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sapphicreaderlucy's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
If I had to describe this book in two words: dark, reflective. This book tackled super heavy topics that the adult fantasy genre often avoids like slavery and colonialism. I really enjoyed the complex political intel we got from the main character and the point of view of his Kraft (magic gift) in the story. However Loren as a character I found a little bit boring. I found to be a little bit clueless in a way that was frustrating to read. I enjoyed the parts where we got to see Sigourney’s character the most. I could definitely see how this book would be unlikeable, it’s a complex one to even recommend given how dark this story is. I also think if you are bothered easily by “telling not showing” writing, then this book probably isn’t the one for you as this book does that a little bit. I enjoyed this personally even given it’s extremely dark nature. I enjoyed learning more about history through the genocide descriptions that were based off realities of colonialism and slavery. It is an important and often overshadowed history because of the deep evil of it all, but it’s important to confront these histories and the reality of the oppression it creates, even in the context of a historical fiction sci fi fantasy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Suicide, Genocide, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, and War
ehmannky's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This series is such an intense and hard read. This one in particular because Callender makes it fairly clear early on that this revolution is doomed to fail, that all of the enslaved people who rose up (and a fair number who did not) are going to die, and that the entrenched power structure is going to continue and only be slightly less stable. I think that can make it seem like, well what was the point of this book? What was the point of the death and the revolution and the fighting? I liked that Loren, Malthe, Sigourney, and even Marieke are all fundamentally unsuited for the revolution's success because they are, at their heart, unable to let go of their own ego and subsume themselves for the greater good of the islands. They are too selfish, too caught up in their own desires of superiority and desire to mark themselves as different and better to lead successfully. I think that the emphasis on fighting for your freedom and the freedom of those who don't even exist yet is valuable and good, no matter the results. That a failed revolution today is the seeds of a successful one tomorrow. That even if it wasn't perfect yet, it still can be. And that maybe the next group of people who fight are going to be the ones who get it right.
At the end of the day, these are books that are more about the deep effects of slavery on the enslaved than the revolution itself. How it twists people's minds into accepting themselves as lesser, pits those who should be allies against one another, and how the worst of the physical scars carve themselves into people's minds. We spend so much time in people's heads and getting exposition because that's where the marks of slavery and trauma are invisible, but they profoundly shape a person. A remarkable book.
At the end of the day, these are books that are more about the deep effects of slavery on the enslaved than the revolution itself. How it twists people's minds into accepting themselves as lesser, pits those who should be allies against one another, and how the worst of the physical scars carve themselves into people's minds. We spend so much time in people's heads and getting exposition because that's where the marks of slavery and trauma are invisible, but they profoundly shape a person. A remarkable book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Genocide, Grief, Slavery, Racism, Blood, and Colonisation
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Pedophilia
Minor: Vomit
lizflynn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-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? Yes
2.5
Okay, I finally finished this book. I wanted to like this series so much more than I actually did. I feel pretty much the same about this book as I do about Queen of the Conquered, but this book’s storyline was less compelling. Or, I guess, the flaws of the book were more apparent and detracted from the reading experience to the point where I couldn’t overlook them and enjoy the story.
First off: this plot is GOOD. It’s brutal, and the ending is bleak, but I appreciate the message that Callender is sending with such an “unpopular” conclusion. I have never read a fantasy novel like this. Sigourney is such an interesting character, and I may have enjoyed the first book more because it was from her POV.
However, the writing is what got me. There is so much tell-not-show text, and SO much of it is repetitive to the point where I was skimming some paragraphs. Some characters died, but they weren’t even an integral part of the narrative. They were just mentioned as being integral, not mentioned again, and then brought back only to die. I feel like a lot could have been edited out, and the descriptions could have been better. I was not able to sink into this story in the way I thought I would. Overall, this duology has an interesting premise and a lot of potential, but just didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
First off: this plot is GOOD. It’s brutal, and the ending is bleak, but I appreciate the message that Callender is sending with such an “unpopular” conclusion. I have never read a fantasy novel like this. Sigourney is such an interesting character, and I may have enjoyed the first book more because it was from her POV.
