Scan barcode
michaelion's review
- 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
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.
Graphic: Misogyny, Grief, Racism, Stalking, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Classism and Bullying
zombiezami's review against another edition
- 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
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
- 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
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
- 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 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.
Graphic: Cursing, Misogyny, and Racism
Moderate: Stalking and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement and Pedophilia
kayladaila's review
- 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
Graphic: Hate crime and Outing
Moderate: Bullying, Racism, and Stalking
Minor: Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pedophilia
azyef's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Bullying, Hate crime, Police brutality, Stalking, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Alcoholism and Pedophilia
betweentheshelves's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
What I liked about this one were the many discussions about how society views Black girls and Black women. The metaphor with these magical abilities and Naema tackles these issues head on. I also liked how this built on the world we got in A Song Below Water, expanding it and giving us more characters and more interaction with society in general. Overall, a really great read!
Graphic: Racism, Stalking, and Hate crime
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
anna_23's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Misogyny and Racism
Moderate: Stalking
ashleereads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Racism and Stalking
sunsetcity's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Gaslighting, Hate crime, Racism, and Stalking