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readermonica's review against another edition
3.0
Tilahun has created a unique world that features diverse characters and fantastical otherworldly beings that are so out there that I had trouble visualizing what they looked like. There were creatures that were translucent blobs and even beings that are covered in eyes. These creatures also had unique ways of communicating which encompassed everything from grunting to wind currents. I found those characteristics a bit much, but that is purely personal preference.
I absolutely loved that the main characters are ethnically, racially, and sexually diverse. Gender, race, and sexuality do not define the characters and there are no stereotypical characterizations to be found here. The diversity is simply part of more realistic reflection of the diversity of the world we live in. Erik's problems do not all stem from the fact that he's gay, but rather from the fact that his father wanted to control the trajectory of his career and didn't put any emphasis on what Erik wanted for himself. Erik's family dynamics and his heritage are part of the background in book one, but it is clear that they will become more significant as his powers continue to manifest and strengthen as the series progresses.
San Francisco's parallel city is Zebub and I enjoyed the corresponding storyline that is developing there. Lil is thrust into the role of sole caregiver for her younger siblings after a horrific incident. Lil is left struggling to juggle her responsibilities to her Holder mentor while having to become the adult and provider for her family. Lil is also manifesting powers and abilities that are surprising to her mentor as well as herself, which causes her problems with many people around her. There's a darkness that is slowly consuming her world and Lil is caught up in the fight to stop it.
Although I really enjoyed the plot of this story, my inability to fully visualize the alternate world and the creatures that inhabit it made it difficult for me to fully immerse myself into the story. I had to pause several times and reread descriptions in order to picture the beings being described and I'm still not sure that I have it right. However, I enjoyed the plot enough that I will grab book two when it is released. I just hope that I will be able to get a better grip on the world being built by Tilahun because the overall story is very good!
You can find more from me at
•(♥).•*Monlatable Book Reviews*•.(♥)•
http://www.monlatablereviews.com/
I absolutely loved that the main characters are ethnically, racially, and sexually diverse. Gender, race, and sexuality do not define the characters and there are no stereotypical characterizations to be found here. The diversity is simply part of more realistic reflection of the diversity of the world we live in. Erik's problems do not all stem from the fact that he's gay, but rather from the fact that his father wanted to control the trajectory of his career and didn't put any emphasis on what Erik wanted for himself. Erik's family dynamics and his heritage are part of the background in book one, but it is clear that they will become more significant as his powers continue to manifest and strengthen as the series progresses.
San Francisco's parallel city is Zebub and I enjoyed the corresponding storyline that is developing there. Lil is thrust into the role of sole caregiver for her younger siblings after a horrific incident. Lil is left struggling to juggle her responsibilities to her Holder mentor while having to become the adult and provider for her family. Lil is also manifesting powers and abilities that are surprising to her mentor as well as herself, which causes her problems with many people around her. There's a darkness that is slowly consuming her world and Lil is caught up in the fight to stop it.
Although I really enjoyed the plot of this story, my inability to fully visualize the alternate world and the creatures that inhabit it made it difficult for me to fully immerse myself into the story. I had to pause several times and reread descriptions in order to picture the beings being described and I'm still not sure that I have it right. However, I enjoyed the plot enough that I will grab book two when it is released. I just hope that I will be able to get a better grip on the world being built by Tilahun because the overall story is very good!
You can find more from me at
•(♥).•*Monlatable Book Reviews*•.(♥)•
http://www.monlatablereviews.com/
silentchill's review against another edition
5.0
This book was incredible. It held unique fantasy aspects while also bringing in representation for identities typically left out of mainstream media, let alone fantasy. I could not put the book down, except to take moments to revel on how beautiful it was to read. I was drawn into the worlds and abilities of these characters that were connected into our own common mythos and religions. The characters are relatable and most other series would be lucky to have even one of them. I'm excited to see where the story goes as San Fransisco and Zebub finally start to collide.
ghostyreader's review against another edition
5.0
Oh man oh man, I wish there were more books already.
