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laura_mcloughlin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
jadesarah's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Just to note, there is A LOT of violence in this book. So much.
I'm not even going to try and summarise the plot but know it's rooted in a convolution of power, greed, revenge and survival. And reading it in 2024 brings on feelings of discomfort with what is happening right now.
Here's my word vomit of thoughts and feelings:
-There are some characters who I never really liked or never know how I should feel about them. Not Qadir though, I love him even with his millions of secrets. Also Hakim, my heart hurt for him from the beginning. I need to know more on that front.
- I really love Mazen and Loulie. Not together though. It seems like the author is setting them up romantically and I actively dislike that tbh. Firstly, I think the author took an easy out with Ahmed and it feels like it was used as a tool to just eventually bring Mazen and Loulie together. It just doesn't sit right with me at all. And if M & L are going to get together I feel like it would ruin the next book(s) for me tbh. Also despite all the mess with Aisha I actually thought she and Mazen would be interesting together! I'll have plenty of time to think about it anyway because I don't think the sequel is coming out for another year...*sobs* lol.
- This whole thing of Mazen being a coward feels so forced. It feels like the author is making a point with the whole coward/hero thing and ehh. I get it but ehhh. Why? He's a coward because he doesn't happily murder like many other characters??
- speaking of the murder. It made me extremely uncomfortable. How am I supposed to feel about it other than uncomfortable? How am I supposed to feel about the hypocrisy of it all with some characters? I'm not about to just consume it as "oh well it's just part of fiction!". Maybe that's the point. I've read plenty of violent books but I guess I'm trying be conscious of how I'm consuming it.
- also the whole thing with the sultan and killing his wives? And Mazen's mom being like "I will marry him so he stops!" Nooo lol.
- Anyways I have so many feelings but it's hard to get into them without spoiling but the author constantly had me second guessing my own feelings and didn't give me a second of peace with all her twists and turns and uno reverses then uno reversing those uno reverses and just all around stressing me out. Regardless, whenever I wasn't reading the book I was thinking about it. And on that note I think that's why I gave it 4 stars. Initially I was leaving it at 3.5 because some things happened that just feel like well what was the point in all that just for this to happen?! That along with the fact I'm not keen on a romance between Mazen and Loulie but I'm not sure that's what the author is definitely doing, though it seems highly likely.
Graphic: Child death, Physical abuse, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
kassidyreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Child death and Torture
biobeetle's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Violence and Xenophobia
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
ldenehy's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
ofheartsandaros's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death and Death of parent
Minor: Alcohol
mixed_emoticon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5/5 stars
Highlights:
📚 Trilogy starter
🌌 Based on 1001 Arabian Nights
🪟 Multiple character perspectives
🧭 Adventure
✨ Magic
🔪 Betrayal
💔 Loss
♀️ Woman positive
⚔️ Moderate gore/violence
📖 Possibly better enjoyed as an Ebook (for less distracting ways to define unfamiliar words)
🥲 Sequel doesn't release until February 2024
Moderate: Death and Violence
Minor: Gore and Death of parent
tanandstout13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
Graphic: Death and Violence
kiwij96's review against another edition
- 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
Six of Crows inspired chaptering, with each one written through the perspective of a main character. Heavily inspired by A Thousand and One Nights in the best way. The worldbuilding was gorgeous and descriptive, I loved the characters and the quests. The stories within the story - the history of this fantasy world which shapes and deepens your understanding of characters.
I am one for enjoying when heroic quests go awry and everything goes wrong and good lord did things go wrong for the characters. Many times. Betrayal, heartbreak, loss, pain, old foes, new foes, deceit. It all very much happens in this action-packed story and at times it is brutal.
I am very interested in seeing how this trilogy plays out, however, as this book ended in an interesting way. Not on a cliffhanger as such, but I am looking forward to seeing what happens after this.
Graphic: Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Misogyny, Sexism, Vomit, and Alcohol
theespressoedition's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Gore, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury