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book_buddy_rob's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The whole time I was reading, I kept getting Black Panther vibes in the best way possible.
This features a lot of tropes I enjoy: magical trials, political intrigue, unique magic systems, and found family.
The author does a good job of immediately pulling you into this world and this story and I found the story as a whole to be really fun and entertaining.
Compared to other similar books that are inspired by African mythology, something this did different was incorporate multiple African cultures into the story and it completely enriches the setting of this novel.
The writing itself did feel a bit juvenile at times, but I didn’t particularly mind that because when we first meet our main character she’s 11 years old, so it made sense to the novel. Also I don’t think there’s anything wrong with this being geared more towards a younger YA audience
One minor criticism I have is that I wish the trials described in the synopsis were developed more. We only really get to experience these trials and competition within the first third of the novel, and I just wanted more of the trials.
There are also some moments in the middle of the book that describe the mundane details of palace life in this world and I didn’t find those scenes entirely interesting.
Overall though, I think this is a highly imaginative young adult fantasy novel full of great characters, magic and a sprinkling of political intrigue that would recommend to fantasy readers.
Graphic: Death of parent and Child abuse
Moderate: Genocide
Minor: Rape
readandfindout's review against another edition
5.0
Themes: 5 stars
Characters: 5 stars
Plot: 5 stars
Worldbuilding: 4.5 stars
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Colonisation, Death, Confinement, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Murder, Genocide, Death of parent, Violence, Blood, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Rape, Suicide, and Vomit
akvolcano's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Genocide, Slavery, Abandonment, Bullying, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Police brutality, Classism, Confinement, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Death, and Domestic abuse
thatenbyisisreads's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Misogyny, Murder, Genocide, Gore, and Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual content and Rape
Minor: Suicide
briely's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Death of parent, Abandonment, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Genocide, Child death, and Murder
hiddeninfantasy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Abandonment, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, Blood, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, and Violence
jupiterlee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Murder, Genocide, Confinement, Toxic friendship, Slavery, War, Violence, Death, and Abandonment
rhm04's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Genocide, Murder, Grief, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Confinement, Death, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Medical content, Vomit, Rape, and Sexual content
Minor: Kidnapping
traeumenvonbuechern's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Death, Gore, and Genocide
kaziaroo's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Grief
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, Xenophobia, Violence, Sexism, Misogyny, Genocide, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Racism
Minor: Sexual content, War, and Violence