First of all, there's a mysterious, complex threat (or network of threats) to not only our world but an alternate universe that is somehow connected--and the threat is partly (but maybe not entirely) magical. Second, there are secret agencies (one of which is part of the government) working against each other around the mysteries of the Angelics (alien-beings) and Blooded (humans-ish, with powers). Third, there's no neat little explanation for *anything*--there are the complex half-explanations that come from not really knowing the full reasons behind how the Blooded came to be, what the things are that are attacking Zebub, or any number of other magical elements. But not so much that it's frustrating, just so that it's real. Fourth, all the main characters are queer, basically--and most of them are POC. And their sexualities and gender identities are acknowledged and referenced and accepted, not ignored or the main focus--Erik and Matthias' relationship is complicated by the fact that they're kind of into each other, but Erik's bf's ghost comes and hangs around them; all of which is made more interesting by the conflicts and fights and alliances they're facing. Lil has a passing interest in people of various genders, but isn't in a place to develop any kind of relationship beyond trusting her sibs' caregivers.
Fifth, the plot! The narrative alternates between universes, coyly following one until you're fully caught up, can't wait to find out what happens next--then switching back to the action you were desperate to know about in the other. I couldn't put it down for the last 150 pages, at least. Lil's and Erik's universes come closer and closer together as it's gradually revealed just how closely tangled together different parts of them are. The cross-over I was expecting to happen at like 2/3 of the way through still hasn't happened by the end of the book--though it's planned. This book is about Erik and Lil coming into their powers and strengths, and coming to understand new things about their worlds. It ends with each facing new challenges with new circumstances, and with Erik poised to enter Lil's world.
First of all, there's a mysterious, complex threat (or network of threats) to not only our world but an alternate universe that is somehow connected--and the threat is partly (but maybe not entirely) magical. Second, there are secret agencies (one of which is part of the government) working against each other around the mysteries of the Angelics (alien-beings) and Blooded (humans-ish, with powers). Third, there's no neat little explanation for *anything*--there are the complex half-explanations that come from not really knowing the full reasons behind how the Blooded came to be, what the things are that are attacking Zebub, or any number of other magical elements. But not so much that it's frustrating, just so that it's real. Fourth, all the main characters are queer, basically--and most of them are POC. And their sexualities and gender identities are acknowledged and referenced and accepted, not ignored or the main focus--Erik and Matthias' relationship is complicated by the fact that they're kind of into each other, but Erik's bf's ghost comes and hangs around them; all of which is made more interesting by the conflicts and fights and alliances they're facing. Lil has a passing interest in people of various genders, but isn't in a place to develop any kind of relationship beyond trusting her sibs' caregivers.
Fifth, the plot! The narrative alternates between universes, coyly following one until you're fully caught up, can't wait to find out what happens next--then switching back to the action you were desperate to know about in the other. I couldn't put it down for the last 150 pages, at least. Lil's and Erik's universes come closer and closer together as it's gradually revealed just how closely tangled together different parts of them are. The cross-over I was expecting to happen at like 2/3 of the way through still hasn't happened by the end of the book--though it's planned. This book is about Erik and Lil coming into their powers and strengths, and coming to understand new things about their worlds. It ends with each facing new challenges with new circumstances, and with Erik poised to enter Lil's world.
elliot_dw's review against another edition
2.0
DNF at slightly less than half-way through. I really wanted to like it! And there’s so much to like! But there’s also just SO MUCH. Too many characters, too many plot threads, too much lore. I just couldn’t get into it.
moot's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Good Stuff: the crazy angel shapes, the language/words as weapons, gay people, San Fransisco/Oakland setting, the politics of the "Underworld" where humans are second class citizens
There were far, far too many characters. I had my favorites but I never got a chance to really invest in any one of them because we didn't spend hardly any time with them. The two worlds also never crossed over like I wanted them to; I almost feel this book would have been better being split up into two books ( I don't see how crossing between them made either of them better) The structure was also very similar to Cassandra Clare's City of Bones.
readermonica's review against another edition
3.0
Tilahun has created a unique world that features diverse characters and fantastical otherworldly beings that are so out there that I had trouble visualizing what they looked like. There were creatures that were translucent blobs and even beings that are covered in eyes. These creatures also had unique ways of communicating which encompassed everything from grunting to wind currents. I found those characteristics a bit much, but that is purely personal preference.
