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amselot's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
rat_girl_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.0
trammelldc's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.0
bibliophilekaitlyn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
kingdino's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
- 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
5.0
My first 6 star read of the year. I can’t even begin to explain how much I love this book, how much I love this story and its characters, and how much I love the writing.
“[…] his heart swelling with longing and confusion, for what was there to long for when he was already infinite?”
I don’t think I’ve ever cried so much because of a book. And it weren’t even only sad tears, sometimes I would just start crying when I was happy for them.
I would marry this book if I could. It is honestly my favourite book ever, and I will definitely read more of Rosanne A. Brown’s work.
This book is just so wonderful, full of so many important messages and I just love it so much. I hope more people will talk about this book because it’s beautiful.
I don’t think I’ve ever cried so much because of a book. And it weren’t even only sad tears, sometimes I would just start crying when I was happy for them.
I would marry this book if I could. It is honestly my favourite book ever, and I will definitely read more of Rosanne A. Brown’s work.
This book is just so wonderful, full of so many important messages and I just love it so much. I hope more people will talk about this book because it’s beautiful.
amybraunauthor's review against another edition
5.0
Powerful, thrilling, and incredibly rich, this is a story that continued and finished sweeping me away. It's a harrowing and devastating story about two young people caught between right and wrong, rebuilding their lives and each other as best they can in terrible circumstances.
Karina is a vibrant, powerful young woman who continues to fight and struggle, despite the world seeming to be against her. She learns much about herself and her past, which leads her to make some deep sacrifices. I loved watching her battle, never giving up, refusing to fit into the molds other people wanted her to fit into. While her story is quite powerful, I would argue that Malik has the most growth. And that is because his story is harrowing.
He is so lost and torn between right and wrong, so broken by abuse and desperate for love, that his emotions resonate stronger. He has some scenes that will stick with me for a long time, especially near the end, where Brown uses her skill with prose to weave in complex emotions for this heartbroken character.
Even the side characters are complicated. Everyone from Hanane to my new favourite, Caracal, had scenes that made them visceral and engaging. It was easy to feel sympathy for them, even some of the villains.
While it took me a little time to get back into the world (it had been a while and this is a densely built fantasy), once I was immersed, I didn't want to leave. The settings and creatures are very well described, and the magic system leaves open many possibilities. The themes in this book are very powerful and leave the reader with a lot to think about. Prepare for a book hangover!
Of all the endings, this one is perfect. It matches the gorgeous prose and makes the reader wish for more. I highly recommend this series for lovers of diverse and complicated fantasy. It's packed with morally grey characters, magic, and difficult choices. Seek it out as soon as you can, because you will not forget it.
Karina is a vibrant, powerful young woman who continues to fight and struggle, despite the world seeming to be against her. She learns much about herself and her past, which leads her to make some deep sacrifices. I loved watching her battle, never giving up, refusing to fit into the molds other people wanted her to fit into. While her story is quite powerful, I would argue that Malik has the most growth. And that is because his story is harrowing.
He is so lost and torn between right and wrong, so broken by abuse and desperate for love, that his emotions resonate stronger. He has some scenes that will stick with me for a long time, especially near the end, where Brown uses her skill with prose to weave in complex emotions for this heartbroken character.
Even the side characters are complicated. Everyone from Hanane to my new favourite, Caracal, had scenes that made them visceral and engaging. It was easy to feel sympathy for them, even some of the villains.
While it took me a little time to get back into the world (it had been a while and this is a densely built fantasy), once I was immersed, I didn't want to leave. The settings and creatures are very well described, and the magic system leaves open many possibilities. The themes in this book are very powerful and leave the reader with a lot to think about. Prepare for a book hangover!
Of all the endings, this one is perfect. It matches the gorgeous prose and makes the reader wish for more. I highly recommend this series for lovers of diverse and complicated fantasy. It's packed with morally grey characters, magic, and difficult choices. Seek it out as soon as you can, because you will not forget it.
sydney_arcuri's review against another edition
5.0
NOOOO oh my gosh I cannot believe that this series is over!
I can say full heartedly that this is 100% without a doubt one of my favorite duologies ever. I just love everything about it especially the characters.
If you haven't read this series I beg of you please, and if it isn't even on your TBR list yet, it needs to be added ASAP.
I can say full heartedly that this is 100% without a doubt one of my favorite duologies ever. I just love everything about it especially the characters.
If you haven't read this series I beg of you please, and if it isn't even on your TBR list yet, it needs to be added ASAP.
casey_h's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
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
5.0
This duology is one of the best duologies or series that I've read in such a long time. The cities and settings were so tangible and vivid, I could feel the wind whipping sand in my face and the earthquakes shaking the ground beneath my feet (or rather beneath my couch let's be real lol). This world was just so lush, full, and vibrant I'm going to miss it for days to come. This duology was so much more than the love story the description set it out to be, and honestly I'd say the romance is more secondary to everything else happening - the racism and power struggles Malik and his sisters face all the time, the political coup and manipulations a certain someone so expertly weaves throughout the courts, the struggles Malik faces with his anxieties and the manipulation he faces from other people, the desperate quest Karina is on to find an solution to the horrors coming at their world without her literally DYING for it. This was fantastic.
And don't get me started on the characters! Everyone had such an intense and unique personality that they felt like real, tangible people. Every person had their own strengths, weaknesses, and traumas to heal from and they were just so human and relatable. I just want to give Malik a hug :(
The representation as well is fantastic, and gets much more nuanced in this book than the first, especially the LGBTQ+ rep. The mental health rep was a lot deeper and more intense in this one too.
All in all, fantastic, I loved it so much, I'm sad it's over, and I hope that this DOES get made into a tv series at some point still bc it would be AMAZING!
And don't get me started on the characters! Everyone had such an intense and unique personality that they felt like real, tangible people. Every person had their own strengths, weaknesses, and traumas to heal from and they were just so human and relatable. I just want to give Malik a hug :(
The representation as well is fantastic, and gets much more nuanced in this book than the first, especially the LGBTQ+ rep. The mental health rep was a lot deeper and more intense in this one too.
All in all, fantastic, I loved it so much, I'm sad it's over, and I hope that this DOES get made into a tv series at some point still bc it would be AMAZING!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Animal death, Torture, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders