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cobaltbookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
Let's start with that cover is so gorgeous, so this is like YA The Handmaid's Tale, autor did good job with women empowerment and girls friendships. But romance was rushed even though it's not essential to the story. Anyway sold debut novel.
dr_steph's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
I think the overall plot of this novel was interesting and there were some really great concepts. But unfortunately lots of things felt underdeveloped and rushed (especially towards the very end). The main character experiences a fundamental belief system change, and yet this change happens in a very choppy and sudden way rather than gradually building. There was lots of telling instead of showing, and in my opinion this manuscript needed further editing and development.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, War, Physical abuse, Blood, Confinement, Murder, Torture, and Misogyny
Minor: Racism, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Vomit
corngod31's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? No
4.25
Slow start but got better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Sexism and Sexual assault
Minor: Rape
natimat's review against another edition
4.0
It was a nice read, however it seemed rather basic most of the time. At first I kind of made myself read it but then I got into it, and genuinely loved the ending and the plot twist.
I read this book to get my reading habit back, and I think it’s perfect if you just want to read something easy but fun.
I read this book to get my reading habit back, and I think it’s perfect if you just want to read something easy but fun.
moretisha's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? No
4.0
om_sammy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
4.25
A deathshrieker may as well have come and just ripped out my heart, because this is GUT WRENCHING. What Deka witnesses and experiences resonated with me so deeply, both as a woman of colour and just as a woman living in a male-dominated world. This had me yelling out and clutching my heart/chest; Namina Forna really takes you through it. The world-building is so unique, and I'm so pleasantly surprised that I wasn't able to see many of the plot-twists she had planned.
The ONLY reason this didn't receive 5 stars is because the writing is a little clunky in parts; this is Forna's debut novel, and parts of read as a debut. There were times I wish she had added more detail to a person/place/location, and at times between chapters it felt inconsistent bc time had passed and it felt like I wasn't able to see the natural progression/growth the characters experienced (which made for some passages to come across as a little jarring), but overall really enjoyed it. It lays down a wonderful foundation for the rest of the series and I'm looking forward to reading the rest!
The ONLY reason this didn't receive 5 stars is because the writing is a little clunky in parts; this is Forna's debut novel, and parts of read as a debut. There were times I wish she had added more detail to a person/place/location, and at times between chapters it felt inconsistent bc time had passed and it felt like I wasn't able to see the natural progression/growth the characters experienced (which made for some passages to come across as a little jarring), but overall really enjoyed it. It lays down a wonderful foundation for the rest of the series and I'm looking forward to reading the rest!
ashndean88'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? No
4.0
This was so entertaining! Especially the audiobook. I loved how this fantasy seemed to portray a different type of culture, and how seamlessly new ideas were introduced into the narrative. The characters were easy to distinguish despite the huge cast, and I could sympathize with Deka throughout her journey. So it hit all the marks with what I look for in characterization.
Epic, adventurous, and enthralling, this was a beautiful young adult book. I also can't say enough good things about Shayna Small as the narrator. She was perfection!
Epic, adventurous, and enthralling, this was a beautiful young adult book. I also can't say enough good things about Shayna Small as the narrator. She was perfection!
punkystarshine's review against another edition
3.0
Here's the thing: I hate giving books less than 4 stars. I don't do it often or easily. Especially post-pandemic, after I had a long stretch of time where my brain wouldn't let me read books at all, I'm just happy to be back at it. So I want you to know I don't come by this lightly and I do feel bad about it. My only solace is that this book has a lot of high reviews so I don't think my one little 3-star is going to hurt it. Because while the writing style wasn't for me, who am I? I haven't written a book! But also if I don't give it three stars, I'll forget that this series isn't my jam and read the second one, so I'm saving myself from myself.
Anyway here are some things I liked and didn't like:
I loved the worldbuilding. The overall lore was really interesting to me, which is what got me through to the end even when I was struggling with the writing style. I think it was a really creative and unique story and different than anything I've read before, even though I read a lot of YA fantasy.
I found the characterization of Deka to be inconsistent. One minute she's "the quiet one" the next she's giving a rousing speech, then she's back to being shy again. She spends a lot of time being surprised by her own actions. She falls into the YA trap of noticing enough so that the reader can pick up on the clues without picking up on the clues themselves, which makes her seem less intelligent than she is portrayed most of the time. And why, oh why, was Britta's accent written out phonetically? Everyone in the group was from different far-flung parts of the fictional world, accents were briefly mentioned here and there, but Britta's was written out in a way that drives me bananas. You can have her say "ye" instead of "you" and get the point across without going full throttle on the brogue; it slowed down my reading and took me out of it every time.
Some spoilery specifics:
I know Deka has a childlike innocence throughout the book, despite literally dying a bunch, but naming the mysterious woman "White Hands" was embarrassing. And "White Hands" liking the nickname was doubly embarrassing. Finding out that "White Hands" was an ancient being and still insisted she felt blessed to be called "White Hands" almost made me die of embarrassment. Why not make up a word and say it means "white" in a made-up language? Or call her The Courier or something? Genuinely anything but White Hands.
And related to her childlike innocence, if I took a shot every time Deka repeated the exact words that were just said to her but as a question I would have been blackout before I hit the halfway point. You GOTTA mix it up.
Related, "deathshrieks" was a bit on the nose, but fine, it's a YA book...but the fact that the deathshrieks also called themselves deathshrieks?? Surely no???
Anyway this writing style was not for me but the worldbuilding got me through to the end. I will not be reading the next one.
Anyway here are some things I liked and didn't like:
I loved the worldbuilding. The overall lore was really interesting to me, which is what got me through to the end even when I was struggling with the writing style. I think it was a really creative and unique story and different than anything I've read before, even though I read a lot of YA fantasy.
I found the characterization of Deka to be inconsistent. One minute she's "the quiet one" the next she's giving a rousing speech, then she's back to being shy again. She spends a lot of time being surprised by her own actions. She falls into the YA trap of noticing enough so that the reader can pick up on the clues without picking up on the clues themselves, which makes her seem less intelligent than she is portrayed most of the time. And why, oh why, was Britta's accent written out phonetically? Everyone in the group was from different far-flung parts of the fictional world, accents were briefly mentioned here and there, but Britta's was written out in a way that drives me bananas. You can have her say "ye" instead of "you" and get the point across without going full throttle on the brogue; it slowed down my reading and took me out of it every time.
Some spoilery specifics:
And related to her childlike innocence, if I took a shot every time Deka repeated the exact words that were just said to her but as a question I would have been blackout before I hit the halfway point. You GOTTA mix it up.
Related, "deathshrieks" was a bit on the nose, but fine, it's a YA book...but the fact that the deathshrieks also called themselves deathshrieks?? Surely no???
Anyway this writing style was not for me but the worldbuilding got me through to the end. I will not be reading the next one.
devikapha's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75