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sklepia's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
sgall75's review against another edition
3.0
I was so excited to read this book, based on the stories from 1001 nights and the cover is just stunning.
Sadly, this book just didn't deliver on the exciting premise. The legendary Midnight Merchant, Loulie and her bodyguard are forced to join the gentle Prince Mazen and thief, Aisha, to cross the treacherous Sandsea in search of a long lost Jinn relic. This book should have it all; strong, female characters, a gentle, yet brave male lead, magic in a fantastic setting. I can see that this book would certainly be someone's favourite but that someone isn't going to be me.
I found the narrative to be very juvenile. There was an over reliance on telling the story rather than showing and so many adverbs I sometimes felt I was marking a year 6's creative writing project. I personally found the characters to be one dimensional and I couldn't get behind them or care for them. I did like the relationship between Loulie and Qadir, her bodyguard. I've seen this novel has a lot of five star reviews so it's one of those you'd need to read yourself to see if you'd enjoy it.
Thank you for Netgalley and the publishers for providing an ARC of this novel.
Sadly, this book just didn't deliver on the exciting premise. The legendary Midnight Merchant, Loulie and her bodyguard are forced to join the gentle Prince Mazen and thief, Aisha, to cross the treacherous Sandsea in search of a long lost Jinn relic. This book should have it all; strong, female characters, a gentle, yet brave male lead, magic in a fantastic setting. I can see that this book would certainly be someone's favourite but that someone isn't going to be me.
I found the narrative to be very juvenile. There was an over reliance on telling the story rather than showing and so many adverbs I sometimes felt I was marking a year 6's creative writing project. I personally found the characters to be one dimensional and I couldn't get behind them or care for them. I did like the relationship between Loulie and Qadir, her bodyguard. I've seen this novel has a lot of five star reviews so it's one of those you'd need to read yourself to see if you'd enjoy it.
Thank you for Netgalley and the publishers for providing an ARC of this novel.
ambers_phantasia's review against another edition
adventurous
4.5
I really enjoyed this book
You first follow Layla/Loulie who explores and finds jinn relics, stuff goes down and she is made to go and find a king jinn relic that is within the sandsea which she thought was all but myth.
I found the pacing great, the different perspectives worked. The barriers in the way to the sandsea didn't seem to much of a stretch, and the ending battle I was on the edge of my seat.
With magic, double crossing, bandits there is a lot to enjoy from the book. I cannot wait until the next installment comes out:3
You first follow Layla/Loulie who explores and finds jinn relics, stuff goes down and she is made to go and find a king jinn relic that is within the sandsea which she thought was all but myth.
I found the pacing great, the different perspectives worked. The barriers in the way to the sandsea didn't seem to much of a stretch, and the ending battle I was on the edge of my seat.
With magic, double crossing, bandits there is a lot to enjoy from the book. I cannot wait until the next installment comes out:3
lucinda_lesbrarian's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
kiacyclic's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
A fun easy read. Great to see more quality fantasy outside standard European myths written by woman also not European.
Not the best, but fun all the same.
Not the best, but fun all the same.
wwrlad's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-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
3.5
sunshine_nati's review against another edition
just meh, didn’t really care after awhile. cliche, but wasn’t even clever enough to make up for it
radominic's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this retelling/inspired story of the The Thousand and One Nights. However, I went into this book thinking I’ve found a new favorite and I was left thinking the pace could’ve been faster as the events of the book started to lag and bore me.
The last 5 chapters of the book had exactly what I was looking for. The pace was great, the action was awesome, and that ending… I need to know what happens after that. But because the story was so slow I am not in any hurry to picture up the next book.
The emphasis of stories and the actual story segments were really fun and almost interactive, a story within a story.
And for the love of Jinn, don’t kill Qadir!! He’s my favorite!
The last 5 chapters of the book had exactly what I was looking for. The pace was great, the action was awesome, and that ending… I need to know what happens after that. But because the story was so slow I am not in any hurry to picture up the next book.
The emphasis of stories and the actual story segments were really fun and almost interactive, a story within a story.
And for the love of Jinn, don’t kill Qadir!! He’s my favorite!