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manaledi's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I wish I remembered more of book one because without being tied in to the characters and their relationships there wasn't quite enough here to really get invested. It's a great world and all the plot elements are well done, I just felt lost on the emotional backstory. Also weird pet peeve but it bothered me how often the book referred to Kola as boy for someone clearly old enough to lead.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, War, and Violence
Minor: Physical abuse, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, and Fire/Fire injury
mattiedancer's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-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? Yes
4.25
Writing: 4.75⭐️/5
The novel started off a bit rough, but it quickly cleaned up into some very clean and clear prose. She handles complex plot points with precision and foreshadows the progression clearly enough that you’re not caught off guard, even if you are still surprised.
Characters: 4.25⭐️/5
I felt like the characters suffered a bit when compared to the first novel. Now, don’t misunderstand me, the characters were still very well-written and well-developed, but they lacked a bit of development that I remember being so prevalent in the first book. Some of the twists and turns also felt a bit fast, happening without understanding the characterization that forced or pushed them in that direction.
Plot: 4.25⭐️/5
The overarching plot of the world and the novel is still stunning. I applaud how Bowen weaves serious topics with fantastical elements, maintaining levity at the right moments, and depth at others. Mostly, I felt the ending was a touch rushed in several spots. Again, I wanted a bit more time to understand the development, whereas everything felt so rushed towards a specific ending that certain sections definitely felt a touch forced. Overall, an enjoyable end to a series though, even if it was not perfectly happy.
Post-Reading Rating: 4⭐️/5
**Spoilers**
I don’t want to hate that the characters didn’t end up immediately together, but I do. Felt like a bit of a forced ending to have them not together.
Who Should Read This?
- Those who read the first book in the series
- Fans of The Little Mermaid
- Fantasy readers
- Young adult readers 14+
- Fans of mythology-inspired stories
Final Rating: 4.25⭐️/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking, Animal death, Violence, Colonisation, Death, Fire/Fire injury, War, Mental illness, Murder, Slavery, Stalking, Confinement, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
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