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lois_aguda's review against another edition
- 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
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
internalnonsense's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It just did not continue the story or the character's stories in a way I enjoyed or engaged with. Some characters are set back to square one, some are just pushed to the side, and others are jerked along as the plot requires. They introduced a lot of new characters who, with the exception of two more plot-relevant ones, blended together. The world building expanded some, but there wasn't a moment where I felt it really built from what's been established, as much as playing with new elements. One piece of backstory actively ruined a pretty essential element of the conflict for me. That all said, I do see the vision, the why of the overall story, and I can see of how it can arrive at the same place in a way that really satisfies.
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual content, and Death of parent
stonebm's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gore, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
rwalker101's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Xenophobia
Minor: Death of parent
lj_parkinson's review against another edition
- 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
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
- 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
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.
Moderate: Death, Genocide, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent
nebraskanwriter's review against another edition
- 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
2.25
But that did not happen.
I tried so many times to like this book but there was one point where I almost DNF’d it because I thought I wouldn’t be able to get through it. I muscled on however and was sadly disappointed by the result.
The story picks right back up where we left off at the end of the first book where Zelie and the others have brought magic back to the world. What ensues in this book is them trying to overthrow the monarchy and the monarchy trying to crush the maji. Now that magic is back, not only are the maji more powerful but royals and other people of power in the monarchy have magic which I thought was very interesting. I liked seeing this new side of magic that even the maji were baffled at. There are battles periodically through out the book, power struggles with Amari and the maji leaders, inner struggles of Zelie as she comes to grips with what happened in the first book and other minor subplots for majority of the novel. The climax happens the last 40 pages or so of the book with a twist ending that made little to no sense.
I know the author wants to make the reader interested in the next book but all the meandering and floundering around of the plot before the main battle, Zelie’s continual and constant despisement for Amari and a few other things just rubbed me the wrong way made me think twice about my rating. I was going to give this 3 stars but thinking back on my reading experience, I really did not enjoy it as much as I would have liked to.
The rich world of the maji is still beautiful and stunning, all the characters are more or less fleshed out and the author does a great job of balancing three perspectives as well as helping us understand and sympathize with even the most twisted of characters. Sadly, the last 40 pages or so of the book finally reaching its climax just could not carry or save the other 364 pages of this book.
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Sexual content
brynn_books's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood, Death of parent, and War