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onthesamepage's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Not that it's something I keep track of, but I'm pretty sure Intisar Khanani is the only author to date where all the books I've read by them (in the same series, even) have received 5 stars.
Just...wow.
It's not an exaggeration to say that this author is one of my favourite authors, and this is some of the finest YA fantasy I've ever read. It does lean pretty dark, and could make for a good bridge book if you're looking to read a YA that's a bit more mature and could almost be adult.
I also think Rae has become one of my favourite characters ever. Her growth throughout these two books is just amazing. I love her passion and determination, and the way she will do anything for those she cares for or feels responsible for, but also the way she learned to love herself more, and trust herself, and let others help her instead of taking on the world on her own. Her character arc is chef's kiss. I will say that the first 20% or so worried me a bit, because Rae was making some really unwise decisions, but I'm going to write that off as acts fueled by delirium, and everything that she does later more than makes up for it.
There's not much I can say that won't spoil parts of the book, but I do want to touch upon the romance and the way the relationship between Rae and Bren develops. They were never going to be as good for me as Alyrra and Kestrin; as far as I am concerned, that is top tier romance, and I don't know if anything will ever knock them off their justifiably high pedestal for me. But Bren and Rae have their own sweetness to them. Khanani excels at slow builds, but also at realistic obstacles. Watching the two of them communicate clearly and often, and figure out what would or wouldn't work, was honestly one of the best parts of the book for me. I'm so used to being frustrated when it comes to the romance, because the conflict is often based on either miscommunication or a lack of communication, but the author deftly sidesteps that in favor of mature discussions, and I am here for it.
In general, one of the highlights in all three books, for me, has been the way the characters act, and how logical for their circumstances it all feels. Of course I had moments of frustration, where I wanted them to make a different choice, but I never felt they were being ridiculous for dramatic purposes. Even if I didn't always agree, I understood their motivations, so the frustration I felt was the healthy kind, and not the "I want to toss my expensive Kindle at the nearest wall" kind.
There's definite potential for more stories in this world, and I really hope the author will write another book that explores the fae, because so far they've been fascinating, and I'd love to see her spin on them. But I will buy and devour anything she writes at this point.
Not that it's something I keep track of, but I'm pretty sure Intisar Khanani is the only author to date where all the books I've read by them (in the same series, even) have received 5 stars.
Just...wow.
It's not an exaggeration to say that this author is one of my favourite authors, and this is some of the finest YA fantasy I've ever read. It does lean pretty dark, and could make for a good bridge book if you're looking to read a YA that's a bit more mature and could almost be adult.
I also think Rae has become one of my favourite characters ever. Her growth throughout these two books is just amazing. I love her passion and determination, and the way she will do anything for those she cares for or feels responsible for, but also the way she learned to love herself more, and trust herself, and let others help her instead of taking on the world on her own. Her character arc is chef's kiss. I will say that the first 20% or so worried me a bit, because Rae was making some really unwise decisions, but I'm going to write that off as acts fueled by delirium, and everything that she does later more than makes up for it.
There's not much I can say that won't spoil parts of the book, but I do want to touch upon the romance and the way the relationship between Rae and Bren develops. They were never going to be as good for me as Alyrra and Kestrin; as far as I am concerned, that is top tier romance, and I don't know if anything will ever knock them off their justifiably high pedestal for me. But Bren and Rae have their own sweetness to them. Khanani excels at slow builds, but also at realistic obstacles. Watching the two of them communicate clearly and often, and figure out what would or wouldn't work, was honestly one of the best parts of the book for me. I'm so used to being frustrated when it comes to the romance, because the conflict is often based on either miscommunication or a lack of communication, but the author deftly sidesteps that in favor of mature discussions, and I am here for it.
In general, one of the highlights in all three books, for me, has been the way the characters act, and how logical for their circumstances it all feels. Of course I had moments of frustration, where I wanted them to make a different choice, but I never felt they were being ridiculous for dramatic purposes. Even if I didn't always agree, I understood their motivations, so the frustration I felt was the healthy kind, and not the "I want to toss my expensive Kindle at the nearest wall" kind.
There's definite potential for more stories in this world, and I really hope the author will write another book that explores the fae, because so far they've been fascinating, and I'd love to see her spin on them. But I will buy and devour anything she writes at this point.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, and Murder
clarabooksit's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Blood, Police brutality, Ableism, Trafficking, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Grief, Classism, and Child abuse
Moderate: Kidnapping, Slavery, and Fire/Fire injury
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