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ohkmurr's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
fast-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
4.25
The story is intriguing, engaging and fast paced, so naturally, I tore through it. The characters are real and flawed, and I loved being able to dive into their deepest fears and thoughts through the changing first-person narrative structure. I'm also obsessed with the character dynamics; I am wholly invested in every single one.
By the end of the first chapter, I was already picking up on some Ember Quartet vibes. It makes sense that Sabaa Tahir is listed as an inspiration in the acknowledgements. If you like the Ember Quartet, you'll like this book.
Another thing I absolutely loved about this book is how it explores morality. It dives into the negative implications of bringing back magic, and how far you can go before you become just as bad as the "bad guys." I can't remember seeing moral dilemmas reflected like this in a story before, especially a fantasy book. Gaining that new perspective was a layer I was excited to read, one that made me conflicted over what I wanted to happen in the end, too.
By the end of the first chapter, I was already picking up on some Ember Quartet vibes. It makes sense that Sabaa Tahir is listed as an inspiration in the acknowledgements. If you like the Ember Quartet, you'll like this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Murder, Police brutality, Racism, Slavery, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Racial slurs
Racial slurs are specific to the universe.
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