I absolutely loved that the main characters are ethnically, racially, and sexually diverse. Gender, race, and sexuality do not define the characters and there are no stereotypical characterizations to be found here. The diversity is simply part of more realistic reflection of the diversity of the world we live in. Erik's problems do not all stem from the fact that he's gay, but rather from the fact that his father wanted to control the trajectory of his career and didn't put any emphasis on what Erik wanted for himself. Erik's family dynamics and his heritage are part of the background in book one, but it is clear that they will become more significant as his powers continue to manifest and strengthen as the series progresses.
San Francisco's parallel city is Zebub and I enjoyed the corresponding storyline that is developing there. Lil is thrust into the role of sole caregiver for her younger siblings after a horrific incident. Lil is left struggling to juggle her responsibilities to her Holder mentor while having to become the adult and provider for her family. Lil is also manifesting powers and abilities that are surprising to her mentor as well as herself, which causes her problems with many people around her. There's a darkness that is slowly consuming her world and Lil is caught up in the fight to stop it.
Although I really enjoyed the plot of this story, my inability to fully visualize the alternate world and the creatures that inhabit it made it difficult for me to fully immerse myself into the story. I had to pause several times and reread descriptions in order to picture the beings being described and I'm still not sure that I have it right. However, I enjoyed the plot enough that I will grab book two when it is released. I just hope that I will be able to get a better grip on the world being built by Tilahun because the overall story is very good!
You can find more from me at
•(♥).•*Monlatable Book Reviews*•.(♥)•
http://www.monlatablereviews.com/
I absolutely loved that the main characters are ethnically, racially, and sexually diverse. Gender, race, and sexuality do not define the characters and there are no stereotypical characterizations to be found here. The diversity is simply part of more realistic reflection of the diversity of the world we live in. Erik's problems do not all stem from the fact that he's gay, but rather from the fact that his father wanted to control the trajectory of his career and didn't put any emphasis on what Erik wanted for himself. Erik's family dynamics and his heritage are part of the background in book one, but it is clear that they will become more significant as his powers continue to manifest and strengthen as the series progresses.
San Francisco's parallel city is Zebub and I enjoyed the corresponding storyline that is developing there. Lil is thrust into the role of sole caregiver for her younger siblings after a horrific incident. Lil is left struggling to juggle her responsibilities to her Holder mentor while having to become the adult and provider for her family. Lil is also manifesting powers and abilities that are surprising to her mentor as well as herself, which causes her problems with many people around her. There's a darkness that is slowly consuming her world and Lil is caught up in the fight to stop it.
Although I really enjoyed the plot of this story, my inability to fully visualize the alternate world and the creatures that inhabit it made it difficult for me to fully immerse myself into the story. I had to pause several times and reread descriptions in order to picture the beings being described and I'm still not sure that I have it right. However, I enjoyed the plot enough that I will grab book two when it is released. I just hope that I will be able to get a better grip on the world being built by Tilahun because the overall story is very good!
You can find more from me at
•(♥).•*Monlatable Book Reviews*•.(♥)•
http://www.monlatablereviews.com/
kevinhanes's review against another edition
4.0
great, if seemingly simplistic, characters. an interesting world to explore. looking forward to the second
scarahliz's review against another edition
5.0
I loved every moment of this book! I can't even write a proper review, I can only squeeeeee.
highlights: incredible world building
dynamic characters
excellent use of shifting perspectives
hella queer ❤❤
hella brown and black
sick ass monsters (not monsters?)
action packed!!!
moving as hell (I cried in a pizza parlor)
mystery!
I am eager for the second book in the series. Cannot wait but sadly must wait.
highlights: incredible world building
dynamic characters
excellent use of shifting perspectives
hella queer ❤❤
hella brown and black
sick ass monsters (not monsters?)
action packed!!!
moving as hell (I cried in a pizza parlor)
mystery!
I am eager for the second book in the series. Cannot wait but sadly must wait.
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