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jadesarah's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is one of those books where after reading it I feel lost on how to feel lol.
Just to note, there is A LOT of violence in this book. So much.
I'm not even going to try and summarise the plot but know it's rooted in a convolution of power, greed, revenge and survival. And reading it in 2024 brings on feelings of discomfort with what is happening right now.
Here's my word vomit of thoughts and feelings:
-There are some characters who I never really liked or never know how I should feel about them. Not Qadir though, I love him even with his millions of secrets. Also Hakim, my heart hurt for him from the beginning. I need to know more on that front.
- I really love Mazen and Loulie. Not together though. It seems like the author is setting them up romantically and I actively dislike that tbh. Firstly, I think the author took an easy out with Ahmed and it feels like it was used as a tool to just eventually bring Mazen and Loulie together. It just doesn't sit right with me at all. And if M & L are going to get together I feel like it would ruin the next book(s) for me tbh. Also despite all the mess with Aisha I actually thought she and Mazen would be interesting together! I'll have plenty of time to think about it anyway because I don't think the sequel is coming out for another year...*sobs* lol.
- This whole thing of Mazen being a coward feels so forced. It feels like the author is making a point with the whole coward/hero thing and ehh. I get it but ehhh. Why? He's a coward because he doesn't happily murder like many other characters??
- speaking of the murder. It made me extremely uncomfortable. How am I supposed to feel about it other than uncomfortable? How am I supposed to feel about the hypocrisy of it all with some characters? I'm not about to just consume it as "oh well it's just part of fiction!". Maybe that's the point. I've read plenty of violent books but I guess I'm trying be conscious of how I'm consuming it.
- also the whole thing with the sultan and killing his wives? And Mazen's mom being like "I will marry him so he stops!" Nooo lol.
- Anyways I have so many feelings but it's hard to get into them without spoiling but the author constantly had me second guessing my own feelings and didn't give me a second of peace with all her twists and turns and uno reverses then uno reversing those uno reverses and just all around stressing me out. Regardless, whenever I wasn't reading the book I was thinking about it. And on that note I think that's why I gave it 4 stars. Initially I was leaving it at 3.5 because some things happened that just feel like well what was the point in all that just for this to happen?! That along with the fact I'm not keen on a romance between Mazen and Loulie but I'm not sure that's what the author is definitely doing, though it seems highly likely.
Just to note, there is A LOT of violence in this book. So much.
I'm not even going to try and summarise the plot but know it's rooted in a convolution of power, greed, revenge and survival. And reading it in 2024 brings on feelings of discomfort with what is happening right now.
Here's my word vomit of thoughts and feelings:
-There are some characters who I never really liked or never know how I should feel about them. Not Qadir though, I love him even with his millions of secrets. Also Hakim, my heart hurt for him from the beginning. I need to know more on that front.
- I really love Mazen and Loulie. Not together though. It seems like the author is setting them up romantically and I actively dislike that tbh. Firstly, I think the author took an easy out with Ahmed and it feels like it was used as a tool to just eventually bring Mazen and Loulie together. It just doesn't sit right with me at all. And if M & L are going to get together I feel like it would ruin the next book(s) for me tbh. Also despite all the mess with Aisha I actually thought she and Mazen would be interesting together! I'll have plenty of time to think about it anyway because I don't think the sequel is coming out for another year...*sobs* lol.
- This whole thing of Mazen being a coward feels so forced. It feels like the author is making a point with the whole coward/hero thing and ehh. I get it but ehhh. Why? He's a coward because he doesn't happily murder like many other characters??
- speaking of the murder. It made me extremely uncomfortable. How am I supposed to feel about it other than uncomfortable? How am I supposed to feel about the hypocrisy of it all with some characters? I'm not about to just consume it as "oh well it's just part of fiction!". Maybe that's the point. I've read plenty of violent books but I guess I'm trying be conscious of how I'm consuming it.
- also the whole thing with the sultan and killing his wives? And Mazen's mom being like "I will marry him so he stops!" Nooo lol.
