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nightmarebees's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-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? Yes
4.25
i’ve recently realized that persian mythology is my favorite to read retellings of, and this blended so many elements of existing tales together to create something really special.
“she had always wanted to extinguish the persistent spark of anger that burned deep in her heart, so sure that it would turn her into a monster. she hadn’t realized that her anger could only exist because she still had hope. once hope was gone, there was no point in fighting, and so she had no need for anger anymore.”
first, i adore soraya. she is not perfect, or forgiving, or even kind at every turn. she has justifiable resentment towards her family for the way she had to grow up. the parallels between her and azad and parvaneh were excellent because ultimately this is a story about making selfish mistakes and how we go about either trying to fix them or committing to what we’ve done so that the original act “wasn’t for nothing.”
i only wish there had been more scenes of parvaneh and soraya’s relationship, because it seems slightly underdeveloped? i love their dynamic and their attraction to each other makes sense, i guess i just wish there was more of it.
“she had always wanted to extinguish the persistent spark of anger that burned deep in her heart, so sure that it would turn her into a monster. she hadn’t realized that her anger could only exist because she still had hope. once hope was gone, there was no point in fighting, and so she had no need for anger anymore.”
first, i adore soraya. she is not perfect, or forgiving, or even kind at every turn. she has justifiable resentment towards her family for the way she had to grow up. the parallels between her and azad and parvaneh were excellent because ultimately this is a story about making selfish mistakes and how we go about either trying to fix them or committing to what we’ve done so that the original act “wasn’t for nothing.”
i only wish there had been more scenes of parvaneh and soraya’s relationship, because it seems slightly underdeveloped? i love their dynamic and their attraction to each other makes sense, i guess i just wish there was more of it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore
Minor: Violence and Blood
the_bees_books's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-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
3.5
For those who like twisted fairytales, this unique take of Persian myths follows a princess who is poisonous to the touch, a roguish guard who seems too good to be true, and a snarky moth demon.
Believe me, this YA morally grey, but actually done well.
Believe me, this YA morally grey, but actually done well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Confinement, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, and Outing
Minor: Abandonment
mrsjoellebell's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Death of parent
lanid's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
- 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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Biphobia, Body horror, Confinement, Toxic relationship, and Violence
readingqueerly's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This read both very fast yet very slow and I don't really know if I liked it? The whole thing felt very mid. Which is to say I liked the concept and all the cultural elements. But I found the characters a bit meh. And I am a reader who relies heavily on good characters. It certainly wasn't a bad book though. I think the fact that it's a sapphic book based on Persian culture is good and important. Especially since we get to see the main character struggling with what could be interpreted as compulsory heterosexuality. (Those moments hit especially close to home 🫠.) I just think this was less my cup of tea. Like the cup was good, but it's not my fav tea. Ygm?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence
greatexpectations77's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-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
4.0
I thought this was interesting, and I really liked the love triangle. I can't believe I spent my young adult years reading about stupid boys when I could have read about awesome women. More women with powers pleaseeee.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and War
Minor: Ableism, Sexual content, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
bzliz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.5
This was a new type of demonology for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Influenced by the Middle East- both ancient and modern- we follow the cursed princess Soraya who is doomed to kill anyone she touches as she discovers not everyone and everything is how it seems.
Some of the twists are easily predicted but I didn’t feel cheated in figuring them out. In fact, I felt they were justified because Melissa Bashardoust did an exceptional job of capturing our heroine’s choices throughout her evolution.
Some of the twists are easily predicted but I didn’t feel cheated in figuring them out. In fact, I felt they were justified because Melissa Bashardoust did an exceptional job of capturing our heroine’s choices throughout her evolution.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Kidnapping, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
reign_kaur's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Genocide, Violence, Xenophobia, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and War
taroroot's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
3.0
this was a perfectly average YA fantasy. i enjoyed it but wouldn't consider it to be particularly special. i liked the Persian mythology elements. i think certain aspects of Soraya & Parvaneh's relationship were rushed which made it feel sort of inauthentic to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and War
veerau's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.0
A very interesting read! It was surprising to see a book focused on persian mythology, unexpected but absolutely loved!
The setting was beautiful, and after reading the extra info at the end of the book the characters become even more interesting...
One thing I was so glad about was the ending, so very glad that Soraya found how to coexist with her unusual powers instead of blindly getting rid of them, perhaps becoming what she feared? But in a good way
Oh and the cover is beautiful, one of the prettiest books on my shelf now hehe (that wasn't a chore to read as well!)
The setting was beautiful, and after reading the extra info at the end of the book the characters become even more interesting...
Oh and the cover is beautiful, one of the prettiest books on my shelf now hehe (that wasn't a chore to read as well!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Kidnapping, and Abandonment
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail