embee3'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? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Genocide, Medical content, and Violence
Moderate: Blood and Alcohol
Minor: Death of parent, Homophobia, Sexism, Classism, and Fire/Fire injury
laurenkimoto's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
Spoiler
wow I’ve been reading too much contemporary romance that I forgot that high fantasy has themes and/or acts of genocide</>spoilerGraphic: Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Racism, Violence, Alcoholism, Blood, Child death, Classism, Colonisation, Torture, Xenophobia, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexism, Slavery, and War
Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Gun violence, Homophobia, Alcohol, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Abandonment, Addiction, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Infertility, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Religious bigotry
mjwhitlock18's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Spoiler
Nahri’s choices still drive me crazy sometimes and WTF @Dara how could you make the same monumental mistake a second time. I love Ali’s passion but like damn sometimes someone just needs to put a hand over his mouth! Ghassan deserved worse. I still hope for the best for Jamshid and Muntadhir, but this hope might hurt me later… Maybe a hot take, but Ali deserves Nahri far more than Dara.Graphic: Violence, Death, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Rape and Homophobia
thoughtsontomes's review
- 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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: War and Violence
Minor: Homophobia
n_asyikin_'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
With evocative & sensuous world-building, the story drew you in as a reader with detailed descriptions so vivid that you could almost feel them with the tips of your fingers. The action scenes were as thrilling as they were cinematic; some highlights include
Spoiler
Nahri summoning a sandstorm to put out the fire when the Daevas were under attack during the Navasatem procession, & Ali controlling the water from the lake & atmosphere to help defeat unexpected enemies when Daevabad was under attack.Aside from its captivating settings, you'd be just as invested in the emotional roller coaster the characters will put you through. Often limited by their perspectives, the issues rooted in prejudices would likely leave you cursing them for the lack of insights & humanity. But, it made the confrontation by those from the community made marginalised in this world,
Spoiler
like Dr Subha's & Aqisa's unforgiving criticismsSpoiler
The tyranny of Ghassan was matched by the coldness of Manizheh; where the former had an immediate impact to the storyline, the latter acted as an external source of danger that foreshadowed doom.You'd also ache from the destruction & reconstruction of trust in familial, platonic & romantic relationships. You'd come to sympathise with them in one part, vilify them in the next. Mostly, you'd hope that they could look beyond their insecurities (caused not by each other, but common enemies) & be a better person. Because you've fallen for them & don't want (begged!) to come to hate their moral failings. Basically, Chakraborty brilliantly led the readers to fester on frustration & fear, heartaches for yearning, before moving you with acts of devotion & love. I think Ali's relationship with Muntadhir exemplified this perfectly. (Despite their complicated relationship, the Qahtani siblings are my favourite!)
I don't think I have sufficient words to rave over this book & series. Chakraborty's writing was effectively visceral to me that despite months after I read the 1st book, I still remember it clearly; I suspect Kingdom of Copper will be no different. I'm excited (& also fear) to read the final book of the trilogy!
If you're interested in incredible world-building with fascinating magical creatures rooted in North African & Asian myths set against political intrigue & intimate connections, the Daevabad series will give you the adventure you need!
Graphic: Violence and Xenophobia
Moderate: Misogyny and Blood
Minor: Homophobia