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elwirax's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
3.0
PROS:
Rue was such a strong character. She went through so much and still found the strength to fight for her family and justice. She didn't feel the need to change herself and was proud of the hood she grew up in and the people who made it home.
J.Elle comments on racism and colonialism in a raw and blunt way. She addresses privilege and the need for white people to fight against systemic racism without making the whole thing about themselves or being coddled by Black people. Racism must be called out as racism and nothing else. This is the strongest message in "Wings of Ebony" and one which is very much applicable to our society.
CONS:
The world building and magic fell flat in some aspects especially regarding Ghizon. I had a hard time picturing Houston alongside this magical city. However, "Wings of Ebony" is the first book in a duology so this may be expanded upon in the next book.
The romance was really insta-lovey and served no purpose to the overall book. I think the book would've been better if the romance was left out entirely. There was also an inkling of a love triangle which I really don't like and hope the duology does not go in that direction ( this is just a personal preference though)
The pacing felt a little off. Some parts were really well written while others not so much. As well as this, many of the characters lacked the proper characterisation needed to be well rounded and ultimately felt really flat.The dialogue between these characters was clunky and strange in some parts which meant I was not invested in any of them.
Objectively this was a good book with important commentary that needs to be adressed. I wish I could say it was a 5 star book but it simply didn't feel as such. It's dissapointing that I didn't love it as much as I'd hoped. Despite this, I would still recommend it. It's debatable whether or not I'll pick up the next book when it comes out but it's definitely not off the table.
Rue was such a strong character. She went through so much and still found the strength to fight for her family and justice. She didn't feel the need to change herself and was proud of the hood she grew up in and the people who made it home.
J.Elle comments on racism and colonialism in a raw and blunt way. She addresses privilege and the need for white people to fight against systemic racism without making the whole thing about themselves or being coddled by Black people. Racism must be called out as racism and nothing else. This is the strongest message in "Wings of Ebony" and one which is very much applicable to our society.
CONS:
The world building and magic fell flat in some aspects especially regarding Ghizon. I had a hard time picturing Houston alongside this magical city. However, "Wings of Ebony" is the first book in a duology so this may be expanded upon in the next book.
The romance was really insta-lovey and served no purpose to the overall book. I think the book would've been better if the romance was left out entirely. There was also an inkling of a love triangle which I really don't like and hope the duology does not go in that direction ( this is just a personal preference though)
The pacing felt a little off. Some parts were really well written while others not so much. As well as this, many of the characters lacked the proper characterisation needed to be well rounded and ultimately felt really flat.The dialogue between these characters was clunky and strange in some parts which meant I was not invested in any of them.
Objectively this was a good book with important commentary that needs to be adressed. I wish I could say it was a 5 star book but it simply didn't feel as such. It's dissapointing that I didn't love it as much as I'd hoped. Despite this, I would still recommend it. It's debatable whether or not I'll pick up the next book when it comes out but it's definitely not off the table.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Racism
Moderate: Genocide, Death of parent, and Murder
library_dreamer's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- 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
4.5
It's not often that I fall so hard for fantasy. I have to be in a mood to get into a new world. I went into this one blind, not knowing anything about it. It was awesome! The world building was really well done. The juxtaposition of this fantastical world on our own ordinary one was brilliant. The inclusion of real world social issues gave the story a particular weight and helped add to why I fell so hard for the characters. Definitely will be on the lookout for more in this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
thenovelmaura's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.0
I wish I hadn't waited so long to write my review, because I'm afraid I won't be able to do this book justice! Wings of Ebony was a magical debut novel with a protagonist who is full of life. Unlike when characters wish they could be whisked away to a magical world, this exact thing happened to Rue and she wasn't having any of it. She'd rather be with her sister and the tight-knit community in her Houston neighborhood than learning how to wield magic in Ghizon. For this reason, East Row felt much more real to me than the fantastical Ghizon, especially since Rue chose to ignore most of what she was taught there. J. Elle was generous enough to attend our book club's discussion and said that the sequel will be based almost entirely in Ghizon, so I'm looking forward to learning more about this world in that book.
There were quite a few great character arcs in this book that I can't talk about without spoiling anything, but Rue's friend Bri and her father were the standouts for me. Even when their choices were painful to read about, Rue was both honest with them and gave them room to change, which I loved. The ending makes a powerful statement about restorative justice that was appropriate for a YA audience. I'm in awe of Elle's ability to address issues of racism, colonization, cultural appropriation and performative allyship in the context of an action-packed urban fantasy novel, and I can't wait to read more from her!
