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abookstereotype1's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
5.0
The perfect YA fantasy
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Animal death, and Physical abuse
tinysierra's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.0
-Like other reviewers have said, the beginning is slow but it picks up! I loved the world and its lore.
-The author includes a list of trigger warnings at the beginning!
-Someone I follow compared this book to Raybearer, so no wonder I liked it!Although in this book, you get to know the Champions and side characters more in depth than the side characters in Raybearer.
-The author includes a list of trigger warnings at the beginning!
-Someone I follow compared this book to Raybearer, so no wonder I liked it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, and Animal death
Minor: Vomit
hunnykurls's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Murder
Moderate: Animal death and Death of parent
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
4 ⭐ CW: self-harm, violence, emotional and physical abuse, anxiety and panic attacks, parent death, and animal death, slavery
"But you are kind, Malik Hilali. Do not underestimate the strength it takes to be kind in a world as cruel as ours."
A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown is an excellent YA fantasy set in a West African inspired setting. I devoured this book. I wish I had this book when I was in high school.
We follow two MCs whose pov alternates with each chapter. Malik, an Eshran boy with anxiety is trying to get into the city of Ziran with his sister's when he unwittingly makes a deal with a spirit names Idir, and is dragged into a game in order to save his younger sister. Karina, the princess of Ziran is a bit of an impetuous brat who has no motivation to rule, suffers from migraines and ends up having to take her mother's place sooner than she thought. Both are of their destinies are connected, but they are trying to kill each other.
This is classic hero's journey with enemies to lovers slow burn. I really liked the magic system in this, but I hope we get to explore it more in the next book. I loved how the author weaved in an element of oral storytelling and the power it can have. We also get representation of anxiety and panic attacks along with it actually becoming the thing that helps him in the end.
I loved the descriptions in this! I could practically smell the spices and see all the colors of Solsatcia! The writing was a joy to read. It was like Brown was weaving her own illusions, just like Malik.
I liked the way the MC's stories tied together and there were twists I didn't see coming. Some things were a little predictable, but I didn't mind. I did find Karina to be annoying for a good chunk of the book, because she was being very stubborn, short sighted, and selfish until she finally got it together. I'm looking forward to seeing how each of their magic grows as Malik and Karina learn how to use it.
"But you are kind, Malik Hilali. Do not underestimate the strength it takes to be kind in a world as cruel as ours."
A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown is an excellent YA fantasy set in a West African inspired setting. I devoured this book. I wish I had this book when I was in high school.
We follow two MCs whose pov alternates with each chapter. Malik, an Eshran boy with anxiety is trying to get into the city of Ziran with his sister's when he unwittingly makes a deal with a spirit names Idir, and is dragged into a game in order to save his younger sister. Karina, the princess of Ziran is a bit of an impetuous brat who has no motivation to rule, suffers from migraines and ends up having to take her mother's place sooner than she thought. Both are of their destinies are connected, but they are trying to kill each other.
This is classic hero's journey with enemies to lovers slow burn. I really liked the magic system in this, but I hope we get to explore it more in the next book. I loved how the author weaved in an element of oral storytelling and the power it can have. We also get representation of anxiety and panic attacks along with it actually becoming the thing that helps him in the end.
I loved the descriptions in this! I could practically smell the spices and see all the colors of Solsatcia! The writing was a joy to read. It was like Brown was weaving her own illusions, just like Malik.
I liked the way the MC's stories tied together and there were twists I didn't see coming. Some things were a little predictable, but I didn't mind. I did find Karina to be annoying for a good chunk of the book, because she was being very stubborn, short sighted, and selfish until she finally got it together. I'm looking forward to seeing how each of their magic grows as Malik and Karina learn how to use it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, and Animal death
Moderate: Violence, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Slavery
longhairzuko's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.0
The second half of this book was absolutely amazing. I couldn't put it down. I felt that the beginning was a little slow and hard to get into. The panic attacks and grief that the characters experience were written wonderfully, but unfortunately I found myself experiencing their anxiety. This is not a fault of the book and Brown includes a detailed trigger warning at the beginning. I would just be careful if you tend to physically feel character's emotions. This did lessen as the book went on, and the story was so gripping that I would 100% recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Self harm, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
valpyre's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
[audiobook]
the worldbuilding here was fairly interesting, but i found this a fairly slow listen overall, and it took me right till around 80% to really get into it.
i did actually appreciate that the two protags spent a lot of time apart in the book -- i think it set them up really well as independent characters with their own goals -- however i was never really taken up with the romantic part of their relationship.
the worldbuilding here was fairly interesting, but i found this a fairly slow listen overall, and it took me right till around 80% to really get into it.
i did actually appreciate that the two protags spent a lot of time apart in the book -- i think it set them up really well as independent characters with their own goals -- however i was never really taken up with the romantic part of their relationship.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Death, and Animal death
queenie_ofthe_void's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Death of parent, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Self harm
Minor: Abandonment, Animal death, Blood, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, War, and Xenophobia
kiahmaria04's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
omg there’s so much i want to say about this book… (i’ll try not to spoil lol)
firstly, i cannot believe this was a debut book. it was so well written and had everything you would want in a fantasy (and lowkey romance) book. it was so refreshing and interesting to read a book based on west and north african folklore and i loved getting to dive into this magical world. despite the book being relatively fast paced, i still felt like it flowed well, the plot was cohesive (and relatively easy to understand for a fantasy book lol), and the characters had really good development. Karina and Malik’s struggles with mental illness we’re definitely relatable to me and it made my heart so full to see them overcome their struggles (i felt like a proud mom lol). the romance in this book, i thought, was definitely more lowkey, however i didn’t mind. i think that it was still well done and contributed well to the plot. i think (and hope!) that Brown will dive more in depth to the main character’s romance in the next book. all in all, i literally cannot wait until “a psalm of storms and silence” comes out!!
firstly, i cannot believe this was a debut book. it was so well written and had everything you would want in a fantasy (and lowkey romance) book. it was so refreshing and interesting to read a book based on west and north african folklore and i loved getting to dive into this magical world. despite the book being relatively fast paced, i still felt like it flowed well, the plot was cohesive (and relatively easy to understand for a fantasy book lol), and the characters had really good development. Karina and Malik’s struggles with mental illness we’re definitely relatable to me and it made my heart so full to see them overcome their struggles (i felt like a proud mom lol). the romance in this book, i thought, was definitely more lowkey, however i didn’t mind. i think that it was still well done and contributed well to the plot. i think (and hope!) that Brown will dive more in depth to the main character’s romance in the next book. all in all, i literally cannot wait until “a psalm of storms and silence” comes out!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Grief, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Vomit
ryleecanread's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
The first half of this book never really hooked me but I have a problem DNFing books so I pushed through. While the ending really picked up with lots of turns and magic I am not sure if it really made up for how long it took to set it up.
Overall it was a fine book!
Overall it was a fine book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
suprminny's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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
4.5
This book gave me a lot of hunger ganes vibes and i love the characters so much, since i could related to them especially Malik. Note to the author, please stop killing my faves.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, and Racism
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Vomit, and Animal death