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bookishmillennial's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
I'm so annoying because I am just projecting and I am self-inserting when it comes to Sirscha now that I know she is bi hahaha go sapphic honeys, go!!! There's no romance yet, but I'm betting my money on Sirscha and Saengo being endgame (please?!) I'm insufferable, but I'm self-aware!
Anyway, I don't think this book fell into a "sequel slump," and I actually found that I was more interested and excited as I read this book over the first one! The first 25-30% of this book is still a bit slow to start, but I honestly appreciate a little more context when it comes to the worldbuilding because I genuinely love this world. It's fascinating: the politics, how past wars/conflicts are affecting the present, the magic, legends, myths, secrets unveiled, and more! It's all very easy-to-understand while feeling unique and able to stand on its own.
I was eating up the parallels and mirroring between Sirscha and the Soulless! Gosh, this is what I adore about fantasy, and about any "good versus evil" pairings in fantasy / scifi / adventure / hero's journey stories! Sirscha is trying to get a hold on her new power in soulrendering, and she is earnestly nervous about what she is capable of. I think it's so relatable to wonder what the difference is between you and someone that everyone deems a villain. Where is the line? What decisions distinguish yall? I love that conversation/reflection.
This is a series I'd love to see optioned and adapted for a Freeform, Netflix, or SyFy series! I think it would translate really well. I *need* to see the Dead Wood, where trapped souls are trying to escape the trees!; and Mirrim, the Nuvalyn capital city where only shamans may enter. Those settings are screaming to come to life on screen!
I have the ARC of the next book, so I'm anxious to see how this all ends!
Also unrelated side note: the audiobook narrator pronounces Saengo as "Xanga," which if you know, you know. If you don't, you're too young or you're an anamoly of a millennial or Gen X that did not spend any time online in the 90's or 00's HAHA.
I'm so annoying because I am just projecting and I am self-inserting when it comes to Sirscha now that I know she is bi hahaha go sapphic honeys, go!!! There's no romance yet, but I'm betting my money on Sirscha and Saengo being endgame (please?!) I'm insufferable, but I'm self-aware!
Anyway, I don't think this book fell into a "sequel slump," and I actually found that I was more interested and excited as I read this book over the first one! The first 25-30% of this book is still a bit slow to start, but I honestly appreciate a little more context when it comes to the worldbuilding because I genuinely love this world. It's fascinating: the politics, how past wars/conflicts are affecting the present, the magic, legends, myths, secrets unveiled, and more! It's all very easy-to-understand while feeling unique and able to stand on its own.
I was eating up the parallels and mirroring between Sirscha and the Soulless! Gosh, this is what I adore about fantasy, and about any "good versus evil" pairings in fantasy / scifi / adventure / hero's journey stories! Sirscha is trying to get a hold on her new power in soulrendering, and she is earnestly nervous about what she is capable of. I think it's so relatable to wonder what the difference is between you and someone that everyone deems a villain. Where is the line? What decisions distinguish yall? I love that conversation/reflection.
This is a series I'd love to see optioned and adapted for a Freeform, Netflix, or SyFy series! I think it would translate really well. I *need* to see the Dead Wood, where trapped souls are trying to escape the trees!; and Mirrim, the Nuvalyn capital city where only shamans may enter. Those settings are screaming to come to life on screen!
I have the ARC of the next book, so I'm anxious to see how this all ends!
Also unrelated side note: the audiobook narrator pronounces Saengo as "Xanga," which if you know, you know. If you don't, you're too young or you're an anamoly of a millennial or Gen X that did not spend any time online in the 90's or 00's HAHA.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Gore
Moderate: Death and War
Minor: Genocide
queer_bookwyrm's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? No
4.0
4 ⭐ CW: violence, death
Broken Web by Lori M. Lee is book two in the Shamanborn trilogy. This was a good second book for world-building. There was a lot of exposition, which was a little slow, but it added so much to the world and background of the characters. It's definitely rambling up for an epic conclusion.
We pick up with Sirscha and Saengo a few weeks after the events of the previous book. We finally get to explore some new places in Thiy, starting with Nuvali, on their way to the city of Mirrim. This is where we learn more about the war and the beginnings of the Soulless. Lee has some beautiful descriptions that really paint a picture, and also expands the creatures.
We also get to learn more about our antagonists, Queen Meilyr who we love to hate (glad we got more of her); and the Soulless, who is finally awake and visiting Sirscha in her dreams. We learn a lot more about the Soulless 's background and how he became what he is now, revealing that when the people in power write history, it's usually so they can stay in power and not face consequences.
I do like that Sirscha isn't immediately in control of her powers, since it's only been a month. She struggles through the entire book to keep her power at bay while still trying to keep Saengo from succumbing to the Rot. We get a lot more of Theyen, and he's as sassy as ever. Way fewer spider descriptions, so I'm happy about that.
Excited for Calling of Light to come out in a few months!
Broken Web by Lori M. Lee is book two in the Shamanborn trilogy. This was a good second book for world-building. There was a lot of exposition, which was a little slow, but it added so much to the world and background of the characters. It's definitely rambling up for an epic conclusion.
We pick up with Sirscha and Saengo a few weeks after the events of the previous book. We finally get to explore some new places in Thiy, starting with Nuvali, on their way to the city of Mirrim. This is where we learn more about the war and the beginnings of the Soulless. Lee has some beautiful descriptions that really paint a picture, and also expands the creatures.
We also get to learn more about our antagonists, Queen Meilyr who we love to hate (glad we got more of her); and the Soulless, who is finally awake and visiting Sirscha in her dreams. We learn a lot more about the Soulless 's background and how he became what he is now, revealing that when the people in power write history, it's usually so they can stay in power and not face consequences.
I do like that Sirscha isn't immediately in control of her powers, since it's only been a month. She struggles through the entire book to keep her power at bay while still trying to keep Saengo from succumbing to the Rot. We get a lot more of Theyen, and he's as sassy as ever. Way fewer spider descriptions, so I'm happy about that.
Excited for Calling of Light to come out in a few months!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
lizgriffinwords's review
adventurous
dark
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? No
4.5
Greatly enjoyable, with found family themes and a fast pace!! If you like Shadow & Bone, highly recommend this series!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and War
mandkips's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Violence
Moderate: Body horror
obscurepages's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I seriously wanted to just lay down and stare at the ceiling after reading this. This had been incredible. *cries*
Diving into this book, I was excited to pick up where we left off. The first 30% was slow, and there was little to no action (which is a bummer, I think I would have liked more action). However, as you read, you'll find that there's so much details to uncover, a lot of history and magic, and I love that.
Sirscha as main character just has your attention. It was hard to look away from the book because a) she's a compelling character and you want to root for her b) the little plot twists and the details from her perspective catch you off guard and by then you want to keep reading.
As for the other characters, I really wanted to see more Price Meilyk and Saengo and just dive into their characters more. While I didn't exactly get that, there was one character that pleasantly (or oddly?) surprised me--The Soulless. Here, I thought we'd have a villain that needs to be defeated, that's it. But as Sirscha gets to know a little more about The Soulless, I started to realize that there was more to it. There was a part that made me pause because he was starting to make more sense than the supposed "allies" and I was starting to sympathize with him. Don't get me wrong, I still think he's a manipulative jerk. But damn, his backstory and the depth that the author gave him just got to me.
The world-building, wow. I loved reading the first book especially in terms of world-building. But somehow Broken Web was even richer! I loved reading all about their lands, and the history of the kingdoms, the people, their struggles and their conflicts from the past until the current. It was all so riveting. This book reminded me why Fantasy the genre that made me fall in love with reading. Because of this. Because the fictional world pulls you in, because the magic and mythology makes your mind run wild, and because the same time, it also reflects bits and pieces of reality and humanity. I just really loved this.
Also, I have to talk about something and just highlight something in this review: Sirscha is bi. The way I gasped when I saw the author confirm it on IG/Twitter days before I started to read the book. I was super excited, and so elated! Reading the first book, there was a small part of me that thought Sirscha might be queer and that she might have feelings for Saengo. There was just a lot of times that I felt like her love for Saengo is more than friendship. But I discarded that thought because nothing happened between them in the first book. Now though, reading Broken Web, I am honestly living for bi Sirscha. And I've definitely started to ship Sirscha and Saengo. I can't help it *cries*
Overall, Broken Web was a great read! I regret I wasn't able to read this sooner, and I try not to be too harsh on myself about it because I know life happens. But reading this now, wow. In some ways, it felt like a respite. Like it was the book I needed and read at just the right moment.
Exact rating: 4.5
Thank you so, so much to Page Street for sending me an ARC. This, of course, did not affect my overall opinion of the book.
Diving into this book, I was excited to pick up where we left off. The first 30% was slow, and there was little to no action (which is a bummer, I think I would have liked more action). However, as you read, you'll find that there's so much details to uncover, a lot of history and magic, and I love that.
Sirscha as main character just has your attention. It was hard to look away from the book because a) she's a compelling character and you want to root for her b) the little plot twists and the details from her perspective catch you off guard and by then you want to keep reading.
As for the other characters, I really wanted to see more Price Meilyk and Saengo and just dive into their characters more. While I didn't exactly get that, there was one character that pleasantly (or oddly?) surprised me--The Soulless. Here, I thought we'd have a villain that needs to be defeated, that's it. But as Sirscha gets to know a little more about The Soulless, I started to realize that there was more to it. There was a part that made me pause because he was starting to make more sense than the supposed "allies" and I was starting to sympathize with him. Don't get me wrong, I still think he's a manipulative jerk. But damn, his backstory and the depth that the author gave him just got to me.
The world-building, wow. I loved reading the first book especially in terms of world-building. But somehow Broken Web was even richer! I loved reading all about their lands, and the history of the kingdoms, the people, their struggles and their conflicts from the past until the current. It was all so riveting. This book reminded me why Fantasy the genre that made me fall in love with reading. Because of this. Because the fictional world pulls you in, because the magic and mythology makes your mind run wild, and because the same time, it also reflects bits and pieces of reality and humanity. I just really loved this.
Also, I have to talk about something and just highlight something in this review: Sirscha is bi. The way I gasped when I saw the author confirm it on IG/Twitter days before I started to read the book. I was super excited, and so elated! Reading the first book, there was a small part of me that thought Sirscha might be queer and that she might have feelings for Saengo. There was just a lot of times that I felt like her love for Saengo is more than friendship. But I discarded that thought because nothing happened between them in the first book. Now though, reading Broken Web, I am honestly living for bi Sirscha. And I've definitely started to ship Sirscha and Saengo. I can't help it *cries*
Overall, Broken Web was a great read! I regret I wasn't able to read this sooner, and I try not to be too harsh on myself about it because I know life happens. But reading this now, wow. In some ways, it felt like a respite. Like it was the book I needed and read at just the right moment.
Exact rating: 4.5
Thank you so, so much to Page Street for sending me an ARC. This, of course, did not affect my overall opinion of the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, War, Blood, and Gore
Minor: Death of parent
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