There were quite a few great character arcs in this book that I can't talk about without spoiling anything, but Rue's friend Bri and her father were the standouts for me. Even when their choices were painful to read about, Rue was both honest with them and gave them room to change, which I loved. The ending makes a powerful statement about restorative justice that was appropriate for a YA audience. I'm in awe of Elle's ability to address issues of racism, colonization, cultural appropriation and performative allyship in the context of an action-packed urban fantasy novel, and I can't wait to read more from her!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Death of parent
Moderate: Gun violence, Police brutality, and Murder
nightwing's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
"Wings of Ebony" follows Rue who lost her mother and gained a father, and inherited her father's mysterious magical world along with all of its lovely problems.
Rue is a great character and is fleshed out very well throughout the book, all her motivations wear clear and completely understandable. Unfortunately, the side characters lost the development. Still, Rue carries the book on her shoulders and it's so fun to see her journey and feeling trapped between two different worlds with completely different expectations of her.
I think this book would've been even better had it been longer and had more time to flesh out the characters and world-building. It's really great otherwise, especially the connections with real-life events that hit hard but in a good way.
I can't wait for the next one!
Rue is a great character and is fleshed out very well throughout the book, all her motivations wear clear and completely understandable. Unfortunately, the side characters lost the development. Still, Rue carries the book on her shoulders and it's so fun to see her journey and feeling trapped between two different worlds with completely different expectations of her.
I think this book would've been even better had it been longer and had more time to flesh out the characters and world-building. It's really great otherwise, especially the connections with real-life events that hit hard but in a good way.
I can't wait for the next one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Police brutality, and Death of parent
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? No
5.0
"Moms raised a diamond. And diamonds don't crack."
I was gifted an arc copy of Wings of Ebony by J. Elle. Wow. Just wow. This book is the perfect blend of urban fantasy and social justice novel. I devoured this book in two days.
We follow Rue in East Row, where we see the desolation that gang and drug activity can reduce a hood to. Rue is trying to see her younger sister Tasha from a distance on the anniversary of their mother's death. Rue isn't supposed to touch any human now that she lives and Ghazan and has magic. Tasha is almost in a car accident until Rue intervenes, touching Tasha.
A whole bunch of problems ensue for the sisters, but we get to see Rue grow and learn about her abilities and her true history in Ghazan. It was so nice that romance was a main piece of the plot! There were hints of maybe romance to come, but this story was about getting justice.
This book was also about the importance of family; sticking together. And just blood family. "The whole block fam." I loved the way Elle depicted Bri struggling with her privilege, and the nuance she brought to the conversation without apologizing for it. We also see the ill effects of colonialism depicted in Ghazan along with an oppressive caste system.
It was also refreshing to have a book that ends with the racist getting exactly what he deserves. I loved this book so much, but I don't want to say much more for fear of spoilers. Just read this book! I seriously hope there is a second book coming!
The only thing I didn't like was the way the author made everyone stutter all the time. It took me out of it every time. Such a minor issue that it didn't impact my rating. I would have liked to see more of the world building, but maybe that happens in a later book?
I was gifted an arc copy of Wings of Ebony by J. Elle. Wow. Just wow. This book is the perfect blend of urban fantasy and social justice novel. I devoured this book in two days.
We follow Rue in East Row, where we see the desolation that gang and drug activity can reduce a hood to. Rue is trying to see her younger sister Tasha from a distance on the anniversary of their mother's death. Rue isn't supposed to touch any human now that she lives and Ghazan and has magic. Tasha is almost in a car accident until Rue intervenes, touching Tasha.
A whole bunch of problems ensue for the sisters, but we get to see Rue grow and learn about her abilities and her true history in Ghazan. It was so nice that romance was a main piece of the plot! There were hints of maybe romance to come, but this story was about getting justice.
This book was also about the importance of family; sticking together. And just blood family. "The whole block fam." I loved the way Elle depicted Bri struggling with her privilege, and the nuance she brought to the conversation without apologizing for it. We also see the ill effects of colonialism depicted in Ghazan along with an oppressive caste system.
It was also refreshing to have a book that ends with the racist getting exactly what he deserves. I loved this book so much, but I don't want to say much more for fear of spoilers. Just read this book! I seriously hope there is a second book coming!
