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kenzibir's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
literarypenguin'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
This book picks up five years after the events of the first one. Nahri is now trapped in a loveless marriage under the thumb of King Ghassan. Ali is banished from Daevabad trying to build a better life for himself in a foreign land. Dara has been resurrected to once again be used as a weapon for the Nahids to take over Daevabad. This book has a much darker tone with some very heavy themes presented. The theme of war, how both sides are fighting for what they believe is right and no matter what happens no side truly wins a war over something like this.
Having the multiple perspectives really aided this book! I loved the addition of Dara's POV, I thought it added a lot to see his side of the conflict and why he was doing the things he did in the first and second book. Out of all the stories I really enjoyed seeing Ali's story! Seeing him grow and come into his own. How he learned to stand up for himself against his family, how he was firm in his beliefs and his need to help people. He was still fearful of his magic but he wanted to understand them and why he was granted them in the first place.
The world itself was still beautiful while there was less magical creatures in this one the city of Daevabad was still a beautiful place to see written in a book. This was a very politics heavy and character driven book! I enjoyed seeing the politics at play and getting to see the characters have to do some less than savory things to get things accomplished!
I am looking forward to finishing this book and finishing the series as a whole! I cant wait to see how the Daevabad trilogy is going to end!
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, and Slavery
Minor: Infidelity and Sexual assault
spacerkip'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
I really fell in love with Ali as a character in this book. The timeskip provided him with the appropriate room to grow and come into his own as an active force, rather than a reactive one. I loved seeing him spark loyalty in those around him and rise as a leader. I think the author does wonderful job of showing how a character sees themself and internally justifies their own actions. You can follow the logic of a POV character and understand why they act the way they do, then switch POV and feel completely different about them once you see their actions from the outside.
I am once again going against my usual habits and picking up the next book as soon as I can. As soon as I finish some other library books...it is SO over for me.
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Slavery, Trafficking, and Fire/Fire injury
ko_rax'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
Love the execution of political turmoil! For a few scenes, I wished that Chakraborty refrained from telling than showing, but those moments were so sparse that they did not rip me out of the flow.
If the first novel was Nahri's arc, then this one is most definitely
I am delighted by the twists and turns! I have already picked up The Empire of Gold.
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Genocide, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Infidelity, Rape, and Slavery
mice_are_nice'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
4.5
Graphic: Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Slavery, Trafficking, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Child death
rjwilde's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Child death
kikireads1232'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
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Torture, Violence, and War
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
dreadspawn'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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Murder, and War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Slavery, and Death of parent
_forestofpages'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
There was never a time where I felt like the author was trying to tell me how to feel and instead had these incredibly complex characters and morals and different wills and beliefs all mixed up, and it was realistic and frustrating and compelling at every turn. I was frequently yelling at the pages, these characters who I like so much.
The last 200 pages took me for a ride and had me constantly tense and worried for everyone. I had no idea what would happen. Exhilarating and wild ending. I cannot wait to pick up the third and final book.
Nahri finally did what I wanted and made her own choices! She seems much more matured and cautious. I also grew to love several other characters I didn't like or just didnt understand in the first book.
Graphic: Death and War
Moderate: Child death, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Body horror and Slavery
bessadams'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, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Racism, Death of parent, and Classism