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sydapel's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Reading this felt like reverting back to my pre-teen Mortal Instruments obsessed self - which I mean in the best possible way. While the language tends towards overly poetic and flowery and the pace of the plot as a result feels painstaking, Mafi begins with a pretty simple dynamic between two diametrically opposed characters and slowly unfurls the intricate threads of the political around them. Very very fun if you want to take a trip down 2014 YA lane.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Physical abuse
Moderate: Death of parent and Violence
Minor: War and Kidnapping
erinsmithart's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Physical abuse, Racism, and Death of parent
marsh_mall0w's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death of parent and Blood
Minor: War
hannahbailey's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Stylistically, I thought this was written really well and the concept was very interesting. But my god, was this long-winded. I kept reading because I thought that at any moment we'd get to the point...we didn't get there until the final pages -- more fool me đ
There was so much potential here but we spend too long in the main characters' heads, rather than in their world. I don't mind internal dialogue but both MCs' thoughts were repetitive and confusing in the sense that their decision-making skills seemed to be lacking. The prince was so whiny and passive whilst the FMC lacked personality, I wanted to root for them but lost interest by the end of the book. It definitely felt like a huge setup for the next book which seems to be in a completely different setting with more characters introduced. Obviously, a setup is needed to make you pick up the next instalment, but it's always a shame when the first novel itself can't be treated as a standalone in its own right.
There was so much potential here but we spend too long in the main characters' heads, rather than in their world. I don't mind internal dialogue but both MCs' thoughts were repetitive and confusing in the sense that their decision-making skills seemed to be lacking. The prince was so whiny and passive whilst the FMC lacked personality, I wanted to root for them but lost interest by the end of the book. It definitely felt like a huge setup for the next book which seems to be in a completely different setting with more characters introduced. Obviously, a setup is needed to make you pick up the next instalment, but it's always a shame when the first novel itself can't be treated as a standalone in its own right.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Gore, Grief, Violence, Suicide attempt, Xenophobia, and Murder
katievallin's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Racism, Grief, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Violence, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Stalking, Blood, and Medical content
Minor: Child death and Sexual content
rdmoreland0801's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The story for this book was great, although I donât think it played out as well as it could have. The first half of the book was really slow and not a lot happened. It just wasnât memorable overall, as I had to really think about what previously happened when I picked it up the next day.
The narration was good, but I wish they wouldâve cast a male voice actor for Kamran. I just couldnât get the full effect with the deep, slow voice of a woman.
I love second-half Alizeh who isnât afraid to speak her mind. When she finally loses her temper, we get a glimpse of who this character was meant to be.
Kamran is a little whiny, but falls head-over-heels for Alizeh in the silliest way. He just canât seem to keep his eyes off of her, which I think is adorable.
Overall, a solid 4âď¸ book. Iâll will definitely be continuing with the series.
The narration was good, but I wish they wouldâve cast a male voice actor for Kamran. I just couldnât get the full effect with the deep, slow voice of a woman.
I love second-half Alizeh who isnât afraid to speak her mind. When she finally loses her temper, we get a glimpse of who this character was meant to be.
Kamran is a little whiny, but falls head-over-heels for Alizeh in the silliest way. He just canât seem to keep his eyes off of her, which I think is adorable.
Overall, a solid 4âď¸ book. Iâll will definitely be continuing with the series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Racism, Suicide attempt, and War
Minor: Genocide
emolr's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Self harm, Child abuse, Classism, Racism, Violence, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Suicide attempt, Death, Death of parent, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Genocide
peachieko's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Death of parent
Minor: Blood, Violence, and Sexual content
kassidyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent and Physical abuse
Minor: Child death, War, and Fire/Fire injury
loveat1stwrite's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
**A copy of this book was provided to me by HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review.**
This Woven Kingdom contains beautiful prose and descriptions, but unfortunately very little plot. It comes with the territory of an almost 500-page book that spans about 3 days of in-book time. 60% of This Woven Kingdom is the main charactersâ inner monologue, 20% is setting/food/clothing description, 10% is verbal dialogue, and the last 10% is where the actual occurring events happen. I prefer to be shown actions to back up character motivations and thoughts, but this book heavily relies upon the reader being told what to think. The whole experience made it hard to connect with, or even like, either of the two main protagonists.
I was hoping for a lush Persian mythology read, but This Woven Kingdom is essentially a Cinderella retelling with cosmetic Middle Eastern inspirations regarding food and clothing. A dual-POV read, we alternate between Alizeh a long-lost princess of the Jinn who is currently hiding as a lowly servant, and Kamran the heir to the human empire of Ardunia. Their lots in life place them at odds, for Alizeh was prophesized to end the reign of the current king of Ardunia, Kamranâs grandfather. Of course, Alizeh and Kamran happen to cross paths on the street and become an insta-love forbidden romance. As I mentioned, this book is about 10% plot. Over the course of about 3 days, Kamran and Alizeh think about the other non-stop and their inner thoughts take up the majority of the writing of this book. All of this builds up to a ball, (Yay, an event is finally occurring!) so you have that to look forward to in the last 100 pages or so.
If you come into this with the right mindset, I think it can certainly be an enjoyable read, but it was very different than how it was marketed and you have to be ready for it to be a slow-paced read, very trope-heavy and descriptor-heavy.
This Woven Kingdom contains beautiful prose and descriptions, but unfortunately very little plot. It comes with the territory of an almost 500-page book that spans about 3 days of in-book time. 60% of This Woven Kingdom is the main charactersâ inner monologue, 20% is setting/food/clothing description, 10% is verbal dialogue, and the last 10% is where the actual occurring events happen. I prefer to be shown actions to back up character motivations and thoughts, but this book heavily relies upon the reader being told what to think. The whole experience made it hard to connect with, or even like, either of the two main protagonists.
I was hoping for a lush Persian mythology read, but This Woven Kingdom is essentially a Cinderella retelling with cosmetic Middle Eastern inspirations regarding food and clothing. A dual-POV read, we alternate between Alizeh a long-lost princess of the Jinn who is currently hiding as a lowly servant, and Kamran the heir to the human empire of Ardunia. Their lots in life place them at odds, for Alizeh was prophesized to end the reign of the current king of Ardunia, Kamranâs grandfather. Of course, Alizeh and Kamran happen to cross paths on the street and become an insta-love forbidden romance. As I mentioned, this book is about 10% plot. Over the course of about 3 days, Kamran and Alizeh think about the other non-stop and their inner thoughts take up the majority of the writing of this book. All of this builds up to a ball, (Yay, an event is finally occurring!) so you have that to look forward to in the last 100 pages or so.
If you come into this with the right mindset, I think it can certainly be an enjoyable read, but it was very different than how it was marketed and you have to be ready for it to be a slow-paced read, very trope-heavy and descriptor-heavy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Fire/Fire injury, and Death of parent