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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
I love this book! It reminds me of Ender's Games! Which is also my favorite but this book is so much better! Omg too good. I don't even know how to properly review this book.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book has potential. The themes of misogyny, classism, and eugenics are heavy topics that need a deft hand to guide them. Deka is a young girl desperate to conform, who is then rapidly abandoned by her support network when her blood is revealed to be gold. For example – the rejection from her father is cartoonishly fast and one-noted. A more experienced writer would consider and include the emotional toil of a parent forsaking their child to a supposed demon, even if just in glimpses.
The author rushes through important plot points via telling, and fails to give vivid descriptions unless she is detailing acts of torture. The writing level and the audience don't match up for this reason.
Emotional components are ham fisted. The rising action involves a scene in which Deka's dream team of gold blooded girls are assembled, and their "purpose" is spoken in plain, unnatural detail. "You, were chosen for your loyalty. And you (a survivor of torture, rape, slavery) were chosen because you have endless pain. A lake full of pain. The author includes painful, violent, traumatic adult themes, but the execution doesn't give it sufficient justice. It feels as if these real life topics are being used as plot points, instead of empowering survivors.
Relationships are underdeveloped. Shared trauma via osmosis is not sufficient to explain how they form. We are not shown how characters become attached by these experiences. We are expected to intuit that their shared oppression is enough to unite them in a sisterhood. Deka and her sidekick become attached at the hip very suddenly, with little motivation. A girl who resents Deka's optimism becomes a loyal friend and supporter. A misogynist solider sees Deka's worth and a romance appears soon after.
The author rushes through important plot points via telling, and fails to give vivid descriptions unless she is detailing acts of torture. The writing level and the audience don't match up for this reason.
Emotional components are ham fisted.
Relationships are underdeveloped. Shared trauma via osmosis is not sufficient to explain how they form. We are not shown how characters become attached by these experiences. We are expected to intuit that their shared oppression is enough to unite them in a sisterhood. Deka and her sidekick become attached at the hip very suddenly, with little motivation. A girl who resents Deka's optimism becomes a loyal friend and supporter. A misogynist solider sees Deka's worth and a romance appears soon after.
I understand that many felt inspired by this book, which is understandable. There are some one liners that, on their own, are powerful. "Are we girls, or are we demons? This book became popular for a reason. I think, mechanically, it is lacking, but the idea indicates potential for the author if she continues to develop her craft.
Ultimately, this book is an easy read for older people who can handle mature themes and just want to focus on action.
Ultimately, this book is an easy read for older people who can handle mature themes and just want to focus on action.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Rape
I am going to give this book a 3.5. There were parts of it I really enjoyed but there were others that were extremely slow. The training sessions were not written well but the rest of the story was quite interesting. It did lose me at about the halfway mark but I did enjoy the beginning and the way it wrapped up.
There are not many books that have trigger warnings on the front. Well, this is my first and I would be lying if I say this story has not shaken me to the core. Deka might be a fictional character but the world Namina Forna draws is entirely our own and her protagonist is representative of all the women who are chained and who love their chains considering them to be dignified ornaments.
Deka is a girl from Irfut, a deeply patriarchal village where women wear masks from the age of sixteen once they complete the ritual of purity. Her mother was a southerner and she has inherited her dark complexion. All these years she has been dreaming of being accepted by the villagers when her blood flows red. Then she can wear masks and marry someone from the village. That is all she ever wanted.
Her world turns upside down when she shows the ability to command the death shrieks, the fearsome demons attacking their country and as expected her blood is gold. Her only way of atonement is to serve the emperor as a soldier, once her allotted time is over, she will be absolved of her impurity. There begins her unexpected journey which brings her closer to the truth of what she is.
It was hard for me to warm up to Deka in the beginning, a girl so adamant in believing the terrible customs doled out by religious authorities. It was hard to believe that she could change and find strength in her difference. But each day in training awakens her to new capabilities that she was forced to shut down previously. We proceed with her sharing her agonies and self-doubts because after all, this is also our story.
A truly evocative story which will undoubtedly be one of the best books 2021 offers.
Deka is a girl from Irfut, a deeply patriarchal village where women wear masks from the age of sixteen once they complete the ritual of purity. Her mother was a southerner and she has inherited her dark complexion. All these years she has been dreaming of being accepted by the villagers when her blood flows red. Then she can wear masks and marry someone from the village. That is all she ever wanted.
Her world turns upside down when she shows the ability to command the death shrieks, the fearsome demons attacking their country and as expected her blood is gold. Her only way of atonement is to serve the emperor as a soldier, once her allotted time is over, she will be absolved of her impurity. There begins her unexpected journey which brings her closer to the truth of what she is.
It was hard for me to warm up to Deka in the beginning, a girl so adamant in believing the terrible customs doled out by religious authorities. It was hard to believe that she could change and find strength in her difference. But each day in training awakens her to new capabilities that she was forced to shut down previously. We proceed with her sharing her agonies and self-doubts because after all, this is also our story.
A truly evocative story which will undoubtedly be one of the best books 2021 offers.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
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
such a beautiful book, gripping and brimming with tension, lots of real topics discussed and the characters are easily loveable
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
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
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Oh. My God. This book was so incredible. It took a bit for me to get to that oh-my-gosh-i-cannot-put-this-down stage, but I cannot even express in words how beautiful this book was. There were so many important messages and lessons in it, and it was so darn empowering. Like I closed the book and literally felt like I could take on the world. Everyone needs fo read this. Also, it was such an intricately crafted world, and a beautiful told story. Every time I thought I knew something then I wasn’t proven wrong, necessarily, but was just surprised. My gosh, I could talk about this forever, female empowerment, the power of love, friendship, trust, all of it is in here. Also can we just talk about Keita? He is everything and I have so much respect for him. A truly beautiful soul. And, madam Deka. She is such an inspiration, and I really want every Black girl to read this book, because it is such a powerful read.