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caityreviews's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It was a solid YA book, but it's just really not my style. If you anly read YA, I think you would enjoy the book a lot more than I did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Child abuse and Death of parent
Minor: Child death
phaedruus's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
inspiring
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Torture, and Death of parent
book_loving_dragon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Blood, and War
nieva098's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
I was looking forward to this book. But it was hard to undersjanger what was happening and it was kind of boring and hard to get through, will not be reading the next one. But i would like to try something else from this author.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse and Emotional abuse
bri__'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really enjoyed this book, the chapters are versatile being both long and short and the dual pov was captivating. I was deeply enraptured in the writing style and main relationship of the characters. I will say I did not expect the plot twists and I found the main conflict scene to be very fast paced compared to the build up but other than that I found this to be an entertaining read and im anticipating the pure pain of the next one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
edilyaaang's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I was so excited to read this book because it got so many good reviews only to be disappointed by the story. At first I disliked Nasir. How can someone be an assassin and be so weak-willed at the same time. My blood boiled when he said the lines "I wanted my father's approval so I became a monster" like wtf is wrong with you! I know he had a terrible time growing up but it's not like he lost his compassion. He still knows what he is doing for his evil father was wrong and it breaks his heart evertime he kills someone innocent but he does it anyway so that his dad can love him wtf. I got soooo tempted to drop the book a third of the way but then things got exciting so I pushed through. But then I started disliking Zafira. It's like she just can't make up her mind. She's all for camaraderie one moment then cold and angry the next. Despite everything the gang has been through, she just can't trust anyone and is always full of suspicion which in turn affects the groups dynamic. Not to mention she was sooo useless at the battle in the end, she can't even keep the Jawarat safe for pete's sake! There were tons of times that I wanted to just throw the book out of frustration and give up on it but I was nearing the end so I just gritted my teeth and tried my best to finish the book. Whew, what a journey. I heard the 2nd book is waaaaaaay better than this though so I look forward to reading that but this one drove me nuts. Lol
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Animal death, Gaslighting, and Classism
takarakei's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.0
Title of review: get the audiobook!
I listened to only the audiobook for the first ~25% and then finished the rest in one day by doing a combo of audiobook + reading a physical copy (the first time I've done that which I did enjoy). That first 25% was pretty slow going only on audiobook, and I definitely made use of the author/book's website to look up the map and the terminology/characters many many times as I was quite confused with what words meant (wish these were in the physical book for easy reference, idk how people get through without it).
The narrators (one for each MC POV) were fantastic - and I definitely think it added to the drama and action/pacing of the latter part of the book. I especially love how the narrator does Altair's voice, it's just perfect and def made him my fav character. The beginning is very slow and not even just because of world building, just like...nothing happens? for a while. Once the quest actually begins the story does pick up and then probably the final half of the book things really get more interesting with the introduction of additional characters, and their interplay/relationships/camaraderie building. By the end I didn't want to put it down, but the ending did feel a bit abrupt. And for that reason I feel like I have to continue reading the series because nothing is resolved at all.
Some romance: enemies to lovers, pretty slow burn (it's YA) 0-1/5 spiceonly a kiss . This is not the main focus of the plot.
I did find the history of the world (the 6 sisters, how magic works) a bit confusing, but I think it's intentionally donesince so much is revealed about who characters are and their relationships as the story progresses.
I likely wouldn't have rated it at 4 stars if I hadn't done the audiobook, but kudos to the publisher for getting great narrators! I'll definitely be doing book 2 on audio also.
I listened to only the audiobook for the first ~25% and then finished the rest in one day by doing a combo of audiobook + reading a physical copy (the first time I've done that which I did enjoy). That first 25% was pretty slow going only on audiobook, and I definitely made use of the author/book's website to look up the map and the terminology/characters many many times as I was quite confused with what words meant (wish these were in the physical book for easy reference, idk how people get through without it).
The narrators (one for each MC POV) were fantastic - and I definitely think it added to the drama and action/pacing of the latter part of the book. I especially love how the narrator does Altair's voice, it's just perfect and def made him my fav character. The beginning is very slow and not even just because of world building, just like...nothing happens? for a while. Once the quest actually begins the story does pick up and then probably the final half of the book things really get more interesting with the introduction of additional characters, and their interplay/relationships/camaraderie building. By the end I didn't want to put it down, but the ending did feel a bit abrupt. And for that reason I feel like I have to continue reading the series because nothing is resolved at all.
Some romance: enemies to lovers, pretty slow burn (it's YA) 0-1/5 spice
I did find the history of the world (the 6 sisters, how magic works) a bit confusing, but I think it's intentionally done
I likely wouldn't have rated it at 4 stars if I hadn't done the audiobook, but kudos to the publisher for getting great narrators! I'll definitely be doing book 2 on audio also.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Child death and Injury/Injury detail
saoreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
5.0
I guess there were too many negative biases and notions I had before reading this duology, seeing book reviews of it specifically, which is a folly because it's a different story when you read it yourself to get the experience. The novel's high fantasy emergence did not scare you into thinking it was a bore; there was this kind of indulgence and mystique with the way the author weaved storytelling; it made readers patient, allowing it to unfold as it does, and waiting to see how it will come about. It flowed with realistic aspects in relationship dynamics which didn't follow a typical one. There were no words needed to express how true this was within the Arawiya lands. You waited for it and just as you thought, it's a relief both calm and sorrowful with how it ended out. I can't wait to read more about what happens when the Zumra journeys back away from Sharr, though it's a question if they really did in the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment
theresag's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, and Blood
Minor: Torture
esme_t's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Child death