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4.39 AVERAGE
4.39 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Ok I think it’s me not the book. I was having a hard time reading and just skimmed/jumped around to the end and I think the plot is EXCELLENT and I genuinely don’t know why I couldn’t read this book. I will try the next book and hope to be able to get into it enough to read it all. Maybe try this again later? Honestly at a loss as to why I kept falling out of reading this.
I just really, really loved this one.
I haven't been so invested in a teen fantasy in what feels like forever. More later!
I haven't been so invested in a teen fantasy in what feels like forever. More later!
adventurous
emotional
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:
No
adventurous
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
What a breath of fresh air!
As someone who’s read a lot of fantasy and YA novels, this is one of the best I’ve read in a while. Not only does Jordan Ifueko deliver a rich environment, detailed and dimensional characters, interesting magic, and a mesmerizing story, she pulls you in with the little things. The way she describes people’s hair, their skin tones and textures, food, decorations, clothing, etc. It’s so rich!!
I’ve also never read a fantasy story where it is set in an African-inspired land (I’m assuming Raybearer is) and I very much enjoyed it.
Also, I hope people don’t overlook this amazing book simply because it’s YA! It’s better than many adult fiction/fantasy I’ve read!!
I highly recommend this book, especially if you want a breath of fresh air with fantasy settings. I can’t wait to read the sequel!!!
⭐️💛
As someone who’s read a lot of fantasy and YA novels, this is one of the best I’ve read in a while. Not only does Jordan Ifueko deliver a rich environment, detailed and dimensional characters, interesting magic, and a mesmerizing story, she pulls you in with the little things. The way she describes people’s hair, their skin tones and textures, food, decorations, clothing, etc. It’s so rich!!
I’ve also never read a fantasy story where it is set in an African-inspired land (I’m assuming Raybearer is) and I very much enjoyed it.
Also, I hope people don’t overlook this amazing book simply because it’s YA! It’s better than many adult fiction/fantasy I’ve read!!
I highly recommend this book, especially if you want a breath of fresh air with fantasy settings. I can’t wait to read the sequel!!!
⭐️💛
3.5 easily rounded up, for a story that, refreshingly, is not black-and-white: there is no 'obviously bad person/people against obviously good person/people', so the protagonist's struggles to decide what is the right choice feel more realistic. Though some things you could see coming, there were also some surprises, so it was neither over-predictable nor too many breakneck twists.
It did take a little while to get comfortable with the setting, featuring multiple characters from several distinct cultures in the crown prince's entourage, but with a core set of protagonists to focus on, it was not overwhelming.
Content concerns: occasional mention of execution/death penalty; one scene of upsetting (though not physically brutal) police actions, confiscating culturally-significant artifacts; no gore; no excessive swearing (I don't remember any, though I might be forgetting an isolated exclamation); no 'on-screen' sex or intense makeout scenes, though there are a very few mentions of off-screen sex (someone walks in on a compromising situation, not described in detail - an open-door, close-door situation; there is one instance of fade-to-black); a few kisses, but not a lot of eye-fluttery, lip-biting romance crap clogging up the story
Notes of passing interest: once character is revealed as asexual (the term isn't used, but their words clearly describe it - an experience common to many young asexuals!), but it's done at a late point and during a major event that kind of makes it a "never mind right now" deal, so I wouldn't call it significant ace representation at this point - we'll see whether it becomes so in the next volume!
It did take a little while to get comfortable with the setting, featuring multiple characters from several distinct cultures in the crown prince's entourage, but with a core set of protagonists to focus on, it was not overwhelming.
Content concerns: occasional mention of execution/death penalty; one scene of upsetting (though not physically brutal) police actions, confiscating culturally-significant artifacts; no gore; no excessive swearing (I don't remember any, though I might be forgetting an isolated exclamation); no 'on-screen' sex or intense makeout scenes, though there are a very few mentions of off-screen sex (someone walks in on a compromising situation, not described in detail - an open-door, close-door situation; there is one instance of fade-to-black); a few kisses, but not a lot of eye-fluttery, lip-biting romance crap clogging up the story
Notes of passing interest: once character is revealed as asexual (the term isn't used, but their words clearly describe it - an experience common to many young asexuals!), but it's done at a late point and during a major event that kind of makes it a "never mind right now" deal, so I wouldn't call it significant ace representation at this point - we'll see whether it becomes so in the next volume!
adventurous
medium-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:
Yes
this world is so intriguing and packed with culture. I’m glad I continued after reading the maid and the crocodile. I think the world building is excellent, but the characters don’t feel as developed as the fantasy aspects.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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
This book was amazing. I could not put it down. I'm usually pretty good at predicting the ends of books but this took me by surprise. I loved every minute.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
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:
Complicated