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dinibharadwaj's review against another edition
5.0
Note: I received a free finished copy of the book via Caffeine Book Tours and Sky Pony Press in exchange for an honest review
A Spark of White Fire had set the bar really high and I fully expected this book to surpass it. This is one of my most anticipated books of the year and I was so glad I got the opportunity to read this ahead of publication date.
Titania was one of my favourite characters from the previous book and I was so glad we got her perspective in this one. Her narration balanced out the heaviness of Esmae's voice, which was much darker in tone. The side characters also went through their own organic development, my favourites being Radha and Sybilla.
While A Spark of White Fire had a slow build-up to a thrilling climax, in this the plot started at breakneck speed that carried on until the end. The way Mandanna puts her own spin on familiar elements from the Mahabharata was my favourite part of the first book and in this one too. As someone who read some more retellings/re-imaginings of this epic I have grown up with between the first and the second book, Mandanna's creativity made this series unlike anything I have read so far in the best of ways. The world-building was also kicked up a notch and I felt more immersed this time around. It's very difficult to talk about this book without giving away spoilers, so I'll just sum up my review by saying that A House of Rage and Sorrow had all the elements I loved in A Spark of White Fire but better.
A Spark of White Fire had set the bar really high and I fully expected this book to surpass it. This is one of my most anticipated books of the year and I was so glad I got the opportunity to read this ahead of publication date.
Titania was one of my favourite characters from the previous book and I was so glad we got her perspective in this one. Her narration balanced out the heaviness of Esmae's voice, which was much darker in tone. The side characters also went through their own organic development, my favourites being Radha and Sybilla.
While A Spark of White Fire had a slow build-up to a thrilling climax, in this the plot started at breakneck speed that carried on until the end. The way Mandanna puts her own spin on familiar elements from the Mahabharata was my favourite part of the first book and in this one too. As someone who read some more retellings/re-imaginings of this epic I have grown up with between the first and the second book, Mandanna's creativity made this series unlike anything I have read so far in the best of ways. The world-building was also kicked up a notch and I felt more immersed this time around. It's very difficult to talk about this book without giving away spoilers, so I'll just sum up my review by saying that A House of Rage and Sorrow had all the elements I loved in A Spark of White Fire but better.
utopiastateofmind's review against another edition
5.0
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
The Celestial Trilogy is a series I've been a mega fan of since before I even read and loved A Spark of White Fire. And my love has only expanded thousand fold after reading A House of Rage and Sorrow. A House of Rage and Sorrow is a powerful and spectacular sequel. As you can tell from the title, it is a story full of powerful, all consuming rage, of betrayal that leaves us blind, and sorrow that cuts a hole in our heart, a shadow on our brightest days. A story about our loss which is a raging fire, pushing us into the world as someone new and entirely unpredictable. While being an extremely emotionally charged sequel, it is one that oozes vulnerability, grief, and the hard truths we can only acknowledge in the darkest of night.
A House of Rage and Sorrow is full of gods, spaceships, sorrow, and grief. While it begins with a hilarious and informative list of characters, Mandanna constantly dances with the lines between humor, sorrow, and anger. How we can find a moment of laughter in the deepest pits of grief, or a chuckle in the face of an inferno. Once again, the characters are the true heroes of the story. Never before have they been more relatable - especially as they are in the depths of their emotions and growth.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/review-a-house-of-rage-and-sorrow-by-sangu-mandanna/
The Celestial Trilogy is a series I've been a mega fan of since before I even read and loved A Spark of White Fire. And my love has only expanded thousand fold after reading A House of Rage and Sorrow. A House of Rage and Sorrow is a powerful and spectacular sequel. As you can tell from the title, it is a story full of powerful, all consuming rage, of betrayal that leaves us blind, and sorrow that cuts a hole in our heart, a shadow on our brightest days. A story about our loss which is a raging fire, pushing us into the world as someone new and entirely unpredictable. While being an extremely emotionally charged sequel, it is one that oozes vulnerability, grief, and the hard truths we can only acknowledge in the darkest of night.
A House of Rage and Sorrow is full of gods, spaceships, sorrow, and grief. While it begins with a hilarious and informative list of characters, Mandanna constantly dances with the lines between humor, sorrow, and anger. How we can find a moment of laughter in the deepest pits of grief, or a chuckle in the face of an inferno. Once again, the characters are the true heroes of the story. Never before have they been more relatable - especially as they are in the depths of their emotions and growth.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/review-a-house-of-rage-and-sorrow-by-sangu-mandanna/
cleopatravii's review against another edition
4.0
A-/B+ | A sequel that continues to enchant with its worldbuilding and the characters were much more compelling here and in the previous book. However, the book is bogged down by unnecessary romance.
