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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
internalnonsense's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3 feels pretty generous for how underwhelmed I am by this sequel, but disappointed expectations doesn't inherently diminish the quality. It did offer more diversity, more magic, more Mama Agba. There were good set piece moments and some compelling writing.
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. As for the last minute twist, I'm not going to say I saw it coming but it didn't catch me entirely off guard. It also justified Ronan's prominence, which felt like a sore thumb for me. Still, what foreshadowing there was was sparse and blunt so the twist still feels abrupt. Again, I can see how it could work, but right now it isn't and doesn't set up enough for the next book.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual content, and Death of parent
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
nowheregirl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, and Racism
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
rwalker101's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Xenophobia
Minor: Death of parent
theespressoedition's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
For everyone considering reading these books: READ THE BOOKS RATHER THAN LISTENING TO THE AUDIOBOOKS. I'm a huge audiobook lover. I really, really adore them and listen to more of them than I read physical books. For this series, it's an absolute necessity to read rather than listen. There are a few reasons why.
1) The audiobook has one narrator for several character POVs which gets really confusing. A few people have similar names when spoken (Zélie and Tzain) and there's very little indication of character changes in the audio. Reading this sequel in the physical format helped me understand the intricacies of the characters so much more. I actually enjoyed learning about them in this way.
2) There is so much information in the audiobook that it can be really hard to follow. Reading the sequel gave me the opportunity to skim incantations or breeze through political negotiations. I understood the gist without having to listen to a narrator slowly explain every minutia that didn't really interest me.
I had a super tough time with the first book because I listened to it. I read the sequel in less than 24 hours (only 2 sittings) because I was actually interested in what was happening. Now, I can't say I loved it, but I at least liked it. The characters are definitely all infuriating to me because they're all so focused on their own pain and their own problems that they can't see past them to what everyone around them is dealing with. That drives me nuts. I especially hate Inan for that. I would be shocked if he redeems himself at any point.
There was a particular death in this book that SHOOK ME. I actually cried. Like crocodile tears on my pages. That took me by surprise (not the death, but the tears). I actually anticipated the death, but I kept hoping it wouldn't happen and when it did, I was wrecked.
It'll be really interesting to see what happens in the next book!
1) The audiobook has one narrator for several character POVs which gets really confusing. A few people have similar names when spoken (Zélie and Tzain) and there's very little indication of character changes in the audio. Reading this sequel in the physical format helped me understand the intricacies of the characters so much more. I actually enjoyed learning about them in this way.
2) There is so much information in the audiobook that it can be really hard to follow. Reading the sequel gave me the opportunity to skim incantations or breeze through political negotiations. I understood the gist without having to listen to a narrator slowly explain every minutia that didn't really interest me.
I had a super tough time with the first book because I listened to it. I read the sequel in less than 24 hours (only 2 sittings) because I was actually interested in what was happening. Now, I can't say I loved it, but I at least liked it. The characters are definitely all infuriating to me because they're all so focused on their own pain and their own problems that they can't see past them to what everyone around them is dealing with. That drives me nuts. I especially hate Inan for that. I would be shocked if he redeems himself at any point.
There was a particular death in this book that SHOOK ME. I actually cried. Like crocodile tears on my pages. That took me by surprise (not the death, but the tears). I actually anticipated the death, but I kept hoping it wouldn't happen and when it did, I was wrecked.
It'll be really interesting to see what happens in the next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
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