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happybirb's review
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
This book has such an interesting premise and summary that you think it can’t possibly be boring. Then you start reading it and it’s about 400+ pages of this kid talking about how he’s a monster, no really, there’s a darkness inside him you really wouldn’t get. I skimmed the last 100 pages because I just wanted to know what happened.
Characters: interesting! I like the three main characters, even despite what I just said about kore. I liked watching them orbit each other and their interactions and relationship growth did feel very natural. We love a polycule, and this one actually seemed healthy so pop off.
Plot: I lost the plot. Not really, bc I kept being beat over the head with it, but my god. The more interesting necromancer plot was relegated to b plot while “I’m trying to get an endorsement for this politician” was 2/3 of the book. Slow. I didn’t really care about it
Writing: overall pretty good, I appreciated the attempt to use the matriarchal society to highlight how stupid some fantasy books sound in regards to female characters, but this was just too heavy handed. It came off very “and now a word from our sponsors: feminism”. I do think there’s an interesting discussion to be had here though about deconstructing thoughts that a matriarchal society would be a wonderland of loving equality, but I don’t think that’s what this book was trying to do.
Side note: the sex scenes were fine. Which honestly is pretty good, they weren’t horrible to read, even if I was jumpscared by the first one bc I didn’t expect this book to have multiple intense sex scenes in it.
Overall: 1.5 stars. I wouldn’t read it again and I wouldn’t recommend it to any one. Might rant about it while drunk at midnight
Characters: interesting! I like the three main characters, even despite what I just said about kore. I liked watching them orbit each other and their interactions and relationship growth did feel very natural.
Plot: I lost the plot. Not really, bc I kept being beat over the head with it, but my god. The more interesting necromancer plot was relegated to b plot while “I’m trying to get an endorsement for this politician” was 2/3 of the book. Slow. I didn’t really care about it
Writing: overall pretty good, I appreciated the attempt to use the matriarchal society to highlight how stupid some fantasy books sound in regards to female characters, but this was just too heavy handed. It came off very “and now a word from our sponsors: feminism”. I do think there’s an interesting discussion to be had here though about deconstructing thoughts that a matriarchal society would be a wonderland of loving equality, but I don’t think that’s what this book was trying to do.
Side note: the sex scenes were fine. Which honestly is pretty good, they weren’t horrible to read, even if I was jumpscared by the first one bc I didn’t expect this book to have multiple intense sex scenes in it.
Overall: 1.5 stars. I wouldn’t read it again and I wouldn’t recommend it to any one. Might rant about it while drunk at midnight
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Alcoholism, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, and Kidnapping
Minor: Drug use, Infertility, Genocide, Pregnancy, Stalking, Medical trauma, and Torture
foreverinastory's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-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
5.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Rebellion for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Damn this was brutal, but I enjoyed every minute of it. Y'all this book is incredibly. There is so much going on and I was thrilled by it. But also there are lots of sex scenes and very graphic ones so if that's not your thing, you probably don't want to read this. There is a shit ton of slow moving action, political intrigue, betrayal etc so you will need to strap in for this read. Think in terms of The Unbroken or The Priory of the Orange Tree.
Silk Fire is an epic fantasy world with a matriarchal society. This story follows Koré, a bastard to his aristocratic father. Koré has had to make his own way in a city that caters to the elite and wealthy. Disowned from his biological family, Koré has worked as a sex worker/courtesan and has made a reputation for himself as one of the best. When the Judge of the city begins to fall ill, Koré knows he'll stop at nothing to keep his father from being appointed the next judge. But a chance encounter with a dying god imbues him with magic-breathing powers and Koré finds himself hunted.
This was so good. I cannot sing enough praises about this book. I loved it so much. I will admit it did take a bit to get familiar with the names and the way this society worked. I wish I knew it was matriarchal from the get go, because once I figured that out so many things made so much more sense!!
There was so much betrayal though and damn it hurt me a little bit. I can't believe this is only a standalone. I have so many questions about what happens next. I loved the journey Koré went on with dealing with all the trauma he's suffered. I want to see more of him being happy. His triad makes me so happy and soft. I want more of it.
Also there be dragons here. You're welcome.
Rep: Mainly BIPOC cast. Polyamorous bisexual male MC, female love interest, achillean male love interest, trans female side character, various queer side characters.
