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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
I see why people loved this book because I had trouble putting it down, but it was also so stressful. I think I need more lesbian joy in my novels. But will I read the sequel? Probably.
An absolutely brutal exploration of colonialism, rebellion, and the violence of revolution featuring a cast of morally grey characters.
I was so excited for this read but I don’t think it was for me. It just didn’t click. I thought the pacing was slow and many of the emotional turns were unearned. The characters were mostly fine, but made frustratingly obtuse choices that didn’t always feel true. (The romance was something I wish I had been into, but it also at times felt unearned.) But I enjoyed the exploration of colonization and its evils, the fighting for the right to be independent. It was interesting, but I’m not sure I’ll read the next one.
adventurous
dark
tense
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:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed it while I was reading but the pacing and writing made it hard to pick up at times. I also didn't really enjoy most of the characters and the characters I did like a lot we didn't get to see a lot of. Interesting plot but not fleshed out as well as I had hoped.
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Many thanks to NetGalley and Orbit books.
There is a lot going on here.
The worldbuilding is crazily intricate. The book focuses on racism, rebellion and oppression. Touraine and her people, the Qazal, are victims of apartheid. Their land is being cruelly held by the minority white Balladairans. Touraine is more than a one note character. Her thoughts and motivations evolve and her character arc is brutal. She and her fellow "Sands" are despised on all sides. She is part of the Balladairan military and treated by the rest of the army as subhuman "dogs". The locals also spit on them , calling them traitors. She maintains her dignity through this and she tries to be the change for good.
The other viewpoint is Luca, a crippled but brilliant princess. She works to wrest power from her uncle, the regent. He has held their world in a firm grip of colonialism. She is idealistic and wants to enact change but cannot see past her white privilege to make lasting good decisions.
This book does not travel down well tread fantasy paths. Unexpected things happen. I would put this book on par with NK Jemisin. The storyline and worldbuilding are five star. One star deducted for occasional excessive wordiness.
I am totally in for the sequels, bring them on! My thanks to CL Clark for a great read.
There is a lot going on here.
The worldbuilding is crazily intricate. The book focuses on racism, rebellion and oppression. Touraine and her people, the Qazal, are victims of apartheid. Their land is being cruelly held by the minority white Balladairans. Touraine is more than a one note character. Her thoughts and motivations evolve and her character arc is brutal. She and her fellow "Sands" are despised on all sides. She is part of the Balladairan military and treated by the rest of the army as subhuman "dogs". The locals also spit on them , calling them traitors. She maintains her dignity through this and she tries to be the change for good.
The other viewpoint is Luca, a crippled but brilliant princess. She works to wrest power from her uncle, the regent. He has held their world in a firm grip of colonialism. She is idealistic and wants to enact change but cannot see past her white privilege to make lasting good decisions.
This book does not travel down well tread fantasy paths. Unexpected things happen. I would put this book on par with NK Jemisin. The storyline and worldbuilding are five star. One star deducted for occasional excessive wordiness.
I am totally in for the sequels, bring them on! My thanks to CL Clark for a great read.
adventurous
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
inspiring
sad
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