Scan barcode
calamitywindpetal's review
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War, Torture, Medical content, Medical trauma, Racism, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, and Blood
Moderate: Pregnancy, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Grief, Abandonment, and Genocide
Minor: Death of parent, Vomit, and Police brutality
anniereads221's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Body horror, Death of parent, Genocide, Gore, Murder, Violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Confinement, and Death
stormywolf's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
3.0
This was kind of a surprise pickup for me. I didn't love the first book, finding it just okay when compared to some of the other books surrounding the same sort of topics, so I wasn't exactly chomping at the bit to return to Rue's world. But when ads described this as the conclusion to a duology—a surprise to me—I figured it would be a good idea to go ahead and finish the series. So I went ahead and re-read Wings of Ebony and jumped straight in on this sequel.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, despite all the problems I had, I'd still definitely recommend this series. I think there are some great messages for younger readers about overcoming adversity and finding inner strength, of forgiveness and mercy, and of learning from the past and moving forward. I can't say I loved everything about these books, but I'm sure others will see things that I didn't and connect to the story in ways I couldn't. There's definitely an audience for this series, it just didn't happen to include me this time. If there's ever another book set in Ghizon, I'll probably check it out, but in the meantime I'll be seeing what other fantasy worlds have in store for me.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, despite all the problems I had, I'd still definitely recommend this series. I think there are some great messages for younger readers about overcoming adversity and finding inner strength, of forgiveness and mercy, and of learning from the past and moving forward. I can't say I loved everything about these books, but I'm sure others will see things that I didn't and connect to the story in ways I couldn't. There's definitely an audience for this series, it just didn't happen to include me this time. If there's ever another book set in Ghizon, I'll probably check it out, but in the meantime I'll be seeing what other fantasy worlds have in store for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Blood, Classism, Death of parent, Death, Genocide, Grief, Medical content, Murder, Racism, Violence, and War
Minor: Torture and Panic attacks/disorders
andromeda_1998's review
adventurous
tense
fast-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
3.25
Ashes of gold is the last book in the wings of ebony duology. I finished Wings of ebony a couple of weeks ago and in my review I made clear why I liked it less then I hoped. For me the fast pacing is the problem. Because of this choice we don’t really get to know the characters and story’s as well as I would have liked.
Characters
The characters are diverse but they aren’t as put together as I would have liked. The pacing of the books is so incredibly fast that we don’t really get to know them. Rue/Jelani is the typical ya main character but then fit into a more modern standard. I cannot speak about the representation, since it’s not my place to judge. I didn’t really like here as a main character since she is a bit whiny, especially in the second book. But even though I find her to be a bit annoying, she isn’t the main problem in the character department. The thing I hated were the two love interests. The love relationships started really superficial. And while there was a chance to get to know them better in the second book, the author didn’t really take it. We get told they love each other, we even get explained why but we don’t see it happen….
Story
The story isn’t bad. It has compelling elements and that’s exactly why it’s so frustrating that everything in this book is done so hastily. It takes away from the story.
Worldbuilding
In the first book the worldbuilding was a bit sloppy. We didn’t really get a worldbuilding. In the second book we get a lot of answers and the worldbuilding is definitely better.
I would recommend this books for readers between 13-17 years old.
Characters
The characters are diverse but they aren’t as put together as I would have liked. The pacing of the books is so incredibly fast that we don’t really get to know them. Rue/Jelani is the typical ya main character but then fit into a more modern standard. I cannot speak about the representation, since it’s not my place to judge. I didn’t really like here as a main character since she is a bit whiny, especially in the second book. But even though I find her to be a bit annoying, she isn’t the main problem in the character department. The thing I hated were the two love interests. The love relationships started really superficial. And while there was a chance to get to know them better in the second book, the author didn’t really take it. We get told they love each other, we even get explained why but we don’t see it happen….
Story
The story isn’t bad. It has compelling elements and that’s exactly why it’s so frustrating that everything in this book is done so hastily. It takes away from the story.
Worldbuilding
In the first book the worldbuilding was a bit sloppy. We didn’t really get a worldbuilding. In the second book we get a lot of answers and the worldbuilding is definitely better.
I would recommend this books for readers between 13-17 years old.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Toxic relationship, Hate crime, Toxic friendship, Genocide, Colonisation, War, Racism, Racial slurs, and Death
More...