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dayday_reads's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
sad
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
4.5
This was a surprise read for me. In part because YA isn't my usual genre but also because I struggled to really like/enjoy the male MC, Malik. He was not a bad character by any means, he was just a bit frustrating to me at times. That's just me though .... in the end, I really came to root for him and his character growth. I loved the female MC (Karina) even though she was a selfish, spoiled brat at times. I thought that she experienced quite a bit of growth and developed in a real way.
Pros: the world building was beautiful and immersive. The characters were so fascinating and seemed SO real to me. The anxiety rep was so on point and although I've never had a migraine, I felt like I was right there with Karina when she was experiencing them. The plot was also very interesting and although I knew what it was SUPPOSED to be about, I was invested in how the characters got there. The family dynamics were great and felt really real and sad at the same time. Also ... can I just say that Hyena was such a fun addition that I didn't really "get" until the characters were clued in too. LOL
CONS:
I would've liked to learn more about the magic system and how it works. I feel like the magic was always present but it was so behind the scenes and we didn't get full understanding of how it works. Also, it would've been nice to learn more about the Alahari family, why The Kestrel basically shut out her daughter and what the heck is this nkra thing really. That part just left me wanting more. Also, as much I came to love Malik, his overwhelming anxiety and panic attacks made parts of the book super frustrating and dragged on.
Overall, it was a wonderful book. I enjoyed it, the second half of the book was better than the first and I was drawn in at that point. The end was a nice set up for the second book and I'm here for it.
Pros: the world building was beautiful and immersive. The characters were so fascinating and seemed SO real to me. The anxiety rep was so on point and although I've never had a migraine, I felt like I was right there with Karina when she was experiencing them. The plot was also very interesting and although I knew what it was SUPPOSED to be about, I was invested in how the characters got there. The family dynamics were great and felt really real and sad at the same time. Also ... can I just say that Hyena was such a fun addition that I didn't really "get" until the characters were clued in too. LOL
CONS:
I would've liked to learn more about the magic system and how it works. I feel like the magic was always present but it was so behind the scenes and we didn't get full understanding of how it works. Also, it would've been nice to learn more about the Alahari family, why The Kestrel basically shut out her daughter and what the heck is this nkra thing really. That part just left me wanting more. Also, as much I came to love Malik, his overwhelming anxiety and panic attacks made parts of the book super frustrating and dragged on.
Overall, it was a wonderful book. I enjoyed it, the second half of the book was better than the first and I was drawn in at that point. The end was a nice set up for the second book and I'm here for it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Child death, Grief, and Racism
effy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I really enjoyed this book as Brown has created a really rich world that you feel completely transported to. The magic system feels a little unclear in places but that is likely due to the fact that our main characters don't feel too clear on its mechanics.
I really enjoyed the romance as both characters had to fight their growing attraction whilst also knowing that they needed to kill the other.
An incredibly strong start to a series which leaves the reader feeling satisfied despite knowing that the story is not over yet.
I really enjoyed the romance as both characters had to fight their growing attraction whilst also knowing that they needed to kill the other.
An incredibly strong start to a series which leaves the reader feeling satisfied despite knowing that the story is not over yet.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Violence, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Gore, Death, Child death, and Body horror
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