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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
sad
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:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Genocide, Rape
Minor: War
While thrillers and murder mysteries aren't usually my preferred genres, I instantly became interested in this book when I learned it was set in Kenya, and was about a 16-year-old girl who was a thief and gang member.
While it isn't #ownvoices, so I read it with a grain of salt, it was still refreshing and encouraging to read a YA novel outside of Eurocentric, white-centered, western norms.
I hope we see many more novels like this in YA (with #ownvoices getting preference, which again, this one is not). It proves that you can have a fun, action-adventure story that isn't male-dominated or set in the west.
The main character, by the way, was a great lead! Competent, but not flawless; strong and determined, but with soft spots; almost recklessly brave, but not fearless; a survivor, a fighter, a sister, a friend. Male authors looking for examples of how to write female protagonists: here is one to check out. 👀
One complaint I had, though: There was a gay character who was written in a very stereotypical way. I'm not a gay man, so I don't know how such a reader would react to this character, but to me his portrayal was sometimes cringeworthy. I felt he needed more nuance. Not every gay man presents themselves in the same way. 😕🙄 But most stereotypes are based on a little bit of truth, so I don't know; maybe others would enjoy the representation.
While it isn't #ownvoices, so I read it with a grain of salt, it was still refreshing and encouraging to read a YA novel outside of Eurocentric, white-centered, western norms.
I hope we see many more novels like this in YA (with #ownvoices getting preference, which again, this one is not). It proves that you can have a fun, action-adventure story that isn't male-dominated or set in the west.
The main character, by the way, was a great lead! Competent, but not flawless; strong and determined, but with soft spots; almost recklessly brave, but not fearless; a survivor, a fighter, a sister, a friend. Male authors looking for examples of how to write female protagonists: here is one to check out. 👀
One complaint I had, though: There was a gay character who was written in a very stereotypical way. I'm not a gay man, so I don't know how such a reader would react to this character, but to me his portrayal was sometimes cringeworthy. I felt he needed more nuance. Not every gay man presents themselves in the same way. 😕🙄 But most stereotypes are based on a little bit of truth, so I don't know; maybe others would enjoy the representation.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-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
adventurous
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:
No
3.5/5
I definitely appreciated this book's originality and the author's research, but the story failed to fully engage me. Still, I would love to see more stories like this being told!
The beginning of the book also gave me serious Six of Crows vibes, but it's probably because I just finished Crooked Kingdom.
I definitely appreciated this book's originality and the author's research, but the story failed to fully engage me. Still, I would love to see more stories like this being told!
The beginning of the book also gave me serious Six of Crows vibes, but it's probably because I just finished Crooked Kingdom.
3.5/5
*I received an ARC of this book through Indigo Books and Music in exchange for an honest review.*
This novel’s stand-out feature is definitely the setting. There are very few teen novels set in Africa, and I found the author’s descriptions to be very genuine and unembellished as she brought light to the current situation of Democratic Republic of the Congo – Kenya relations. The protagonist was interesting and the character dynamics were fun to read (with the majority of this book being dialogue). Unfortunately, this book was not as fast-paced or thrilling as it claimed to be. The first 50 pages were the most “nail-biting”, but not much happened until everything was suddenly revealed all at once at the end. If the pacing had been tweaked a little, I think it would have made it more engaging.
*I received an ARC of this book through Indigo Books and Music in exchange for an honest review.*
This novel’s stand-out feature is definitely the setting. There are very few teen novels set in Africa, and I found the author’s descriptions to be very genuine and unembellished as she brought light to the current situation of Democratic Republic of the Congo – Kenya relations. The protagonist was interesting and the character dynamics were fun to read (with the majority of this book being dialogue). Unfortunately, this book was not as fast-paced or thrilling as it claimed to be. The first 50 pages were the most “nail-biting”, but not much happened until everything was suddenly revealed all at once at the end. If the pacing had been tweaked a little, I think it would have made it more engaging.
1 star = I didn't like it as per GR rating system.
I picked this book because it was based in Africa and I really like reading anything based overseas because usually I'd learn something about other cultures and countries.
I didn't like it because of the writing style. The chapters start without context, it was really hard for me to figure out what was going on, the next chapter was the same thing and the next chapter. And though the words used were simple, the writing was awkward. It was just not smooth and not easy to get into. I really wanted to like this book but I felt this was one of those cases where the author tried to write something edgy but failed because she failed to take into the account the reader. You write for the reader, not for yourself.
I got this book free as a review copy.
I picked this book because it was based in Africa and I really like reading anything based overseas because usually I'd learn something about other cultures and countries.
I didn't like it because of the writing style. The chapters start without context, it was really hard for me to figure out what was going on, the next chapter was the same thing and the next chapter. And though the words used were simple, the writing was awkward. It was just not smooth and not easy to get into. I really wanted to like this book but I felt this was one of those cases where the author tried to write something edgy but failed because she failed to take into the account the reader. You write for the reader, not for yourself.
I got this book free as a review copy.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Rape, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, War
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated