sylsbookcorner's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Y’all this book, there aren’t words to describe how good this book is! I knew from the opening line it was gonna be a roller coaster and I was NOT disappointed. It grabbed me by the throat and didn’t let go til the last page! The world building is glorious, the magic system is clever, and the characters are endlessly interesting and messy and I love them. I couldn’t put it down and I cannot WAIT to devour the sequel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Murder, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death and Panic attacks/disorders
greysonk's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
literallytabz's review against another edition
2.0
With high hopes fueled by the resounding acclaim that had reached my ears regarding Tara Sim's enigmatic creation, The City of Dusk, my anticipation was a bonfire of desire, yearning to embrace this literary realm. Regrettably, the stars did not align for such an affectionate union. Amidst the tapestry of enchanting magic and vibrant panoramas that adorned the landscape, a tapestry woven with impeccable skill, many factors emerged that thwarted the intimacy I sought with the narrative.
Taesia's narrative arc, replete with intrigue and incident, takes center stage, seemingly monopolizing the canvas of attention. A shadow, however, is cast upon the supporting characters, their potential obscured or undernourished, generating an inequity that rang discordant to my reader's sensibilities. Amongst this ensemble, none etched an enduring mark upon my memory, and none left an indelible fingerprint upon my emotions, rendering their paths less traversed within my engagement.
Frankly, the plot often meandered through stretches of mundanity, akin to a tranquil river occasionally stirred by fleeting tempestuous gusts. While flashes of action and adventure did grace the pages, they resembled brief meteoric dashes across the nocturnal sky, scarce and transient. Curiously, the essence that imbued the world of Nexus with an intoxicating allure, its intricate and opulent magic system, inadvertently transformed into an ambivalent double-edged sword. The captivating expanse of knowledge and detail often overwhelmed the narrative's tempo, conferring upon it an unwarranted heft. For a tale of ostensibly uncomplicated design, The City of Dusk bore, at times, the weight of needless embellishment.
Nonetheless, within this labyrinth of prosaic expression, Tara Sim's penmanship unfurled like a masterful tapestry, her prose a symphony of elegance. Though occasionally veering toward the density of a rich confection, her words retained a captivating allure. Yet, this allure was entangled in a web of elaborate exposition, a veritable cascade of information that cascaded forth with little restraint, a tidal wave of backstory and elucidations that besieged the reader from the outset. An aura of overabundance lingered as if the author juggled a kaleidoscope of ideas, some regrettably slipping through the sieve of coherence. A few crevices in the edifice of world-building, all the more glaring against the backdrop of its intricacy, hinted at the challenge of balancing innovation with coherence.
Ultimately, a single question unfurls its significance, an inquisitive lighthouse that guides the currents of this critique: Did the tale kindle the flames of enjoyment within me? Alas, while aversion was not its fruit, neither was it the nectar of rapture. I confess the anticipation of its conclusion coursed through me on more than one occasion, eager to close the chapter and pivot toward fresh horizons. Despite the fragments that sparked admiration within me for The City of Dusk, I lament to admit that the symphony of our sojourn fell short of the crescendo I had sought, prompting a hesitant stance toward any prospective continuation of this symphonic series.
Taesia's narrative arc, replete with intrigue and incident, takes center stage, seemingly monopolizing the canvas of attention. A shadow, however, is cast upon the supporting characters, their potential obscured or undernourished, generating an inequity that rang discordant to my reader's sensibilities. Amongst this ensemble, none etched an enduring mark upon my memory, and none left an indelible fingerprint upon my emotions, rendering their paths less traversed within my engagement.
Frankly, the plot often meandered through stretches of mundanity, akin to a tranquil river occasionally stirred by fleeting tempestuous gusts. While flashes of action and adventure did grace the pages, they resembled brief meteoric dashes across the nocturnal sky, scarce and transient. Curiously, the essence that imbued the world of Nexus with an intoxicating allure, its intricate and opulent magic system, inadvertently transformed into an ambivalent double-edged sword. The captivating expanse of knowledge and detail often overwhelmed the narrative's tempo, conferring upon it an unwarranted heft. For a tale of ostensibly uncomplicated design, The City of Dusk bore, at times, the weight of needless embellishment.
Nonetheless, within this labyrinth of prosaic expression, Tara Sim's penmanship unfurled like a masterful tapestry, her prose a symphony of elegance. Though occasionally veering toward the density of a rich confection, her words retained a captivating allure. Yet, this allure was entangled in a web of elaborate exposition, a veritable cascade of information that cascaded forth with little restraint, a tidal wave of backstory and elucidations that besieged the reader from the outset. An aura of overabundance lingered as if the author juggled a kaleidoscope of ideas, some regrettably slipping through the sieve of coherence. A few crevices in the edifice of world-building, all the more glaring against the backdrop of its intricacy, hinted at the challenge of balancing innovation with coherence.
Ultimately, a single question unfurls its significance, an inquisitive lighthouse that guides the currents of this critique: Did the tale kindle the flames of enjoyment within me? Alas, while aversion was not its fruit, neither was it the nectar of rapture. I confess the anticipation of its conclusion coursed through me on more than one occasion, eager to close the chapter and pivot toward fresh horizons. Despite the fragments that sparked admiration within me for The City of Dusk, I lament to admit that the symphony of our sojourn fell short of the crescendo I had sought, prompting a hesitant stance toward any prospective continuation of this symphonic series.
ashm21's review against another edition
3.0
I have mixed feelings about this book. I had to stop and then come back to this book because I could not pay attention to it. I found that it was kinda boring. There were moments when I'd think wow okay we're taking a turn things are picking up just for it to kinda fall flat again. Some of the stuff seemed pretty repetitive. I didn't find that I loved any of the characters.
I will say the magic system is pretty cool nothing really new but still found intriguing.
I do plan on reading the second book in hopes that maybe it's just a slow start to the series and book two really give me the action that I love from fantasy.
I will say the magic system is pretty cool nothing really new but still found intriguing.
I do plan on reading the second book in hopes that maybe it's just a slow start to the series and book two really give me the action that I love from fantasy.
barcodeborrower's review against another edition
3.0
Wow! The world building and set up for this trilogy is awesome. The characters and their relationships with each other are complex and well-written. One of those all or nothing groups. There were many plot pieces that I am intrigued to see how the story pans out in the second book.
elisabethj200's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
4.75
vjlp22_reader's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Murder, Cannibalism, and Death
maregred's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Grief, Toxic friendship, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Body horror, and Fire/Fire injury