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nnanapop's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Death
ellyrium's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Death
Minor: Death of parent, Alcoholism, Pedophilia, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Child abuse, Suicide, and Animal death
read_with_riley's review
5.0
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Vomit, Violence, Blood, Gore, Alcohol, and Slavery
itsbrianascall's review
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Violence, Grief, Body horror, Xenophobia, Murder, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Child abuse, and Ableism
mr_ryancowboy's review
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Violence, Child abuse, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Classism, Abandonment, and Religious bigotry
bookishmillennial's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
This book reads as a long prologue and essentially sets the stage for the second book.
It is indigenous high fantasy & in my opinion, is mostly character-driven as not *too much* happens as far as moving the plot along. Most of the notable action happens in the last 100 pages of this 454 book, which makes sense because it gets you revved up for the sequel, Fevered Star!
I felt myself invested in Xiala and Serapio’s journey to Tova. Xiala is an exiled Teek who becomes a ship captain who has singing powers over the sea, while Serapio is a blind, seemingly “harmless” young man on a mission to fulfill his destiny (which his mother convinced him of in the first chapter of the book, when he was younger). I enjoyed Serapio and Xiala’s dynamic (reminiscent of hurt/comfort) and was curious to see where it would go next, especially after the end of Black Sun.
There is also a subplot of Naranpa, who used to be a beggar in the Maw, and now holds a position of high authority in the priesthood. Nara’s ending was intriguing and I think that is when most readers will become much more invested in her storyline!
Read if you want a diverse fantasy with prophecies, morally grey characters, and beautiful writing!
see content warnings below <3
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Murder, Violence, and Blood
melodyseestrees'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
Graphic: Blood, Death, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse and Suicide
lilacs_book_bower's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Misogyny, Murder, Self harm, Classism, Death, Child abuse, Suicide, Violence, Gore, Abandonment, and Alcohol
ash_ton's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Violence, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, Torture, and Grief
Minor: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Addiction, Biphobia, Vomit, Alcohol, and Suicide
casdelvo's review
- 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
Graphic: Death, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, and Body horror
Minor: Death of parent, Alcohol, Homophobia, Animal death, and Confinement