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tatyanavogt's review against another edition
4.0
Don't have too much to say about this one. I enjoyed it, liked how it ended. Took me a little bit to get back into the world. Might enjoy it even more if I read them back to back.
brickbrick's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
4.25
annamickreads's review
5.0
I developed the hiccups accidentally holding my breath reading the end of this book so you should know that's a very good sign!!!
Personally, I loved this volume even more than the first one, and I cannot over-emphasize how crazy great this duology is (and how much I look forward to the TV adaptation, fingers crossed!!!!). For me, the story was really kicked into high gear in "Psalm of Storms and Silence" because of all the great developments happening in the characters and frankly, all the plot action.
When we last left Karina and Malik, Malik has tried to kill Karina at the behest of a god. Instead, the pair separate, with Karina fleeing for her life and Malik accidentally absorbing a god to prevent the apocalypse. Manipulative court creep Farid has brought Karina's sister Hanane back to life and blamed Karina for the deaths of everyone he mowed down to get Hanane there.
In the meantime, Karina is trying to find a way to undo the curse Farid unleashed by bringing her sister back from the dead, and Malik is trapped in the palace trying to wrangle a god in his body AND find Karina. I really loved the themes that were explored in this book, especially those about breaking cycles, mental health & self acceptance, control and love vs. control, and love in general.
Although I had already loved Karina before, I think her finally becoming more vulnerable with both Malik and other people allowed her to be even more relatable, and I appreciated her strengths and self-assurance. Malik's terrifying trip into the dark combined with his (no spoilers) journey back to the light after hitting truly rock bottom twisted allllllllll my heartstrings. There were many tears!!!
In the first book, because there was so much going on, I actually didn't mind that Karina and Malik may not have had the most charged chemistry. This sequel more than makes up for everything, especially the conversations Karina and Malik share through their psychic link (thinking specifically here about the scene after the demon attack. If you know, you know.)
TL;DR this whole series has been on my "must read" list for a while and I'm SO glad I finally read the sequel
Personally, I loved this volume even more than the first one, and I cannot over-emphasize how crazy great this duology is (and how much I look forward to the TV adaptation, fingers crossed!!!!). For me, the story was really kicked into high gear in "Psalm of Storms and Silence" because of all the great developments happening in the characters and frankly, all the plot action.
When we last left Karina and Malik, Malik has tried to kill Karina at the behest of a god. Instead, the pair separate, with Karina fleeing for her life and Malik accidentally absorbing a god to prevent the apocalypse. Manipulative court creep Farid has brought Karina's sister Hanane back to life and blamed Karina for the deaths of everyone he mowed down to get Hanane there.
In the meantime, Karina is trying to find a way to undo the curse Farid unleashed by bringing her sister back from the dead, and Malik is trapped in the palace trying to wrangle a god in his body AND find Karina. I really loved the themes that were explored in this book, especially those about breaking cycles, mental health & self acceptance, control and love vs. control, and love in general.
Although I had already loved Karina before, I think her finally becoming more vulnerable with both Malik and other people allowed her to be even more relatable, and I appreciated her strengths and self-assurance. Malik's terrifying trip into the dark combined with his (no spoilers) journey back to the light after hitting truly rock bottom twisted allllllllll my heartstrings. There were many tears!!!
In the first book, because there was so much going on, I actually didn't mind that Karina and Malik may not have had the most charged chemistry. This sequel more than makes up for everything, especially the conversations Karina and Malik share through their psychic link (thinking specifically here about the scene after the demon attack. If you know, you know.)
TL;DR this whole series has been on my "must read" list for a while and I'm SO glad I finally read the sequel
janetreads_'s review
5.0
This book was brilliant!
I can’t believe the story is over. The writing was brilliant. The characters were great! I was OBSESSED with the story! I’m deeply saddened that I no longer exist in the bubble of the world of Ziran!
I highly recommend
I can’t believe the story is over. The writing was brilliant. The characters were great! I was OBSESSED with the story! I’m deeply saddened that I no longer exist in the bubble of the world of Ziran!
I highly recommend
tinytrashqueen's review
adventurous
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
3.5
gabalodon's review against another edition
3.0
This was okay. Everything that was good about the first book was still good here. It has incredible bones and there were times when it was a five-star read. I was LIVING for the dynamic between Idir and Malik - that could have been developed so much more. If you loved the first one I think you'll love the second one.
Unfortunately everything I disliked about the first book was still true in this one, and in some ways amplified. Instead of sticking with the bazillion moving parts that were already present at the end of the first one, a lot of those pieces were neglected (e.g. Idir) and even MORE complications were added. The magic and gods system was very hand-wavey and seemed to contort itself to achieve plot points. The narrative often relied on a character magically knowing what to do or "feeling in their heart" that a certain path was closed to them, which drives me nuts. Karina couldn't decide whether she wanted to sacrifice herself for the kingdom or not and changed her mind on that front several times. And at one point she makes a blood oath which was just...never followed through on? Unless in this world blood oaths are extremely flexible but it sure didn't sound like it when it was made.
What really wore me down though was how much Karina and Malik continued to constantly (and I mean CONSTANTLY) hate on themselves and every decision they made. I'm no stranger to self-flagellation but that doesn't mean I want to spend over a thousand pages inside the heads of two people who can't stop blaming themselves for everything horrible that goes wrong. There was no emotional relief as a reader, which made it a very unbalanced book to struggle through.
Ultimately, there were some very interesting things about the duology and I'd like to see how this author grows but I don't think I'll ever reread these two.
Unfortunately everything I disliked about the first book was still true in this one, and in some ways amplified. Instead of sticking with the bazillion moving parts that were already present at the end of the first one, a lot of those pieces were neglected (e.g. Idir) and even MORE complications were added. The magic and gods system was very hand-wavey and seemed to contort itself to achieve plot points. The narrative often relied on a character magically knowing what to do or "feeling in their heart" that a certain path was closed to them, which drives me nuts. Karina couldn't decide whether she wanted to sacrifice herself for the kingdom or not and changed her mind on that front several times. And at one point she makes a blood oath which was just...never followed through on? Unless in this world blood oaths are extremely flexible but it sure didn't sound like it when it was made.
What really wore me down though was how much Karina and Malik continued to constantly (and I mean CONSTANTLY) hate on themselves and every decision they made. I'm no stranger to self-flagellation but that doesn't mean I want to spend over a thousand pages inside the heads of two people who can't stop blaming themselves for everything horrible that goes wrong. There was no emotional relief as a reader, which made it a very unbalanced book to struggle through.
Ultimately, there were some very interesting things about the duology and I'd like to see how this author grows but I don't think I'll ever reread these two.
aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition
medium-paced
4.25
Did love this as much as the first but still thoroughly enjoyed it. Loved all the side characters and liked how it ended.
Def read trigger/content warnings especially if you struggle with mental health.
Def read trigger/content warnings especially if you struggle with mental health.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Child death, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Self harm
khan_0404's review against another edition
4.0
This book didn’t have the same magic in it that made the first one so compelling. Still, I enjoyed the read and although some of the plot points seemed almost unnecessary, the last ~35% made up for it.
Farid has to be one of the absolute worst characters I have ever read about, and I didn’t like that he died so easily for his crimes.
Farid has to be one of the absolute worst characters I have ever read about, and I didn’t like that he died so easily for his crimes.