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4.6 AVERAGE
4.6 AVERAGE
I enjoyed this book, but I didn't think it was as good as the first. It's not too long by any means (over 500 pages go quite quickly) but I did feel that some arcs weren't necessary for what they accomplish/add to the main plot. Now that I've finished the duology, here are some of my thoughts on the series:
- It doesn't perpetuate the toxic relationships that too many YA novels do, thank god. Inej and Nina are fully capable, interesting women (way more interesting than all of the dudes imo).
- I love that she literally made capitalism a religion, complete with gods. I also like how she brings attention to the reality of human trafficking and how absolutely messed up that is.
- The magic powers feel new - Grisha get healthier by using their powers, when in most fantasy worlds, using powers comes with a price. Felt very fresh!
- I like all of the main characters! Except...for Kaz, the protagonist LOL. Well, let me amend. I like him, it's just that he doesn't feel like a real person the way the others do. Even when we get his backstory and motivation, I still don't buy it. He feels most real in that bathroom scene with Inej, where he's trying, he wants to try, but he just can't shake his past. Maybe it's partially because the other characters don't know what he's been through, and see him as the myth he's created, thereby making the reader view him as a myth as well? I'm not sure. I think I just wanted more of him, outside the flurry of action. I wanted quiet moments with him to delve into his head and how he thought through plans and devised schemes. I think that's why I like that bathroom scene so much - it's one of the few times we get to slow down.
- The book is pretty diverse without trying to hard, which I appreciate. However, the Menagerie (the brothel of "exotic" women i.e. women of color) perpetuates "white as standard," even though the main characters are diverse.
- Shu Han (the "Asian" nation) is the only nation without real representation in the main characters (Kuwei rarely speaks and he's still considered an "outsider"). They're depicted as the enemy, scheming, in cahoots with the major villian, etc. We just don't get a personification of them the way we do with the other characters and nations, and that's really disappointing.
- It doesn't perpetuate the toxic relationships that too many YA novels do, thank god. Inej and Nina are fully capable, interesting women (way more interesting than all of the dudes imo).
- I love that she literally made capitalism a religion, complete with gods. I also like how she brings attention to the reality of human trafficking and how absolutely messed up that is.
- The magic powers feel new - Grisha get healthier by using their powers, when in most fantasy worlds, using powers comes with a price. Felt very fresh!
- I like all of the main characters! Except...for Kaz, the protagonist LOL. Well, let me amend. I like him, it's just that he doesn't feel like a real person the way the others do. Even when we get his backstory and motivation, I still don't buy it. He feels most real in that bathroom scene with Inej, where he's trying, he wants to try, but he just can't shake his past. Maybe it's partially because the other characters don't know what he's been through, and see him as the myth he's created, thereby making the reader view him as a myth as well? I'm not sure. I think I just wanted more of him, outside the flurry of action. I wanted quiet moments with him to delve into his head and how he thought through plans and devised schemes. I think that's why I like that bathroom scene so much - it's one of the few times we get to slow down.
- The book is pretty diverse without trying to hard, which I appreciate. However, the Menagerie (the brothel of "exotic" women i.e. women of color) perpetuates "white as standard," even though the main characters are diverse.
- Shu Han (the "Asian" nation) is the only nation without real representation in the main characters (Kuwei rarely speaks and he's still considered an "outsider"). They're depicted as the enemy, scheming, in cahoots with the major villian, etc. We just don't get a personification of them the way we do with the other characters and nations, and that's really disappointing.
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
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:
Yes
This is my Roman Empire. I will never ever get over this.
adventurous
emotional
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:
Complicated
adventurous
medium-paced
Rating: 3.5
I know that it's basically heresy to say this, but I didn't love this as much as I wanted to. Yes, the characters are amazing and it's just so fantastic to see such as diverse group of protagonists, but the story still didn't captivate me as much as I'd hoped. I did love reading the twists and turns in the plot and trying to guess just how our intrepid team were going to succeed this time (wrong at every count), but given the amount of love for this book and series expressed online, I just expected something more. Still, this is a good, enjoyable series, and one I definitely recommend, but just a bit too hyped up for me...
I know that it's basically heresy to say this, but I didn't love this as much as I wanted to. Yes, the characters are amazing and it's just so fantastic to see such as diverse group of protagonists, but the story still didn't captivate me as much as I'd hoped. I did love reading the twists and turns in the plot and trying to guess just how our intrepid team were going to succeed this time (wrong at every count), but given the amount of love for this book and series expressed online, I just expected something more. Still, this is a good, enjoyable series, and one I definitely recommend, but just a bit too hyped up for me...
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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:
No
adventurous
emotional
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
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
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