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3.36 AVERAGE
3.36 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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:
Yes
reflective
slow-paced
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a quick read full of adventure and betrayal. I loved the history connected to the magic. It was a great debut novel!
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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:
Yes
adventurous
medium-paced
This book is not for the faint of heart. It is a dark and enthralling Timbuktu tale about survival, loyalty, and love against brutal odds. Amie, a disinherited but educated merchant's daughter, has to navigate the harrowing palace court as a new ladies' maid to the princess. From the beginning, the stakes are clear: the emperor's deadly trials for the young men seeking his daughter's hand in marriage leave a trail of boiled corpses. Amie's misfortune of being framed thrust her into servitude. She displays remarkable strength as her own family has betrayed her, and it destroys her soon-to-be marriage to the love of her life, Kader.
The relationship between Amie and Princess Mariama causes tension because Amie's resentment of her circumstances makes her bitter. She begins to understand the struggle of Marriama and develops a connection that grows into friendship. Amie finds a map to the magical hammer of the god that will save the new suitor's life, which happens to be Kader. He promised to run away with her after they got the hammer and took the riches. The dangerous journey to gain possession of the hammer is not one Amie ever bargained for and will put those she loves in peril.
The stark dangers of the ones in power, the desert, and the quest was merciless. The mythological elements did not overshadow the human drama at the story's core. Amie's choices are fraught with moral ambiguity, and the narrative does not shy away from the emotional toll of her decisions. She uses her brilliance to control her fate. The story has predictable elements, but not in a way that ruins the story's development. It is for readers who enjoy dark, fast-paced writing.
I received an ARC audiobook for my honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners
The relationship between Amie and Princess Mariama causes tension because Amie's resentment of her circumstances makes her bitter. She begins to understand the struggle of Marriama and develops a connection that grows into friendship. Amie finds a map to the magical hammer of the god that will save the new suitor's life, which happens to be Kader. He promised to run away with her after they got the hammer and took the riches. The dangerous journey to gain possession of the hammer is not one Amie ever bargained for and will put those she loves in peril.
The stark dangers of the ones in power, the desert, and the quest was merciless. The mythological elements did not overshadow the human drama at the story's core. Amie's choices are fraught with moral ambiguity, and the narrative does not shy away from the emotional toll of her decisions. She uses her brilliance to control her fate. The story has predictable elements, but not in a way that ruins the story's development. It is for readers who enjoy dark, fast-paced writing.
I received an ARC audiobook for my honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners
adventurous
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
The Scorpion Queen follows Amie, whose life is turned upside down after her sister lies about a compromising situation. The life that Amie expected to have is gone, and she now must work in the royal household as a servant. Things are not all that they seem, and there are others pulling strings behind what is happening on a larger scale.
I thought I knew where things would head, but there were twists and turns that kept me guessing, and the ending sets us up for more action in book two. I loved being in a different setting than many fantasy books tend to focus on (Timbuktu of the Mali empire). This is a true YA, so keep that in mind if that's not your usual jam.
Thanks to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for an eARC and physical ARC of this book for an honest review.
~~~~~
Audiobook update: The audiobook production is strong and the narrator spoke clearly enough that I was able to speed it up without issue, which is a must for me.
Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ALC of this audiobook for an honest review.
I thought I knew where things would head, but there were twists and turns that kept me guessing, and the ending sets us up for more action in book two. I loved being in a different setting than many fantasy books tend to focus on (Timbuktu of the Mali empire). This is a true YA, so keep that in mind if that's not your usual jam.
Thanks to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for an eARC and physical ARC of this book for an honest review.
~~~~~
Audiobook update: The audiobook production is strong and the narrator spoke clearly enough that I was able to speed it up without issue, which is a must for me.
Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ALC of this audiobook for an honest review.
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I wanted so badly to like this book. I could see the work the author put in. I could see the good bones she built up. Unfortunately... to me, this book feels written with technical precision but no talent. The pacing was excellent (I am sure there was an outline). The author had clearly heard that backstory should be told through dialogue, so character randomly provide relevant information with minimal prompting. There was never any sense of uniqueness of characters--by the end of the book I know that Penda has brothers and Jeneba was a child bride, but their personalities? Penda's a bit nicer. The dust storm scene gave me all the information I needed, but it never felt scary or intense.
Overall, it's so clear that a lot of work went into this. I don't think this is sloppy or slapdash; I hate rating it so low because the author clearly put in the work. The product is just not that good.
Overall, it's so clear that a lot of work went into this. I don't think this is sloppy or slapdash; I hate rating it so low because the author clearly put in the work. The product is just not that good.