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storyorc's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
A thoughtful and detailed political landscape playing host to lovely characters with tragic yet believable flaws.
I especially enjoyed that the queernorm elements of the setting were different depending on the culture - not only nice but worldbuilding too! Kofi knowingly nicknaming Firuz they-Firuz after the Dilmuni style of introduction that was foreign to him was such a dad joke that it instantly established his character and the relationship he would take with Firuz. The differences in gender healthcare between their home and Qilwa provoke a whole subplot with their transitioning brother. Jamnia leverages their worldbuilding very elegantly to add depth.
Blood magic is described with a cool level of detail too. I was not surprised to learn Jamnia is a neuroscientist. The chair they use in training reminded me of the Guardian's techniques in NK Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy and brought all the same agonising over whether it can be justified again. I would have liked the magical mechanics we were taught throughout the book to have played a bigger role in the final confrontation, however. The technical aspects of that confrontation seemed to go so far beyond what we had learned that they felt a bit deus-ex-machina'ed to me. I also couldn't help wishing Firuz could havetried Kofi's ideas, via a less murderous methodology. He was groping at a beautiful combination of their practices, only for the story to relax into the playing God/man-gone-too-far trope that felt oddly anti-intellectual for such an intelligent protagonist. But perhaps I'm being naïve .
Despite the cruelties in the setting, this book felt very safe and kind thanks to its main character. They spend most of the narrative working themselves to the bone for their community. It is nice, but I was most interested in them in the moments they were questioning their assumptions about blood magic, their training, and their culture's complicated history. Afsoneh, on the other hand, kept me guessing whether she would be able to control herself or become a real problem. I might have found the story more engaging from her perspective but I don't at all regret listening to this version.
I especially enjoyed that the queernorm elements of the setting were different depending on the culture - not only nice but worldbuilding too! Kofi knowingly nicknaming Firuz they-Firuz after the Dilmuni style of introduction that was foreign to him was such a dad joke that it instantly established his character and the relationship he would take with Firuz. The differences in gender healthcare between their home and Qilwa provoke a whole subplot with their transitioning brother. Jamnia leverages their worldbuilding very elegantly to add depth.
Blood magic is described with a cool level of detail too. I was not surprised to learn Jamnia is a neuroscientist. The chair they use in training reminded me of the Guardian's techniques in NK Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy and brought all the same agonising over whether it can be justified again. I would have liked the magical mechanics we were taught throughout the book to have played a bigger role in the final confrontation, however. The technical aspects of that confrontation seemed to go so far beyond what we had learned that they felt a bit deus-ex-machina'ed to me. I also couldn't help wishing Firuz could have
Despite the cruelties in the setting, this book felt very safe and kind thanks to its main character. They spend most of the narrative working themselves to the bone for their community. It is nice, but I was most interested in them in the moments they were questioning their assumptions about blood magic, their training, and their culture's complicated history. Afsoneh, on the other hand, kept me guessing whether she would be able to control herself or become a real problem. I might have found the story more engaging from her perspective but I don't at all regret listening to this version.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Transphobia
hendrixpants's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Transphobia, Xenophobia, and Medical content
theirgracegrace's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- 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
4.25
A powerful and heart-wrenching debut from Naseem Jamnia. Firuz is trying to raise their family of refugees from a nearby country under military occupation in the free city of Qilwa. However, to make ends meet, they have to hide their blood magic abilities while working in the one free hospital in the city. As they do, they discover a mysterious plot is rising, and only blood magic could be to blame. An incredible story from a queer-normative world that really speaks to the southwest Asian immigrant experience. The twist is one I did not see coming in the slightest, and the ending gave me hope for the characters' broken world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria, Genocide, Child death, Colonisation, Death, Self harm, Torture, Body horror, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Racism, Blood, Child abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Medical content, War, Bullying, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Police brutality, Classism, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Vomit and Transphobia
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