Like its predecessor, A House of Rage and Sorrow is a solid fantasy/science fiction novel. Sangu Mandanna has a way with worldbuilding and I admire and adore this so much. Her world here is as vibrant, lush, and alive as the ocean. In terms of worldbuilding, this is one of the best I’ve read.
Storywise, I think it’s on par with the previous book - well written and moves through the events at a good and steady pace. I definitely enjoyed reading this book and it has made me interested in perhaps one day reading Mahabharata when I’m not so busy with nursing school. I honestly consumed this book because I needed to know how it would end.
I loved that little twist - well, I thought it was a twist - about Max.
I also adored having Titania as a POV character. I enjoyed reading her chapters and quite frankly, I forgot that she was a warship and not a human/humanoid being. Remember in Star Wars where whenever they communicate there’s this hologram of the person they’re talking to? Yeah, that’s what I imagine with Titania.
And I will say this: the characters this time around were far more compelling. Sybilla, in particular, was the most interesting character aside from Titania.
But Esmae’s POV chapters were far more enjoyable to read because she is far more interesting here than she was before. Oh! And also much more tolerable. Rama’s fate removed the rose-tinted glasses Esmae insisted on wearing as she clung onto the belief that she could be a family with the people who abandoned her/never knew of her existence until recently. I much prefer Esmae who sees that the people around her are her family rather than the Esmae who insisted that her only family was her mother who abandoned her and brothers who used her longing for a family for their own use.
The scene with her mother truly made me scream but in a good way because Esmae needed to see the truth for herself.
And that ending? Wow, that ending. I loved it and I’m so excited for the next book.
So why is this not getting a perfect grade?
Anyone who has read my previous review about the first book knows how I feel about the romance here and unfortunately, this feeling wasn’t changed. The romance tossed here between Max and Esmae was completely unnecessary.
I love romance, okay? I do. I truly adore reading romance and getting all giddy every time characters kiss and profess their adoration for each other.
I didn’t feel that with Max and Esmae’s relationship. Their relationship was already unsteady for me in the first place and it was difficult for me to find any sort of connection or even emotion in general for them as a couple. This book truly could have done without their relationship.
Is it kinda mean that of all things, this is what brings down the book for me?
Sure. However, I believe that if an author includes romance (something that’s put down a lot in novels), it should be well-written romance. I’m sort of tired of seeing romance just tossed around willy nilly as almost a last minute edition which is what I felt like was happening here with Max and Esmae’s relationship. Sure, I have to give props to Sangu for not having the romance overtake the story as a whole, but I feel like this relationship could have been better written.
Of course, people are free to disagree with me because this is just my opinion. But if you’re looking for a great romance in this book, you won’t find it here.
If you’re someone who can ignore something like this and are looking for an otherwise fantastic, stunning, well-written sci-fi/fantasy novel, then A House of Rage and Sorrow is the book for you.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for providing a copy of the eARC via Edelweiss+. All opinions are my own.
Like its predecessor, A House of Rage and Sorrow is a solid fantasy/science fiction novel. Sangu Mandanna has a way with worldbuilding and I admire and adore this so much. Her world here is as vibrant, lush, and alive as the ocean. In terms of worldbuilding, this is one of the best I’ve read.
Storywise, I think it’s on par with the previous book - well written and moves through the events at a good and steady pace. I definitely enjoyed reading this book and it has made me interested in perhaps one day reading Mahabharata when I’m not so busy with nursing school. I honestly consumed this book because I needed to know how it would end.
I loved that little twist - well, I thought it was a twist - about Max.
I also adored having Titania as a POV character. I enjoyed reading her chapters and quite frankly, I forgot that she was a warship and not a human/humanoid being. Remember in Star Wars where whenever they communicate there’s this hologram of the person they’re talking to? Yeah, that’s what I imagine with Titania.
And I will say this: the characters this time around were far more compelling. Sybilla, in particular, was the most interesting character aside from Titania.
But Esmae’s POV chapters were far more enjoyable to read because she is far more interesting here than she was before. Oh! And also much more tolerable. Rama’s fate removed the rose-tinted glasses Esmae insisted on wearing as she clung onto the belief that she could be a family with the people who abandoned her/never knew of her existence until recently. I much prefer Esmae who sees that the people around her are her family rather than the Esmae who insisted that her only family was her mother who abandoned her and brothers who used her longing for a family for their own use.
The scene with her mother truly made me scream but in a good way because Esmae needed to see the truth for herself.
And that ending? Wow, that ending. I loved it and I’m so excited for the next book.
So why is this not getting a perfect grade?
Anyone who has read my previous review about the first book knows how I feel about the romance here and unfortunately, this feeling wasn’t changed. The romance tossed here between Max and Esmae was completely unnecessary.
I love romance, okay? I do. I truly adore reading romance and getting all giddy every time characters kiss and profess their adoration for each other.
I didn’t feel that with Max and Esmae’s relationship. Their relationship was already unsteady for me in the first place and it was difficult for me to find any sort of connection or even emotion in general for them as a couple. This book truly could have done without their relationship.
Is it kinda mean that of all things, this is what brings down the book for me?
Sure. However, I believe that if an author includes romance (something that’s put down a lot in novels), it should be well-written romance. I’m sort of tired of seeing romance just tossed around willy nilly as almost a last minute edition which is what I felt like was happening here with Max and Esmae’s relationship. Sure, I have to give props to Sangu for not having the romance overtake the story as a whole, but I feel like this relationship could have been better written.
Of course, people are free to disagree with me because this is just my opinion. But if you’re looking for a great romance in this book, you won’t find it here.
If you’re someone who can ignore something like this and are looking for an otherwise fantastic, stunning, well-written sci-fi/fantasy novel, then A House of Rage and Sorrow is the book for you.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for providing a copy of the eARC via Edelweiss+. All opinions are my own.
annarella's review against another edition
5.0
I didn't read the previous book but I fell hard for this one.
I loved everything in this book and now I'm reading the previous one.
Look forward to reading other works by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I loved everything in this book and now I'm reading the previous one.
Look forward to reading other works by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine
lizshayne's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoy retellings and this particular version of the Mahabharata IN!! SPACE!!!! is no exception. There's something extremely cool and interesting about knowing that the story is based in a specific narrative tradition, but not knowing the actual story (which is a shameful absence in my education, but we'll leave that for now) and wondering which elements come from the author and which from the myth. The not-knowing adds an element to character choices as well - the sense of fatedness that these people are both choosing AND cannot act differently than they've chosen.
But Mandanna does a really good job with this mashup and now I just get to sit and wait for the finale.
But Mandanna does a really good job with this mashup and now I just get to sit and wait for the finale.
annette45's review against another edition
4.0
I'd say this was probably about a 4 star read for me. I have been looking forward to this book after reading A Spark of White Fire, the previous book, which was an amazing 5 stars for me. This book is more or less a retelling of the Mahabarata in Space and it's different because it's written based from Hindu Mythology, which I don't read a lot of, but have always wanted to read and know more about it.
This book was harder to read for me than the first because it was more emotional than the first, maybe a bit more dark and heavy, but it had to be for where the story's going and with where the story was in the first book. I had a major book hangover from the first book, but the book hangover isn't quite as bad this time. I'm more nervous about reading what comes next because it got pretty intense and emotional during this one.
It picks up right where it left off from the ending of the second book, flows well with the transition, but if you haven't read the first book, you might not get what's going on so I would recommend reading the previous book first before this one.
Without getting too spoilery here, the twins are even more at odds here in this book, Esmae, and Alexi, because of fighting over Kali and who gets to be the ruler and especially because of what happened with the duel and Rama. Oh man, that was a hard part of the story, that's part of why this book is so hard because of what happened with Rama. More family info, dynamics, and things develop and come to light throughout this book and the romance develops more between certain characters like Max and Esmae. There's a lot of information and feelings that are covered in this book and it deals with a lot of grief, sadness, anger with the fighting and everything that's happened, is going on and is going to happen.
I didn't like it as much as the first book because it was so heavy and dark from the emotional standpoint, but it kind of had to be that way in this part of the story. There was also a few instances of profanity/language that bothered me because I prefer to read stories without language and such when possible. Other than that, it was a well written good book that I would recommend to others especially if you loved the first one, which if you haven't read the first one, you should. Also if you want to read a Sci-Fi and Fantasy story in space that is a retelling and involves the Mahabarata and Hindu Mythology then you should read it. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for letting me read and review this eARC.
