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lois_aguda's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- 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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood, Murder, and War
Moderate: Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
thecourtofreading's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Child death, Genocide, and Blood
stonebm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- 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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gore, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
starryorbit12's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Blood, and Murder
tree_hugging_ginge's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Blood, and Kidnapping
lj_parkinson's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
natakat's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Unlike a lot of people, I went into this book with fairly low expectations because I had seen some negative reviews before I picked it up. I still wanted to give it a try but in the end I found that it was not as good as good as the first. I will parrot every other reviewer and say that the characters just weren't the same; they were flat and annoying in this installation. Each protagonist lives in their own bubble and they completely stop communicating with and working with each other.
The progression in the magic system was cool, and I think having limitations on the overwhelming power that is unleashed here is a good thing, I am not completely sure why the centers don't have similar limitations (I guess maybe they do since they have to suck the life out of Titans to gain power, but our center antagonist just doesn't care and sacrifices them all).
I found the dynamic of leadership within the Lyika utterly confusing. I had to keep checking on whose chapter I was reading because the group kept flip flopping between taking orders from Zelie and Amari (who led this group before they showed up anyway?)
I felt that the relationship between Zelie and Roen was forced and didn't really add anything to the story; and Zelie's connection with Inan just annoys me since it is so obviously an infatuation and there are so many reasons it shouldn't happen.
I had mixed feelings on the ending. At first I was annoyed that this new element was introduced, thinking this really could have just ended as a duology and that throwing it in at the very end was cheap. On the other hand, it was hinted at a little that another plan was in motion while everyone was distracted with this poorly thought out war and the nature of the attack reignites the connection to the black experience (I am NOT own voices so please correct me if I missed the mark) which was completely lost for the majority of the book.
This book was very fast-paced and action packed. It was battle after battle and it seemed like neither side took time to properly plan anything out, so many, many people died. I couldn't even feel anything when characters died because I didn't have a chance to make a connection with them before Adeyemi killed them off.
I am having trouble choosing between 2 or 3 stars; I will go on to read book 3, but I felt like I only continued this book because of that- it felt a little like a chore even though some parts were enjoyable.
The progression in the magic system was cool, and I think having limitations on the overwhelming power that is unleashed here is a good thing, I am not completely sure why the centers don't have similar limitations
I found the dynamic of leadership within the Lyika utterly confusing. I had to keep checking on whose chapter I was reading because the group kept flip flopping between taking orders from Zelie and Amari (who led this group before they showed up anyway?)
I felt that the relationship between Zelie and Roen was forced and didn't really add anything to the story; and Zelie's connection with Inan just annoys me since it is so obviously an infatuation and there are so many reasons it shouldn't happen.
I had mixed feelings on the ending. At first I was annoyed that this new element was introduced, thinking this really could have just ended as a duology and that throwing it in at the very end was cheap. On the other hand, it was hinted at a little that another plan was in motion while everyone was distracted with this poorly thought out war and the nature of the attack reignites the connection to the black experience (I am NOT own voices so please correct me if I missed the mark) which was completely lost for the majority of the book.
This book was very fast-paced and action packed. It was battle after battle and it seemed like neither side took time to properly plan anything out, so many, many people died. I couldn't even feel anything when characters died because I didn't have a chance to make a connection with them before Adeyemi killed them off.
I am having trouble choosing between 2 or 3 stars; I will go on to read book 3, but I felt like I only continued this book because of that- it felt a little like a chore even though some parts were enjoyable.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Genocide, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent
aviery's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Genocide, Racism, Blood, Medical content, and Medical trauma
beingsimba's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
3.0
Children of Virtue and Vengeance is a frustrating read and I am of two minds of this book.
First and foremost, the themes are so important. The larger commentary on loss/grief, oppression, and appropriation are so well done and really landed emotional blows and fostered reflection.
From a pure entertainment perspective though, this book was a disappointment. While I could empathize with many of the characters, I didn't like any of them. The romance felt forced. And the plot was so circular that by the end of the novel most things were in the same state as the beginning. It took until the Epilogue for a spark of interest in reading the finale of this series.
If you really loved the first book, I would imagine you will be just as satisfied with this installment. But the YA-ness of this book really bummed me out. I was hoping to enjoy it more than I did.
First and foremost, the themes are so important. The larger commentary on loss/grief, oppression, and appropriation are so well done and really landed emotional blows and fostered reflection.
From a pure entertainment perspective though, this book was a disappointment. While I could empathize with many of the characters, I didn't like any of them. The romance felt forced. And the plot was so circular that by the end of the novel most things were in the same state as the beginning. It took until the Epilogue for a spark of interest in reading the finale of this series.
If you really loved the first book, I would imagine you will be just as satisfied with this installment. But the YA-ness of this book really bummed me out. I was hoping to enjoy it more than I did.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Genocide, Violence, Xenophobia, and Grief
ohkmurr's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.5
Heck yeah, screw the system! The way this series plays with the "product of one's environment" outlook will always appeal to me. I especially love that we get more Roën content in this one. He and Zélie have such a fun dynamic. It did take me longer to get through this book than the first. There's not much I can say about what I didn't love without spoiling it, so I'll just say there seems to be a tonal disconnect between this book and the first one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Genocide, Hate crime, Racism, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Racial slurs
Racial slurs are specific to the universe.