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empress_of_the_sun's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
scjsasha's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
3.75
_nika_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
4.75
About the book:
Author: Maiya Ibrahim
Published: 2023
Pages: 488
Genre: YA-Fantasy
Read in English
What you can expect:
-arabian-inspired setting
-magic tea
-a handsome djinni
-a fiercely loyal fmc
-a grumpy beastseer
-themes of grief, betrayal and colonialism
Plot:
Seventeen-year-old Imani, part of her desert cities defensive forces, is known as the djinn-slayer. Through a secret spice tea she gains the ability to manipulate her iron dagger into any weapon she chooses. After her sister runs out into the desert to catch the fleeting horse of their presumed dead brother, she uncovers evidence that her brother was giving away the spice to rebellious forces of another kingdom. Desperate to save her brother she suggests a search and rescue to the cities council. However, the council parnters her up with the more expierenced scout Taha and his cousins. Imani accepts to join her greatest rival on the mission, not having another choice if she wants to bring her brother home safe.
I was invested in the plot from the very beginning. I wanted to learn more about the magic, the setting and the mysterious kingdom waiting beyond the desert. From the beginning of the journey until the end the pacing stays enticing. Even at moments were I expected it to slow down there were always new details being uncovered. The end of course gets even tenser and delivers a thrilling finale.
Characters:
Our female main character is the djinn-slayer Imani, with an affinity for iron. She is fiercly loyal to her family and has a clear moral code. Following her through the story she has to battle fitting the new impressions into her moral code and world view. This makes for a well done inner conflict, that doen't need to rely purely on a love interest.
The male main characters are Taha and Qayn. Taha being Imani's rival through their family history and opposing perspectives. His affinity allows him to see into the minds of different animals and controlling their actions. Imani struggles to understand his motivations through out the whole book as Taha himself is under pressure coming from his father and tends to act unpredicably. Qayn on the other hand is a centuries old djinni, who promisises Imani to assist her with finding her brother in exchange for his life and a ride to the kingdom Imani's brother was last seen in.
I personally really enjoyed the characters and getting to know their indivual motivations. While Imani occasionally made some rash decisions, in my opinion that is to be expected from a 17-year old getting their world view turned upside down. Taha's hot and cold with Imani had me guessing at his motivations along side with her. Qayn's mysterious past had me intruiged from the first meeting. Like Imani I found myself questioning his honesty and true plans for Imani and her brother.
Final Thoughts:
The main selling point of this book for me is the beautiful writing. It is so stunningly executed that I constantly felt in awe of an unreal world. The main themes of grief and in the later half colonialism felt very real yet tastefully done. Especially Imani's struggle to face this other, cruel world outside of her sheltered home resonated with me. The romance plays mostly a smaller part in the plot, however the ending has me excited to see how it will develop in the next book!
All in all I can definitely recommend this to anyone still fond of YA! I can't wait to read the next book and see how Imani deals with everything she's learned.
Published: 2023
Pages: 488
Genre: YA-Fantasy
Read in English
What you can expect:
-arabian-inspired setting
-magic tea
-a handsome djinni
-a fiercely loyal fmc
-a grumpy beastseer
-themes of grief, betrayal and colonialism
Plot:
Seventeen-year-old Imani, part of her desert cities defensive forces, is known as the djinn-slayer. Through a secret spice tea she gains the ability to manipulate her iron dagger into any weapon she chooses. After her sister runs out into the desert to catch the fleeting horse of their presumed dead brother, she uncovers evidence that her brother was giving away the spice to rebellious forces of another kingdom. Desperate to save her brother she suggests a search and rescue to the cities council. However, the council parnters her up with the more expierenced scout Taha and his cousins. Imani accepts to join her greatest rival on the mission, not having another choice if she wants to bring her brother home safe.
I was invested in the plot from the very beginning. I wanted to learn more about the magic, the setting and the mysterious kingdom waiting beyond the desert. From the beginning of the journey until the end the pacing stays enticing. Even at moments were I expected it to slow down there were always new details being uncovered. The end of course gets even tenser and delivers a thrilling finale.
Characters:
Our female main character is the djinn-slayer Imani, with an affinity for iron. She is fiercly loyal to her family and has a clear moral code. Following her through the story she has to battle fitting the new impressions into her moral code and world view. This makes for a well done inner conflict, that doen't need to rely purely on a love interest.
