A review by levesc17
The Daughters of Izdihar by Hadeer Elsbai

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? It's complicated

3.75

 I don’t know why in some places it’s being listed as YA, to me this is adult themes and characters who make adult choices. There’s a lot of tension in this adult fantasy suffragette remix.Romantic tension between two wildly different women; crushing tension between patriarchal values and women’s rights; and the unfairness of who has magic and who doesn’t. There are two perspectives that alternate chapter by chapter, if anything I wish the book were longer to see the two characters overlap more, They occupy the same space but don’t really interact. There is a cliff hanger ending— and I suspect book 2 will give us more magic!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny

Moderate: Death, Violence, and Murder

Minor: Alcoholism and War

I think this could have been split into 2 books so that some parts weren’t so rushed. I felt all the parts of the book with magic were very glossed over and we didn’t get much time with her while she was at school which didn’t help. I’m hoping that in book 2 we will get more magic! That was mostly why I docked it from a 4 star rating. The tension of the story wasn’t balanced by enough whimsy, joy, or humor. Magic would have helped.