Reviews

Naznaczone złotem by Namina Forna

emianner's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

gardenxroseee's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring 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

3.5

While the ideas floating around the book are intriguing, I found most of them to be lackluster throughout. Much of the world-building feels rushed or completely left out, leaving readers struggling to catch up or fill in the gaps on their own.

The purity culture theme was the strongest for me, and I resonated heavily with the pain of the ideologies being passed along in Irfut. Outside of this, I also loved the second half of the book and felt it was much stronger than the first. While I felt many questions were left unanswered, the twists and turns at the end kept me on my toes so much that I didn't mind.

The romance (NOT wlw, so sorry) was just okay for me, but I feel the book shined in the relationship between Deka and Britta. Britta was for SURE my favorite character, as well as cutie-pie Ixa. With these two sweethearts at the book's core, I did enjoy it overall. That being said, I'm not sure I'll finish the trilogy!

glaserface's review against another edition

honestly too much violence for me 

bookswithbailee9's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful tense medium-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

4.75

reneelewis22's review against another edition

4.0

Very good. I was very interested in the world. I also appreciate confronting the patriarchy.

tiff_bb's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

hopedihop's review against another edition

5.0

Omg I need more!

darkangel99's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.5

robinhood2000's review against another edition

5.0

Wow, just wow. Namina Forna just made something amazing. The patriarchal structure bothered me at first (especially when Deka had internalised that disgusting male gaze world view) but the reason it bothered me was that it was SO REAL. The book after that dealt with trauma, ostracism, a sick magic system (OMG THE BLOOD THINGS) and lore, and monsters in all shapes and forms. As a reader I sensed part of the story before it happened but I wasn't a hundred percent sure about the details. The author expertly wrote this book which honestly without lying is the among the best books I have ever read. The fact that it also is 400 pages is just magical to me, books are not supposed to get too long and in this there is no superfluous content! I am still a bit shook. I loved it so much...

the_ubern00b's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.5