CWs from the author: violence against sex workers, including threatened SA, groping, and one scene of dubcon. Discussions of historical colonization and genocide, cyclical violence. Child neglect, emotional and physical
CWs from me: Emotional abuse, sexual content (there are a lot of sex scenes), toxic relationship, violence, sexism, misandry, sexual assault, classism, child abuse, death, sexual violence, death of parent, murder, sexual harassment, war, violence, alcohol consumption, alcoholism, addiction, generalized trauma. Moderate: fire that doesn't burn, infertility, colonisation, genocide, child neglect. Minor: transphobia/transmisia, queerphobia/queermisia.
Damn this was brutal, but I enjoyed every minute of it. Y'all this book is incredibly. There is so much going on and I was thrilled by it. But also there are lots of sex scenes and very graphic ones so if that's not your thing, you probably don't want to read this. There is a shit ton of slow moving action, political intrigue, betrayal etc so you will need to strap in for this read. Think in terms of The Unbroken or The Priory of the Orange Tree.
Silk Fire is an epic fantasy world with a matriarchal society. This story follows Koré, a bastard to his aristocratic father. Koré has had to make his own way in a city that caters to the elite and wealthy. Disowned from his biological family, Koré has worked as a sex worker/courtesan and has made a reputation for himself as one of the best. When the Judge of the city begins to fall ill, Koré knows he'll stop at nothing to keep his father from being appointed the next judge. But a chance encounter with a dying god imbues him with magic-breathing powers and Koré finds himself hunted.
This was so good. I cannot sing enough praises about this book. I loved it so much. I will admit it did take a bit to get familiar with the names and the way this society worked. I wish I knew it was matriarchal from the get go, because once I figured that out so many things made so much more sense!!
There was so much betrayal though and damn it hurt me a little bit. I can't believe this is only a standalone. I have so many questions about what happens next. I loved the journey Koré went on with dealing with all the trauma he's suffered. I want to see more of him being happy. His triad makes me so happy and soft. I want more of it.
Also there be dragons here. You're welcome.
Rep: Mainly BIPOC cast. Polyamorous bisexual male MC, female love interest, achillean male love interest, trans female side character, various queer side characters.
CWs from the author: violence against sex workers, including threatened SA, groping, and one scene of dubcon. Discussions of historical colonization and genocide, cyclical violence. Child neglect, emotional and physical
CWs from me: Emotional abuse, sexual content (there are a lot of sex scenes), toxic relationship, violence, sexism, misandry, sexual assault, classism, child abuse, death, sexual violence, death of parent, murder, sexual harassment, war, violence, alcohol consumption, alcoholism, addiction, generalized trauma. Moderate: fire that doesn't burn, infertility, colonisation, genocide, child neglect. Minor: transphobia/transmisia, queerphobia/queermisia.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Murder, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, War, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, and Infertility
Minor: Transphobia and Homophobia
elizajaquays's review
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
When I heard bisexual dragon with a poly endgame relationship, I knew I had to pick this book up! It has absolutely gorgeous world-building and a whole cast of morally grey characters trying their best.
This is not a quick-paced action packed read, but rather one where you will need time to immerse yourself into the world. While Koré was quick to throw himself into the action, the book has a slow buildup in tension and I was about halfway in before I was completely hooked and at that point I wasn’t able to put it down.
Silk Fire’s strengths are definitely in the storytelling and the intricate weaving of motivations and goals that shift with every piece of new information. It’s primary weakness would be that the characters feel like cardboard props for the world building for the first third of the novel and the sex scenes manage to be both gratuitous and clinical at the same time.
Overall, I did really enjoy reading it and am grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.
This is not a quick-paced action packed read, but rather one where you will need time to immerse yourself into the world. While Koré was quick to throw himself into the action, the book has a slow buildup in tension and I was about halfway in before I was completely hooked and at that point I wasn’t able to put it down.
Silk Fire’s strengths are definitely in the storytelling and the intricate weaving of motivations and goals that shift with every piece of new information. It’s primary weakness would be that the characters feel like cardboard props for the world building for the first third of the novel and the sex scenes manage to be both gratuitous and clinical at the same time.
Overall, I did really enjoy reading it and am grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Classism, Death of parent, and Sexism
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Violence, Infidelity, Murder, War, and Alcoholism
Minor: Vomit
rheah's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.75
Updating this because I gave it some thoughts: what I thought was me not understanding the book was a common problem amongst reviewers so hm probably more a flaw of the book that a fault of mine. truth was: I struggled to finish this book and had no idea about the world of what was going on but I thought that I was the one not reading it seriously enough. Turns out probably not me. I've made criticism about the matriarchal society in this book before and others have said it better than me but like it was very not enjoyable and missing the point of gender oppression entirely (like you know there's an economic purpose behind it too right?)