- Anyways I have so many feelings but it's hard to get into them without spoiling but the author constantly had me second guessing my own feelings and didn't give me a second of peace with all her twists and turns and uno reverses then uno reversing those uno reverses and just all around stressing me out. Regardless, whenever I wasn't reading the book I was thinking about it. And on that note I think that's why I gave it 4 stars. Initially I was leaving it at 3.5 because some things happened that just feel like well what was the point in all that just for this to happen?! That along with the fact I'm not keen on a romance between Mazen and Loulie but I'm not sure that's what the author is definitely doing, though it seems highly likely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, Murder, Death of parent, and Child death
ldenehy's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
theespressoedition's review against another edition
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, Death of parent, Torture, Murder, Blood, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Gore, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury
writteninmagic's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
3.5
The world-building was well-written. My favorite parts were the tales of the Jinn and other characters; they added complexity to the characters, especially to the magical beings. There was a variety of magic throughout the story, and I liked that there were limitations to the powers.
The characters were okay. I didn't feel particularly attached to them. On another note, the instance where a dangerous and powerful item was left behind because a character supposedly forgot about it (even though they were highly aware of some of its powers) made little sense.
While the journey for the characters was long, the book also felt longer than necessary. At times, especially in the middle of the story, it felt like it was dragging along. Several things are left unanswered by the end. With all that said, I'm interested enough to give the second book a read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood, Murder, Death of parent, Death, Violence, Alcohol, and Cursing
angeldevoursliterature's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Blood, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Gore
Moderate: Death of parent, Child death, Confinement, Grief, and Genocide
Minor: Cursing
dalek_caan's review
adventurous
mysterious
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
4.75
I really enjoyed this book. It was unpredictable, imaginative and very well told. I found myself very engaged with most of the characters and enjoyed how each of the characters in the split perspective narrative had their own distinct voice. I would definitely recommend this book and anxiously await the publication of the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, War, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Self harm, and Violence
Minor: Abandonment and Fire/Fire injury
stargazer_ley's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The facinating focus on Arabic cultures is a pleasant change of pace for me, however I found myself wanting a glossary to define certain terms. While context provided some measure of assistance, I would have preferred actually having the information (Google is exactly helpful when I don't know what I'm trying to find.) That said the characters and story were compelling and I found myself constantly having to mentally update my theories. It was overall a good book that I'm glad I purchased and I am looking forward to getting the next volume. :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Xenophobia, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Racism, Grief, Gaslighting, and Death
Moderate: Alcohol, Child death, Slavery, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death and Cursing
ijustreallyliketrees's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I've never read any version of 1001 Nights but am familiar enough with some of the stories that I got the references. Really enjoyed the story and characters, can't wait to read more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Torture, and Blood
Minor: Child death
cookiecat73's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
This book wasn't 100% my thing, but I have incredible respect for the author. The world and magic was cool and interesting, and character development was really well written, but it was the plot that blew me away. The twist were really well done and way they tied everything together was brilliant. It also gave you all the pieces you needed to figure things out for yourself (and it was incredibly satisfying when I did) whilst also providing explanations for anyone who didn't figure it out yet, but in a way that wasn't beating you over the head with it or talking down to the reader, it just felt like the characters figuring it out themselves.
Personally I had no real interest in the romance/crush aspects, and some of the torture/violence was a bit much imo, but my biggest issue was the fake-out deaths. If it was just Aisha's I wouldn't have much of an issue because there were still consequences, but Mazen and Qadir's I don't think serve any real purpose, and they made threat later on feel hollow for me. In general there are a lot of times where people sustain what should be serious injuries, but then they just recover? It made me feel like the characters would just be fine whatever happened, which made any times where there was meant to be danger and threat feel less meaningful and more hollow. Thankfully the plot and twists were really really interesting and well done, so I still was invested in the book, but I think if maybe those 2 deaths weren't there and some of the injuries either didn't happen or had more consequences I would have enjoyed it more
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Torture, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, Self harm, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, and Infidelity
Minor: Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, and Sexual content
kirchnerkd's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Murder