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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
3.5 stars.
This is a hard one to review. I liked the premise, though it made my stomach hurt thinking about the lack of choice all those women had. I liked the characters. The pacing & storyline we're interesting enough to keep me racing through the story--I read it pretty much in one sitting.
There are problems though. So many ideas, but nothing was fleshed out as much as it could have been. If the author had spent more time on the details instead of giving us surface, this story could have been amazing. So amazing, because the premise & storyline we're very interesting. It just needed MORE. There's a reason most fantasy books are long. The insta-love with Kali & Devon really just doesn't make sense because it wasn't given enough attention. She's never seen a man before, but she just instantly is attracted to him? That I could maybe buy--but it happened with hardly any real details. They cared too deeply for each other far too quickly without enough real action. The myriad of characters that added interest to the story, all the different women in the palace, could have been written so amazingly if more time had been taken with them.
This is a hard one to review. I liked the premise, though it made my stomach hurt thinking about the lack of choice all those women had. I liked the characters. The pacing & storyline we're interesting enough to keep me racing through the story--I read it pretty much in one sitting.
There are problems though. So many ideas, but nothing was fleshed out as much as it could have been. If the author had spent more time on the details instead of giving us surface, this story could have been amazing. So amazing, because the premise & storyline we're very interesting. It just needed MORE. There's a reason most fantasy books are long. The insta-love with Kali & Devon really just doesn't make sense because it wasn't given enough attention. She's never seen a man before, but she just instantly is attracted to him? That I could maybe buy--but it happened with hardly any real details. They cared too deeply for each other far too quickly without enough real action. The myriad of characters that added interest to the story, all the different women in the palace, could have been written so amazingly if more time had been taken with them.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.95/5
this was very close to a four (im really stating the obvious out here). it was really good, loved the characters and the story! the reason why its NOT a four is because it was confusing at times?? i dont know i probably thing that because i was reading it way too late for it to be healthy (don’t we all). the book was super fast paced though and the chapters were really short!! overall, read this book but unlike me, don’t finish it at 2am (or do because when do we not at this point).
this was very close to a four (im really stating the obvious out here). it was really good, loved the characters and the story! the reason why its NOT a four is because it was confusing at times?? i dont know i probably thing that because i was reading it way too late for it to be healthy (don’t we all). the book was super fast paced though and the chapters were really short!! overall, read this book but unlike me, don’t finish it at 2am (or do because when do we not at this point).
I really wanted to like this book. The concept was really interesting- a leader who takes on a new wife and the others can fight to take on the wives number. But overall I just couldn’t get into it.
I can’t quite put my finger on it but maybe it was too much going on, all the bickering/fighting women, or just the men in general that I didn’t take to.
Overall it was kind of eh. I don’t really want to continue the series which is disappointing.
I can’t quite put my finger on it but maybe it was too much going on, all the bickering/fighting women, or just the men in general that I didn’t take to.
Overall it was kind of eh. I don’t really want to continue the series which is disappointing.
Really lovely, well written story. The heroine is neither a simpering idiot, nor is she some mouthy tomboy type, but somewhere in the middle (like most of us) The religion is beautifully and simply presented, without ever being overwhelming. I loved it.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I can't pinpoint the one exact big thing that's wrong with the book. It's more like there's a hundred little things.
I can't quite remember what possessed me to buy this book, given that YA fantasy is not my thing. Since I have it, I might as well read it. If I'm not mistaken, this is the author’s debut novel and the opening of a four-book series.
We follow an orphan girl called Kali, who grows up in a remote temple of sisterhood. One day, a rajah comes to claim girls to be his courtesans and one will have the questionable honour of becoming his 100th and final wife.
Guess what, of course our main girl gets picked, despite being plagued by a mysterious illness. The rajah orders his very handsome and very unprofessional captain to be Kali’s guard, and an insta-love romance ensues.
But wait, there's more! Kali has to fight for her right to party - eh, marry the rajah (who is at least twice her age, by the way - a fact that is not once mentioned in the story). All the courtesans who wish to take her place as a wife may challenge her to fight to the death.
And to complicate matters, mysterious rebels with magical abilities threaten the rajah’s reign.
So basically, that's the plot. And then to the complaints.
I can't quite remember what possessed me to buy this book, given that YA fantasy is not my thing. Since I have it, I might as well read it. If I'm not mistaken, this is the author’s debut novel and the opening of a four-book series.
We follow an orphan girl called Kali, who grows up in a remote temple of sisterhood. One day, a rajah comes to claim girls to be his courtesans and one will have the questionable honour of becoming his 100th and final wife.
Guess what, of course our main girl gets picked, despite being plagued by a mysterious illness. The rajah orders his very handsome and very unprofessional captain to be Kali’s guard, and an insta-love romance ensues.
But wait, there's more! Kali has to fight for her right to party - eh, marry the rajah (who is at least twice her age, by the way - a fact that is not once mentioned in the story). All the courtesans who wish to take her place as a wife may challenge her to fight to the death.
And to complicate matters, mysterious rebels with magical abilities threaten the rajah’s reign.
So basically, that's the plot. And then to the complaints.
- The main character was a bit of a confusing mess. At first, the reader is led to believe that she's a poor, sickly girl, not much good at anything. And when we get to the end, lo and behold, she turns out to be exceptionally talented and special.
- The characters lacked personality and acted “out of character”, not in a way I'd expect a rajah to behave. What makes the villains villainous, except that they exploit women and swim in riches while their people live in poverty? There weren't any interesting discussions about those themes.
- The age gap issue was never brought up, and it was not even mentioned.
- Some of the word choices were odd and didn't fit the tone of the story.
- Even though this is YA, I think the life of the courtesans could have been depicted with less glossing over.
- I didn't really buy the romance.
- Some action scenes were confusing and not very well written.
If you want a similar story written better, read Tad Williams’ Shadowmarch. It's not perfect either, but it has similar elements.
Content Warnings
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Kalinda has spent too much time making googly eyes at a man she barely knows while having absolutely zero chemistry with him. That and the fact I need to be reminded every five seconds that girls are treated like shit in this world that I got to peace out.
Let's be clear: I don't care if the world building lends itself to being sexist. That happens. I can deal. But, if you gotta bring it up constantly to try and prove how much it sucks to be your main character, then you're just doing a bad job at actual world building.
That being said, the world building also sucks.
I'm sure there's people who really enjoy this, but I am not one of them so I'll see myself out, thanks.
Let's be clear: I don't care if the world building lends itself to being sexist. That happens. I can deal. But, if you gotta bring it up constantly to try and prove how much it sucks to be your main character, then you're just doing a bad job at actual world building.
That being said, the world building also sucks.
I'm sure there's people who really enjoy this, but I am not one of them so I'll see myself out, thanks.
This is a YA fantasy book that took me by storm. I saw many of the reviews for this book were low, but decided to give the book a chance anyway. I loved this book. It had everything I love in a romance and had an even better idea of what sisterhood and friendship should be. I am NOT a fantasy reader. I have tried many books and failed to get through them. I enjoyed how there was not much world building, and the magic system did not seem to be a system at all. I enjoyed how relaxed it was, and maybe that is why I enjoyed it so much.
I loved the book from beginning to end. Some things were predictable, while others were not. I desperately want to read the other books, but part of me is afraid. I know the next books will expand on the magic in this world, and I am unsure if the next books will help my love grow stronger, or cause me to dislike the entire series.
I loved the book from beginning to end. Some things were predictable, while others were not. I desperately want to read the other books, but part of me is afraid. I know the next books will expand on the magic in this world, and I am unsure if the next books will help my love grow stronger, or cause me to dislike the entire series.
This was... not good. I still don't understand the point of half of it, and there was zero chemistry between the Kalinda and Deven.