The male main characters are Taha and Qayn. Taha being Imani's rival through their family history and opposing perspectives. His affinity allows him to see into the minds of different animals and controlling their actions. Imani struggles to understand his motivations through out the whole book as Taha himself is under pressure coming from his father and tends to act unpredicably. Qayn on the other hand is a centuries old djinni, who promisises Imani to assist her with finding her brother in exchange for his life and a ride to the kingdom Imani's brother was last seen in.
I personally really enjoyed the characters and getting to know their indivual motivations. While Imani occasionally made some rash decisions, in my opinion that is to be expected from a 17-year old getting their world view turned upside down. Taha's hot and cold with Imani had me guessing at his motivations along side with her. Qayn's mysterious past had me intruiged from the first meeting. Like Imani I found myself questioning his honesty and true plans for Imani and her brother.
Final Thoughts:
The main selling point of this book for me is the beautiful writing. It is so stunningly executed that I constantly felt in awe of an unreal world. The main themes of grief and in the later half colonialism felt very real yet tastefully done. Especially Imani's struggle to face this other, cruel world outside of her sheltered home resonated with me. The romance plays mostly a smaller part in the plot, however the ending has me excited to see how it will develop in the next book!
All in all I can definitely recommend this to anyone still fond of YA! I can't wait to read the next book and see how Imani deals with everything she's learned.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Racism, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Colonisation
Minor: War
kbairbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The growth of the main character was perhaps the most authentic and well done I've seen in a long time. I actually really liked the fierce and wise beyond her years younger sister. There were a fair variety of intense triggers so readers watch out! I'm very interested to see where the rest of the trilogy takes us.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
red981456's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
nitha_ni's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
3.5
louiselee3396's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.0
alluvia's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
anna4's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Well..I'm glad it's over tbh.
It started off well (as in: the first 2 or 3 chapters were actually good) with a promising setting, but then it went quickly downhill for me and unfortunately, after almost 500 pages, the book didn't really recover from that.
I wasn't really sure if I am slowly but surely outgrowing YA and maybe that's why the characters didn't work for me, but I do think the characters were actually that annoying. Mainly the main character, that is.
Imani was really..exhausting. Considering her status in her home city and having earned the name "Djinni Slayer", it's really mind blowing how naive and incredibly stubborn she is.
I feel like every conversation she was having with someone was basically a fight. Her relationship with her sister (Amira) was a back and forth of heartfelt conversations and fighting over their missing brother or Amira's behaviour.
Similar situation with Imari and Taha. Don't know which one was actually more annoying.
Do Imani & Taha like each other ? Do they hate each other ? I wouldn't know. One chapter they were cute to each other, then they had a fight. Another chapter they kissed, then one did a 180 and tried to kill the other. All of this paired with repetitive monologues of "I feel he likes me? Do I like him? No it's Taha after all, he's the bad one here".
I'm also not sure why we were introduced to Qayn, because, as interesting he maybe is, he was barely there. I guess it's for the inevitable love triangle, which..no thank you.
The book was also at least 50pages too long. I don't think all those words were necessary.
Will not be continuing the series.
It started off well (as in: the first 2 or 3 chapters were actually good) with a promising setting, but then it went quickly downhill for me and unfortunately, after almost 500 pages, the book didn't really recover from that.
I wasn't really sure if I am slowly but surely outgrowing YA and maybe that's why the characters didn't work for me, but I do think the characters were actually that annoying. Mainly the main character, that is.
Imani was really..exhausting. Considering her status in her home city and having earned the name "Djinni Slayer", it's really mind blowing how naive and incredibly stubborn she is.
I feel like every conversation she was having with someone was basically a fight. Her relationship with her sister (Amira) was a back and forth of heartfelt conversations and fighting over their missing brother or Amira's behaviour.
Similar situation with Imari and Taha. Don't know which one was actually more annoying.
Do Imani & Taha like each other ? Do they hate each other ? I wouldn't know. One chapter they were cute to each other, then they had a fight. Another chapter they kissed, then one did a 180 and tried to kill the other. All of this paired with repetitive monologues of "I feel he likes me? Do I like him? No it's Taha after all, he's the bad one here".
I'm also not sure why we were introduced to Qayn, because, as interesting he maybe is, he was barely there. I guess it's for the inevitable love triangle, which..no thank you.
The book was also at least 50pages too long. I don't think all those words were necessary.
Will not be continuing the series.