Scan barcode
_viv_'s review
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? No
3.5
[Review originally from my Goodreads]
Amazing...but a few minor issues.
This book follows five POVs that follow seemingly five different, unconnected stories. As the book continues we see where they cross paths and how their stories are all connected. Now I absolutely love this concept and the fact that this was a character driven novel (my personal favorite way to tell a story), but I found that there were so many POVs everything got convoluted.
When we are first thrown into the story it was hard to make attachments to the characters because we knew very little about them before skipping off to the next person. I swear it took be till 40% through this book until I could get everyone's names straight. Let alone tell you anything meaningful about their personalities. The dispersion of POVs is unequal and irregular. Sometimes they'd be a long chapter for Character A often, but Character B would be neglected in the process. Another reason I found it hard to connect with the characters in the beginning.
That being said, this was such I fun ride for me once I got acquainted with the characters. You can tell that the author put a lot of thought behind them and their emotions/pasts/reactions and how all these factors fed into each other. Despite it being disorienting in the beginning I found that I knew exactly how each character would reaction in any situation by the end. This was honestly some of the best character-building I've ever seen.
I found that the cultures and world building was amazingly well thought out too. The way different cultures interacted with each other was interesting and kept my attention. Its best reflected through the characters' POVs (as each of them come from different places and/or cultures) since their viewpoints differ tremendously (going into the emotions/pasts/reactions of character building again).
Which is honestly not something you'd think to mention in a review but I've read so many books were the cultural background of characters in fantasy world didn't effect their opinions at all. Which is honestly so confusing.
Overall a fun read that takes up a lot of attention. I'd put this book aside for a time when you can get in depth with complicated characters and world. Its definitely not a "no plot only vibes" character driven book, so if you're looking for that I'd turn your attention elsewhere
Amazing...but a few minor issues.
This book follows five POVs that follow seemingly five different, unconnected stories. As the book continues we see where they cross paths and how their stories are all connected. Now I absolutely love this concept and the fact that this was a character driven novel (my personal favorite way to tell a story), but I found that there were so many POVs everything got convoluted.
When we are first thrown into the story it was hard to make attachments to the characters because we knew very little about them before skipping off to the next person. I swear it took be till 40% through this book until I could get everyone's names straight. Let alone tell you anything meaningful about their personalities. The dispersion of POVs is unequal and irregular. Sometimes they'd be a long chapter for Character A often, but Character B would be neglected in the process. Another reason I found it hard to connect with the characters in the beginning.
That being said, this was such I fun ride for me once I got acquainted with the characters. You can tell that the author put a lot of thought behind them and their emotions/pasts/reactions and how all these factors fed into each other. Despite it being disorienting in the beginning I found that I knew exactly how each character would reaction in any situation by the end. This was honestly some of the best character-building I've ever seen.
I found that the cultures and world building was amazingly well thought out too. The way different cultures interacted with each other was interesting and kept my attention. Its best reflected through the characters' POVs (as each of them come from different places and/or cultures) since their viewpoints differ tremendously (going into the emotions/pasts/reactions of character building again).
Which is honestly not something you'd think to mention in a review but I've read so many books were the cultural background of characters in fantasy world didn't effect their opinions at all. Which is honestly so confusing.
Overall a fun read that takes up a lot of attention. I'd put this book aside for a time when you can get in depth with complicated characters and world. Its definitely not a "no plot only vibes" character driven book, so if you're looking for that I'd turn your attention elsewhere
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, Medical content, and Religious bigotry
fromjuliereads's review
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
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
You know, I was debating for a bit between a 4.5 and a 5 star rating and thought "screw it." This book was SO GOOD. I can't even tell you why I was thinking of a 4.5 because I basically have no notes?
The characters and plot are fantastic! I was on the edge of my seat, wanting to read so quickly to find out what would happen next or what twist was coming up. Sure I predicted one or 2 twists but GOODNESS I DID NOT PREDICT THEM ALL 😅 and these characters!? I already adore Jude, Anton, and Hassan! I have some mixed feelings about Ephyra and Beru but SO CURIOUS to see where their stories will go.
And the political and religious commentary!? *chef's kiss* Wow. I loved it. There is just enough political and religious/cult commentary that I was VERY intrigued and it played into the plot so beautifully. I cannot wait to see where this story goes next!
The characters and plot are fantastic! I was on the edge of my seat, wanting to read so quickly to find out what would happen next or what twist was coming up. Sure I predicted one or 2 twists but GOODNESS I DID NOT PREDICT THEM ALL 😅 and these characters!? I already adore Jude, Anton, and Hassan! I have some mixed feelings about Ephyra and Beru but SO CURIOUS to see where their stories will go.
And the political and religious commentary!? *chef's kiss* Wow. I loved it. There is just enough political and religious/cult commentary that I was VERY intrigued and it played into the plot so beautifully. I cannot wait to see where this story goes next!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Physical abuse, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Chronic illness, Death, Confinement, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Violence, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Toxic friendship but also a toxic relationship between siblings - two sets of siblingsstarlessnights's review against another edition
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Violence, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Religious bigotry
More...