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adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Really wished I would’ve liked this book more… started out good, the story gripped me but the way women are written and talked about in this book is just plain misogynistic. Plus fantasy or not, I cannot deal with virginity and getting your period being talked about as “flower” and “flowering” so annoying, and the sheer number of mentioning of men’s “seeds” and “seed pods” make me insane.
& don’t even get me started on the orientalism / the way the isolated city in the middle of the desert is described as middle eastern and villainized- truly, I thought we were done with this.
Plotwise: The pacing felt off at times, felt like there could’ve been spend more time on their training - like how did Arlen suddenly become superhuman?
Also trigger warning and spoiler:rape is yet again being used by a male author without it having any affect on the plot or development of that character, which frankly pisses me off. Like do better.
& don’t even get me started on the orientalism / the way the isolated city in the middle of the desert is described as middle eastern and villainized- truly, I thought we were done with this.
Plotwise: The pacing felt off at times, felt like there could’ve been spend more time on their training - like how did Arlen suddenly become superhuman?
Also trigger warning and spoiler:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Fire/Fire injury, War, Incest, Rape, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, and Islamophobia
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