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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
The cover art was gorgeous. Yu has a very beautiful and piercing quality to their writing that wowed and unnerved me equally. I wanted to love this book but I didn't.
Here are a few of my thoughts:
-I wish the relationship had been developed more between the sisters.
-I was not a fan of the romance.
-I really wish Min had grown up at some point.
-I did actually enjoy most of Lu's storyline and almost wish it could have been only about her.
Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me but I’m interested in seeing where the second book takes us.
Overall I woud still recommend this book to fantasy lovers.
Thank you to NetGalley, Mimi Yu and Orion Publishing Groupfor providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Here are a few of my thoughts:
-I wish the relationship had been developed more between the sisters.
-I was not a fan of the romance.
-I really wish Min had grown up at some point.
-I did actually enjoy most of Lu's storyline and almost wish it could have been only about her.
Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me but I’m interested in seeing where the second book takes us.
Overall I woud still recommend this book to fantasy lovers.
Thank you to NetGalley, Mimi Yu and Orion Publishing Groupfor providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
So, normally I don't like to throw shade at other books in my reviews, but here I feel the comparison is impossible to ignore, and my celebration of this book is fed by my disappointment in another. So here we go.
This book is what I was hoping for when I picked up Adeyemi's Children of Blood and Bone. I made no secret of my disappointment in what I was offered there, especially when I had such high hopes for it. A YA fantasy that's not set in a european-based world! Excitement and action and intrigue, an interesting and intrepid female protagonist! A touch of romance, a splash of super creative worldbuilding based on a non-western mythology!
The Girl King offers all these things in spades. The Asian-inspired world was a refreshing change from the norm. The magic was natural and integrated, the characters rich and well-rounded, and yet the action never took a pause to explain a complex piece of world building or to linger on romantic conundrums. Every tidbit of information was skillfully woven into the story in such a way that by the end I was left feeling breathless, almost longing for a moment's pause.
It's a story of imperial intrigue, colonial destruction of indigenous peoples and their religions and beliefs, of two princesses who couldn't be more different, of a young empress in the making having to face up to the colonial legacy of her father adn grandfather, trying to make amends to the people most hurt by her empire.
My critiques are few - there were a few moments where I felt the hectic pace of the story (how is this book over 400 pages? It read like half that) skipped over what could have been important moments by not being in the right POV character when tehy happened. It felt like some scenes were cut and the edges were not quite stitched back together properly. Large chunks of time are skipped over a couple of times with no effective time jump, leaving me feeling like maybe my copy was missing a few pages. The early chapters felt hectic, frenetic almost, though I'm not sure I can really count that a criticism, given it's already quite a large book and I generally like the faster pacing. I'm not sure how I would change it, only that the first quarter left me feeling a little discombobulated and unsure where things were heading. There's also a huge WTF NO moment but I won't go into that cause spoilers and also getting an emotional response isn't a bad thing. I'm just mad about it.
Overall I definitely recommend this for anyone who's looking for an exciting fantasy romp that feels less like a Tolkein ripoff and more like a genuinely diverse fantasy tale. This book should be way more hyped than it is. It's everything Children of Blood and Bone promised, but it's actually well written and skillfully crafted.
This book is what I was hoping for when I picked up Adeyemi's Children of Blood and Bone. I made no secret of my disappointment in what I was offered there, especially when I had such high hopes for it. A YA fantasy that's not set in a european-based world! Excitement and action and intrigue, an interesting and intrepid female protagonist! A touch of romance, a splash of super creative worldbuilding based on a non-western mythology!
The Girl King offers all these things in spades. The Asian-inspired world was a refreshing change from the norm. The magic was natural and integrated, the characters rich and well-rounded, and yet the action never took a pause to explain a complex piece of world building or to linger on romantic conundrums. Every tidbit of information was skillfully woven into the story in such a way that by the end I was left feeling breathless, almost longing for a moment's pause.
It's a story of imperial intrigue, colonial destruction of indigenous peoples and their religions and beliefs, of two princesses who couldn't be more different, of a young empress in the making having to face up to the colonial legacy of her father adn grandfather, trying to make amends to the people most hurt by her empire.
My critiques are few - there were a few moments where I felt the hectic pace of the story (how is this book over 400 pages? It read like half that) skipped over what could have been important moments by not being in the right POV character when tehy happened. It felt like some scenes were cut and the edges were not quite stitched back together properly. Large chunks of time are skipped over a couple of times with no effective time jump, leaving me feeling like maybe my copy was missing a few pages. The early chapters felt hectic, frenetic almost, though I'm not sure I can really count that a criticism, given it's already quite a large book and I generally like the faster pacing. I'm not sure how I would change it, only that the first quarter left me feeling a little discombobulated and unsure where things were heading. There's also a huge WTF NO moment but I won't go into that cause spoilers and also getting an emotional response isn't a bad thing. I'm just mad about it.
Overall I definitely recommend this for anyone who's looking for an exciting fantasy romp that feels less like a Tolkein ripoff and more like a genuinely diverse fantasy tale. This book should be way more hyped than it is. It's everything Children of Blood and Bone promised, but it's actually well written and skillfully crafted.
The only thing I didn't like about The Girl King is that I read it before the next book is out! Very invested in the fates of [redacted for spoilers]. Its just so cool to see unflinching women of colour ruling the world (Mimi and her characters both) - and I can't wait to hear more about this revived magic system. Long live the Girl King!!!
THAT ENDING I AM SCREAMING I can’t wait for book 2 ajdskkdjdjdj
(rtc!)
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I literally only heard of this book 5 minutes ago but that was more than enough time for me to decide that I NEED THIS SO MUCH
(rtc!)
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I literally only heard of this book 5 minutes ago but that was more than enough time for me to decide that I NEED THIS SO MUCH
I got 74%ish done with this book. I've been trying to get through it for what seems like months, I like the characters and the story. But I cant bring myself to finish it maybe because I've been at it for months xD
Note: I received a free digital ARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Unfortunately, I had hoped to love this book but it ended up underwhelming me. An Asian-inspired world with a sibling relationship at its core - the synopsis sounded very much like something I would enjoy. However, the execution fell short of my expectations.
I found it very difficult to relate to both the main characters in the book. I wanted to root for Min, the quieter sister, but her story arc left me disappointed. It looked like there was some mental health rep hidden in there but that wasn't developed later on.
Lu, on the other hand, was ambitious and headstrong but she didn't make the smart decisions that I would normally expect from a character like hers. I wasn't invested in either of the characters, so the book became a chore to get through. It was also pretty predictable for someone who has read their fair share of YA fantasy.
The only aspect I could get behind was the world-building. But even that wasn't enough to convince me to give the sequel a chance. Overall, a disappointing book that those new to YA fantasy may enjoy but this is not one for the ardent fans.
Unfortunately, I had hoped to love this book but it ended up underwhelming me. An Asian-inspired world with a sibling relationship at its core - the synopsis sounded very much like something I would enjoy. However, the execution fell short of my expectations.
I found it very difficult to relate to both the main characters in the book. I wanted to root for Min, the quieter sister, but her story arc left me disappointed. It looked like there was some mental health rep hidden in there but that wasn't developed later on.
Lu, on the other hand, was ambitious and headstrong but she didn't make the smart decisions that I would normally expect from a character like hers. I wasn't invested in either of the characters, so the book became a chore to get through. It was also pretty predictable for someone who has read their fair share of YA fantasy.
The only aspect I could get behind was the world-building. But even that wasn't enough to convince me to give the sequel a chance. Overall, a disappointing book that those new to YA fantasy may enjoy but this is not one for the ardent fans.
Chain Interaction
I am a big fan of books that play with the sister dynamic. It was something that felt very big quite a while ago and seems to have somewhat fallen out of fashion in recent years. That being said I’ve read a couple of sisterly books of late and with the popularity of books like Caraval and (hopefully) this book I suspect we might see an increase in sisters gracing our bookshelves. This sisterly duo was particularly interesting to me as the two of them don’t start the book as either the closest friends or as terrible enemies. It is very much the case that their relationship is shaped by the events of the story – which is even more powerful given that for the most part, they don’t actually see each other after the first few chapters. I thought that was a really interesting take on a dual POV book and it was a great way of showing how people can either change or be manipulated (or a bit of both).
What was fantastic for me is that I actually enjoyed both points of view, where normally I end up with a stand-out and then the other one that I tolerate. In this case, however, both stories are very different and both are extremely well conceived. It does mean you kind of get the best of both worlds, if you like court politics and all the subterfuge that comes hand in hand with that then you’ll enjoy Min’s perspective, if you like ‘head off into the woods and stumble upon hard truths about your kingdom’ kind of stories then Lu is your girl. I personally, and unsurprisingly given what I’ve already said, like both.
I am also a fan of hidden/forbidden magic so long as it is done well. I thought that the shapeshifting magic, and the way it was being eradicated by the monarchy, was very powerful, but Min’s discovery of her own powers and finding her own voice amongst those who would use her was also hugely significant. Are you beginning to sense a trend?
The character I wasn’t such a big fan of was Nox, I think that’s my bias towards female characters shining through. That being said I valued his perspective on things and it did make certain romance plot points all the more satisfying to have his view on things.
In some ways, this book is very trope-y, and if I were to just describe the plot point by point I think you could easily draw hundreds of comparisons with other YA fantasy books. But it is the book as a whole, the drawing together of all of these different story elements, that makes this book feel particularly new and exciting.