And considering how many top negative reviews of this book say something among the lines of revised/remove due to harassment, please leave me alone.
I will mention but not detail the subtle lesbophobia and transmisogyny of the book (as a consequence of the matriarchal society but given the author's twitter not only that).
3 stars is because of my enjoyment of the book but in terms of quality, it's between 3 and four stars.
Silk Fire has a rich and complex world with a matriarchal society. The main character, Koré, is a sex worker (and yes there are multiple explicit sex scenes) who wants to stop his father from gaining political power. He's a fascinating main character who uses his charms to get what he wants but is full of self-loathing and doesn't believe that he deserves anything. I felt like the narration was a bit heavy-handed with his internal dialogue being "I'm a monster" all the time. It was interesting at first to see what kind of development we would get from this but 80% into the book he was still going on every chapter about being a monster.
This is a book that focuses on the plot rather than on the characters and that was a shame because I couldn't follow the plot at all. I'm used to complex fantasy plots, but I felt stupid reading this because sometimes a thing would happen and I had no idea how we got from point A to point B. I had a hard time tracking who was everyone because I was reading on my phone so I didn't feel like flipping to the glossary every time I couldn't remember a side character. I'm not often thrown off by confusing books, I actually enjoy piecing together the worldbuilding but it felt like this time the fault lied with the book rather than with my own understanding of the story.
However, the writing was gorgeous and the description so lush.
This is a common complaint for me but Koré and another character confess their love about 60% into the book and act all in love during the rest of the book (this is about one of the love interest, the main character ends up in a poly relationship) and at no point I knew why they had feelings to each other. I understand Koré falling for the first person who shows him attention but the other way around? Since this is a very plot-heavy book, I couldn't connect to their relationship at all. because I felt like they almost had none (and the book was long).
One last thing, I do not know about the author's intentions and therefore it's not a judgment of values but I strongly dislike seeing a matriarchal society that is just our sexist society but man swapped for woman. every insults used against Koré is a misogynistic insult which made me super uncomfortable to read given how the writing reminds you all the time that he is a man oppressed by society.
And considering how many top negative reviews of this book say something among the lines of revised/remove due to harassment, please leave me alone.
I will mention but not detail the subtle lesbophobia and transmisogyny of the book (as a consequence of the matriarchal society but given the author's twitter not only that).
3 stars is because of my enjoyment of the book but in terms of quality, it's between 3 and four stars.
Silk Fire has a rich and complex world with a matriarchal society. The main character, Koré, is a sex worker (and yes there are multiple explicit sex scenes) who wants to stop his father from gaining political power. He's a fascinating main character who uses his charms to get what he wants but is full of self-loathing and doesn't believe that he deserves anything. I felt like the narration was a bit heavy-handed with his internal dialogue being "I'm a monster" all the time. It was interesting at first to see what kind of development we would get from this but 80% into the book he was still going on every chapter about being a monster.
This is a book that focuses on the plot rather than on the characters and that was a shame because I couldn't follow the plot at all. I'm used to complex fantasy plots, but I felt stupid reading this because sometimes a thing would happen and I had no idea how we got from point A to point B. I had a hard time tracking who was everyone because I was reading on my phone so I didn't feel like flipping to the glossary every time I couldn't remember a side character. I'm not often thrown off by confusing books, I actually enjoy piecing together the worldbuilding but it felt like this time the fault lied with the book rather than with my own understanding of the story.
However, the writing was gorgeous and the description so lush.
This is a common complaint for me but Koré and another character confess their love about 60% into the book and act all in love during the rest of the book (this is about one of the love interest, the main character ends up in a poly relationship) and at no point I knew why they had feelings to each other. I understand Koré falling for the first person who shows him attention but the other way around? Since this is a very plot-heavy book, I couldn't connect to their relationship at all. because I felt like they almost had none (and the book was long).
One last thing, I do not know about the author's intentions and therefore it's not a judgment of values but I strongly dislike seeing a matriarchal society that is just our sexist society but man swapped for woman. every insults used against Koré is a misogynistic insult which made me super uncomfortable to read given how the writing reminds you all the time that he is a man oppressed by society.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexism, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Addiction and Alcoholism
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