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ultimatecryptid's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Technically sound, but nothing to write home about. The political schemes were very obvious, and never seemed deeper that surface or just below surface level. Every betrayel that occured you could see coming a mile away.
For a book that claims to be about Pari and Javaher, this book does almost nothing with Pari. While she is the instigator for most of the events of the book, she lacks interiority. Why does she do these things? Why does she want them? All of her scenes with the POV character, Javaher, are instructional, so I never got the impression of the woman. Which I wouldn't even mind that much, if the summary hadn't claimed to explore Pari's character.
For a book that claims to be about Pari and Javaher, this book does almost nothing with Pari. While she is the instigator for most of the events of the book, she lacks interiority. Why does she do these things? Why does she want them? All of her scenes with the POV character, Javaher, are instructional, so I never got the impression of the woman. Which I wouldn't even mind that much, if the summary hadn't claimed to explore Pari's character.
maecave15's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
rmlknisely's review against another edition
2.0
I still think that the majority of the story would have been better told from Pari's point of view. And honestly, I thought this book became a lot more interesting after .
I picked up this book because I'm interested in strong, female characters, and I didn't get to know Pari as well as I had wanted to. Sure, we know that she thinks she deserves to rule (and rightly so), but this is almost the only thing we learn about this woman who was "equal to the sun," and that disappoints me.
Spoiler
Pari is murderedI picked up this book because I'm interested in strong, female characters, and I didn't get to know Pari as well as I had wanted to. Sure, we know that she thinks she deserves to rule (and rightly so), but this is almost the only thing we learn about this woman who was "equal to the sun," and that disappoints me.
runeclausen's review against another edition
5.0
Another historical fiction master piece from Anita Amirrezvani. She truely manages to make history come to life through a gallery of life-like interesting characters, both real and fictional. The safavid-era Iran is one of the most interesting periods of the country's history, and this book brings the power-strifes that occured during the early parts of the dynasty to life.
One of the reviews printed in the book notes that this book rivals A Game of Thrones in its scheming and parricide. A bold claim to be sure, but nonetheless it rings true.
Epic novel.
One of the reviews printed in the book notes that this book rivals A Game of Thrones in its scheming and parricide. A bold claim to be sure, but nonetheless it rings true.
Epic novel.
emilyusuallyreading's review against another edition
3.0
What I Liked
Anita Amirrezvani writes beautifully. Truly, she paints poetry with her words. I love how she always includes Iranian folk tales and weaves them through the chapters of her novels. The writing itself is lovely.
It is clear Amirrezvani knows her history as well. 16th century Iran is vividly laid out before the reader's eyes.
What I Didn't Like
There is almost too much history and politics. As someone who is not remotely an Iranian (or 16th century anywhere, for that matter) historian, I was at a loss with all of the titles and positions and tribes and laws that are discussed in this book without explanation. I often found myself re-reading paragraphs and thinking, "What is this talking about?"
There is some smut in Equal of the Sun, something that I do not care to read. While it is fairly easy to skip over those few pages, it weakened the literature aspect of this novel for me. In my opinion, a compelling piece of literature doesn't need detailed, steamy sex. Just give me heart-wrenching passion and realistic characters and I can become perfectly caught up in the book.
Anita Amirrezvani writes beautifully. Truly, she paints poetry with her words. I love how she always includes Iranian folk tales and weaves them through the chapters of her novels. The writing itself is lovely.
It is clear Amirrezvani knows her history as well. 16th century Iran is vividly laid out before the reader's eyes.
What I Didn't Like
There is almost too much history and politics. As someone who is not remotely an Iranian (or 16th century anywhere, for that matter) historian, I was at a loss with all of the titles and positions and tribes and laws that are discussed in this book without explanation. I often found myself re-reading paragraphs and thinking, "What is this talking about?"
There is some smut in Equal of the Sun, something that I do not care to read. While it is fairly easy to skip over those few pages, it weakened the literature aspect of this novel for me. In my opinion, a compelling piece of literature doesn't need detailed, steamy sex. Just give me heart-wrenching passion and realistic characters and I can become perfectly caught up in the book.
liadra's review against another edition
5.0
So good. I gobbled this one up. I loved the story of Pari (and it was interesting to find out the facts which were authentic at the end of the book), but I really wanted more of Jahaver's story when then last page came. Really, I just wanted more. It was that good.
kbaj's review against another edition
5.0
Another amazing book by this author- still such engaging characters, story, and she lets you figure things out on your own. If she ever writes another book, it'll be first on my list.