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ceena's review against another edition
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
DNF @ 18%
Alrighty, I won't be rating this one, because it doesn't seem fair. The synopsis sounds amazing and the writing IS good-- the story is there, but for some reason I'm just not interested. Sci-fi books and I have a complicated relationship. This is one I might try again at another time or perhaps the audio version.
DNF @ 18%
Alrighty, I won't be rating this one, because it doesn't seem fair. The synopsis sounds amazing and the writing IS good-- the story is there, but for some reason I'm just not interested. Sci-fi books and I have a complicated relationship. This is one I might try again at another time or perhaps the audio version.
darcyhendershott's review against another edition
3.0
It gets better towards the end and overall I'm glad I read it.
Book 1 - 1 star
Sacred fire - 2 stars
Book 2 - 3.5 stars
Book 3 - 5 stars
There were some major inconsistencies in the beginning of this trilogy (see my expanded reviews for some specific examples) but despite that, I was still held by the plot and the characters. Okwu was one of the best and most lovable characters I've read in a long time. I wish these books were longer and the universe was covered in more detail. It seemed like a bit much for how short the books were which resulted in some level of disconnect. As a whole series, I enjoyed it and I'm glad I read the entire thing.
Book 1 - 1 star
Sacred fire - 2 stars
Book 2 - 3.5 stars
Book 3 - 5 stars
There were some major inconsistencies in the beginning of this trilogy (see my expanded reviews for some specific examples) but despite that, I was still held by the plot and the characters. Okwu was one of the best and most lovable characters I've read in a long time. I wish these books were longer and the universe was covered in more detail. It seemed like a bit much for how short the books were which resulted in some level of disconnect. As a whole series, I enjoyed it and I'm glad I read the entire thing.
dannythestreet's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
First of all, love to see a strong black woman protagonist with complex feelings. You really can't help liking all of the characters. Secondly, Binti's thoughts on belonging, being "too many things" at once, struggling to leave home, and changing without wanting to all resonated with me deeply. The pacing was a little wonky at times but the overall experience is extremely pleasant. Finally, I would highly recommend reading this trilogy as one book, it makes a lot of sense this way!
PS the symbolism is *chef's kiss*
PS the symbolism is *chef's kiss*
lanieslibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
littlemountainchicken's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
This is one of the most beautiful works I've read in a while. Absolutely amazing adventure and characters. Recommended to anyone who believes in communication and curiosity as the key to a better future.
raebeen's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
yevolem's review against another edition
2.0
Three relatively short novellas and a novelette form this trilogy. Yes, I'm aware that's four. I apparently confused this with some other book about going to a galactic university and now I've no idea what it was that I was thinking of.
The protagonist is the first of her tribe to be offered admission to the university where only 5% of the students are human and the vast majority aren't even humanoid. So, she goes and on the way an atrocity occurs and she spends rest of the trilogy trying to deal with her PTSD and panic attacks. The school part itself is far too short. It was at its best when it was there and should've only been there.
There are many twists, especially near the end, but they're so entirely ridiculous in a terrible way. Some of them, especially the final one, seem to be there to be absurdist humor that mocks genre conventions and expectations, but it really didn't work for me. Even when not being read as serious, though I think it's intended to be serious, there are so many deus ex machina, utterly incoherent plotlines, rushed ideas, inchoate worldbuilding, and mysterious characterizations, that it that beggars belief. Together it gives the feeling of being entirely insubstantial, incomplete, and unfinished. There's a lot that just feels missing from it in general. This should've been a comic or tv series.
Binti: 2.5/5 (18%)
Binti Sacred Fire: 3/5 (10%)
Binti Home: 2.5/5 (30%)
Binti The Night Masquerade: 2/5 (42%)
That comes out to a weighted average of 2.34
The protagonist is the first of her tribe to be offered admission to the university where only 5% of the students are human and the vast majority aren't even humanoid. So, she goes and on the way an atrocity occurs and she spends rest of the trilogy trying to deal with her PTSD and panic attacks. The school part itself is far too short. It was at its best when it was there and should've only been there.
There are many twists, especially near the end, but they're so entirely ridiculous in a terrible way. Some of them, especially the final one, seem to be there to be absurdist humor that mocks genre conventions and expectations, but it really didn't work for me. Even when not being read as serious, though I think it's intended to be serious, there are so many deus ex machina, utterly incoherent plotlines, rushed ideas, inchoate worldbuilding, and mysterious characterizations, that it that beggars belief. Together it gives the feeling of being entirely insubstantial, incomplete, and unfinished. There's a lot that just feels missing from it in general. This should've been a comic or tv series.
Binti: 2.5/5 (18%)
Binti Sacred Fire: 3/5 (10%)
Binti Home: 2.5/5 (30%)
Binti The Night Masquerade: 2/5 (42%)
That comes out to a weighted average of 2.34
ahw241's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, and War
csifbi23's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I honestly did not really get into this book until the 3rd novella.
The writing style reminded me of other works inspired by African culture, and had lots of interesting ideas and concepts. But parts of the story just felt unbelievable, or lacking. For example, the development of relationships is--essentially--non-existent. I was genuinely surprised how captivated I became at the end, and am curious why things became so different and engaging in a way that the first ⅔rds of the book was not.
Ultimately, while it was enjoyable, it was a lot of effort to get to the enjoyable parts.
The writing style reminded me of other works inspired by African culture, and had lots of interesting ideas and concepts. But parts of the story just felt unbelievable, or lacking. For example, the development of relationships is--essentially--non-existent. I was genuinely surprised how captivated I became at the end, and am curious why things became so different and engaging in a way that the first ⅔rds of the book was not.
Ultimately, while it was enjoyable, it was a lot of effort to get to the enjoyable parts.