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3.23 AVERAGE
3.23 AVERAGE
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book was a truly nice fantasy novel, a blend between politics, dark magic and thrilling action. Give it up for Tochi Onyebuchi for creating such an interesting world, one where the sins of us humans can be materialized into creatures “made of night” and to have a special group of people who can kill these beasts and make people’s sins their own in the form of tattoos scattered across their bodies.
Despite the fantastical theme to this book, I still felt that it was almost a mirror image of the real world, where the wealthy bathe in their riches and the poor scramble to live another day, and yet the rich depends on the poor and vice versa, in their own ways. There are realistic elements to this book and it makes it all the more interesting to imagine it coming to life. I’m definitely looking forward to exploring more of this world. The second book promises more thrilling fights and depth to this realm of sin.
Despite the fantastical theme to this book, I still felt that it was almost a mirror image of the real world, where the wealthy bathe in their riches and the poor scramble to live another day, and yet the rich depends on the poor and vice versa, in their own ways. There are realistic elements to this book and it makes it all the more interesting to imagine it coming to life. I’m definitely looking forward to exploring more of this world. The second book promises more thrilling fights and depth to this realm of sin.
adventurous
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I definitely recommend the audiobook. The accent of the narrator makes it feel like a story around the fire rather than a novel. It felt like there were too many plotlines intertwined within the story but I wasnt sure who was trying to ally with who or who the actual enemy was. The decisions were seemingly questionable because I forgot that the MC was only 17. I enjoyed the introduction into the Nigerian influence and more exploration will be needed at a later date.
Honestly, this really felt like the draft of a novel. I think the plot was there but not executed well, and moved a bit too conveniently. It felt like we were being told what was happening more so than experiencing it. Also, I cannot believe in any way the relationships between any character in this novel, except for Taj and Omar. It seems like once we reached the palace the story just kinda fell apart and was a skeleton of what the author wanted it to be. As a result, the stronger characters began to quickly fall flat, and anyone new who was introduced just didn’t get developed at all. In short, I think this book fell well below where I wanted it to be, which is a shame because I feel like it has a lot of potential.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
very confusing and rushed ending
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Genre: Fantasy, Magic
Content Warnings: Violence, blood/gore, murder, racism, classism, oppression, drug use, loss of loved ones, and police brutality. Mention of forced sterilization and abandonment.
A few years ago, when I first joined Booktok, I saw a lot of people hyping this book up. And yet, like so many books I’ve bought, I placed it on my shelves and forgot about it. Having joined the #ReadYourOwnAdventure Tiktok readathon I’ve been looking through my bookshelves to see what books would fit the prompt I have. As this book is a Nigerian-influenced fantasy…it fit my “Non-Western Inspired World” prompt perfectly.
I found the lore in this book completely fascinating. Imagine a world where any sin you had could be extracted and taken into someone else. Instead of being constantly weighed down by the guilt of your own sins, you could simply have it removed and placed on a complete stranger. Or imagine being that aki [sin-eater] and as soon as signs appeared that you possessed the power of a sin-eater you were cast out of your home and community and forced to take on the sins of strangers in order to have money to survive?
While I loved the lore within this book I had trouble believing in the romantic subplot that was introduced between Taj and the princess. Can feelings develop after merely seeing someone you find attractive or having a short conversation with them? Of course, but the level and speed at which Taj develops feelings for the princess just didn’t fit for me. I also felt like they introduced a lot of characters, to Taj, but didn’t really give them any depth or story for us to feel a true connection to them.
Although the lore was fascinating, and I would love to read more about it, the way the rest of the story felt very flat to me…I’m not sure if I’ll pick up the next book to read. The beginning of this book felt like it had a good speed, introducing us to Taj as well as the lore, but the romance subplot didn’t feel fully fleshed out and the ending felt extremely rushed and forced. I feel like if they’d allowed this book to be 100-200 pages longer they could have fleshed out so much more of the story and perhaps then it all would have fit well together.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Racism, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Murder, Classism
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Abandonment
This was a really great story, but I found that I wanted more from it in terms of description and introduction to this world. It was great, I just don't think it went far enough.
I have to say I'm a bit surprised at all the negative reviews.
I do see how the first two acts were a little slow, but I loved the dynamics between the characters and the intricacies of the lore. Yes it was a little predictable but I didn't really mind that at all. I thought the story was excited and the last act really pulls it all together for the sequal.
I did listen to this book, which probably helps a lot. The narrator does an amazing job and it really feels like the main character is telling you this story.
I do see how the first two acts were a little slow, but I loved the dynamics between the characters and the intricacies of the lore. Yes it was a little predictable but I didn't really mind that at all. I thought the story was excited and the last act really pulls it all together for the sequal.
I did listen to this book, which probably helps a lot. The narrator does an amazing job and it really feels like the main character is telling you this story.
adventurous
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes