3.85 AVERAGE

ibelin's profile picture

ibelin's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 10%

I realized I don't like YA's or books that play heavily into sexism. I just didn't find the scene of her
losing her locket to a man who stole it and then claimed she was being hysterical
to be fun or motivational at all. A lot of times when the topic is touched, the character feels a sense of motivation to fight against it or explains the situation but it felt too 'real'. 
adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced
adventurous tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
adventurous medium-paced
adventurous lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
adventurous mysterious medium-paced

I'm so jealous of all the people who enjoyed this book, truly I am, but I'm just happy I managed to finish it. I'll try and keep the swearing to a minimum, but I fucking hate the main characters, so much. Inez is every main YA female character, headstrong to the point of recklessness, way too trusting, stupidity masked as intelligence, and somehow still lacks a real identity. Whit is every romantasy male lead, a "bad boy", with a mysterious past he refuses to tell anyone about, dangerous but in an "attractive" way, and of course so bigly big that he completely dwarfs the female main character because that's so hot. Spare me. I cannot stress how little chemistry they have, and it thoroughly ruined any enjoyment I got out of the mystery elements and the well-crafted atmosphere, which I do have to give this book credit for, it was very well researched. Also the magic system was confusing, I'm all for a soft magic system but god you have to explain it at least a little bit, or else it just becomes a plot contrivance. In short, this book pissed me the fuck off, because it did have so much potential but just, ruined it.

And now, for the sentences that got such a reaction out of me I had to write them down. (hidden for some spoilers)
Spoiler
"Writ: Bloody Hell." (nothing else is written on the page) You're not fucking funny I scream as they drag me away

"A dark knight with a heart of gold" I'm going to throw up

"The magic makes that kind of transfer depending on the strength of the spell, or if it bloody wants to." HUH how the fuck does this magic system work I just don't get it at all. EXPLAIN

"The moment his mouth covered mine, every thought, every worry fled from my mind." GIRL YOU'VE BEEN LEFT FOR DEAD IN A TOMB STAND THE FUCK UP

Thank you.
Take a shot every time Writ crosses his ankles, you'll have a much more enjoyable time reading this book
adventurous mysterious 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: Complicated

I was fairly quickly captivated by Inez on her adventure to Egypt. The author does a great job of immersing the reader into late 19th century Cairo. I also loved the magic throughout the story. The up-and-down relationship between Inez and Whit was sometimes irritating, but I like Inez's pluck and her adventuresome spirit. I'll read the second book soon.

sunhi's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 19%

I just could not. I read 20 percent and admitted defeat because I hated everyone in the book and was grinding my teeth. I'm so disappointed. The setting has me so hopeful. 

This book had a very cool feel to it and good twists and turns but I don’t know that I would recommend it to people because it has a huge cliffhanger at the end and then I decided to read spoilers for the sequel because I was kind of stressed out by the “trust no one” type books and it sounds like the sequel is even more of that and a messy plot.