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challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book has one of the most interesting magic systems I‘ve ever encountered. Magic, science, and theology are one and the same, and the underlying theory is meticulously developed and thoroughly explained, which I really loved. The world building is generally detailed and cohesive; we get a good idea of what this place is like from the beginning.
I‘ve seen a lot of reviews talking about how „unlikeable“ the female protagonist, Sciona, is. At first, I wasn‘t sure if that was a generational problem, as she reads very much like the Second Wave feminists I grew up with, who had a lot more to fight for, and who were often criticized for „not being feminine enough“. She is rude and arrogant only when compared to what womanhood is supposed to be, not in contrast with her male peers. This is a point the author herself reiterates in Sciona‘s inner monologue time and again.
The other „problem“ of her personality, I think, is a matter of projection. Sciona is basically an insert for a white woman in the 1950s or 60s in the US, who is fighting against the misogyny in her culture, but is entirely blind to the treatment of non-white people. What she must learn over the course of the story is the intersection of oppression. The internal struggle she goes through is not really something I feel she needs to be scorned for; it‘s a process most of us - hopefully! - experience at some point, when we learn to see past our own struggles and recognize whatever small privilege we may have.
The revelation that is the turning point for the protagonists is horrible beyond comprehension. I saw myself reminded both of Spike Lee‘s „Do the Right Thing“ and Ursula K. Le Guin‘s „The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas“. There are no easy answers here. Hell, there might not be any way out at all.
This is a very difficult book, and I think the author has done an excellent job bringing it all together. The ending is the logical conclusion of everything that led there. Why did I not give it a straight five stars? Well, I found the messaging incredibly heavy-handed from time to time. I would also posit that white people no longer need the oppressed race to be white-coded in order to feel empathy. The Kwen are the stand-in for black and indigenous populations here, and I think their plight would have lost none of its impact if they‘d been allowed to be brown. But I might be overly optimistic.
I‘ve seen a lot of reviews talking about how „unlikeable“ the female protagonist, Sciona, is. At first, I wasn‘t sure if that was a generational problem, as she reads very much like the Second Wave feminists I grew up with, who had a lot more to fight for, and who were often criticized for „not being feminine enough“. She is rude and arrogant only when compared to what womanhood is supposed to be, not in contrast with her male peers. This is a point the author herself reiterates in Sciona‘s inner monologue time and again.
The other „problem“ of her personality, I think, is a matter of projection. Sciona is basically an insert for a white woman in the 1950s or 60s in the US, who is fighting against the misogyny in her culture, but is entirely blind to the treatment of non-white people. What she must learn over the course of the story is the intersection of oppression. The internal struggle she goes through is not really something I feel she needs to be scorned for; it‘s a process most of us - hopefully! - experience at some point, when we learn to see past our own struggles and recognize whatever small privilege we may have.
The revelation that is the turning point for the protagonists is horrible beyond comprehension. I saw myself reminded both of Spike Lee‘s „Do the Right Thing“ and Ursula K. Le Guin‘s „The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas“. There are no easy answers here. Hell, there might not be any way out at all.
This is a very difficult book, and I think the author has done an excellent job bringing it all together. The ending is the logical conclusion of everything that led there. Why did I not give it a straight five stars? Well, I found the messaging incredibly heavy-handed from time to time. I would also posit that white people no longer need the oppressed race to be white-coded in order to feel empathy. The Kwen are the stand-in for black and indigenous populations here, and I think their plight would have lost none of its impact if they‘d been allowed to be brown. But I might be overly optimistic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Genocide, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Gaslighting, Colonisation
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Murder, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Suicide
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
I went into this book with no idea what it would be about and it was so much fun because of that. If you don't mind light spoilers, my pitch with some hint at the story is below.
This book does an incredible job showing how in systemic oppression and religion work in modern society. The story mirrors a lot of examples of colonialism (e.g. Palestine, North America) in multiple ways (e.g. religious justification).
Giving this book 4.5/5 stars because I just didn't feel that attached to the main character, Sciona. Other than that lacking emotional connection, this story was great and I'll definitely be recommending it to others in the future.
Last note, please be mindful of the trigger warnings. There are quite a few that I've tried to mark in my review.
Giving this book 4.5/5 stars because I just didn't feel that attached to the main character, Sciona. Other than that lacking emotional connection, this story was great and I'll definitely be recommending it to others in the future.
Last note, please be mindful of the trigger warnings. There are quite a few that I've tried to mark in my review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Sexual harassment, Colonisation
Moderate: Genocide, Violence, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt
dark
emotional
fast-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
A bit too heavy-handed with its exposition, but really gripping from the very start. The plot twist is very satisfying to unravel if you've guessed it, and the themes of anti-colonialism are obviously quite a classic. Binged it in about three days.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Suicide attempt
adventurous
dark
inspiring
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Genocide, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Blood, Sexual harassment, Colonisation
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Genocide, Blood, Colonisation
Moderate: Sexual assault
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
This story was well told, original and refreshing. The world has a very interesting magic system. The characters go through several groundbreaking revelations and have to deal with the aftermath. Right and wrong and who gets to decide what is what are the big questions. Loved it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Classism
Moderate: Sexism, Gaslighting
Minor: Body horror, Sexual assault
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
I don’t think I can capture everything that I’m feeling… however I’ll start with how I wish this book was mostly from Thomil’s POV instead. Sciona’s POV was difficult but I think that was intentional by the author. I wanted to be on Sciona’s side in the beginning where she was the first woman to become a mage, but then it all unraveled from there. She was incredibly smart but also naive and at points in denial until she did further magical testing. At first I didn’t see her as selfish but her ego clouded her thoughts and the actions she took were for the wrong reasons. The chapter where Alba yelled at her put Sciona’s choices in a different light. This book should upset you. While the magic system is interesting, once you learn the dark side of it and how the Kwen are treated throughout the whole story is disturbing. The blight was not what I expected it to be. Also, the way women are treated in this world… specifically chapter 16 I believe when Sciona was trapped with Renthorn. Let’s just say overall this book is triggering. Between the political and ethical dilemmas, Sciona having suicidal thoughts from the moment she learned the truth, and the fact that this is a standalone, I definitely wasn’t expecting the book to end on a happier note (I’ll be honest that I typically prefer books with a little more romance element and the main couple getting their happily ever after). However, the book does end up hopeful for those who escape.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Genocide, Misogyny, Blood, Religious bigotry
Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt
Minor: Infertility, Abandonment
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Genocide, Rape
Minor: Infertility, Torture, Cannibalism
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The magic system was clever, and Wang did not shy away from ugliness, which made her character's interactions feel especially raw and human. I do think some of the themes were discussed with the subtlety of a sledgehammer, but it still worked for me and I'm sure plenty of other readers. Not a perfect book, but I would recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Classism
Moderate: Hate crime, Sexual assault, Grief
Minor: Body horror, Suicide, Gaslighting