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kes_'s review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
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
Graphic: Violence, Racism, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
Minor: Toxic relationship, Islamophobia, Drug use, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
abookandaspotoftea's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I preface this review by stating that I am not typically driven to write a review in rage, but this book and the author have received so much praise despite being extremely problematic. I appreciate that the author centered an ace (or asexual) lead character. I also understand that this book is a historical fantasy and should be treated with a grain of salt.
Things that I loathe about this book:
Things that I loathe about this book:
- the normalization of white feminism
- the overt racism and Islamophobia
- the colonization fangirling
To @Mackenzi Lee and those who praised this book:
- Removing a person's ḥijāb without consent is a gross violation and should NEVER be normalized.
- Casually dropping the "N" word is NEVER okay. Also, get it through your daft head: the immediate assumption that black people are thieves and criminals is NOT okay. A half-hearted apology does not make up for this ridiculous shit. Stop using this as a trope.
- The idea that it is okay to plunder another nation for its resources is NOT okay. And sit your white feminist ass down with your holier-than-thou attitude that colonizers will use these looted resources to "heal" the world.
Graphic: Classism, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Addiction, Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, Islamophobia, Racism, Sexism, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Toxic friendship, and Misogyny
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