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brooketreads'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
5.0
This book was fast paced and had me gripped from that opening chapter with Serapio. Multiple times throughout the book I said, holy sh*t (out loud). It was all a build up and the ending went very fast. I didn’t mind the speedy ending. Would I have loved and been happy to read a longer ending, yes. But, do I feel like it lessened my feelings, no. I enjoyed this so much I want to re-read and take notes. And this is something I don’t do anymore since the time I re-read the first Harry Potter book for a book club and took 14 pages of notes…front and back. It was a very, I have a problem moment.
Anywayyyyy, don’t read beyond this if you don’t want spoilers:
The storm on the sea and the mutiny…!!! That dang guy that Xiala saved in the water, then he lied and tried to have her killed… I hate that guy.
When Naranpa is getting taken from the tower!!!! I was hot! I wanted to fight someone. Naranpa’s talk with her brother was very heart rending.
Little note on the author:
Roanhorse was adopted out of her culture, her birth mother was Ohkay Owingeh. I did read an article from The Mixed Space about controversy surrounding the authors heritage and use of cultural stories. I still loved the book. I just want to be transparent.
Graphic: Body horror and Child abuse
Moderate: Blood
Minor: War
blakeandbooks'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Kidnapping, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Torture, and Body horror
Minor: Sexual content
lilacs_book_bower'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
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Misogyny, Murder, Self harm, Classism, Death, Child abuse, Suicide, Violence, Gore, Abandonment, and Alcohol
casdelvo'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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, and Body horror
Minor: Death of parent, Alcohol, Homophobia, Animal death, and Confinement
samseyz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Genocide, Murder, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol and Animal death
Minor: Kidnapping
rkfmiller's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Body horror, Death of parent, Violence, and Gore
ashley_mrose530'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
5.0
Naranpa was interesting, though I wasn't as invested in her side of the story as I was in Xiala and Serapio's. But her struggle to change the priests from within while also being stabbed in the back by those she trusted most was fascinating, if a little predictable. I also liked her dynamic with her bodyguard and I wish we got more of that relationship.
And then when everything came together at the end, it was beautiful and terrible at the same time. I can't wait to see what happens in the next one.
Graphic: Child abuse
jaynovara'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, and Death
Moderate: Animal death, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death of parent, Self harm, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Torture
Minor: Religious bigotry, Cursing, and Sexual violence
discarded_dust_jacket'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Drug use, Murder, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Gore, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, and Violence
Moderate: Classism and Racism
Minor: Trafficking, Sexual content, Suicide, Sexual violence, and Slavery
trips's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I'm happy I finally finished the book, but the plot left me wanting so much more. The world was lush and exciting, I loved the introductions to all of the characters but then...it felt like I was reading a lead up to a climax that didn't totally happen. I understand this is a series, but some of the events in this book felt completely unnecessary, and the plot probably could've been condensed for better flow.
Serapio's backstory bits were a bit to tell and no show for me, and I felt like we didn't get enough points from his POV in the current plot and instead we got a few chapters with Okoa. Okoa is perfectly fine character, but his chapters were the snooziest and the tell instead of show of them all I felt.
Xiala's great though, definitely the best character.
In any case, TL;DR I wanted to like this book because it has a great setting, but the plot just did nothing for me and left me without feeling like I got a whole lot out of it.
Graphic: Child abuse and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol and Blood