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jdasilva's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Sexism, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, Classism, and Deportation
Minor: Cursing
ohmage_resistance's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
- The first female high mage and her marginalized immigrant lab assistant do magical research and deal with some dark realizations about their society.
- I really liked this one. I saw the twist coming from the first few chapters. It did make the beginning a bit slower, although I had fun trying to figure out what was really going on with certain details. After the twist was revealed though, the emotional fallout was really well written and felt realistic. Also, that ending was extremely satisfying. I wasn’t sure if Wang could wrap the entire plot up in one book, but it worked out very well. On the downside, it could be a bit info dumpy in places, and it’s generally pretty dialogue heavy, although neither one of these bothered me.
- Although feminism isn’t the only theme in this book, it’s still a major one. ML Wang takes feminism in a cool direction. Most popular feminist books I’ve read either go in a girlboss power fantasy direction and/or they are female rage stories. This one was interesting in that it was a female rage story, but the rage was more for a marginalized racial group than purely about sexism, although both play into the same system of oppression. It's also a specific critique of white girlboss feminism. I also really liked the commentary about women in STEM. The main character isn’t perfect, she has internalized misogyny at times, and her ambition isn’t always a nice. This book also deeply understands how women are shamed for showing emotion, wanting things, having pride, and being selfish in a way that men/male scientists are not. At the same time, it does question if being proud and selfish (the peak of male power) is something that women should really aspire towards.
- I also really liked the themes about being part of a marginalized racial group. There’s commentary on racism, immigration, assimilation, and colonization, even if there’s no one to one real world parallel. These were just as much as a focus as the themes about feminism, and I think both worked really well together. Both themes could be a bit on the nose at times, but I think having them grounded in the experiences of the characters really helped them feel more impactful.
- I liked all of the characters and though they were well written. Sciona was definitely not an admirable person in a lot of ways, and although she got a little better, she still stayed flawed. That being said, I think these were all put into context of why Sciona turned out to be that way and how it compares when we see male characters have those same traits. Thomil, Sciona’s lab assistant, was really cool, and I especially liked his relationship with his niece Carra. Now I kind of want to read Babel to compare these two books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual assault, Violence, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Religious bigotry and Colonisation
Minor: Forced institutionalization
jadorelecafe's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
where do I even begin? I feel like I need to go stare at a wall for a few hours and contemplate on… everything… after finishing this book.
This was such an incredible read. It’s a story of hope and loss and grief and faith and intention.
There is so much packed into this book it’s hard to know where to even start. There’s questions of morality, is intention what counts most? Or is the result what counts most? Just because you intend to do something good, doesn’t always make it a good action.
There’s so much grief and loss piled onto each other here and it’s heart wrenching but it also shows how every action, every person, every decision makes such a big impact on the world around us.
Hope is a fickle thing too. We can hope for the best but we also need to plan for the worst. We have to be able to find that balance and not lose hope for what is right and good in the world because it’s worth hoping for.
It was so interesting to see Sciona’s character arc evolve throughout the story. In the end she had to learn to live with and work with her flaws to do the right thing and do good for the world and others. Sciona is a character that meant well, her intent was not to cause harm or hurt, but she was selfish to a fault. She struggled to get out of her own head enough to see how much her ideas and decisions and actions would truly impact the world around her.
I really loved the conversation about morality in this story too. It really hits hard. Is intention to do good all that matters? Or is the outcome of your actions all that matter? Or is it somewhere between?
This was such an incredible read. It’s a story of hope and loss and grief and faith and intention.
There is so much packed into this book it’s hard to know where to even start. There’s questions of morality, is intention what counts most? Or is the result what counts most? Just because you intend to do something good, doesn’t always make it a good action.
There’s so much grief and loss piled onto each other here and it’s heart wrenching but it also shows how every action, every person, every decision makes such a big impact on the world around us.
Hope is a fickle thing too. We can hope for the best but we also need to plan for the worst. We have to be able to find that balance and not lose hope for what is right and good in the world because it’s worth hoping for.
It was so interesting to see Sciona’s character arc evolve throughout the story. In the end she had to learn to live with and work with her flaws to do the right thing and do good for the world and others. Sciona is a character that meant well, her intent was not to cause harm or hurt, but she was selfish to a fault. She struggled to get out of her own head enough to see how much her ideas and decisions and actions would truly impact the world around her.
I really loved the conversation about morality in this story too. It really hits hard. Is intention to do good all that matters? Or is the outcome of your actions all that matter? Or is it somewhere between?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
darreck's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Classism
jadehusdanhicks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.25
A complex tale this story takes place under a dome made by the founding mages which protects those in the city from the Blight.
The blight kills without shame and destroys anything with life that it touches from trees and plants to unravelling a human infront of your eyes.
We see our main character develop a lot throughout this book, as an academic she questions everything and despite Kwen being frowned upon in their city when she is mocked by her all male peers for being the first female archmage ever she takes the Kwen janitor under her wing as her assistant.
Its narrative addresses issues such as genocide/ seeing certain groups as lesser beings as well as colonisation in the form ofignoring the harms of magic and the destruction they reap on the Kwans native land , despite being a product of stolen texts taken from the original female witches under the Kwan who only aimed to help people.
Overall despite being deep and at sometimes saddening I truly loved this book and could not put it down. It’s unique from its magic system, to how it addresses social issues and I think is a vital addition to diversifying the worlds of sci fi and fantasy.
