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briannadasilva's review against another edition
Just as with the first book, I love these characters and this egalitarian, queer-normative fantasy world.
Also, just as with the first book, I found the plot to be rather aimless, and in this case even confusing on one point. But when you accept the meandering pace of this series, it becomes a charming, memorable ride that is never too slow.
Something new bothered me in this sequel, though. In the first book, Fire Logic, I was excited that it featured a WOC protagonist. But, this time around I noticed that the way the author described Zanja (a dark-skinned tribal woman) was very othering. Terms like "alien" and "otherworldly" may have been intended to reflect Zanja's character only, but sometimes - since she was the only explicitly described dark-skinned character - it made it feel like her ethnicity was somehow exotic or strange. I'm not okay with that.
We need more WOC protagonists in speculative fiction where their ethnicity is normalized, not othered.
Anyway, despite those two complaints, I'm invested in this series and will definitely read the next two books.
Also, just as with the first book, I found the plot to be rather aimless, and in this case even confusing on one point. But when you accept the meandering pace of this series, it becomes a charming, memorable ride that is never too slow.
Something new bothered me in this sequel, though. In the first book, Fire Logic, I was excited that it featured a WOC protagonist. But, this time around I noticed that the way the author described Zanja (a dark-skinned tribal woman) was very othering. Terms like "alien" and "otherworldly" may have been intended to reflect Zanja's character only, but sometimes - since she was the only explicitly described dark-skinned character - it made it feel like her ethnicity was somehow exotic or strange. I'm not okay with that.
We need more WOC protagonists in speculative fiction where their ethnicity is normalized, not othered.
Anyway, despite those two complaints, I'm invested in this series and will definitely read the next two books.
aneton's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-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
5.0
jjjreads's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Death, Violence, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Self harm, Stalking, Torture, Xenophobia, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Body shaming, Colonisation, Eating disorder, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Murder, Police brutality, Confinement, Excrement, Suicide attempt, and War
katje's review against another edition
5.0
An excellent sequel to the rousing first book in the series, Fire Logic. I couldn't put it down.
hwesta's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War, and Death
Moderate: Colonisation, Confinement, Child death, Chronic illness, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, and Pregnancy
Minor: Addiction
calamityphysics's review against another edition
5.0
I'm still so in love with this series. It asks difficult questions, then makes you wrestle with them on either side of the playing field. This one broke my heart about eight different times and then put it back together again.
Also from now on I'm going to personally demand that every fantasy series just be about a rag tag group of gays who all love each other and care for one another and also save the world, I guess.
Also from now on I'm going to personally demand that every fantasy series just be about a rag tag group of gays who all love each other and care for one another and also save the world, I guess.
djpollard42gmailcom's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
slow-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
5.0
"Mackapee [...] imagined Shaftal as a community based on mercy. Kindness and generosity, he wrote, can never be earned and will never be deserved. Hospitality is not an act of justice, but of mercy—a mercy beneficial to everyone, by making it possible to depend on and trust each other."
saelrod's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-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? Yes
3.0
switchywitchsitch's review against another edition
slow-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