However, the writing is what got me. There is so much tell-not-show text, and SO much of it is repetitive to the point where I was skimming some paragraphs. Some characters died, but they weren’t even an integral part of the narrative. They were just mentioned as being integral, not mentioned again, and then brought back only to die. I feel like a lot could have been edited out, and the descriptions could have been better. I was not able to sink into this story in the way I thought I would. Overall, this duology has an interesting premise and a lot of potential, but just didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Suicide, Violence, and Racism
Minor: Death
booksthatburn's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
KING OF THE RISING concludes the story begun in QUEEN OF THE CONQUERED, following a secondary character from the first book while the previous main character stays on in the background. The current MC is one of a small group leading the islanders' revolution against their former masters. There are even more murders and a lot of mystery when compared to the first book, but this one isn't a "murder mystery" in the same way. I'm glad of that, because instead this is a slow burn, nail-biting, tense narrative without the need to try and be a whodunnit when they're literally in the middle of a war. Now, as for what this is: KING OF THE RISING follows the islanders as they turn a night of rebellion into a war for their freedom and the freedom of the Islands. The MC frequently travels to get food and fighters, returning to their island base of operations as morale dwindles and tensions rise.
A lot of the narrative feels bleak and inevitable. I don't think I could have believed an attempt at a happier story, given what was established in the first book. The infighting and tensions feel realistic, and I liked the political wrangling. QUEEN OF THE CONQUERED felt like the MC didn't have room to think beyond her own ambitions, and that misguided focus helped set up the events in KING OF THE RISING. Here, the MC is focused on trying to save as many people as possible. Rather than have a narrow focus, he's spread too thin, wanting to be a hero but also not wanting anything to go wrong, even though things will and they can't all make it even if they win (which isn't guaranteed). Some of this contrast is explicit in the text, especially when the current and former MC's disagree (which is pretty often). I like this MC a lot better as a person, but they're both great characters. It feels like part of the point is that this isn't the first rebellion and it won't be the last, but it matters. Every bit matters.
Time for the sequel check. This wraps up a lot of things left hanging from the previous book. It has at least one storyline unique to this book, I'm thinking specifically of the attempts to raise guards and the MC's rivalry with a fellow leader in the rebellion. There are things introduced and resolved within this book, but it's definitely part two of a two-part story. As the second book in a duology it wraps up a lot of things and feels very finished. I don't really know what could happen from here if at some point it were turned into a trilogy (though it could be nice to read more books set in these islands, I don't know if I'll be ready for this level of sadness again for a while). The MC is different from the first book and they feel very different in their actions and their motivations, as well as pretty distinct in their narrative voices. Finally, this could mostly stand on its own since it does a pretty good job of getting the reader up to speed without infodumping but it'll make way more sense if you read the first book first.
I feel sad and contemplative, mostly. It's a bleak story of desperate circumstances and a lot of sad endings. It's also worth it. If you've read QUEEN OF THE CONQUERED please pick this up and get the second half of the story.
A lot of the narrative feels bleak and inevitable. I don't think I could have believed an attempt at a happier story, given what was established in the first book. The infighting and tensions feel realistic, and I liked the political wrangling. QUEEN OF THE CONQUERED felt like the MC didn't have room to think beyond her own ambitions, and that misguided focus helped set up the events in KING OF THE RISING. Here, the MC is focused on trying to save as many people as possible. Rather than have a narrow focus, he's spread too thin, wanting to be a hero but also not wanting anything to go wrong, even though things will and they can't all make it even if they win (which isn't guaranteed). Some of this contrast is explicit in the text, especially when the current and former MC's disagree (which is pretty often). I like this MC a lot better as a person, but they're both great characters. It feels like part of the point is that this isn't the first rebellion and it won't be the last, but it matters. Every bit matters.
Time for the sequel check. This wraps up a lot of things left hanging from the previous book. It has at least one storyline unique to this book, I'm thinking specifically of the attempts to raise guards and the MC's rivalry with a fellow leader in the rebellion. There are things introduced and resolved within this book, but it's definitely part two of a two-part story. As the second book in a duology it wraps up a lot of things and feels very finished. I don't really know what could happen from here if at some point it were turned into a trilogy (though it could be nice to read more books set in these islands, I don't know if I'll be ready for this level of sadness again for a while). The MC is different from the first book and they feel very different in their actions and their motivations, as well as pretty distinct in their narrative voices. Finally, this could mostly stand on its own since it does a pretty good job of getting the reader up to speed without infodumping but it'll make way more sense if you read the first book first.
I feel sad and contemplative, mostly. It's a bleak story of desperate circumstances and a lot of sad endings. It's also worth it. If you've read QUEEN OF THE CONQUERED please pick this up and get the second half of the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Gore, Violence, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Racism and Child abuse
Minor: Sexual assault and Torture
CW for confinement, racism, slavery, suicidal thoughts, sexual assault (not depicted), torture (not depicted), blood, gore, violence, suicide, child abuse, child death, major character death, death.
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