The blight kills without shame and destroys anything with life that it touches from trees and plants to unravelling a human infront of your eyes.
We see our main character develop a lot throughout this book, as an academic she questions everything and despite Kwen being frowned upon in their city when she is mocked by her all male peers for being the first female archmage ever she takes the Kwen janitor under her wing as her assistant.
Its narrative addresses issues such as genocide/ seeing certain groups as lesser beings as well as colonisation in the form of
Overall despite being deep and at sometimes saddening I truly loved this book and could not put it down. It’s unique from its magic system, to how it addresses social issues and I think is a vital addition to diversifying the worlds of sci fi and fantasy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
_krysta's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Welcome to Tiran, the bright haven that stands against the harsh outside world. A thriving metropolis that runs on magic that powers an advanced industrial economy and innovative technology. Sciona is a mage, who has worked her way up through the ranks to become Tiran’s first female highmage, one of the elite overseers of the city that maps and siphons the power used to keep it running. She is proud to be a mage, a follower of her faith, and highly independent. Orphaned since age four and raised by her aunt with her cousin, she’s a force to be reckoned with and takes no shit. Her sponsor believes in her, she believes in herself to be the best, and she will prove it. She and the other new inductees are tasked with creating a spell to siphon enough power to expand the barrier that keeps Tiran protected from the outside, a harsh environment being ravaged by blight, a mysterious occurrence that pulls the lifeforce out the living and decimates the land and its savage people, known as the Kwen. Not taken seriously, she’s assigned an unqualified Kwen janitor as her assistant. Thomil crossed the barrier into Tiran with his niece after his tribe was overtaken by blight, with nothing left to lose and a last hope to survive on the inside. Unfortunately, that comes at the cost of living in Tiran’s slums, taking the low, often dangerous jobs no Tiran resident will, and being treated as not only a lower-class citizen, but despised and mistreated by the Tiranish. As much as Thomil tries to keep to the background, he is assigned to be Sciona’s assistant.
Sciona is often too caught up in her work and self to notice how hard a Kwen’s life in Tiran can be. After all, shouldn’t the Kwen be grateful to be offered sanctuary in their majestic Tiran? Determined to prove herself in a man’s world, Sciona works tirelessly to create a spell to expand the glory that is Tiran. She is pleasantly surprised to find out Thomil is quite smart and helpful in her research. As they delve deeper into the hunt for magic sources and spells to harness the power, they are challenged by their peers who wish them to fail, and secrets are uncovered that will test their morals, their grit and sense of self.
Two unwelcome people find themselves tested at every turn. Taunted, threatened, challenged constantly, the two form a bond and ego-centric and often delusional Sciona finds herself caring for more than just herself for the first time. The character development for both Sciona and Thomil is well-written. They are both rough around the edges, but as we learn more, each evolve in significant ways. I also really enjoyed Carra and what she represented.
The story touches on thoughtfully explored themes of misogyny, prejudice, faith, family, love and sacrifice. What do we do protect those we love? What will we sacrifice, what risks are we willing to take? How do you fight injustice without being the same as those who oppress you?
I thought the dark academia vibes were fantastic. The magic system is unique, with mages using spellographs like typewriters in which a spell is input and then siphons power from mapped sources. The plot was compelling, and I feel like the themes were powerful and even at times rage-inducing. This book packs a punch in a standalone adult fantasy. It was thought-provoking and paced well. The ending brought this book so full circle in the best way, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Spoiler warnings for gore and violence, sexual harassment, suicidal ideation, colonialism, genocide.
Sciona is often too caught up in her work and self to notice how hard a Kwen’s life in Tiran can be. After all, shouldn’t the Kwen be grateful to be offered sanctuary in their majestic Tiran? Determined to prove herself in a man’s world, Sciona works tirelessly to create a spell to expand the glory that is Tiran. She is pleasantly surprised to find out Thomil is quite smart and helpful in her research. As they delve deeper into the hunt for magic sources and spells to harness the power, they are challenged by their peers who wish them to fail, and secrets are uncovered that will test their morals, their grit and sense of self.
Two unwelcome people find themselves tested at every turn. Taunted, threatened, challenged constantly, the two form a bond and ego-centric and often delusional Sciona finds herself caring for more than just herself for the first time. The character development for both Sciona and Thomil is well-written. They are both rough around the edges, but as we learn more, each evolve in significant ways. I also really enjoyed Carra and what she represented.
The story touches on thoughtfully explored themes of misogyny, prejudice, faith, family, love and sacrifice. What do we do protect those we love? What will we sacrifice, what risks are we willing to take? How do you fight injustice without being the same as those who oppress you?
I thought the dark academia vibes were fantastic. The magic system is unique, with mages using spellographs like typewriters in which a spell is input and then siphons power from mapped sources. The plot was compelling, and I feel like the themes were powerful and even at times rage-inducing. This book packs a punch in a standalone adult fantasy. It was thought-provoking and paced well. The ending brought this book so full circle in the best way, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Spoiler warnings for gore and violence, sexual harassment, suicidal ideation, colonialism, genocide.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Infertility, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Police brutality, Cannibalism, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
soapsoapsoap's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, Cultural appropriation, War, Classism, and Deportation
ambar1337's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Hate crime, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Murder