Reviews

Daughters of the Dawn by Sasha Nanua, Sarena Nanua

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whimsicallymeghan's review

4.0

Ria and Rani are just getting used to their new life as princess sisters at the palace when a prophecy threatens to displace them. The Blood Moon will rise in a month’s time, and with that comes Amara’s last chance to destroy everything. Now Ria and Rani must find the Bloodstone to stop Amara and the prophecy from coming true. Faced with new challenges and new places, this quest takes the sisters on a path that has them questioning who their true enemy really is and if they’ll get their mission done in time. Filled with so many ups and downs, this led for quite the conclusion. This had a marvelous resolution to a very fast-paced duology. This novel really did take the reader through the ringer and they enjoyed it. Sure, this novel was a bit on the long side and dragged in parts, but it did a really good job of bringing all the elements together and ensuring they all worked out in the end. This novel was not only a continuation of the first novel, but a revelation of deeper world building and the reader really liked that; it was great to see that we were following the plot, but it was fun to explore and see more from this world. The authors really took their time with all the different magic used, which yes could get a bit much to read at times, but it did feel like it paid off in the end. The magic in this was brilliant because it was clever and really thought out. All of it had a purpose and we got to see how deep rooted it was, really charming to read. The reader had no idea how this was going to end; characters were all over the place, working together, yet doing their own thing, it was chaotic, but in a good way. The twists and turns this took really left the reader on their toes, wanting more, needing to know more. The story could get serious, but for the most part this was a lot of fun to read. The romance plotlines were alright; the reader didn’t quite feel the chemistry between some of the couples, but that’s okay because it didn’t take up the focus of the story; there were times when it felt a little in the way because the authors were trying to use the romance to further the plots but it didn’t always work for this reader. That aside though, the rest of the plots were super engaging and the characters really grew, too. To see how far both our princesses have come since the beginning of the first book was truly amazing. They learned so much about themselves, each other, the people around them and the world they live in. It was so wholesome and wonderful to read. The one antagonist from the first book really turned around in this one. She always had a motive for the things she did, but seeing it all play out, and to see how far she’d go, really opened her character up; it also opened up the characters around her, too. In the end, this was a delightful end to a captivating duology.

macaronoui's review against another edition

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adventurous tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.25

I again listened to this book narrated by Soneela Nankani, who is a really great narrator and really added nice layers to the story again.

In this book I really hoped the twins would finally get to know each other, but they spend nearly the whole book apart.

Their journeys get a bit convoluted at times and too much detail without really adding to the world building. There were still some gaps in the world building that made it confusing.

I liked the concluding on the story, but the audiobook was over 16 hours, which is just too long for this particular story.

Again I found Rani really whiny though she has better development in this book.

I did really enjoy Ria’s chapters.

Trying to find and keep romance during the end of world felt forced, I wish more of the characters had better platonic relationships with each other.

All in all it was ok.

readingsitaaras's review against another edition

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adventurous slow-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? N/A

4.0

So much happened in one book?? We get a crazy plot, interesting characters, you're just taken on this wild journey and I love it.

Character-wise, I'm sorry, I still don't care all that much for Saeed. Amir, on the other hand is the best, and I only wish we had more moments with him and Rani.

Overall, super solid series. I really don't have any specific criticisms that hindered my enjoyment, I just had a good time reading. SO GLAD, by the way, about the ending. I really feared they were going to do this one specific thing I hate in most books, but thankfully, we escaped that.

booksandladders's review

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2.0

See this review and more on Books and Ladders!

Content Warning: grief, snakes

This series, and this book especially, was an interesting premise that ended up being bogged down with overexplanation and so much filler. This book is way too long, and doesn't have the same appeal as the first book. This is almost 600 pages and it probably could have been 300, easy.

I loved the magic system, and exploring it more in this book, but I did not love the romances (and love triangle), and how long it took for anything to happen. I almost think this would have been better if each book followed a different sister rather than having both in one.

While book one had it's flaws (plot holes, length, etc.), it at least had enough of a hook to keep me interested and reading. But this was 16 hours on audiobook (8 hours for me, since I listen at double speed), and even that dragged on! I felt like this is one that could have been a standalone rather than a duology.

I'm not sure I can recommend this series as it's just too long with not enough payoff.

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teesbookjourney's review

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4.0

This is a great fantasy of two sisters who are getting to know each other. I loved the first story where we go to know all the characters and the world we are dealing with.

I love the dynamics of the characters and the world that this is set in. The conflict is complicated and detailed enough that I was highly interested throughout the whole story.

I liked this book a little better than the first and that was probably because the land was already established and we go into the crust of the conflict