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sony74's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to love this book. It came highly recommended, and it's a black fantasy, which we need more of. Ultimately, I think the idea of this story was cooler than the execution.
I really enjoyed the beginning. It started with a bang with engaging characters and fascinating world-building that really got me invested. I think that's why when the forced romance and deus ex machina magic and plot turns started I felt betrayed. The romance between the two leads never feels authentic and at some points I was actually rolling my eyes. That may be partly due to poor pacing of their relationship arc, or maybe it was just the melodramatic writing. I just didn't buy it and I actually almost stopped reading. But to the author's credit, you really don't know what's going to happen next so in spite of all of the cliches, you still want to see what she has up her sleeve.
The story did pick back up towards the end, recapturing some of the excitement and engagement of the beginning. It's all rather melodramatic though and I think that's partly due to constant POV switching and the way the chapters were organized. Several times throughout the book a character will have a POV chapter back to back. It didn't make sense. What was the point of giving the reader a 2 page chapter in Zelie's POV and then start a new chapter with Zelie's POV right after? I thought that was bizarre and narratively it just started to feel like a tired gimmick.
I'm honestly not sure I will read the sequel, although I cannot say I'm not curious to see where this story goes. I just wish that I could be assured that if I continue it will told much better.
I really enjoyed the beginning. It started with a bang with engaging characters and fascinating world-building that really got me invested. I think that's why when the forced romance and deus ex machina magic and plot turns started I felt betrayed. The romance between the two leads never feels authentic and at some points I was actually rolling my eyes. That may be partly due to poor pacing of their relationship arc, or maybe it was just the melodramatic writing. I just didn't buy it and I actually almost stopped reading. But to the author's credit, you really don't know what's going to happen next so in spite of all of the cliches, you still want to see what she has up her sleeve.
The story did pick back up towards the end, recapturing some of the excitement and engagement of the beginning. It's all rather melodramatic though and I think that's partly due to constant POV switching and the way the chapters were organized. Several times throughout the book a character will have a POV chapter back to back. It didn't make sense. What was the point of giving the reader a 2 page chapter in Zelie's POV and then start a new chapter with Zelie's POV right after? I thought that was bizarre and narratively it just started to feel like a tired gimmick.
I'm honestly not sure I will read the sequel, although I cannot say I'm not curious to see where this story goes. I just wish that I could be assured that if I continue it will told much better.
corliss12000's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely wonderful debut novel. Can’t wait for the sequei
mary_kurtz's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book, but after reading the author's notes, i loved it and gained a greater appreciation for the inspiration behind the story. The swear word "skies" drove me nuts throughout, but otherwise her fantasy world was filled with societal oppression many people still experience throughout the world.
kingphilwith1l's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. Just wow. I'm speechless. This is one of the few books that get a perfect rating from me. When I say I couldn't put this book down. It was written so beautifully and the adventure was one for the records. I absolutely love being able to be in this black magical, fantastical world so very much. My only problem is that i finished it and I won't be able to experience this journey the same way as the first time.
aemilyl24's review against another edition
5.0
This was an amazing book. Ms.Tomi Adeyemi created such a wonderful world, the characters and setting is so enriching and incredible to read. Dialogue and action has been fantastic. This was such a fantastic read! I can't wait until the sequel, as soon as it's available for pre-order I will buy it.
mollymaloney's review against another edition
This book hovers between 3.5 & 4 stars for me. I loved the world that Ms. Adeyemi has created. I felt like I was right there with Zelie, Tzain, and Amari as they traveled throughout a fantasy version of West Africa and the way Ms. Adeyemi wrote about the Magi as an oppressed underclass was heartwrenching.
Where it fell down for me was in the characters. The only one I loved was Amari - she was the most interesting and she grew/changed more than any other character. Zelie started out interesting and I had a lot of feeling for her, but after awhile her constant angst was...a lot. She didn't really deal with it, either, which was kind of a bummer. It only got worse and more tiresome as she second guessed herself. Tzain, was largely forgettable, to be honest. He was just kind of there as a sometimes-petulant creator of drama. Inan was...inane. I wanted to like him. Hell, I wanted to love him. I thought we'd be getting a hero's arc with him, but no. Like Zelie, he was consumed with angst and his whole sublimation thing got old after a while.
So yeah - very mixed feelings about this book. I did immediately start the second book in the series and then stopped because I just couldn't do more teen angsty drama so soon.
Where it fell down for me was in the characters. The only one I loved was Amari - she was the most interesting and she grew/changed more than any other character. Zelie started out interesting and I had a lot of feeling for her, but after awhile her constant angst was...a lot. She didn't really deal with it, either, which was kind of a bummer. It only got worse and more tiresome as she second guessed herself. Tzain, was largely forgettable, to be honest. He was just kind of there as a sometimes-petulant creator of drama. Inan was...inane. I wanted to like him. Hell, I wanted to love him. I thought we'd be getting a hero's arc with him, but no. Like Zelie, he was consumed with angst and his whole sublimation thing got old after a while.
So yeah - very mixed feelings about this book. I did immediately start the second book in the series and then stopped because I just couldn't do more teen angsty drama so soon.