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frantically's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Yes, it's a bit basic at times โ the different city parts relating to power, evil princes who aren't so evil after all but why change a working system? ๐ There is a lot of poc-rep and I spy mlm rep in the future ๐ค๐ป Ikonomancy is an interesting power system and it doesn't rely on violence, more on academic wisdom. At first, I was a bit confused but it made more sense as the book went on and the explanations actually made sense for once, haha.
The ending made me feel like I was on drugs and it was all a bit crazy (and the characterisation went ๐๐ผโโ๐๐ผโโ๐๐ผโโ) but I'm still really excited for the next book!
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Classism, Confinement, and Violence
kirstenf's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Violence, Murder, Death of parent, Classism, Death, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Vomit, and Suicidal thoughts
hannianne17's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Trigger Warnings: death of parent, bereaved child, child death, minor instance of animal cruelty (animal doesn't die), classism, sexism, suicide, grief, violence, death by fire, themes of terminal/chronic illness, generational trauma, natural disaster, injury.
Representation: Characters are described as having brown skin and South Asian influences in reference to world building.
I am genuinely blown away by how amazing this book was. I couldn't believe this was Sunya Mara's debut. It was poetic and beautiful in the best of ways.
Overview
Vesper Vale is thrown into a life that she didn't choose. Her father and her are on the run from the Regia and the Wardana in their kingdom. This is because her father and her mother were labeled as traitors by the Regia due to the rebellion they organized and led in an attempt to get justice for the lower rings (kind of like cities). Her mother was sentenced to death for her actions.
The kingdom is surrounded by a storm with no end. As it encroaches on the fifth ring (Vesper's home), the threat of it overtaking everything becomes real. Vesper almost gets killed by a storm beast (creatures that live in the storm), but her father saves her by using an ikon (the world's unique magic system). There's one problem....that ikon is one only her father knows because he invented it. Now, they must flee the fifth ring before he's caught.
This book will have your heart racing from the beginning. I was instantly hooked. Vesper is motivated for her own selfish reasons - to save her father. Vesper is clever and quick on her feet, though a little impulsive. I enjoyed watching her character growth as she grapples with complex issues. She's one of my favorite heroines by far.
Dalca, the prince, is just as clever and complex. Vesper and Dalca fight feelings for one another as they navigate the world that was left behind for them. Both of them destined to fulfill roles neither wanted.
The 'found family' includes Dalca's trusted Wardana members, Cas and Iz. All of them come from different backgrounds. Cas is from a privileged family in the upper rings and has a pretty classist mindset. Iz comes from the same ring as Vesper and is battling with his morality as he's torn between two worlds.
Their goal is the same - to stop the storm. All of them motivated by their own selfish reasons.
They're desperate enough to stop it by actually going into the storm where they must face their 'shadow selves' - all in different forms. Vesper's is a literal shadow. Dalca's is his inner child. Iz's is a monstrous cat. And Cas' is his alter ego of who his father wants him to be. The "perfect" son.
I loved loved loved this aspect to this book. It's a story about healing childhood and generational trauma and finding your identity. There were moments I got emotional because of just how raw and brilliant it was written. Especially when Vesper was forced to break herself apart in the storm and swallow every piece of herself. Even the ones she didn't like. As someone working through generational trauma, Sunya Mara put feelings I've experienced into tangible words. This will definitely be on the top of my favorites list.
Not to mention, the magic system is brilliant!
Let these quotes be an example of how beautiful the author's writing is:
"There is no turning back. The storm is within you now; where you go, it will follow. The only way out is to go further into the storm, further into you. Down and down you must go, until you descend into the dark heart of the storm, into the darkest pits of your soul. You must not turn your back on anything that you find. Face it all. Accept it all. Only then may you find what you seek."
"I become whole. I become me: light and dark and mystery between."
"The business of changing things. It's always worth being the enemy of a diseased state. I had forgotten that."
"The storm is one roiling mass of lightning and shifting beasts. Worse than ever before. Have I brought this upon all of us? Am I following in Ma's footsteps - dreaming big, leaving more pain in my wake? No. I won't let this happen."
Graphic: Classism, Grief, Death of parent, Child death, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Animal cruelty and War
starrysteph's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
CW: death, child death, death of a parent, animal cruelty, classism, confinement, chronic illness, terminal illness, injury, possession, fire/death by fire, suicide, sexism, misogyny, grief
Graphic: Suicide, Blood, Classism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Animal cruelty, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Terminal illness, Sexism, and Misogyny