Reviews tagging 'Misogyny'

Upon a Burning Throne by Ashok K. Banker

3 reviews

kylieqrada's review against another edition

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adventurous dark 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

So obviously I trust Jesse @bowtiesandbooks with my life. But my faith in them is truly confirmed after reading this rec. This deserves all of the hype. An own voices Indian fantasy with a truly whacked out plot, characters that you love and love to hate, and world building so complex without being confusing. The writing style did take some getting used to, but that was a me problem, not a book problem. Also, I docked one star for fatphobia. 
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catapocalypse's review against another edition

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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

4.5

Full disclosure: I have not read the Mahabharata. For how this succeeds or doesn't as a retelling, I'd recommend seeking out reviews by folks who are familiar with the epic, as well as with Indian culture etc.! I also cannot speak from experience on whether the representation of either of the princes' conditions was well done.

Epic fantasy is generally a hard sell for me, but this one reminded me I can still have fun with it. This book primarily follows Adri and Shvate, the Krushan princes of Hastinaga, as they grow up and prove themselves worthy of inheriting the empire. Their people feel they have a lot to prove, as Adri is totally blind and Shvate's albinism makes sunlight painful to bear. Meanwhile, the evil Jarsun seeks to destroy the Krushan after his own daughter is denied her claim to the empire.

There's so much here to love: gods and demons, demigods, powerful sorcery, epic battles, horror, love and despair. The story is told from multiple points of view, giving us an in-depth look at many different characters. It's a little more character-driven than plot-driven, especially at first, and the slower start may discourage some folks. The action stays pretty consistent once the Battle of the Rebels gets going.

The time skips can be a little surprising, and on a couple occasions feel like they leave out things that would have been nice to see on the page. I'm not certain how well the princes' disabilities are handled, but some of the treatment of them does feel iffy. There are also iffy descriptions of women at times, and a lot of unnecessary fatphobia in the descriptions of the occasional larger character. Throughout the book, there are a few different situations involving dubious consent, and even sexual assault, but most are not on the page or very detailed.

I still had a great time with this book. It ends on a cliffhanger, and I look forward to continuing with the next one!
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dayday_reads's review

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adventurous dark inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-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

3.5

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