperate to finish it.
So cool. So interesting. Such emotion and fascinating world-building in such a spare book. I can't wait to read the others in the series, and I'll be getting these in print so that my kids can read them too in a few years.
So cool. So interesting. Such emotion and fascinating world-building in such a spare book. I can't wait to read the others in the series, and I'll be getting these in print so that my kids can read them too in a few years.
analisea's review
3.75
Pretty good, surprised me a few times, like jaw drop surprise, which is fairly rare.
paperbackstacks's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
katzuyas's review
1.0
I was so excited for this one because the cover is gorgeous and the idea of it seemed appealing enough, but... this was overall a very disappointing read.
the main issue I have with this book is that it reads more like a script or a summary of a much longer book. first of all, most of it is empty of any emotional reactions at all and doesn’t involve the reader in any way through the writing or characters. and then, there are time skips in this, long absent years during which ALL character development happens and we’re just being told that oh, ok so thing thing has changed now, deal with it. it’s incredibly frustrating tbh and it makes the characters seem almost empty when we actually see them again.
the other issue I can’t look past is the lack of a single plotline in all of 235 pages of this. the author keeps skipping plotlines over and over and never finishing the started ones, which honestly just makes this book seem to be about nothing? like, I’m really not sure what was the main thing it was supposed to be about. rebellion? akeha and mokoya’s relationship? their relationship with their mother? WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?
I’ll give the props where it’s due, so a great thanks for including lgbt and nonbinary characters, and generally the you can choose your own gender thing was awesome, but that is not enough to make a book great when it’s lacking in all the other aspects apart from this.
I bought all 4 books in this series, so I will most likely read them too, but I don’t expect my opinion on this change. Tbh, I wish I hadn’t bought them...
1.5 stars
the main issue I have with this book is that it reads more like a script or a summary of a much longer book. first of all, most of it is empty of any emotional reactions at all and doesn’t involve the reader in any way through the writing or characters. and then, there are time skips in this, long absent years during which ALL character development happens and we’re just being told that oh, ok so thing thing has changed now, deal with it. it’s incredibly frustrating tbh and it makes the characters seem almost empty when we actually see them again.
the other issue I can’t look past is the lack of a single plotline in all of 235 pages of this. the author keeps skipping plotlines over and over and never finishing the started ones, which honestly just makes this book seem to be about nothing? like, I’m really not sure what was the main thing it was supposed to be about. rebellion? akeha and mokoya’s relationship? their relationship with their mother? WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?
I’ll give the props where it’s due, so a great thanks for including lgbt and nonbinary characters, and generally the you can choose your own gender thing was awesome, but that is not enough to make a book great when it’s lacking in all the other aspects apart from this.
I bought all 4 books in this series, so I will most likely read them too, but I don’t expect my opinion on this change. Tbh, I wish I hadn’t bought them...
1.5 stars
jiyoung's review
3.0
The worldbuilding had so much potential–children are non-binary theys until they decide a gender for themselves, the underclass use technology to rebel against the elemental magic of the elite–but it fell short. The plot’s broad strokes were compelling, but the dialogue and character motivations were undercooked. Chapters would begin 6, 10 years after the last, leaving too much to the imagination that could’ve (should’ve!) been rounded out with more worldbuilding detail. I was left wanting more.
ninsiana0's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
Read THE BLACK TIDES OF HEAVEN if you love twins, breaking free, dysfunctional families, tyrants, monasteries, uprisings, discovering your identity, prophesies, genderfuckery & beginnings.