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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, War, Injury/Injury detail
slow-paced
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
Beautiful and powerful story. Loved the dual POV of Rawiya and Nour's stories and how similar their paths were in very different times.
Pretty fantastical- but beautifully written and what a story. Would recommend to trumpeters who hate Refugees cause wow this really illuminates their stories. I really loved this book.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
adventurous
emotional
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
This follows two plotlines in different timelines - Rawiya's in the 1200s, and Nour's in 2011. I think the framing of this is well done; the storytelling aspect (and travel route/life journey parallels) of Rawiya's life made it a good parallel to Nour's story. But if you're going to do parallel plotlines, they should be well-balanced! Unfortunately I was never very interested in the historical plotline, and that seems common looking at reviews. I think it would have made a fine fantasy book on its own, but compared to the emotional depth of Nour's story it suffered.
I like Joukhadar's writing a lot though. It's very engaging and lyrical, but (usually) not overly so. We don't ever get that much information about the broader conflict in Syria or the middle east, which is an interesting but understandable choice. Our narrator is a child, who wouldn't have a full understanding. And though the places in this story are very specific, the lack of information about the conflict serves to broaden this into a story about the general refugee plight, rather than just the Syrian refugee plight. I think it's really well crafted.
Loved the synesthesia representation, too.
Loved the synesthesia representation, too.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Definitely slow at spots but finally sat down and read through the last 100+ pages this morning and I mean it definitely is heartbreaking and hopeful and beautiful. And two groups of characters going on the same journey through the world centuries apart?? I ate that up. Several tears shed
In the end, love and family, THATS ALL THAT MATTERS!!!