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robyn_vennard's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Death, Classism, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Grief, Physical abuse, War, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Emotional abuse
danibatista's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
When I started reading this book I thought I would like it much more than I actually did…
For the first half of the book I was really struggling to actually reading it… I was bored and quite confused, I didn’t connect with the characters and I just wanted to DNF or to go through with it the fastest I could…
The writing itself is amazing! I just think the first half of the book could be cut in half 😅
For the second half of the book… that really saved it entirely! The last 100 pages were the most interesting! Some twists and full of plot in the end… sadly I think the beginning was so slow and the ending so rushed…
There is dual POV - we get to know Alizeh, a Jinn and a lost queen, and we get to know Kamran, the prince of Ardunia. About Alizeh - she is a badass but I was hoping to know more about her powers…
Kamran I liked from the beginning! He is so intelligent and we can see his character development very well. And the way he talks to Alizeh is just wow.
When Kamran says “You have consumed my thoughts since the moment I met you (…) I feel now, in your presence, entirely strange. I think I might fetch you the moon if only to spare your tears again” I can definitely ignore the fact that I don’t like instant love trope.
There is a brief knife to the throat scene - always a good add to a book 👌🏼
And what about that ending? A major cliffhanger! Now all I want is that second book please!
Overall, due to the fact that a bit more than 50% of the book I was quite bored, I give it 3,5⭐️
For the first half of the book I was really struggling to actually reading it… I was bored and quite confused, I didn’t connect with the characters and I just wanted to DNF or to go through with it the fastest I could…
The writing itself is amazing! I just think the first half of the book could be cut in half 😅
For the second half of the book… that really saved it entirely! The last 100 pages were the most interesting! Some twists and full of plot in the end… sadly I think the beginning was so slow and the ending so rushed…
There is dual POV - we get to know Alizeh, a Jinn and a lost queen, and we get to know Kamran, the prince of Ardunia. About Alizeh - she is a badass but I was hoping to know more about her powers…
Kamran I liked from the beginning! He is so intelligent and we can see his character development very well. And the way he talks to Alizeh is just wow.
When Kamran says “You have consumed my thoughts since the moment I met you (…) I feel now, in your presence, entirely strange. I think I might fetch you the moon if only to spare your tears again” I can definitely ignore the fact that I don’t like instant love trope.
There is a brief knife to the throat scene - always a good add to a book 👌🏼
And what about that ending? A major cliffhanger! Now all I want is that second book please!
Overall, due to the fact that a bit more than 50% of the book I was quite bored, I give it 3,5⭐️
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, and Blood
teri_b's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book, respectively the audiobook I listened to from the local library, just held it all.
The fairy tale retelling from the a thousand Arabian nights, the setting, the slow, careful world building and the female main character, that I just had to respect for the love she holds for humanity even though her parents are long since gone.
And, of course, there is excellent representation of female craftmanship on these pages as she knows her way around with sewing and tailoring and clothing someone beautifully, making them look truly beautiful.
I would have loved to immediately continue with this story, as a good fairy tale retelling that also has some djinns involved, I simply cannot resist.
The fairy tale retelling from the a thousand Arabian nights, the setting, the slow, careful world building and the female main character, that I just had to respect for the love she holds for humanity even though her parents are long since gone.
And, of course, there is excellent representation of female craftmanship on these pages as she knows her way around with sewing and tailoring and clothing someone beautifully, making them look truly beautiful.
I would have loved to immediately continue with this story, as a good fairy tale retelling that also has some djinns involved, I simply cannot resist.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Death
mynotsolittlelibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
While the pacing if this book is slow it is so incredibly imersive you don't realise it. You're so wrapped up in the characters and their intense emotions you want every scene to last just a little longer!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, War, Xenophobia, Blood, Classism, Death, and Self harm
Moderate: Death, Blood, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Confinement
Minor: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Racism, and Violence
sydneyluxford's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This took me much longer to read than I thought, but I have the flu to blame for that. I literally went a week without reading.
Anyway, this is arguably the best book I have ever read. The prose in this book was unlike any other. Like, damn, since when were we so formal.
Love, love, love Alizeh. She was such an amazing main character and, I can’t lie, her plan of staying low as a snoda servant is smart because who is going to think a servant can take down five grown men trying to ambush her?????? I definitely didn’t. Also, I just know she’s so fine.When Kamran broke into her room and she held a blade to his neck, wearing nothing but a corset 🫣.
BRO, KAMRAN. I NEED ME A MAN LIKE HIM. I need me a man that’ll fetch me the moon because he hates to see me cry 😪. Never has a character radiated BDE like Kamran does. I had to take breaks when reading the scenes between him and Alizeh because they would literally make me blush so much. It’s so bad
THE ENDING?????? Kamran please save my girl Alizeh from the shackles of Cyrus. I can’t believe he just appeared out of nowhere and basically kidnapped her so they could get married. KAMRAN HELP.
I don’t think I can wait until February next year for the second book. Tahereh Mafi can’t just end the book like that and expect me to be okay??????? I NEED ANSWERS.
Anyway, this is arguably the best book I have ever read. The prose in this book was unlike any other. Like, damn, since when were we so formal.
Love, love, love Alizeh. She was such an amazing main character and, I can’t lie, her plan of staying low as a snoda servant is smart because who is going to think a servant can take down five grown men trying to ambush her?????? I definitely didn’t. Also, I just know she’s so fine.
BRO, KAMRAN. I NEED ME A MAN LIKE HIM. I need me a man that’ll fetch me the moon because he hates to see me cry 😪. Never has a character radiated BDE like Kamran does. I had to take breaks when reading the scenes between him and Alizeh because they would literally make me blush so much. It’s so bad
I don’t think I can wait until February next year for the second book. Tahereh Mafi can’t just end the book like that and expect me to be okay??????? I NEED ANSWERS.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Body horror
Moderate: Death of parent, Medical content, and War
kommatator's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Suicide attempt, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders
bookedandbusy's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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
5.0
I loved this book! Such a great new fantasy series and I can’t wait for the next one!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Blood
queen_melliott's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Body shaming, War, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Murder, Cursing, Hate crime, Death of parent, Death, Bullying, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Panic attacks/disorders
abiofpellinor's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, Self harm, and Death
Moderate: Blood
stormywolf's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
I'm obviously no stranger to Mafi's works, having made my way through her entire 11-part Shatter Me series. But upon finishing the last installment last fall, I noticed a 2-chapter preview of her upcoming fantasy work, This Woven Kingdom, and decided to try it. Having also read through her fantasy books, Furthermore & Whichwood, I knew she'd dabbled in the genre before, but I was interested to see what track she'd take with fantasy, romance, and YA. Needless to say, I was immediately hooked, and was then forced to eagerly await the book's release. A secret queen of a magical people, forced to hide her identity in squalor and servitude, tormented by whispers from the devil, and unknowingly headed toward a forbidden romance—what more could I ask for?
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, this book utterly enchanted me. From its intelligent and passionate main characters, its magical yet logical world, and its promise of even more political intrigue and supernatural twists, this story is absolutely full of things to love and become obsessed by. I'd highly recommend it to anyone interested in non-European-based fantasy, strong (and memorable) female characters, or a flirty forbidden romance. I'm very curious to know more, both about the characters and story to come, and about its inspiration, as the summary posits, from Persian mythology, and I know I'm not alone. But until the next book decides to magically appear, I'll have to find another series to tide me over.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, this book utterly enchanted me. From its intelligent and passionate main characters, its magical yet logical world, and its promise of even more political intrigue and supernatural twists, this story is absolutely full of things to love and become obsessed by. I'd highly recommend it to anyone interested in non-European-based fantasy, strong (and memorable) female characters, or a flirty forbidden romance. I'm very curious to know more, both about the characters and story to come, and about its inspiration, as the summary posits, from Persian mythology, and I know I'm not alone. But until the next book decides to magically appear, I'll have to find another series to tide me over.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Classism, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Violence
Minor: Child death and Genocide