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ainadei's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
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
3.5
Okay, WOW. What a book. The premise of it all was so interesting too. Two sisters, a war, Jamaican mythology, and dragons! How could I resist?
I won't lie, the first quarter of the book was a huge struggle for me. The constant mentions of the war and the child soldiers who saved their country within it had me suspending my disbelief much more than I wanted. I really had to push through, wondering what would've been wrong with having characters who were a little older. Outside of the plot, there are also a few strange sounding metaphors and similes that made me go "huh?".
Faron was also very frustrating for me most of the book, making me wonder how she made it through the war the way that was described if she was as immature and short-sighted as she was during the book. Elara's journey and growth however was a beautiful thing to read, and I loved seeing her develop throughout the book. The strength of their bond was something so powerful that I hadn't read in a book like this before and I absolutely loved it, especially as an oldest sister who'd do anything for her younger ones.
After the first quarter of the book, the story really picked up and became something magical!! The world building is good, the plot twists are twisting, and the way it all comes together in the end has ensured that I will be reading the next book once it's out!!
If you love dragons, magic, and well written sibling bonds, this is for you! If you're the type to DNF a book quickly, this is probably not for you, lol.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, War, and Violence
Moderate: Xenophobia, Racism, and Racial slurs
zombiezami's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
4.0
It took a little effort to get into this, but the story started to flow about 25 percent of the way in. I liked the characters quite a bit, especially Ilora. I think the book could have started stronger if it hadn't yada yada-ed the whole war that took place before the book. There was a lot of exposition that could have been more engaging in a show, not tell model.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Violence, Death, Xenophobia, War, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Blood, Gore, Murder, Racism, and Death of parent
Moderate: Confinement, Child death, Alcohol, and Cursing
peggyluwho's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I didn’t realize that this was a series going into it. There’s no indication of that on the cover.
The author wove a good story with engaging characters. I was curious to find out where the story was going, though I had predicted some of the twists of early on. I feel like too much was put into the description of people’s outfits and some of the immaturity of the characters was off putting. However, it’s YA and I’m not the target audience.
The author wove a good story with engaging characters. I was curious to find out where the story was going, though I had predicted some of the twists of early on. I feel like too much was put into the description of people’s outfits and some of the immaturity of the characters was off putting. However, it’s YA and I’m not the target audience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Death, Violence, and Xenophobia
abookwormspov's review against another edition
Made it to 35% but was just really bored. Hadn't fallen in love with any of the characters yet and nothing much plot wise had happened. As a disclaimer, very much a mood reader and this was not the mood recently. Maybe will give another try someday.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, War, Xenophobia, and Colonisation
nightjar656's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.75
Read this if you like:
- Ride or die sibling relationships
- Dragons
- Worldbuilding that deals with colonization
- Rlly cute hate-to-love romance side plots
- ‘What would happen after that middle grade series?’ Is answered
- Magic with gods and ancestors
- Morally grey characters (I know that’s thrown around a lot when a book just has some murder without consequences but. A main theme in this book is what’s good for the majority v what’s good for those you care about. It’s in the tagline just trust me ok?) & complex characters in general
- Good young adult fantasy
Seriously I loved this I recommend it so much
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting and Xenophobia
Moderate: Colonisation
bisexualwentworth's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.75
This is the second book I’ve read in a row that was all tell no show with a much stronger concept than execution.
All of the elements are excellent here. This book is exploring some really compelling ideas: what does it mean to be a former chosen one or the sibling of a chosen one? What is good, what is evil, and what is the relationship between religion and morality? How do you rebuild your nation after a revolution? How do you find new relationships with your former colonial oppressors? Should you?
The characters are set up in really compelling ways. The dragons are fun. The world is queernormative and both main characters are queer (one is demisexual, one is a lesbian). The plot is good overall. It was just way too fast and completely lacking in any subtlety whatsoever. I felt extremely spoon-fed the entire time. I also felt like the book was rushing through instead of taking its time with the characters and concepts. I wonder if it was the author’s choice to make this one extremely rushed book instead of two slower, more thoughtful ones.
If there’s a sequel I will read it because I’m invested, but I was definitely slightly disappointed.
All of the elements are excellent here. This book is exploring some really compelling ideas: what does it mean to be a former chosen one or the sibling of a chosen one? What is good, what is evil, and what is the relationship between religion and morality? How do you rebuild your nation after a revolution? How do you find new relationships with your former colonial oppressors? Should you?
The characters are set up in really compelling ways. The dragons are fun. The world is queernormative and both main characters are queer (one is demisexual, one is a lesbian). The plot is good overall. It was just way too fast and completely lacking in any subtlety whatsoever. I felt extremely spoon-fed the entire time. I also felt like the book was rushing through instead of taking its time with the characters and concepts. I wonder if it was the author’s choice to make this one extremely rushed book instead of two slower, more thoughtful ones.
If there’s a sequel I will read it because I’m invested, but I was definitely slightly disappointed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Colonisation, Xenophobia, Violence, Animal death, and Death
lettuce_read's review against another edition
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
cryosphinx's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.0
What a unique spin in the YA fantasy genre, I loved the magic system and it being ancestor based. It covers tough topics such as colonialism with grace and it's clear that Cole wrote about her background with such passion but incorporated it into magic so well. I loved the sisters and their dynamic and loved the take on"I will burn the world for her" being for a sibling.
A few things I was anticipating but didn't get was background if the previous war (touched upon but not in heavy detail of what exactly Faron did), the dragons (I wanted more, MORE dragon dialogue and more than one dragon talking).
It does end on a cliffhanger and it's such a cliff hanger I very much pulled a Zuni "That's it? Where's the rest of it?!" I want the next book yesterday.
A few things I was anticipating but didn't get was background if the previous war (touched upon but not in heavy detail of what exactly Faron did), the dragons (I wanted more, MORE dragon dialogue and more than one dragon talking).
It does end on a cliffhanger and it's such a cliff hanger I very much pulled a Zuni "That's it? Where's the rest of it?!" I want the next book yesterday.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Colonisation, Xenophobia, and War
Moderate: Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief
Minor: Cursing and Fire/Fire injury
thoughtsontomes's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
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
5.0
This managed to do so many unexpected things. First, this is dual POV which you can’t tell from the synopsis and definitely matters. It follows two sisters years after a war where their country fought off a colonizing nation in which they were two key players. So this feels like what would happen after so many classic YA adventure stories. It explores sister bonds, and what makes a villain. It does so many things that I wasn’t expecting so well. I’m intrigued for the second installment!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia and Bullying
janiceinwonderland's review
adventurous
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
4.5
i’m honestly so mad that i picked this up the day it debuted because GIRL I HAVE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
i’ve fallen in love with these two sisters and kamilah cole has written a bond that i want to read about over and over. there were times where the transition and explanation of them sharing knowledge felt clunky but not to a distracting degree
i really can’t wait for the next book. the build up and the following cliffhanger were really something
i’ve fallen in love with these two sisters and kamilah cole has written a bond that i want to read about over and over. there were times where the transition and explanation of them sharing knowledge felt clunky but not to a distracting degree
i really can’t wait for the next book. the build up and the following cliffhanger were really something
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Death, and Violence
Minor: Racial slurs, Xenophobia, and Racism