Reviews

Amazing story!! I love mythology and hearing this new set of stories and characters was refreshing. The depth of this world is amazing. I listened to it and it made the world of difference as I was truly able to immerse myself in the story. 10/10 would recommend to anyone who loves a good warrior and gods story.

a_bow's review against another edition

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adventurous dark hopeful inspiring reflective 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? No

4.0

Content Warnings

urbanesunset's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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

3.5

linda_1410's review against another edition

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dark 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? Yes

3.0

This was an interesting beginning. I liked Deka and the other girls, and I especially liked that they get alone and don't have unnecessary drama with each other, aside from one small hiccup near the beginning of their association.

This is a pretty grim world, and I was a little underwhelmed that this is yet another anti-woman world, where girls and women and controlled in nearly every aspect of their lives, and young girls have to prove themselves "pure" or be killed when they come of age. That purity is based not on their virginity (although that is a factor too in other ways, at least where Deka was born and raised), but on the color of their blood. The hypocrisy of this is seen almost immediately

when the priests harvest Deka's blood for their own needs and greed, even while berating her for it and literally killing her again and again in the hopes of finding her final death.

It's pretty messed up.

When Deka is pulled away from her village and recruited to a new elite fighting force to battle the Death Shrieks, things appear to be turning around for her and the other girls like her. But of course, it's not all as it seems, and there is more to the monsters attacking their villages and cities. I was not expecting the twist that

the gilded ones, when they meet their final death, get reborn as Death Shrieks. Deka's abilities allow her to command the D.S. but also eventually everyone else. And they're all the offspring of the goddesses who once ruled the world, before they were banished. I thought for sure she'd be revealed to be a D.S. all along, or half-human/half-D.S.

Deka's unusual powers makes things a bit too easy at times, and the Girl Power message was a bit heavy-handed at times. It also felt a little rushed, especially given there are two more books to go, but given where it leaves off, there's probably going to be another reveal coming up, and the war of course.

The narrator was pretty good. She did a good job with the accents and voices, and even did a decent with the male voices.

lauracooleyjohnson's review against another edition

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3.0

I have mixed feelings on this book. The good: it is a debut novel by this author, she has created a rich world with interesting history, a unique twist on magical powers and a strong diverse female characters and very clear messaging for equality for women. The things I didn’t like: it was very on the nose. The narrator does a lot of telling us very directly that this is about breaking a pattern of abuse and unequal treatment of women. The exposition artificially propelled the story at a pace that didn’t match the character’s actual development, if that makes sense. Day 1: I’m a baby, so helpless. Day 2: I’m a teenager with so many questions. Day 3: realize I am powerful immortal born to save the world and balance the gender scales. Roar! Boss fight! And then the book ends.

the_sunken_library's review against another edition

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4.0

Solid YA fantasy about demons and goddesses.

Quite a lot of violent references so not for the feint of heart.

Deka is a throughly likeable protagonist and the world Forna weaves is truly magical (although I still struggle to envision what the hell an Equs is!).

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