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michaelion's review
adventurous
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Bethany C. Morrow, you MUST be a good writer, because I hated this girl so much, I really did, and I still kept reading! Miss Morrow MUST be TALENTED because there are real life people like Naema who I'd have no problem humbling, I don't care for their perspective for how bad or disrespectful of a person they are, and yet I had to finish this one! Props to Morrow!
I am being dramatic; I love me a story from the villain's perspective (although it is weird to call a kid a villain, even if it's true). In fact I couldn't go 5 pages without leaving a note about something that made me laugh or made me angry or a comment about something happening in the world. Usually if something is so bad it's good I'll comment that but this book and series are just good. Like okay good not excellent or superb. Like a pleasant okay good.
I had similar issues for this book as I did the first one (the world building isn't fleshed out (although I do understand it more the second time round now), the back half of the book hooked me a lot more than the first half then it was over so quick). I think it's a good message for the youths to be aware of though, and my teenage self would've ate this up.
For the third book, let Naema say fuck. She needs it, PLEASE. Let her express herself!
I am being dramatic; I love me a story from the villain's perspective (although it is weird to call a kid a villain, even if it's true). In fact I couldn't go 5 pages without leaving a note about something that made me laugh or made me angry or a comment about something happening in the world. Usually if something is so bad it's good I'll comment that but this book and series are just good. Like okay good not excellent or superb. Like a pleasant okay good.
I had similar issues for this book as I did the first one (the world building isn't fleshed out (although I do understand it more the second time round now), the back half of the book hooked me a lot more than the first half then it was over so quick). I think it's a good message for the youths to be aware of though, and my teenage self would've ate this up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Grief, Racism, Stalking, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Classism and Bullying
guessgreenleaf's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Classism, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Outing
shellroch285's review
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? Yes
4.25
Morrow once again holds a mirror to our society as she continues the discussion of how racism functions and keeps certain groups in power in A Chorus Rises’s universe as well as ours. I also feel like I’ve never really seen a character like Naema before, and I love the fact that she realizes she’s messed up in the past while remaining herself. The fundamental parts of her character and personality stay with her through the entire book. I don’t know if there will be another book after this one, but I’d love to read it! These characters are so great, and I want to see them continue to take action.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Pedophilia
daya_fae's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I loved the first book so much that I just have to get this sequel right after I finished the first. The writing style and the mix of media dialogue definitely gave the feel of a whole new character. The discussions that were had about not being allowed to by society view yourself or be viewed as more that one cultural identity. Naema realizing her eloko shield can only go as far as Portland was definitely a hard pill for her to swallow. But it was definitely necessary lesson for her to learn. It was sad when it took a situation so drastic like the doxing of the black women and girls for Naema to realize the areas of her ways and stop trying to get back at Tavia. She had to learn the hard way that there little mini war was gonna harm way more that Tavia even if she explained away to the moon and back that Tavia is the only siren threat.
Even tho I really liked this book I have to say I didn’t really despise Naema till I read this book. Even with her exposing Tavia and Effie at the end of the first. She still felt like an “every day” book mean girl that I new would get what’s coming to her in the behind the scenes of the first books epilogue. Cause the story wasn’t about her. She felt like someone there just to serve a purpose and not learn her story. So basically how she was portrayed in Tavia’s movie. There was nothing for me to be really mad over besides the few actions we saw her do to Tavia and Effie.
So when we got to learn about why she’s the way she is. I maybe me just hate everything about her. From her dislike to hatred of Tavia made no more sense than petty teenage drama. What Naema and Ms.Donna said is true. Naema and Tavia have every right not to like each other. But you don’t have to treat the person u dislike that never really did anything to you or at least from what we’re shown so horrible. Especially her situations with Effie. Naema was fully trying to provoke her for no reason besides her just being Tavia’s sister.
But at the end of the day I could fully understand if the others goal was never for us to like Naema by the end of this book and just understand the privilege side of the black magical community and reconnecting with your roots. Also to put a lesson in about watching out for the people who follow you/worship you as an influencer. And I can respect that is that was the message the author was trying to portray.
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism
jessthanthree's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Racism
aseel_reads's review
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
5.0
obsessed with this duology, this was fantastic. had no idea how i was suppose to like the mean girl from the first book, as the mc of this book, but boy did i love the direction the author went with. i liked the social commentary about being able to dislike someone from a minority group/same identity as you, because you don't have to like everyone. just felt very nuanced and real. huge fan.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Hate crime and Racism
zombiezami's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Outing, Hate crime, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Racism, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, and Body horror
Minor: Cursing, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, and Classism
Incarceration, Misogynoiroliviagraz's review
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Police brutality, Pregnancy, and Pedophilia
Minor: Vomit, Violence, Outing, Kidnapping, Hate crime, Confinement, and Classism
anna_wa's review
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
When I was about to start reading "A Song Below Water", I saw that it had a sequel that I didn't know about. I barely looked at the description before requesting an interlibrary loan for it (since my University library didn't already have it on their own). I saw the word "influencer" and little else, so after finishing the first book, I assumed this was going to be about Camilla Fox.
When I found out it was actually about Naema, I was slightly disappointed but moreso excited. I love media where we get the antagonist's perspective, because almost nobody is mean for no reason at all; they have a reason even if it's not a reason I like or agree with.
The story starts off with Naema a year after she was turned to stone and then subsequently freed from stone. Her popularity with the Portland community who used to love her is in the pits and all the positive attention she used to get just from being Eloko is now turned into negative attention because she was the one who recorded everybody getting turned to stone.
Fed up with Portland, she asks her parents if there's somewhere else she can go for a while since it's the summer and she doesn't have to stay here and go to school. She then goes down to the Pacific Northwest where she meets her cousins, aunts, uncles, and many other relatives who have gathered for the yearly family reunion (a tradition Naema and her parents haven't been part of before, but her mom still contributes to from Portland). Even though they make it clear that she has to be more than just an Eloko to impress them down here, it's through them that she figures out who she really is. Down there, Naema unlocks new magic she never knew she had and she also learns that not all adoration is good adoration and getting revenge on Tavia is not the only thing (or even close to being the most important thing) that matters to her.
It did lose half a star with me because of certain aspects of the ending.I'm all on board with Tavia and Naema teaming up and burying the hatchet. I did, however, get queasy at The Good Cop Who Does The Right Thing In The End character... But nevertheless, I enjoyed this and its predecessor a lot and I hope Morrow writes more YA in the future because I'd love to read it.
When I found out it was actually about Naema, I was slightly disappointed but moreso excited. I love media where we get the antagonist's perspective, because almost nobody is mean for no reason at all; they have a reason even if it's not a reason I like or agree with.
The story starts off with Naema a year after she was turned to stone and then subsequently freed from stone. Her popularity with the Portland community who used to love her is in the pits and all the positive attention she used to get just from being Eloko is now turned into negative attention because she was the one who recorded everybody getting turned to stone.
Fed up with Portland, she asks her parents if there's somewhere else she can go for a while since it's the summer and she doesn't have to stay here and go to school. She then goes down to the Pacific Northwest where she meets her cousins, aunts, uncles, and many other relatives who have gathered for the yearly family reunion (a tradition Naema and her parents haven't been part of before, but her mom still contributes to from Portland). Even though they make it clear that she has to be more than just an Eloko to impress them down here, it's through them that she figures out who she really is. Down there, Naema unlocks new magic she never knew she had and she also learns that not all adoration is good adoration and getting revenge on Tavia is not the only thing (or even close to being the most important thing) that matters to her.
It did lose half a star with me because of certain aspects of the ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Misogyny, and Racism
Moderate: Stalking and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement and Pedophilia
kayladaila's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime and Outing
Moderate: Bullying, Racism, and Stalking
Minor: Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pedophilia