The only thing I didn't like was the way the author made everyone stutter all the time. It took me out of it every time. Such a minor issue that it didn't impact my rating. I would have liked to see more of the world building, but maybe that happens in a later book?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
stormywolf's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
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? Yes
4.0
I believe I found this one through Facebook and/or new release emails from my library. Since reading Legendborn last year I'm really interested in reading fantasy woven into and around Black traditions and experiences. Other than reading the summary blurb, I really had no idea what I was getting into, or just how much this book would dig its claws into me.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, I highly recommend this book. This was the first book about the Black experience and systemic racism that had me legitimately questioning my own views and prejudices by offering some conflicts in shades of gray. As a debut novel, there are some rough edges still to be worked out, but I'm trusting details (like with magic and the title of the book) will be further addressed in the upcoming sequel(s). If you're interested in or looking to get into YA fantasy, social justice reform, Afrofuturism, or other subjects concerning Black experiences, this one is definitely worth a read. I, for one, am definitely going to be returning to this series as soon as I can.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, I highly recommend this book. This was the first book about the Black experience and systemic racism that had me legitimately questioning my own views and prejudices by offering some conflicts in shades of gray. As a debut novel, there are some rough edges still to be worked out, but I'm trusting details (like with magic and the title of the book) will be further addressed in the upcoming sequel(s). If you're interested in or looking to get into YA fantasy, social justice reform, Afrofuturism, or other subjects concerning Black experiences, this one is definitely worth a read. I, for one, am definitely going to be returning to this series as soon as I can.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Genocide and Blood
Minor: Bullying, Child death, and Grief
kaycee_k's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Grief, and Death of parent
leahsbooks's review
adventurous
dark
tense
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? Yes
4.5
This is one of the 2021 debuts that I was really looking forward to, and I’m glad to say that it did not disappoint. You know when you start reading a book and know right away that it’s just going to be amazing? Yep. That’s what happened here.
It’s a crossover between urban fantasy, taking place in the hood of Houston, and fantasy, in Ghizon, which is an incredibly well-crafted world. The world building is done beautifully, with an entire caste-based society, history, language, magic system, and holidays/customs all described in such a clear and intriguing way. Just like any other society, Ghizon has a dark side to it as well, and involves discrimination.
J. Elle doesn’t shy away from portraying Rue’s Houston neighborhood realistically either, displaying both the good and the bad. While it’s clear that there is no trust between the people and law enforcement, media doesn’t show any interest in what happens to the residents of East Row, and the people living there are no strangers to drugs, violence, and death, the community is more than just neighbors — they’re family.
I loved the emotional impact this book had. Rue dealt with some heavy emotions throughout the entire story, but her feelings were all so realistic. She was dealing with grief, fear, anger, frustration, hurt, and loneliness. Rue is angry but channels it to create positive change for herself, her family, and her community, and even brings that change to wider circles. She faced an uphill battle, leaving a predominantly Black community that functioned as a supportive family after a traumatic event, and then being transported to a society where she’s basically an outcast and one of two Black people.
Rue wasn’t the only character who showed growth during the book. So many of the main characters had amazing growth arcs over the course of the story, and that wasn’t even the best part! The story itself was exciting, and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. I was actually disappointed when I had to adult and put the book down, and would count the time down until I could start reading again. The author wasn’t afraid to discuss racism, empowerment, hate, social justice, family dynamics, and forgiveness, and I can only hope that the next book in this series come out soon, because I’m here for it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Child abuse, Drug use, and Genocide
daniellestarredpages's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- 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? Yes
2.5
I think this book could've shone better if it was longer. Which would've given more time for the story to develop. The beginning of the story was rushed and the pacing was off for the entire book. Towards the middle of the book when the story began to get intriguing, that's when they pacing issues became really prominent. The setting kept switching from one place to another and there was no cool of time between one action scene that ended in disaster for the characters to another scene. The resolution was also very rushed and unbelievable. The way Rue just handed out Ghizon technology to the people on her row and used that to solve the problem was one of the most unbelievable things. And I don't think the casual way that Rue exposed the magic at the end to the entire world was a good idea, considering the fact that her people at Ghizon worked so hard to hide themselves originally. However, Rue's dedication to her family was very admirable and her drive was really easy to root for. The other characters while not fleshed out entirely was enjoyable for the time they were on the page. The themes of racism, and white people making themselves the victim in the Ghizoni setting were well handled.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
0ri's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Book started off a bit predictable, but then swerved hard and was a ride.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Racism