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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
medium-paced
Fairly quick little YA novel with decently developed characters, believable motivations, and interesting world-building. I'll be engaging with the second novel in the series, and potentially the third, though that will be determined by the second one.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I was really, happily, surprised by this book. I knew it had been getting some great reviews, but I definitely didn't expect to like it as much as I did. It started off a bit slowly, but man did it pick up, and I ended up reading it in one day! This is a rollicking, amazing adventure across desert sands, filled with everything I love in a series. It reminded me of [author:Tamora Pierce|8596] and [author:Sarah J Maas|14569103], while also being uniquely itself. I'm looking forward to Book 2!
Italian review:
Ho divorato questo libro. È scritto benissimo e la trama mi ha lasciata senza fiato.
Mi sono innamorata della protagonista, Amani. È una ragazza che ha imparato ad essere forte e indipendente in un mondo dove gli uomini trattano le donne come merce. Riesce a essere sfacciata, cinica e ironica anche nei momenti più pericolosi! Non si lascia mettere i piedi in testa da nessuno. Nasconde anche un animo vulnerabile che riesce a cogliere solo il lettore, e questo me la fa amare ancora di più.
Che dire, una protagonista di tutto rispetto!
La storia è ricca di colpi di scena e di azione e di magia, una combo che mi ha lasciata estasiata e con la voglia di mettere subito le mani sul secondo libro; menomale che è già sul mio scaffale!
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English review:
I devoured this book. It's so well written and the plot left me breathless.
I fell in love with the protagonist, Amani. She's a girl who learned to be strong and independent in a world where men treat women like things. She can be bold, cinic and ironic even in the most dangerous moments! She doesn't let anyone walk over her. She also hides a more vulnerable side that only the reader is able to see, and that makes me love her even more.
What can I say, a very respectable protagonist!
The story is full of plot twists and action and magic, a mix that left me ecstatic and with the need to get my hands on the second book right now; thankfully it's already on my shelf!
Ho divorato questo libro. È scritto benissimo e la trama mi ha lasciata senza fiato.
Mi sono innamorata della protagonista, Amani. È una ragazza che ha imparato ad essere forte e indipendente in un mondo dove gli uomini trattano le donne come merce. Riesce a essere sfacciata, cinica e ironica anche nei momenti più pericolosi! Non si lascia mettere i piedi in testa da nessuno. Nasconde anche un animo vulnerabile che riesce a cogliere solo il lettore, e questo me la fa amare ancora di più.
Che dire, una protagonista di tutto rispetto!
La storia è ricca di colpi di scena e di azione e di magia, una combo che mi ha lasciata estasiata e con la voglia di mettere subito le mani sul secondo libro; menomale che è già sul mio scaffale!
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English review:
I devoured this book. It's so well written and the plot left me breathless.
I fell in love with the protagonist, Amani. She's a girl who learned to be strong and independent in a world where men treat women like things. She can be bold, cinic and ironic even in the most dangerous moments! She doesn't let anyone walk over her. She also hides a more vulnerable side that only the reader is able to see, and that makes me love her even more.
What can I say, a very respectable protagonist!
The story is full of plot twists and action and magic, a mix that left me ecstatic and with the need to get my hands on the second book right now; thankfully it's already on my shelf!
Devo dire che le ambientazioni orientali hanno sempre il loro fascino, anche quando si parla di posti desertici dimenticati da Dio. La soria è molto interessante, il mondo è costruito abbastanza bene, ma ci sono molte cose e molti punti che spesso si possono confondere e che non subito vengono spiegati bene, questo penso sia il difetto più rilevante. Per il resto la storia è avvincente, lo stile di scrittura è veloce, si legge in fretta e le descrizioni sono ottime; i personaggi sono forti, ma avrei preferito che alcuni venissero spiegati e raccontati meglio. Però una bella lettura con un sacco di azione e colpi di scena, con la magia giusta e quel pizzico di amore che fa sempre bene, ma che alla fine è solo un margine della storia. Aspetto con ansia il seguito!
After nearly DNFing this book at about 30%, I'm glad I stuck with it. The audio leaves a lot to be desired; even speeding it up didn't redeem it for me. Soneela Nankani is just too new a narrator to really do the phrasing well; there were too many times I was pulled out of the story because I would think 'no, that's not the way that would have been said.' In addition, the dialogue is written with an Old West sort of "speak," and Nankani didn't do anything with that in terms of an accent.
Unfortunately this bad experience with the audio colored my opinion of the book. But I'm happy I didn't give up, because the story really improved when I switched to the ebook. Amani, the main character, isn't overly likable. She seems to get cranky a lot and hold grudges. Jin is a great character who never seems to get the benefit of the doubt. The side characters are good, entertaining without overtaking the story. And there is a bad guy, but I had problems with him.
The story, however, just didn't wow me. It's somewhat complicated, figuring out the relationships between all the characters. There's a rebellion brewing, but I never felt invested in it because I just didn't have enough backstory to justify it. The action is good but not outstanding. There are times when justice is served but it's not really dramatic enough. There are gray characters but the reasons why just aren't compelling. It seems as if time after time the author could have pushed the limits of each element, but chose to stop before anything got extreme.
Overall, this was just a so-so book for me. It's a good story that's moderately well told and a great concept, mixing the old west with the Arabian desert. The magic and legends are creative. And the storytelling is good. It's just that this book doesn't amount to more than the sum of its parts. Hopefully there will be a sequel and that will change, but until then, this is a good debut from a promising author.
Who needs a better narrator next time!
Unfortunately this bad experience with the audio colored my opinion of the book. But I'm happy I didn't give up, because the story really improved when I switched to the ebook. Amani, the main character, isn't overly likable. She seems to get cranky a lot and hold grudges. Jin is a great character who never seems to get the benefit of the doubt. The side characters are good, entertaining without overtaking the story. And there is a bad guy, but I had problems with him.
The story, however, just didn't wow me. It's somewhat complicated, figuring out the relationships between all the characters. There's a rebellion brewing, but I never felt invested in it because I just didn't have enough backstory to justify it. The action is good but not outstanding. There are times when justice is served but it's not really dramatic enough. There are gray characters but the reasons why just aren't compelling. It seems as if time after time the author could have pushed the limits of each element, but chose to stop before anything got extreme.
Overall, this was just a so-so book for me. It's a good story that's moderately well told and a great concept, mixing the old west with the Arabian desert. The magic and legends are creative. And the storytelling is good. It's just that this book doesn't amount to more than the sum of its parts. Hopefully there will be a sequel and that will change, but until then, this is a good debut from a promising author.
Who needs a better narrator next time!
At beginning, it was so interesting.
BUT....in middle of book, it was bored.
I wanted to finish it but I was lost interesting and ready for next book to read.
BUT....in middle of book, it was bored.
I wanted to finish it but I was lost interesting and ready for next book to read.
Another review revision!
I'm older and wiser and not a smarmy eighth grader, so let's discuss this series.
I enjoyed it. This is not a very good litmus test for quality, as I enjoyed almost every book I read back then. What is marketed as an Arabic/American Western fusion is really just Western with Middle Eastern-sounding names and djinn. The 'representation' is superficial at best and displays absolutely zero actual culture.
Amani is indeed a badass, and I still appreciate her character for possessing very real flaws and not being perfect. The characters are varied and fun, and I would consider them the strength of the series. But it's just another rebels-overthrow-evil-government book that doesn't have much else that make up for the basic plot.
This is a good middle-grade read, but if you're hesitant about it, go ahead and skip it.
I'm older and wiser and not a smarmy eighth grader, so let's discuss this series.
I enjoyed it. This is not a very good litmus test for quality, as I enjoyed almost every book I read back then.
Spoiler
Except maybe Tether, which can go fuck itself.Amani is indeed a badass, and I still appreciate her character for possessing very real flaws and not being perfect. The characters are varied and fun, and I would consider them the strength of the series. But it's just another rebels-overthrow-evil-government book
Spoiler
which is rich of me to say, since half my own story ideas are that same premiseThis is a good middle-grade read, but if you're hesitant about it, go ahead and skip it.
Lost interest / never got interested