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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
idk why i don’t rlly like this honestly … it seems like just the type of thing i would enjoy but i suppose it just fell short :( the writing was kinda try hard LOL idk how to explain it it was pretty tho & there were so many characters that it was hard to focus on each one individually and what their personality was cause there was just so much going on … sorry
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-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:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Trafficking
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3.75 stars rounded off to 4
The Wild Ones is a story with utterly gorgeous and lyrical writing and a stunning concept. Nafiza Azad’s stunning prose pulled me right in from the beginning. For the most part, I did enjoy this book. The Wild Ones is the story of a group of girls (the same name as the title), all of whom have suffered in some way. They have been betrayed, tortured, tormented and/or abused. And once the Wild Ones finds the girls, they are blessed to carry stars in their palms. They gain magic and become truly powerful. The magic system was complex, a little difficult to understand at first, but by the time you get into the book, it gets explained in its own way and through the beautiful prose.
This book can be described as beautiful and unique with its storytelling style. I did enjoy this kind of style, but not as much as I thought I would. My qualms lie in this; the chapters are told in two alternating perspectives; one is of Paheli, the other is another Wild One, who is not specified. I wish it was specified though; because I was having a hard time distinguishing between the character voices of Paheli and this unspecified Wild One.
The plot was also a little slow at the beginning, but things picked up around the 20% mark and after that the book was pretty fast paced. Another thing I did not really enjoy was how the book ended. There was a lot of build up to a certain event, and when the event took place, it got over a little too quickly. I would have liked to see more of that scene, since it was one of the most action packed moments of the book.
The Wild Ones feels like an experimental novel; it’s a story told in a style that might not be enjoyable to a lot of people but I certainly loved the style. But this story is something, I feel, everybody needs to read. It makes you feel; it makes you think about heavy topics and it makes your heart ache for the girls who go through so much pain. The Wild Ones, in some ways, is a story that I needed. It’s a fantasy but it’s grounded so much in reality, that it doesn’t even feel like a fantasy by the time you finish the book.
All in all, I think what I want to end by saying is; thank you to Nafiza Azad for writing this. This is one of those stories that will stay in my mind for a long time.
The Wild Ones is a story with utterly gorgeous and lyrical writing and a stunning concept. Nafiza Azad’s stunning prose pulled me right in from the beginning. For the most part, I did enjoy this book. The Wild Ones is the story of a group of girls (the same name as the title), all of whom have suffered in some way. They have been betrayed, tortured, tormented and/or abused. And once the Wild Ones finds the girls, they are blessed to carry stars in their palms. They gain magic and become truly powerful. The magic system was complex, a little difficult to understand at first, but by the time you get into the book, it gets explained in its own way and through the beautiful prose.
This book can be described as beautiful and unique with its storytelling style. I did enjoy this kind of style, but not as much as I thought I would. My qualms lie in this; the chapters are told in two alternating perspectives; one is of Paheli, the other is another Wild One, who is not specified. I wish it was specified though; because I was having a hard time distinguishing between the character voices of Paheli and this unspecified Wild One.
The plot was also a little slow at the beginning, but things picked up around the 20% mark and after that the book was pretty fast paced. Another thing I did not really enjoy was how the book ended. There was a lot of build up to a certain event, and when the event took place, it got over a little too quickly. I would have liked to see more of that scene, since it was one of the most action packed moments of the book.
The Wild Ones feels like an experimental novel; it’s a story told in a style that might not be enjoyable to a lot of people but I certainly loved the style. But this story is something, I feel, everybody needs to read. It makes you feel; it makes you think about heavy topics and it makes your heart ache for the girls who go through so much pain. The Wild Ones, in some ways, is a story that I needed. It’s a fantasy but it’s grounded so much in reality, that it doesn’t even feel like a fantasy by the time you finish the book.
