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dragonwriter's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
When Rue’s mother died, her absentee father, Asim, swept in and whisked her away to Ghizon, an isolated island with magic inhabitants. Despite the legends that the Chancellor fought the gods for the magic and shared it with the people, Rue is more than a little suspicious of the lack of history before the Chancellor came. Rue defies the Ghizon rules of isolation to teleport back to America on the first anniversary of her mother’s death to give her half sister a special present, and has to use magic to save her, revealing her rebellion to the Ghizon authorities. In order to preserve her magic, Rue goes on the run, and learns the history that the Chancellor didn’t want anyone to know. Faced with extermination effort in both Ghizon and her home streets, Rue has to accept both sides of her heritage in order to save the people who need her.
This story was very upfront and blunt about its anti-racist themes. I wasn’t in the best mindset for confronting my white privilege, so it took me a while to struggle through it, but I’m glad I finished. Rue was a bit brash and impatient, but I enjoyed her attitude overall. The entire story is told in her POV, and her voice is very captivating. She loves her home and her people, and she’s very protective of them. I love how her ‘family’ comes together at the end to fight, and I enjoyed the justice they found together. I did think that the split timeline was a little confusing; it wasn’t always clear when Rue was in the present, or remembering the past. The first few chapters she had a backflash, I was very confused on how she’d changed location. I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I read it at a different point in time. I may try to read it again, just to see how it feels when my mental health is better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Genocide, Racism, Death of parent, and Colonisation
bkwrm1317's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
What a fierce young femme protag we have in Rue, who shows up for her people, no matter the personal cost or risk.
When Rue’s mom is killed, she is whisked away by a father who she’s never known to a strange land called Ghizon, where there’s magic, and only one other Black or Brown face - Aasim, the man she doesn’t even want to speak to, let alone bond with.
As Rue learns more about Ghizon, Aasim, and her own ancestry, she is tasked with fighting back against 100+ years of her peoples’ subjugation - on East Row in Houston, as well as in Ghizon. Tough as nails, street-wise and funny, tender hearted and loving, Rue is absolutely the type of heroine we need in these times.
When Rue’s mom is killed, she is whisked away by a father who she’s never known to a strange land called Ghizon, where there’s magic, and only one other Black or Brown face - Aasim, the man she doesn’t even want to speak to, let alone bond with.
As Rue learns more about Ghizon, Aasim, and her own ancestry, she is tasked with fighting back against 100+ years of her peoples’ subjugation - on East Row in Houston, as well as in Ghizon. Tough as nails, street-wise and funny, tender hearted and loving, Rue is absolutely the type of heroine we need in these times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Gun violence
Moderate: Death, Cultural appropriation, Death of parent, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Violence, and Abandonment
tjazz's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Cultural appropriation, and Death of parent
shannnne_reads_words's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Racism, and Hate crime
Moderate: Classism, Child death, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Abandonment, Murder, and Grief
Minor: Cursing
meluhnie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Murder, and Grief
Moderate: Racism, Cultural appropriation, Gun violence, Violence, Colonisation, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Drug use, Kidnapping, Police brutality, and Religious bigotry
teri_b's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was a blast and truly YA, I would like to say.
We have a very strong main character who grew up in East Row with her mom and her younger sister until the moment her mother got killed and Rue got brought to this other place, where she is now to be educated as she is not only human, but also half god.
When she decides to return on the anniversary of her mother's death to the street she grew up in and meet up with her sister, she sets a series of events in action she could not foresee.
And as the world around seems to tumble down Rue has to understand more about her magic, her origins and also make sure that she keeps her sister and the friends she has found on the way, safe.
Absolutely compelling story telling. One of the best books I read this year.
Loved the narrator of this story. I felt, she got the voices of her characters just so right.
We have a very strong main character who grew up in East Row with her mom and her younger sister until the moment her mother got killed and Rue got brought to this other place, where she is now to be educated as she is not only human, but also half god.
When she decides to return on the anniversary of her mother's death to the street she grew up in and meet up with her sister, she sets a series of events in action she could not foresee.
And as the world around seems to tumble down Rue has to understand more about her magic, her origins and also make sure that she keeps her sister and the friends she has found on the way, safe.
Absolutely compelling story telling. One of the best books I read this year.
Loved the narrator of this story. I felt, she got the voices of her characters just so right.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Cultural appropriation, Death of parent, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Murder, and Racism
alenezela99's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Cultural appropriation, Death of parent, and Genocide
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