I will mention that this book is written by an Asian author, therefore counts as ownvoices fantasy – which I love. I really hope Asian fantasy (and other genres) continues to flourish in 2019 because it’s been a wonderful year of reading this year.
If you’re a YA fantasy fan then I would highly recommend you read this book, whatever you enjoy about the genre I do not doubt that you will be able to find a piece of it in this story.
My rating: 4/5 stars
I received a free digital advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I am a big fan of books that play with the sister dynamic. It was something that felt very big quite a while ago and seems to have somewhat fallen out of fashion in recent years. That being said I’ve read a couple of sisterly books of late and with the popularity of books like Caraval and (hopefully) this book I suspect we might see an increase in sisters gracing our bookshelves. This sisterly duo was particularly interesting to me as the two of them don’t start the book as either the closest friends or as terrible enemies. It is very much the case that their relationship is shaped by the events of the story – which is even more powerful given that for the most part, they don’t actually see each other after the first few chapters. I thought that was a really interesting take on a dual POV book and it was a great way of showing how people can either change or be manipulated (or a bit of both).
What was fantastic for me is that I actually enjoyed both points of view, where normally I end up with a stand-out and then the other one that I tolerate. In this case, however, both stories are very different and both are extremely well conceived. It does mean you kind of get the best of both worlds, if you like court politics and all the subterfuge that comes hand in hand with that then you’ll enjoy Min’s perspective, if you like ‘head off into the woods and stumble upon hard truths about your kingdom’ kind of stories then Lu is your girl. I personally, and unsurprisingly given what I’ve already said, like both.
I am also a fan of hidden/forbidden magic so long as it is done well. I thought that the shapeshifting magic, and the way it was being eradicated by the monarchy, was very powerful, but Min’s discovery of her own powers and finding her own voice amongst those who would use her was also hugely significant. Are you beginning to sense a trend?
The character I wasn’t such a big fan of was Nox, I think that’s my bias towards female characters shining through. That being said I valued his perspective on things and it did make certain romance plot points all the more satisfying to have his view on things.
In some ways, this book is very trope-y, and if I were to just describe the plot point by point I think you could easily draw hundreds of comparisons with other YA fantasy books. But it is the book as a whole, the drawing together of all of these different story elements, that makes this book feel particularly new and exciting.
I will mention that this book is written by an Asian author, therefore counts as ownvoices fantasy – which I love. I really hope Asian fantasy (and other genres) continues to flourish in 2019 because it’s been a wonderful year of reading this year.
If you’re a YA fantasy fan then I would highly recommend you read this book, whatever you enjoy about the genre I do not doubt that you will be able to find a piece of it in this story.
My rating: 4/5 stars
I received a free digital advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
(Disclaimer: I received this free book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Just wanted to draw attention to Vicky's Review (https://vickywhoreads.wordpress.com/2018/12/22/arc-the-girl-king-by-mimi-yu/) When I was reading I didn't pick up on these issues, which is totally on me. But I just wanted to give a shout out to this well thoughtout review about the problematic elements here. I still really enjoyed the characters of Min and Lu, but I wanted to acknowledge my mistakes.
I can't think of an element of The Girl King that I didn't love. Everything from the characters, to the world building, to the story arc, it was all executed with such grace. With tenderness, elegance, and beauty. If you have an Asian American teen in your life, do them a favor and give them a copy of this book. Do it for the younger me who never got to read a book like this growing up. From the beginning you can feel the book take off right beneath your finger tips.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/review-the-girl-king-by-mimi-yu/
Just wanted to draw attention to Vicky's Review (https://vickywhoreads.wordpress.com/2018/12/22/arc-the-girl-king-by-mimi-yu/) When I was reading I didn't pick up on these issues, which is totally on me. But I just wanted to give a shout out to this well thoughtout review about the problematic elements here. I still really enjoyed the characters of Min and Lu, but I wanted to acknowledge my mistakes.
I can't think of an element of The Girl King that I didn't love. Everything from the characters, to the world building, to the story arc, it was all executed with such grace. With tenderness, elegance, and beauty. If you have an Asian American teen in your life, do them a favor and give them a copy of this book. Do it for the younger me who never got to read a book like this growing up. From the beginning you can feel the book take off right beneath your finger tips.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/review-the-girl-king-by-mimi-yu/
I adore everything this book, from the characters to the world to the very writing itself. Yu has such a fantastic voice, and each of the three POV characters shine. The writing hooks you, drawing you in and not letting you go.
But the strongest part of this book are our main characters. I adore both Lu and Min, and their character arcs are complimentary but unique, and Nok is just so precious.
I can't wait for the next installment!
But the strongest part of this book are our main characters. I adore both Lu and Min, and their character arcs are complimentary but unique, and Nok is just so precious.
I can't wait for the next installment!