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amy_rose29's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
mayankshah's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
3.75
An appropriate and gripping ending to this story although not quite as strong as the first book in my opinion.
This book takes the reader on a very long journey from the story in the first book, with a lot of character and story developments that, at times, I felt we're not given enough space or time as they had to be fitted into this book. The fact that the first book ends on a surprise cliffhanger inevitably means there is a lot to uncover in this book but the storylines did feel rushed at times as a result and I would have liked more hints in the first book.
As a standalone book, however, the story is very gripping. I wanted to keep reading and find it what was about to happen with a lot of twists and turns all g the way. While, as a YA novel, it is obvious what wider journeys the characters are going to be going on, there were a lot of small developments that were interesting in their own right in this book.
The ending is also what you would expect of a YA adventure novel, not in terms of content (there were a lot of surprising twists that took us away from what we expected) but in terms of character development. The characters remain true to themselves and their decisions are understandable throughout.
This book is what you would expect from a very very good YA adventure novel and definitely worth a read if you are of the target audience or looking for a gripping yet easy read.
It's remarkable how the author blends in diverse voices, opinions and characters seamlessly throughout the book. The references to cultures from the Indian subcontinent just seem to work and are made to feel natural. A matriarchal society is not questioned or analysed once, showing that books showing diverse opinions do not need to overtly be about that diversity. The author also includes a range of sexualities in their characters in, again, an unassuming way that I really admired.
This book takes the reader on a very long journey from the story in the first book, with a lot of character and story developments that, at times, I felt we're not given enough space or time as they had to be fitted into this book. The fact that the first book ends on a surprise cliffhanger inevitably means there is a lot to uncover in this book but the storylines did feel rushed at times as a result and I would have liked more hints in the first book.
As a standalone book, however, the story is very gripping. I wanted to keep reading and find it what was about to happen with a lot of twists and turns all g the way. While, as a YA novel, it is obvious what wider journeys the characters are going to be going on, there were a lot of small developments that were interesting in their own right in this book.
The ending is also what you would expect of a YA adventure novel, not in terms of content (there were a lot of surprising twists that took us away from what we expected) but in terms of character development. The characters remain true to themselves and their decisions are understandable throughout.
This book is what you would expect from a very very good YA adventure novel and definitely worth a read if you are of the target audience or looking for a gripping yet easy read.
It's remarkable how the author blends in diverse voices, opinions and characters seamlessly throughout the book. The references to cultures from the Indian subcontinent just seem to work and are made to feel natural. A matriarchal society is not questioned or analysed once, showing that books showing diverse opinions do not need to overtly be about that diversity. The author also includes a range of sexualities in their characters in, again, an unassuming way that I really admired.
miad3's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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
5.0
bookish_penguin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
ineffable_bookworm's review
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
5.0
ashleycee's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.25
tanishadesai's review against another edition
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
4.5
scheskie's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
3.0
I was kind of disappointed in this follow up to the Ivory Key. So many things happened but none of it was written in a way that made me feel invested. The fight scenes were bland and I didn't really care about the characters the way I did in the first book. Vira was boring and I didn't connect with any of the growth she made in the book. Ronak's whole thing was kind of basic and everything just fell in his lap. So he lied to his brother - who cares? Kaleb's story was probably the best of all of them, but he again just falls into all the things that happen. Nothing is really that hard in the end and his whole struggle to become independent seemed more petty than complex. Riya's fight over whether to go with family or the Raven's is bland and not that interesting. I get that the author was trying to write a story about family and how people grow up, but it was a little basic. This book felt like it was written for a really young audience, but I don't think that was the intent. It was just plain boring, predictable and formulaic. So why did I give it 3 stars? I don't know - I think I am still just stuck with how I really liked the first one and am attached to those characters? Who knows!
sophiesmallhands's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Murder, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent
Minor: Classism, Vomit, War, and Emotional abuse
riri_bookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
3.5⭐️
This was a fun conclusion but I feel like there was so many plot twists that didn't really make sense with what we learned in the first book that it made more confused... but it's probably a me problem.
This was a fun conclusion but I feel like there was so many plot twists that didn't really make sense with what we learned in the first book that it made more confused... but it's probably a me problem.