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hailstorm3812's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I will eat my hat if this didn't start as fanfiction, and i could definitely make a few guesses as to what. You can tell with the interesting character relationships and the extremely well written sexual tension, and the front loaded worldbuilding and not at all thought through political ideologies. Girl why are you falling in love with the genocidal white man? He really doesn't grow and change politically in what we see. Yeah he opens up to her and sees her as human but the rest not so much. Which is so frustrating because the author succeeds at making it so so hot. I honestly think a lot could have been solved by making them both POC, which would cause less unsavory allusions which I don't think were intentional. He could still have magical hair. Why is draco here? I'm a little bit with Soraya here. Taking down corrupt monarchs and trying to kill the heir of the country that decimated yours, like she has a point. Ok but moving on I really did like Sylvie, her complex journey, and all of her unwanted connections to loved ones. Her friends, Rory, and Fairel really shine. Dawoud only had one scene but it really hit. Overall I have a lot of qualms with the romance, but I did like it and will probably read the next one. Also like, you are going to write insane amounts of heat, to the point where I, someone who is rooting for the antagonist to kill the love interest, thinks they should fuck, and when they finally act on their feels they only make out for a half a second. Come on.
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, and War
Minor: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Acephobia/Arophobia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation
kbairbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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
5.0
A huge thank you to the author, and publisher, for giving me an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
If you love N. Caceres and Chelsea Abdullah then you will LOVE Sara Hashem. This book was dark, cruel, and angry. But it was also a beautiful discovery that love is worthwhile, an incredible tale of friendship, and the most delicious slow burn I’ve come across in a while. The authors voice was so strong, the descriptions were so rich, and the world was so fleshed out. And Arin? UGH. YES. Everything about his, please and thank you. And that ending? PHEW!! I blew through it like my eyes were on fire and finishing the book was the fire extinguisher. SO GOOD. I can’t wait for book two!
If you love N. Caceres and Chelsea Abdullah then you will LOVE Sara Hashem. This book was dark, cruel, and angry. But it was also a beautiful discovery that love is worthwhile, an incredible tale of friendship, and the most delicious slow burn I’ve come across in a while. The authors voice was so strong, the descriptions were so rich, and the world was so fleshed out. And Arin? UGH. YES. Everything about his, please and thank you. And that ending? PHEW!! I blew through it like my eyes were on fire and finishing the book was the fire extinguisher. SO GOOD. I can’t wait for book two!
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
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