This book was harder to read for me than the first because it was more emotional than the first, maybe a bit more dark and heavy, but it had to be for where the story's going and with where the story was in the first book. I had a major book hangover from the first book, but the book hangover isn't quite as bad this time. I'm more nervous about reading what comes next because it got pretty intense and emotional during this one.
It picks up right where it left off from the ending of the second book, flows well with the transition, but if you haven't read the first book, you might not get what's going on so I would recommend reading the previous book first before this one.
Without getting too spoilery here, the twins are even more at odds here in this book, Esmae, and Alexi, because of fighting over Kali and who gets to be the ruler and especially because of what happened with the duel and Rama. Oh man, that was a hard part of the story, that's part of why this book is so hard because of what happened with Rama. More family info, dynamics, and things develop and come to light throughout this book and the romance develops more between certain characters like Max and Esmae. There's a lot of information and feelings that are covered in this book and it deals with a lot of grief, sadness, anger with the fighting and everything that's happened, is going on and is going to happen.
I didn't like it as much as the first book because it was so heavy and dark from the emotional standpoint, but it kind of had to be that way in this part of the story. There was also a few instances of profanity/language that bothered me because I prefer to read stories without language and such when possible. Other than that, it was a well written good book that I would recommend to others especially if you loved the first one, which if you haven't read the first one, you should. Also if you want to read a Sci-Fi and Fantasy story in space that is a retelling and involves the Mahabarata and Hindu Mythology then you should read it. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for letting me read and review this eARC.
lorithereadingfairy's review against another edition
5.0
Review on my Blog, Lori's Bookshelf Reads in part of the blog tour that Shealea @ Caffeine Tours is running.
A Spark of White Fire: 5/5
A War of Swallowed Stars: ?/5
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book through Edelweiss for this blog tour, which in no way affects my opinion. All thoughts are my own.
TW: attempted murder, murder, abandonment, war, blood, loss of loved one
I kinda have been really implying that I had an ARC of this book on my blog since I posted my review of the first book. Seriously, ya'll are not ready for this book. A Spark of White Fire has been one of my favorite reads this year, and I'm now sure that the sequel is to another level. It's so brilliant, gorgeous, and everything I totally did not expect in this book. And I think I may have completely fell in love with it, after reading that cliffhanger.
That cliffhanger was holy crap? Can I talk to someone about that cliffhanger, because I seriously did not expect that. How, what? What the? It it just left me breathless just like the rest of the novel. I'm seriously so impressed and in awe, but less try to talk about it. But where could I get the third book? Much less, who do I have to sell my soul to, to get an ARC of the next book?
I loved how much was a lot more at stake, and literally I was impressed. The last book was good, but this was seriously so good. It took a bit for me to read this book, but wow, was it good. I really can't wait until the next book came out. This book is the start of war and there is a lot of scheming and political power involved in the book.
It makes the book so entertaining, and seeing what is at stake is seriously impressive. Which literally leads us to that cliffhanger which is again, still epic and I'm shook.
The whole found family, and the squad is seriously still so epic. This book really plays that into play with how A Spark of White Fire ended. The danger schemes, and oh my god, I'm in love. This seriously has to be the best sequel that was ever made right now.
The characters are seriously so lovable, and so brilliant. I really love Esmae and her reactions to what is happening. The whole found family, and Esmae wanting to be with her mother is actually an interesting concept. I loved how Esmae adjusted from the first book, and it shows in this book.
We managed to get Titania's POV in a few chapters, and I was totally here for that. There were few places where I forgot that she wasn't actually human, but a warship nonetheless. She is seriously still a sassy warship, and I am here for that.
The writing is still lush, and gorgeous nonetheless, just like the last book was. It was so magical, and I loved the descriptions, and the whole bunch of world-building that taken place in the world. The author continue to expand this universe, and I'd kinda really would love to be in this world.
The pacing was still slow in this book. There were a few spots that were agonizing slow, but I am looking past the pacing because this book is truly wonderful.
A Spark of White Fire: 5/5
A War of Swallowed Stars: ?/5
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book through Edelweiss for this blog tour, which in no way affects my opinion. All thoughts are my own.
