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marzreadz2'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
Moderate: Blood, Misogyny, and Murder
doodeedoda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Child abuse, Misogyny, Grief, Violence, Murder, Blood, Sexism, and Death of parent
Minor: Child death
dokushoka's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Blood, Death, and War
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Murder
Minor: Abandonment, Cursing, Death of parent, Slavery, Child death, and Dementia
jyothym's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
First of all I loved the inspiration from ancient Arabia and how it reflected on Zafira's world, the language, the culture, and the character design. I love to see woc authors winning.
Zafira is such a strong female lead with a lot of heart. I can't help but love her. She doesn't seem to be afraid of anyone on the outside, but reading from her perspective revealed the hidden vulnerabilities that made her relatable and so easy to root for. I loved the whole conversation about how there is nothing inherently powerful in pretending to be a man. Zafira embracing and revealing that she is a woman is one of the bravest things she does in this book. Her strength in fighting, intelligence, and resilience are allowed to coexist with her more feminine and vulnerable traits, like her growing sympathy for Nasir and the other characters. It's a refreshing perspective when YA literature is increasingly pushing the narrative that strength is defined by a proximity to maleness. But my favorite thing ever is how the others are so afraid of her:
“Don’t think,” she snapped. (p. 211)
Did she stutter? If I were them I would never speak again. And then there's THIS:
Her eyes dimmed. “Did you think I expected you to marry me after a kiss, Sultani?” Her voice was torn, satisfying him before her words registered. “The last man who proposed to me didn’t even get to kiss me.” (p. 431)
OHH MY GODDD. I love her so much. Also this scene was so painful but it's ok because Miss Faizal blessed us with this line.
Of course I have to take this opportunity to talk about the second lead, Nasir. I like to think it's pretty hard to get me to actually like a male lead in a YA fantasy, but I have to say I spent at least a fourth of this book just feeling so incredibly sad for him. I never thought I would say this but can this man have one moment of fleeting happiness?! His character background so interesting because he's such a perfect example of a good morally grey character. Can a person with this much blood on his hands ever be truly forgiven? Was Altair right to blame him for the torture Kulsum endured? His inner conflict between being ruthless and loving is so heartbreaking. He's so dedicated to putting on this image of being cold and untouchable, but Zafira completely undoes that:
He paused and met her eyes. If a poet were to describe them, he would say to look into her eyes was to see the sea’s first glimpse of the sun, drinking its reflection with endless ripples. Or something like that. Nasir was no poet. And though she held his gaze unflinchingly, some part of her had retreated. Did his scars repulse her? Did he repulse her? (p.294)
First of all Nasir yes you are a poet. Second of all HOW COULD HE SAY THIS. I am on the floor.
Then the plot twist with the Silver Witch being his mother.
He had endured it all, every fabricated instance of love and respect and emotion. Because no matter what, his mother’s love had always been real. (p. 415)
And then it wasn't real! Well technically it was. But he felt like it wasn't. Either way please give this dude literally one good thing. Ok one more quote of me just feeling bad for Nasir:
“Do you intend to kill me?” he asked. The sadness returned, pulling at his heart. Was there no one who truly loved him? (p. 431)
Sobbing and shaking! <3
Final general thoughts on the book. The ending has me thinking Altair's character is going to change A LOT in the next book - maybe he's driven a little insane/evil from being imprisoned by the Lion guy. Yasmine's pledge to kill him??? First of all yes queen you are so right to feel that way. Second of all NOOOO. Something's definitely going to go wrong there. This was a great YA fantasy with beautiful writing, definitely a little slower paced than I'm used to and more character than plot driven. So excited to read the next one. 5/5 stars!!!
Graphic: Violence and Blood
aklovekorn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Blood, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
tomoonarmy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Moderate: Death and Sexism
Minor: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Stalking, and Violence
book_loving_dragon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Abandonment, Death of parent, Death, and Violence
Moderate: War, Misogyny, Sexism, and Blood
bri__'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Grief, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, War, Child death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Torture
edilyaaang's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Blood, Sexism, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Gore, and Violence
Minor: Animal death, Classism, and Gaslighting
yamooz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Okay, I had high expectations from this book but I was let down. I'm not sure whether it's because I'm In a reading slump or something but the book wasn't extraordinary in any way whatsoever. I understand that YA books have repeated tropes but reading this book made me think of Hunger games or it made me think of it after my sister pointed it out to me. While I read this book, I kept on thinking "Have I seen this before somewhere" and "This feels so familiar"
After it was pointed out that the books characters are quite similar to hunger games one's, I got kinda tired of the plot...
There wasn't much connection with the characters, the characters weren't THAT well written, definitely there's room for improvement. I honestly didn't like zafira and Nasir that much. As main characters, one would expect them to be very well written but they just weren't... I couldn't connect to them at all, especially Nasir. Yes he's hot, Yes he's traumatized, He's sad and all but the connection! It just wasn't there. I honestly connected more with Dean ( who had so little screen time in the book) and Altair more than the main leads. Benyamin and kifa( I'm not use if the spelling is correct) weren't that bad but again, hardly any connection. They were badass for sure but what's the point if I don't feel anything towards the characters. While we are at connections, there wasn't much connection and chemistry with the characters too, I honestly didn't feel much chemistry between Nasir and Zafira, it felt... forced? Idk ig I ship them but it didn't feel like they were meant to be...
These are things that I didn't like about the book but it's not all bad.
The language is beautiful, I loved the books settings. Loved the detailed description, I felt like I was In the book, right there with them.The plot twists were great, loved them.
This book wasn't something I read in one sitting, the first half was pretty slow, it could be that I'm in a reading slump, that's why I didn't read it in one sitting but still, the book definitely lacked a few things.It's a book I wouldn't recommend to people who are looking for past paced one.
Over all, the book wasn't bad, just devoid of things... here and there ( does this make sense, lol 😂), I'm still gonna read part 2 of this book though. Much love to faizal, hopefully you improve ❤
Graphic: Torture, Death of parent, Misogyny, and Blood