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A review by theirgracegrace
The Bruising of Qilwa by Naseem Jamnia
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
A powerful and heart-wrenching debut from Naseem Jamnia. Firuz is trying to raise their family of refugees from a nearby country under military occupation in the free city of Qilwa. However, to make ends meet, they have to hide their blood magic abilities while working in the one free hospital in the city. As they do, they discover a mysterious plot is rising, and only blood magic could be to blame. An incredible story from a queer-normative world that really speaks to the southwest Asian immigrant experience. The twist is one I did not see coming in the slightest, and the ending gave me hope for the characters' broken world.
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Racism, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Dysphoria, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Police brutality, Religious bigotry, and Classism
Minor: Transphobia and Vomit