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_tomeraider's review
adventurous
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
what happens when non-violence becomes inaction and what happens when violence creates a path towards peace?"
Taking place 200 years before the events of No Heart for a Thief, Don't Bloody The Black Flag takes a closer look into the Jani, or the Clan as they are referred to in this book. The Clan are a group made of nomads, refugees and war deserters. They value peace and avoid violence.
In this novella we follow Isála, a member of the Clan who is tasked with bringing a missive of peace to her mother, the war General.
Travelling with a pair of siblings, Isála finds herself in the midst of battle numerous times. As she witnesses the violence around her she calls into question time and time again her own beliefs and how to resolve things with peace.
I loved seeing more of the magic system in the book with fire dancers, water dancers, shadow dancers etc. It really is a strong component of this series.
Isála was also a very relatable character and it was it very enlightening seeing her come to terms with how not everything might be so black and white.
I really appreciated exploring more of the Jani (the Clan) and their sometimes contradicting nature as I found them extremely interesting in No Heart for a Thief.
Overall, I really enjoyed having this background context and it makes me more excited to continue on with this phenomenal series!
Taking place 200 years before the events of No Heart for a Thief, Don't Bloody The Black Flag takes a closer look into the Jani, or the Clan as they are referred to in this book. The Clan are a group made of nomads, refugees and war deserters. They value peace and avoid violence.
In this novella we follow Isála, a member of the Clan who is tasked with bringing a missive of peace to her mother, the war General.
Travelling with a pair of siblings, Isála finds herself in the midst of battle numerous times. As she witnesses the violence around her she calls into question time and time again her own beliefs and how to resolve things with peace.
I loved seeing more of the magic system in the book with fire dancers, water dancers, shadow dancers etc. It really is a strong component of this series.
Isála was also a very relatable character and it was it very enlightening seeing her come to terms with how not everything might be so black and white.
I really appreciated exploring more of the Jani (the Clan) and their sometimes contradicting nature as I found them extremely interesting in No Heart for a Thief.
Overall, I really enjoyed having this background context and it makes me more excited to continue on with this phenomenal series!
aminakara's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wow, for a novella, that really packed a punch!
That was such an action packed story, with some fantastic characters to boot.
It was gripping from start to finish! I absolutely loved it and can't wait to jump into the main series.
It was really well written. I would highly recommend it.
That was such an action packed story, with some fantastic characters to boot.
It was gripping from start to finish! I absolutely loved it and can't wait to jump into the main series.
It was really well written. I would highly recommend it.
haney's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
connorjdaley's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is the prequel novella to the Malitu series, and it’s set 200 years prior to the events in book one. I’m very lucky to have been sent an arc.
Black flags in Ennea signify a messenger. They are supposed to be allowed to travel in peace, but just like real history with military drummers, refugees, and the like, “don’t shoot the messenger” is rarely upheld. The ideals of peace for some are scarier than the concept of war. Some would even kill to stop the talks of peace.
I really appreciate the juxtaposition between Isála’s sort of idealized naivety and Rione’s steadfast jaded heart. Her brusque attitude is presented as knowing better, but she’s just haunted in a different way. Teshun was of course the perfect middle man as well, turning to humor and charisma to cloak and turn away the pains of war and loss.
Isála is convinced that peace can be achieved without violence, but the first time her life is threatened, she gets rocked to the very foundations of her beliefs. Once again the author achieves a story—this time much shorter—that provokes inward thinking and a deepening understanding of those we perceive as different. And AGAIN, it’s also just a good fantasy story, so if you aren’t the deep thinker, you can still enjoy it for just what’s on the page. Dulin does great with both.
I really felt the quotes below, and I feel like as a whole, it kind of embodies the entire series:
“That is not your responsibility!”
“That is all our responsibility!”
Well written, gut punching, and deep. I did find a bit of the back and forth to be slightly repetitive, but not so much so that I lost enjoyment. This is a prequel novella that does break the mold of recent times. Even though it’s written post book one’s release, it really does stand solidly as it’s own piece of writing.
ronitjauthor's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
I signed up to get a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In all honesty, Malitu has been a delightful experience for me. It started with a book that I had mixed feelings about, followed by a book that I really enjoyed, and now a novella that's raised the bar even higher! Given the limited word count, the story is comparatively simple and short, but the characters and themes are just as rich. And with the shorter word count, the book felt much tighter and more impactful than the previous entries.
THE GOOD:
As with all the previous Malitu books, I loved how Dulin has explored his characters in this one as well. Isala's journey is mirrored with Laiken's and right from the get-go we're put in this tense tale where both parties are racing towards a goal that means the other's loss. Everything in their stories is thematically opposed, resulting in a deep and thought-provoking experience.
While on the surface, it's a simple peace vs war tale, the deeper implications of each actions, the motivations behind each character and the reason why they exist are all explored neatly, albeit briefly in a manner that'll keep you on the edge of your seat.
If you're not sure about Malitu, this novella is a great entry point IMO. You're sure to get a glimpse of this complex world, its culture, and the rich characters that inhabit it. I've been in awe of Dulin's growth from book 1 to book 2, but now with this novella I'm certain that Malitu's ending is going to be an epic journey.
THE BAD:
There were some minor issues in this novella that are not really bad, but left me a little disappointed.I didn't like how Laiken's story ended so abruptly, with the resolution to his arc leaving me wanting more. That leads me to my second disappointment, which is a subjective one – the motivations of the two Generals (Isala's mother & Laiken's father) weren't explored to the extent I would've liked. Given the shorter word count, I'm okay with being given a brief explanation, but I'd love to read more about those because I know that Dulin would do a great job of writing that.
All in all, a near-perfect read. And my last read of 2023! It was a good one!
TL;DR:
WHAT I LIKED: Characters, themes, world-building
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:The ending of Laiken's story arc
In all honesty, Malitu has been a delightful experience for me. It started with a book that I had mixed feelings about, followed by a book that I really enjoyed, and now a novella that's raised the bar even higher! Given the limited word count, the story is comparatively simple and short, but the characters and themes are just as rich. And with the shorter word count, the book felt much tighter and more impactful than the previous entries.
THE GOOD:
As with all the previous Malitu books, I loved how Dulin has explored his characters in this one as well. Isala's journey is mirrored with Laiken's and right from the get-go we're put in this tense tale where both parties are racing towards a goal that means the other's loss. Everything in their stories is thematically opposed, resulting in a deep and thought-provoking experience.
While on the surface, it's a simple peace vs war tale, the deeper implications of each actions, the motivations behind each character and the reason why they exist are all explored neatly, albeit briefly in a manner that'll keep you on the edge of your seat.
If you're not sure about Malitu, this novella is a great entry point IMO. You're sure to get a glimpse of this complex world, its culture, and the rich characters that inhabit it. I've been in awe of Dulin's growth from book 1 to book 2, but now with this novella I'm certain that Malitu's ending is going to be an epic journey.
THE BAD:
There were some minor issues in this novella that are not really bad, but left me a little disappointed.
All in all, a near-perfect read. And my last read of 2023! It was a good one!
TL;DR:
WHAT I LIKED: Characters, themes, world-building
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
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