All in all, I think what I want to end by saying is; thank you to Nafiza Azad for writing this. This is one of those stories that will stay in my mind for a long time.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
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:
Complicated
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
5 million stars. If I could somehow tattoo this book onto my soul I would do it in a heartbeat.
I wanted to enjoy this book. The premise was intriguing, the cover is beautiful but it fell flat. The writing was inconsistent, there were moments that the prose was wonderful but then there were instances (which felt like most of the writing) was telling. There were so many characters and different point of views that I couldn’t see them as individual characters. Individual distinct traits were seen every few chapters. I also, could not tell for the life of me, who the target age range was. The writing felt like younger YA audiences but the content was for a more mature reader. I do have to say, that one of the saving graces for this book was the instances where we saw the different way survivors coped. Feelings that are so (sadly) common were reflected and it felt true and raw.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-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
The Wild Ones: 2.75/5 (rounded up)
Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for providing me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review
Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for providing me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review
“We have the temerity to be not just women, but women of color. Women with melanin in our skin and voices in our throats. Voices that will not be vanquished. Not now, not ever. We will not be silenced.”
Premise:
The Wild Ones centers around the varying struggles that women face worldwide and the strength, support, and healing that others can provide. Long ago, Paheli was tossed a box of stars by a boy and was saved by magic from her mother, who tried to sell her to a man for a favor. She and her pack of girls who she has gathered call themselves the Wild Ones. The girls travel through The Between, rescuing others. That is until the boy who tossed the box of stars reappears and begs for help.
Writing & Plot:
I want to start by saying there is nothing wrong with the plot of this book. I enjoyed the concept and the characters. I think this book has so much potential, and I the idea is so important and beautiful and heartbreakingly joyful. I want to like The Wild Ones so much that I may have to try to reread it.
Where this book falls apart is the execution. Pieces of this book are written so beautifully, and after the prologue, I was hopeful that this would be five stars. The perspective then jumps between Paheli and some unnamed character or entity. I believe this perspective is intentionally vague to show the connectivity between The Wild Ones, but it yielded a frustrating reading experience. Furthermore, the flowery prose is juxtaposed with a choppy middle-grade-esc style of writing with childish humor and fourth wall breaks. The constant choppiness and repetitive nature take the reader completely out of the story and experience. I'm unsure why Nafiza Azad decided to use two different writing styles, but it makes the book difficult to follow and a challenge to get through.
Another writing issue I have is that instead of showing, Azad repeatedly tells the reader precisely what is happening. It feels like Azad doesn't trust the reader to come to their own conclusions and creates a vast disconnect between the writing and the reader. This becomes jarring when serious themes such as rape are being discussed in an almost childish way.
The structure of the book also provides challenges. The first 50 pages repeatedly describe what a Wild One is, and the majority of the book after is about them traveling to different places, exchanging currency, and eating food. It gets very repetitive.
Characters:
One thing Azad does exceptionally well is she provides a vast array of different characters with different backgrounds. Overall, the character concepts are strong, and I can see the potential, but there is a problem when there are an overwhelming amount of characters. There are about 11 different Wild Ones and numerous side characters, and none of them get the development and background they deserve. It is so challenging to keep each character straight when none of them are fully developed. I almost wish there were fewer characters so each could get the time they deserve, and the reader could learn more about them because they're all so interesting.
Conclusion:
I want to like this book. I want to love this book and have it be my favorite read of 2021. I think the concept is beautiful and has so much potential to empower girls from around the globe, not to mention that the cover art is stunning. I know some people enjoyed this book and believe it lived up to its full potential, and because of that, don't let my review taint you from at least trying to pick it up. I think this book deserves a chance, and I will probably give it another go in the future.
I wish the execution were more solid because this book can be one of the greats, but unfortunately, it let me down. I cannot get past the difficult nature of the multiple writing styles, lack of character development, and repetitive themes that span the entire novel.
Ultimately, solid concept, poor execution. Please let me know/DM me if you liked this book because I'd love to chat about it.