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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
This is a electrifying and romantic fantasy adventure that will captivate readers who crave epic battles, mythical creatures, and complex relationships, particularly those who enjoy stories of self-discovery, loyalty, and the unbreakable bonds of love and friendship in the face of war and danger.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Serpent Sea is the sequel to Spice Road, which I enjoyed immensely (see my review). I enjoyed this book as well, although I did find it much more plot-driven than it's predecessor, which had all sorts of subtle character moments in it. This is despite the addition of Taha's POV in this book. I did like seeing inside his head since he was one of my favourite characters from Spice Road. However, his thoughts were much more straightforward and unconflicted then I expected, particularly with how much time he spent thinking about being secretly in love with Imani. They also abruptly revealed him to be much closer to his cousin Reza than seemed to be the case in Spice Road, to the point that he allowed that closeness to overshadow his blind devotion to his duty, which seemed out of character from his portrayal in the first book.
But the series is YA so I guess there's a limit to how convoluted it can get with the characters' emotions if it's meant to be relatable to teenagers. Also, we do need to move the plot along some kind of way. Serpent Sea had a lot of great action as the Harrowlanders pursued out their promised conquest of Qalia while Imani, Taha, Atheer, and company desperately tried to stop them. We got to learn more about Qayn, which further revealed more about the nature of magic and the monsters of the Sahir Desert, as well as how the magic spell protecting Qalia came to be in place. He and Imani also became much closer despite their ideological differences (the djinn and the djinn slayer), strengthening the love triangle between him, Imani, and Taha that began in the first book. While not a huge fan of love triangles, I do appreciate the author's handling of this one and really do feel like it could go either way.
I enjoyed all the sea battles, how the search for Qayn's magical crown led Imani to Harrowland to participate in a Hunger Games-esque fight to the death and how the two groups (Taha and Amira in one; Imani, Atheer, Qayn, and the crew of the Lion's Prize in the other) that were previously separated came back together just in time for this.
There was a twist near the end that I didn't expect, which was exciting, but even more enjoyable was the wedge it drove between Imani and Amira. As the younger sister and a non-warrior in addition, Amira has mostly been just a tag-along (and at times a hindrance) to all the action thus far. It's great to see her thinking independently and making decisions that effect the outcome of events, particularly in ways that run contrary to Imani's beliefs and goals. I'm looking forward to seeing how this trilogy ends.
But the series is YA so I guess there's a limit to how convoluted it can get with the characters' emotions if it's meant to be relatable to teenagers. Also, we do need to move the plot along some kind of way. Serpent Sea had a lot of great action as the Harrowlanders pursued out their promised conquest of Qalia while Imani, Taha, Atheer, and company desperately tried to stop them. We got to learn more about Qayn, which further revealed more about the nature of magic and the monsters of the Sahir Desert, as well as how the magic spell protecting Qalia came to be in place. He and Imani also became much closer despite their ideological differences (the djinn and the djinn slayer), strengthening the love triangle between him, Imani, and Taha that began in the first book. While not a huge fan of love triangles, I do appreciate the author's handling of this one and really do feel like it could go either way.
I enjoyed all the sea battles, how the search for Qayn's magical crown led Imani to Harrowland to participate in a Hunger Games-esque fight to the death and how the two groups (Taha and Amira in one; Imani, Atheer, Qayn, and the crew of the Lion's Prize in the other) that were previously separated came back together just in time for this.
There was a twist near the end that I didn't expect, which was exciting, but even more enjoyable was the wedge it drove between Imani and Amira. As the younger sister and a non-warrior in addition, Amira has mostly been just a tag-along (and at times a hindrance) to all the action thus far. It's great to see her thinking independently and making decisions that effect the outcome of events, particularly in ways that run contrary to Imani's beliefs and goals. I'm looking forward to seeing how this trilogy ends.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I loved this book! It was a great improvement from the first and I loved the parallels of our world present in it! My only issue is the the idea presented that those who actively and knowingly participate in oppression should be forgiven :/
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Second time’s the charm! Finally was able to get into this book and WHAT A RIDE. A bit slow in the beginning, but picked up 25% of the way through. It’s definitely heavier on the war/revolution fantasy side and lighter on the romance (much to my dismay. I need more Quayn banter 😫).
Excited to see what the finale brings.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
OH. MY. GOD.
This book was perfection. I am obsessed, I will accept ZERO criticism on this book. The romance? perfection. The plot-line? perfection. The world-building? perfection. The magic system and development? perfection. My entire existence is dependant on the third (and final 😭) book in this trilogy. I will not rest until I have devoured that book. Also, can we please talk about the that Maiya, so perfectly talk about heavy topics in this book?? colonialism and grief being the main two. It's not way she makes her characters perfect and able to overcome everything. She makes them human capable of making mistakes, and letting their emotions take control over the decisions. Then she makes sure they learn from their mistakes. To (begin to) make amends. Then she goes ahead and crushes all your hopes and dreams 😃
It's the way this book was so perfect in every way, shape and form. My go to author for anything, this series (specifically this book) is my absolute fav ever. Maiya can write anything, and I will read it, she is my new favourite author and no one can convince me otherwise. If you thought that spice road was good? this was WAY better, like I. AM. IN. LOVE. more please, now, and thank you.
Go pick up this book (after the first one obviously) now.
This book was perfection. I am obsessed, I will accept ZERO criticism on this book. The romance? perfection. The plot-line? perfection. The world-building? perfection. The magic system and development? perfection. My entire existence is dependant on the third (and final 😭) book in this trilogy. I will not rest until I have devoured that book. Also, can we please talk about the that Maiya, so perfectly talk about heavy topics in this book?? colonialism and grief being the main two. It's not way she makes her characters perfect and able to overcome everything. She makes them human capable of making mistakes, and letting their emotions take control over the decisions. Then she makes sure they learn from their mistakes. To (begin to) make amends. Then she goes ahead and crushes all your hopes and dreams 😃
It's the way this book was so perfect in every way, shape and form. My go to author for anything, this series (specifically this book) is my absolute fav ever. Maiya can write anything, and I will read it, she is my new favourite author and no one can convince me otherwise. If you thought that spice road was good? this was WAY better, like I. AM. IN. LOVE. more please, now, and thank you.
Go pick up this book (after the first one obviously) now.
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
adventurous
dark
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