TW: attempted murder, murder, abandonment, war, blood, loss of loved one
I kinda have been really implying that I had an ARC of this book on my blog since I posted my review of the first book. Seriously, ya'll are not ready for this book. A Spark of White Fire has been one of my favorite reads this year, and I'm now sure that the sequel is to another level. It's so brilliant, gorgeous, and everything I totally did not expect in this book. And I think I may have completely fell in love with it, after reading that cliffhanger.
That cliffhanger was holy crap? Can I talk to someone about that cliffhanger, because I seriously did not expect that. How, what? What the? It it just left me breathless just like the rest of the novel. I'm seriously so impressed and in awe, but less try to talk about it. But where could I get the third book? Much less, who do I have to sell my soul to, to get an ARC of the next book?
I loved how much was a lot more at stake, and literally I was impressed. The last book was good, but this was seriously so good. It took a bit for me to read this book, but wow, was it good. I really can't wait until the next book came out. This book is the start of war and there is a lot of scheming and political power involved in the book.
It makes the book so entertaining, and seeing what is at stake is seriously impressive. Which literally leads us to that cliffhanger which is again, still epic and I'm shook.
The whole found family, and the squad is seriously still so epic. This book really plays that into play with how A Spark of White Fire ended. The danger schemes, and oh my god, I'm in love. This seriously has to be the best sequel that was ever made right now.
The characters are seriously so lovable, and so brilliant. I really love Esmae and her reactions to what is happening. The whole found family, and Esmae wanting to be with her mother is actually an interesting concept. I loved how Esmae adjusted from the first book, and it shows in this book.
We managed to get Titania's POV in a few chapters, and I was totally here for that. There were few places where I forgot that she wasn't actually human, but a warship nonetheless. She is seriously still a sassy warship, and I am here for that.
The writing is still lush, and gorgeous nonetheless, just like the last book was. It was so magical, and I loved the descriptions, and the whole bunch of world-building that taken place in the world. The author continue to expand this universe, and I'd kinda really would love to be in this world.
The pacing was still slow in this book. There were a few spots that were agonizing slow, but I am looking past the pacing because this book is truly wonderful.
reader_fictions's review against another edition
3.0
A Spark of White Fire> is so good, and I appreciated it even more on reread. A House of Rage and Sorrow also has its merits, but it didn't necessarily head in the direction I'd hoped.
My problems here were largely borne of the pacing. Despite the war going on due to the events of the prior novel, emotionally things are flat for the bulk of A House of Rage and Sorrow. Esmae spent all of book one trying to avert a prophecy, but after the death of her best friend, she's now pursuing the destruction of her brother mindlessly, exactly as was foretold. I get it, sort of, but it's not as intellectually interesting to read about, especially as Esmae seems almost flat in her pursuit of revenge. Even though she's committed to her course, she seems less torn for a lot of the book than I would expect her to be, having known her character in book one.
A definite weak point is the addition of Titania's POV. Titania's fascinating for a spaceship, but her POV is still flat as a pancake and boring as can be. Thankfully it's not too frequent, but there's absolutely no evidence for this POV actually being necessary to tell the story. I disliked every one of those chapters.
However, the latter half of the book picks back up and exhibits that excellent plotting from book one again. The twists come hard and fast, and now I absolutely have to read the final book in the series, which I was on the fence about initially.Max is a reincarnated god! Amba died (predictable but still will be interesting for book three). Alexi didn't kill Rama, their mom did!!!! I really hope three brings that fire and tension from the beginning, like book one did. A House of Rage and Sorrow tended to be too emotionally flat for me until the end of the book.
My problems here were largely borne of the pacing. Despite the war going on due to the events of the prior novel, emotionally things are flat for the bulk of A House of Rage and Sorrow. Esmae spent all of book one trying to avert a prophecy, but after the death of her best friend, she's now pursuing the destruction of her brother mindlessly, exactly as was foretold. I get it, sort of, but it's not as intellectually interesting to read about, especially as Esmae seems almost flat in her pursuit of revenge. Even though she's committed to her course, she seems less torn for a lot of the book than I would expect her to be, having known her character in book one.
A definite weak point is the addition of Titania's POV. Titania's fascinating for a spaceship, but her POV is still flat as a pancake and boring as can be. Thankfully it's not too frequent, but there's absolutely no evidence for this POV actually being necessary to tell the story. I disliked every one of those chapters.
However, the latter half of the book picks back up and exhibits that excellent plotting from book one again. The twists come hard and fast, and now I absolutely have to read the final book in the series, which I was on the fence about initially.
singinglight's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes