Reviews

An absolutely fabulous YA fantasy set in an African-inspired world! The plot had very interesting twists and turns, the characters were well-realized, and the relationships between them were very complex. I loved how it explored the themes of family (blood and found), challenging fate, fighting for who you want to be, not who others think you are, and the difference between justice and complacency. I am eagerly looking forward to the sequel!

nottodaysatan's review against another edition

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adventurous inspiring

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

nikki_silk's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted 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

momoxshi's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful 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? Yes

5.0

Hey, you. Do you have mommy issues? Yes? then this book is definitely for you!

"We weren't raised to see the world as a small place, where nothing matters but our happiness. That isn't our story. And... I don't think it ever will be."

Tarisai was raised in isolation, accompanied by ever-changing tutors who were not allowed to touch her because of her gift, her hollow—her ability to see people's memories just by touch. Her mother, The Lady, was almost always absent, returning to Bhekina House where Tarisai lived to check on her progress. But one day, she is sent to the capital by The Lady. Tarisai is to compete with other children to be part of the council to the Crown Prince. She was trained for this, or so The Lady tells her. Tarisai only wants the warmth of what a family can give her, an opportunity she might get if she becomes part of the council. But The Lady has other plans for her, plans which include commanding Tarisai to kill the Crown Prince, a command she is magically compelled to obey.

+

I absolutely love this! The premise is something different to what I'm used to and it didn't disappoint. The world building and the elements were just ✨ Also, I would am an absolute sucker for name based magic systems (Thank you, Earthsea and That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime).

It was a joy to read. The poems, the songs... I can't fully explain how the sounds incorporated in them (is it considered onomatopoeia? I can be wrong) stand out (and in a good way).

Did not expect a fantasy novel to help me unpack my parental issues, but hey, here we are. The Lady is a complex and nuanced character. You can both hate her and feel sorry for her. Her character was very well written, and the effects of being under gaslighting on Tarisai was also well thought out. Mental abuse and abandonment in the novel were, I think, well represented.

An absolute fun read that I can recommend to anyone who's looking for their next great fantasy read. My only regret is that I let this sit on my shelf unread for a while before starting on it.

virginia_thea's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

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