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readwithria'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? It's complicated
4.0
I think this book did a better job of fleshing out the characters. I felt a lot more connected to the cast, and believed their motivations more strongly.
One thing I didn’t fully understand was how magic works, and I don’t understand it because it isn’t explained. This is a historical fantasy romance series, and while I felt the history and romance quite strongly I was missing the fantasy elements.
Even nearly ten years after publication this duology stands up quite well, and it was definitely worth the read. 4 stars.
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: War and Death
Minor: Sexual content and Sexual harassment
picaresquedreamer'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? No
4.0
Graphic: War and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Pregnancy, and Death
sarah_royal04'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
3.75
Graphic: Murder, War, Violence, Death, and Blood
kylosten's review
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Death
celery'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
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Blood, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Misogyny, Sexism, Grief, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Medical content, War, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
noellelovesbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Mention of: murder, death of loved one[s], pregnancy, classism, sexism, grief
OMG this duology was so good! I will definitely be rereading this story and imagining the lives the characters lead after the story ends 🥰
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Death, Murder, Pregnancy, Classism, Grief, and Sexism
khawkhead's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.0
Moderate: Death
eelizard's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Grief, Physical abuse, Murder, Sexual content, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Injury/Injury detail
beckyyreadss'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: Murder, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Violence, Confinement, and Kidnapping
Minor: Rape, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault
imaginationindex'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
4.5
- Irsa. I am starting with her as my new favourite character (Shahrzad is still alright, less decisive this round) as the presence and growth was so important. I’m glad we had her POV added.
- Even though Shahrzad and Khalid were apart more in this book, the romance was clear. We get passion, we get action, though it remains that Shazi is not just the damsel in distress while Khalid is not always the knight in shining armour. They get their eventual happy ending.
- Renee Ahdieh knows how to write a scene. I swear at times I could feel the fabrics or taste the herbs that were described. It’s world-building at its finest!
- TW: Attempted rape. A scene addressed the horrendous acts a side character could have taken were acknowledged in this book. It also further showed the fight Shazi had in her!
- While the first book focused so much on the curse, it was brushed under the carpet (ha, flying carpet humour) in a brief plot point.
- Despina. Not her character and the reveal (I actually liked that since I truly didn’t see it coming) but I felt like her role as a spy was not utilized to its full potential. Also her and Jalal, was hoping for more scenes between them.
- The magic system didn’t always make sense to me. Maybe I misunderstood but
Shahrzad’s father has to kill a horse but Shahrzad can just absorb it… like a sponge??
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Bullying, Death, Kidnapping, and Animal death