shunsicker's review
adventurous
fast-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
5.0
downroad's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
eiee's review
I DNFed this is the middle of chapter 7. Dunbar tries to do too much in too short a time, so the chemistry and intruige is lacking and the world feels rather flat. There’s surprise (non-biological) incest. Dunbar is quick to establish the queen is evil without explaining why on earth Aaliyah likes her at all beyond growing up (as sisters!) together. The lack of chemistry also carries through to the introduction of Mercedes. It’s more telling than showing. There’s a bunch of typos and little edits that would be so easy to fix with a little more time or a second pair of eyes. It’s an interesting concept, but the execution wasn’t something I was interested in finishing.
booktribe's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I enjoyed this novel! I like that in this magical world, we follow a main character with no magic, who is a warrior and can still fight these magical people (and win😉)! I also enjoyed the various queer representation (f/f, m/m, and trans rep)throughout this book and how it was completely no big deal in this world. Queerness was celebrated in this novel!
I will say that it definitely was a shock to me when I found out that 2 adopted siblings had a romantic & sexual relationship in this novel. I know they’re not blood related, but they did grow up together and they refer to each other as sister, so that was something… But other than that, I enjoyed this!
If you’re looking for a short fantasy read with a warrior main character, this is for you! (Just mind the trigger warning of the adopted sibling relationship)
Thank you Neon Hemlock Press for this copy in exchange for an honest review!
milointhewoods's review against another edition
2.0
there are some serious editing issues with typos, misspellings and weird speech issues, the prose is debatable, the characters are underdeveloped, the speech is really stilted and aaliyah’s taste in women is frankly awful, there’s too much incest, relationships are so rushed, reveals don’t make sense because there’s not enough context.
the world building is fascinating and i loved the premise. i think this story has so much potential and what it really needs is to be a full length novel, with some serious background work and a much better editor. but yeah, although i didn’t enjoy this, i liked the settings and a lot of the themes so i see a lot of promise in this author.
the world building is fascinating and i loved the premise. i think this story has so much potential and what it really needs is to be a full length novel, with some serious background work and a much better editor. but yeah, although i didn’t enjoy this, i liked the settings and a lot of the themes so i see a lot of promise in this author.
destineyd's review against another edition
2.0
Unfortunately, I didn’t like this. I found it to be disappointing and I had high hopes for it. 2.5 stars out of 5. It was just too short and there are things that needed to be explored in depth that weren’t. For example, the magic system. I don’t feel like I had enough information on what people can do with their magic besides Mercy. I also feel like back stories for the main characters were addressed briefly or not at all and I found myself going okay? That was it? And then pondering questions that were never addressed.
I also feel like some of the dialogue didn’t work in this setting. Some conversations read awkwardly to me.
As some reviewers have also pointed out, there are a few typos in the books. I also have to echo the sentiment that some points (such as the elements) reminded me of Avatar the Last Airbender.
Again, I think if things were flushed out more I wouldn’t have automatically thought of the connection. But the power that Mercy had reminded me of blood bending instantly.
Lastly, but the book was so short, I trudge through.
I also feel like some of the dialogue didn’t work in this setting. Some conversations read awkwardly to me.
As some reviewers have also pointed out, there are a few typos in the books. I also have to echo the sentiment that some points (such as the elements) reminded me of Avatar the Last Airbender.
Again, I think if things were flushed out more I wouldn’t have automatically thought of the connection. But the power that Mercy had reminded me of blood bending instantly.
Lastly,
Spoiler
the relationship between Aaliyah and Odessa was very off putting. I almost didn’t finish the book because of that incestuous relationshipnatcat's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I liked a lot of the concepts and ideas in this novella, but I really wanted more of all of them! The story covered huge amounts of ground in a limited number of pages, which meant it all felt kind of underbaked to me, and that the emotional impact of a lot of events was rather flat. The whole section where they I did love the focus on Black and queer characters though, and I really appreciated worldbuilding that wasn't just grounded in vaguely Western European fantasy concepts.
Unfortunately the editing of this book was also not good, including multiple instances where there were not line breaks when different characters started talking, which made keeping track of conversations very difficult, and incorrect spelling and punctuation scattered throughout.
But I am definitely interested to see what else this author writes, abd I'd love to see what they could do with a full length novel to world- and character-build in.
Spoiler
go to ask for help from a neighboring king, discover the king's lover is the main character's father, and then the dad and the king agree to personally come help them defeat the queen just seemed very rushed and didn't make a lot of sense to me.Unfortunately the editing of this book was also not good, including multiple instances where there were not line breaks when different characters started talking, which made keeping track of conversations very difficult, and incorrect spelling and punctuation scattered throughout.
But I am definitely interested to see what else this author writes, abd I'd love to see what they could do with a full length novel to world- and character-build in.
oddly's review
4.0
Black, queer fantasy—now here's something there isn't enough of in this world!
Dunbar captures a classic fantasy feel with a kingdom where people have elemental powers but makes it totally her own with a very modern style. What I loved most about this story were the messy relationships and flawed characters. I feel like often in fantasy, characters can feel infallible, but Dunbar wasn't afraid to make her characters layered, which to me, made them more real. In a read that's perfect for one sitting, she delivers all the goods for an excellent story: world-building, action, obstacles, betrayals, magic, and of course, badass women.
Dunbar captures a classic fantasy feel with a kingdom where people have elemental powers but makes it totally her own with a very modern style. What I loved most about this story were the messy relationships and flawed characters. I feel like often in fantasy, characters can feel infallible, but Dunbar wasn't afraid to make her characters layered, which to me, made them more real. In a read that's perfect for one sitting, she delivers all the goods for an excellent story: world-building, action, obstacles, betrayals, magic, and of course, badass women.
pandatheist's review against another edition
2.75
The story was fast paced, but swingy and a little too pat for my taste. Some editing choices, like switching speakers mid paragraph without signaling was frustrating and easily avoidable.
bachaboska's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5