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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
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:
Yes
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
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:
Yes
4.5 stars for now, but it might be a 5 star the more it sits in my brain lol.
First, I'm glad I read this book as it was very different from what I normally read. I was a bit hesitant as mythology stories tend to not work for me as well as they used to but I was pleasantly surprised in this case.
I liked that even the gods are not infallible from falling to the corrupt ways of capitalism and seeing the main characters, despite being gods also suffering from it. But also the characters pushing through and actively trying to create a better life for themselves! Shigidi and Nneoma are not perfect characters, they're both very flawed but it made them feel very real and relatable, despite being intensely powerful beings.
I see there are reviews not feeling comfortable with the level of sex in this book or concerns about Nneoma's character but to me I found it quite obvious that she was the most powerful character in the book and I think its a very shallow interpretation to assume Talabi just put her in the succubus = sex box? On the other hand I completely understand why people wouldn't want to read certain scenes at all, so check the content warnings.
This is kinda on me, but the book ended up not being perfect for me as the heist ends up not being the most important and I just really love heists... Regardless, what the story is more so about was really good!
First, I'm glad I read this book as it was very different from what I normally read. I was a bit hesitant as mythology stories tend to not work for me as well as they used to but I was pleasantly surprised in this case.
I liked that even the gods are not infallible from falling to the corrupt ways of capitalism and seeing the main characters, despite being gods also suffering from it. But also the characters pushing through and actively trying to create a better life for themselves! Shigidi and Nneoma are not perfect characters, they're both very flawed but it made them feel very real and relatable, despite being intensely powerful beings.
I see there are reviews not feeling comfortable with the level of sex in this book or concerns about Nneoma's character but to me I found it quite obvious that she was the most powerful character in the book and I think its a very shallow interpretation to assume Talabi just put her in the succubus = sex box? On the other hand I completely understand why people wouldn't want to read certain scenes at all, so check the content warnings.
This is kinda on me, but the book ended up not being perfect for me as the heist ends up not being the most important and I just really love heists... Regardless, what the story is more so about was really good!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence
Moderate: Vomit, Colonisation
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was an interesting read but I think the pacing is getting to me. I would like to eventually re-read
This was a moderately interesting African high fantasy, introducing Shigidi as our POV character, sometimes, for a lot of world building. There's spirit-side, where corporations of orishas engage in all kinds of supernatural business (and it is business) for pray-pay, etc. The system established here is unchallenged, mostly, at the end of the book, so I'm assuming Talabi plans more stories in this world, and I wouldn't hate to read them.
This introduction to the world is, by itself, only so-so. The writing really lacks flash and interest, and at times is actively boring. And Talabi really likes long fight scenes that I guess are supposed to be epic but on paper are boring and drawn out. It hurts, too, that Shigidi is mostly a boring character design who seems to honestly believe rippling muscles and a t-shape makes him cool. Maybe that's part of his character arc, but so far, it feels flat to me.
There are some good things here, aside from the world bulding. I like the general thrust of reclaiming cultural patrimony, and some of the locales and regions explored are fresh and different. There's a cameo for Fela Kuti and Africa '70, which I dug. But there's also a lot here that I could have liked more.
This introduction to the world is, by itself, only so-so. The writing really lacks flash and interest, and at times is actively boring. And Talabi really likes long fight scenes that I guess are supposed to be epic but on paper are boring and drawn out. It hurts, too, that Shigidi is mostly a boring character design who seems to honestly believe rippling muscles and a t-shape makes him cool. Maybe that's part of his character arc, but so far, it feels flat to me.
There are some good things here, aside from the world bulding. I like the general thrust of reclaiming cultural patrimony, and some of the locales and regions explored are fresh and different. There's a cameo for Fela Kuti and Africa '70, which I dug. But there's also a lot here that I could have liked more.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I loved this so much. It is an exciting read. A story that shows all the wonderful things that can happen when you have the right mentor. A story of the posibilities and capability. I look forward to more from this writer