A review by tsunni
The Daughters of Izdihar by Hadeer Elsbai
tense
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? It's complicated
3.0
I'm very torn on this. On one hand I think the story did a decent (though ham fisted) job going into some very real feminist issues that reflect both personal experience and stories I've heard from women of more traditional cultures, while also creating some overall sympathetic and likeable flawed characters as protagonists.
On the other hand the writing is definitely clunky, the characters lean toward blunt and one note in service of illustrating the aforementioned issues, and the magic system is lifted straight from Avatar; I was letting that go until the story dove into a subplot about waterbending weaving that was also pulled directly from the same series. The whole arc of water weaving being learned was basically Katara's. That made me raise an eyebrow; there's derivative but this was closer to a straight copy.
Part of me wants to read part two to see how the good parts resolve, especially after a very abrupt cliffhanger. All the less desirable parts of the writing that come along with it is making me hesitate to continue.
On the other hand the writing is definitely clunky, the characters lean toward blunt and one note in service of illustrating the aforementioned issues, and the magic system is lifted straight from Avatar; I was letting that go until the story dove into a subplot about water
Part of me wants to read part two to see how the good parts resolve, especially after a very abrupt cliffhanger. All the less desirable parts of the writing that come along with it is making me hesitate to continue.