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morganphoenix's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Gore, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Trafficking, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Death of parent
miyaosamu's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
“But everything doesn't have to be a reminder of what you've lost. Some things can be a powerful symbol of what you've survived.”
This was an absolutely exhilarating read that I could not put down, definitely an unexpected book that consumed me from beginning to end. The Descent of the Drowned is a tough read to stomach for sure, the author includes trigger warnings before the start of story. Saying one of the 2 mains, Roma goes through a lot is an understatement, her character is a product of the system of child prostitution and slavery being brainwashed that it is their divine duty since birth, yet Roma is the only one out of all her sisters in the system that doubts and she is just so profoundly fierce unnerving but my heart breaks once the reader learns more of her trauma and her mental headspace. On top of the topics I just mentioned this book also includes torture, multiple accounts of rape, violent assault, mutilation, emotional abuse and manipulation and more. The world building was enthralling along with the complex social hierarchy and magic systems along how mythology was intertwined with it all. The pre-Islamic Arabian mythology was so intriguing with how Lal din wrote it into villagers daily lives and majority depending on it. Also the dual perspectives, wow there is nothing more satisfying to me than dual povs that are done so well especially with letting us into the deeper minds and thoughts of both mains. Levi, the male main, both him and Roma being counterparts yet both so morally grey, in conflict with themselves, and suffering through traumas similar in nature with how it led to the person they have become and deeply burying their overwhelming amount of pain and emotions they don't want to process. I just love them both so much. Levi being a complex character who feels too much, love and pain and more, with his childhood of love and kind hearted soul yet forced to endure military training and become a ruthless unfeeling soldier on the surface level. Both characters' inner monologues were captivating and hard hitting in feeling every single emotion and vulnerability that runs through them. A lot of the revelations were surprising yet unsurprising to me as I expected this with looking forward to how it's going to be explored in the next book. Gah I just find myself so easily emotionally attached to morally gray characters who have so much more to unpack within themselves. After that ending, I'm highly anticipated and 2022 cannot come sooner!
arc provided by publisher via netgalley
This was an absolutely exhilarating read that I could not put down, definitely an unexpected book that consumed me from beginning to end. The Descent of the Drowned is a tough read to stomach for sure, the author includes trigger warnings before the start of story. Saying one of the 2 mains, Roma goes through a lot is an understatement, her character is a product of the system of child prostitution and slavery being brainwashed that it is their divine duty since birth, yet Roma is the only one out of all her sisters in the system that doubts and she is just so profoundly fierce unnerving but my heart breaks once the reader learns more of her trauma and her mental headspace. On top of the topics I just mentioned this book also includes torture, multiple accounts of rape, violent assault, mutilation, emotional abuse and manipulation and more. The world building was enthralling along with the complex social hierarchy and magic systems along how mythology was intertwined with it all. The pre-Islamic Arabian mythology was so intriguing with how Lal din wrote it into villagers daily lives and majority depending on it. Also the dual perspectives, wow there is nothing more satisfying to me than dual povs that are done so well especially with letting us into the deeper minds and thoughts of both mains. Levi, the male main, both him and Roma being counterparts yet both so morally grey, in conflict with themselves, and suffering through traumas similar in nature with how it led to the person they have become and deeply burying their overwhelming amount of pain and emotions they don't want to process. I just love them both so much. Levi being a complex character who feels too much, love and pain and more, with his childhood of love and kind hearted soul yet forced to endure military training and become a ruthless unfeeling soldier on the surface level. Both characters' inner monologues were captivating and hard hitting in feeling every single emotion and vulnerability that runs through them. A lot of the revelations were surprising yet unsurprising to me as I expected this with looking forward to how it's going to be explored in the next book. Gah I just find myself so easily emotionally attached to morally gray characters who have so much more to unpack within themselves. After that ending, I'm highly anticipated and 2022 cannot come sooner!
arc provided by publisher via netgalley
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent
lyonsdenprojects's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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
This book was unlike anything I had ever read before. It is dark, and beautiful, and power, and sad all at the same time. The world building of this Persian inspired fantasy is spectacular and the slow progression of the plot never left me bored only ever yearning for more. I can't WAIT for the sequel and look forward to more amazing things yet to come from this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Rape, Transphobia, and Trafficking
Minor: Pedophilia, Self harm, and Death of parent
gigireadseverything's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
*I received this ARC from NetGalley*
Trigger warnings include, but certainly aren’t limited to, rape, child abuse, sexual slavery, trafficking, violence, murder, verbal abuse, emotional abuse, and drug use.
Trigger warnings include, but certainly aren’t limited to, rape, child abuse, sexual slavery, trafficking, violence, murder, verbal abuse, emotional abuse, and drug use.
The world created in this book is incredibly complex and richly drawn. Full points to the author for creating such a real world in a debut. However, it’s a world that is so unrelentingly dark and violent that it quickly becomes an overwhelming and depressing read.
I had to double check that this was actually classified as YA because the staggeringly dark themes and the slow development made me think this must be adult fantasy but it’s not. Personally, I would reclassify this as New Adult or Adult rather than YA.
The pain and violence that are ever present in this book are intentional on the author’s part. The book is dedicated to Rohingya Muslims and the author says in her acknowledgment that she wanted to draw attention to war crimes, trafficking, ethnic cleansing, etc. She succeeded in that regard.
When I finished this book, I was convinced I wasn’t going to read the sequel, despite finding it well written and giving it a 3.5 star rating, because of how emotionally draining it was to read. However, now that two weeks have passed (and I’ve recovered by reading a fluffy contemporary romance), I find myself deeply curious about where Roma’s journey will take her in the next book. Levi is significantly less interesting to me (the side characters connected to him even less so) but Roma’s story could continue in a myriad of ways and I find myself wanting to see what happens to her. I just hope we’re past the point where trauma after trauma after trauma is inflicted on her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
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