Scan barcode
bamfling's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Death, Self harm, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
Minor: Sexual content
aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition
4.25
Def read trigger/content warnings especially if you struggle with mental health.
Graphic: Murder, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Child death, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Self harm
bloodmaarked'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? Yes
4.5
✧ full review on my tumblr ✧
Graphic: Child abuse, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexual content and Vomit
the racism is in a fantasy context i.e. not directed to any real-world racial/cultural group, but very reminiscent of real-world racismlainiereads's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Self harm
megdconway's review against another edition
2.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Violence, and Torture
Moderate: Slavery, Trafficking, Fire/Fire injury, Death, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racial slurs, Death of parent, Grief, and Child abuse
missychristo's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Xenophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
oyindaaa'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? Yes
5.0
Do be aware of content warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness
ccrowley18'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? Yes
4.0
I loved both MCs character development, Karina going from the reluctant crown princess to knowing that she has to do everything she can to save Ziran. And Malik’s character development took a bit longer I felt as though his didn’t really start until book 2, he was all over the place there was a time I thought he was going to have to die because he seemed so evil.
But most of all the character development I enjoyed the most was Idir!!!!! What?!? Who saw him coming as the voice of reason?! By the end he didn’t even want to get free and he respected Malik too much to try and harm him any more than he’d already been harmed.
I enjoyed the storyline and the plot twists. It wouldn’t be a YA fantasy without some plot twists! I also loved the narrator in book 2, talking about the Farid and Hanane history, it was very well added.
Graphic: Self harm and Trafficking
Moderate: Murder, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, and Mental illness
bookishmillennial'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? No
I buddy read this with a friend and we really enjoyed it, maybe even more than the first book in the duology! It was a fantastic way to end the duology and we saw characters confront their pain/trauma and ultimately grow from it. I felt satisfied with this conclusion and think other readers will too!
I would love to see this adapted to a limited series or a movie!!
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Violence, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Death, and Grief
Minor: Sexual content
toy_masterpiece'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? Yes
5.0
*Spoilers for the first book*
Dude, if the first book was a 5/5, this one is a 6/5. In this book, we get to see our heros seriously grapple with their internal demons as the world falls apart around them. Karina with her inferiority complex, her loneliness, her self-destructive tendencies, her grief and Malik with his anxiety, his trauma from childhood, his very negative sense of self, and his loneliness.
First and foremost, the voice actors continue to put their whole chests into this performance. Oh my god. We're back with Jordan Cobb (Karina), A.J. Beckles (Malik), and surprise, Bahni Turpin. Like not only do they deliver in drawing you into their world and into their minds, but the dialogue delivery goes so hard. Most notably, Beckles' performance of Fareed (the antagonist) is excellent. Makes me want to slap something. And Cobb really made me fall in love with Karina, more of which I'll discuss later. Like all the performances go so well with Brown's quirky dialogue, and emotive writing style.
Don't even get me started on the writing. The world-building, the magic system, the stakes! So expertly choreographed to form this story.
On the less fantastic side of things, Brown tackles some themes of suicical ideation, generational trauma, having a faith crisis, and grooming to name a few, like how do you juggle all that in a duology? Idk, but Brown did it.
Also a sprinkling of autistic rep, queer rep, diversity in hair texture/style, culture and food, gender, and sexuality.
Lastly, these characters, Karina and Malik, so flawed, so compelling, lemme talk about it. Karina: she always has to have the last word, she is resilient to a fault, she is so so caring and that really comes through in the voice. Malik: constantly battling with his inner demon who isn't even as bad as his actual inner demon while being subject to the expert manipulation of Fareed. They make mistakes, they doubt themselves, each other, their friends. It's good stuff, I assure you.
5/5
Graphic: Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Violence, Sexual harassment, Death, Grief, Torture, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Death of parent, Trafficking, Confinement, and Domestic abuse
grooming, nice guy syndrome