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miniaturereader 's review for:
First, Become Ashes
by K.M. Szpara
Thank you so much to the lovely publicist at Tor Publishing for your kindness and generosity for sending a copy for me read and review!
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CW: Explicit Sadomasochism, Graphic sexual content, Abuse (sexual and psychological), Rape, Manipulation, Mentions of Harry Potter
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First and foremost, “First, Become Ashes” may not be an easy book to read for some. Considering the content warnings mentioned, I do not think it is sufficient enough to know what to expect going into it. In relation, this book was a different experience and quite difficult to review. But I can say that for a reader like me who is very much open to contents with sensitive topics, it was nonetheless a worthwhile read.
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I loved the simplistic writing style. It is a multi-POV dark, magical, and adventurous story where fantasy meets reality; a story self-discovery and realizations, a journey to healing from trauma and to escaping from what no longer serves one’s personal beliefs, with topics of manipulation disguised as magic and teachings.
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It also has intriguing character relationships, dynamics, and progressions, as well as good world building. The development of each of the characters’ understanding and empathy towards one another is definitely also one of the most memorable things I can compliment which could possibly be hard to miss when reading the book.
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The reading experience through an unreliable narration makes it quite a ride and thought provoking; like a mind battle of what is real and what is not, truths and untruths.
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It was overall a good story but is not one that I can easily recommend to anyone considering the sensitive topics it contains.
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I would recommend “First, Become Ashes” if you want a story about healing and found family, and only if you are not sensitive to the content warnings mentioned. I think it is still worth the read if you want to venture into something that is out of your reading comfort zone to get the full insights of the book.
.
CW: Explicit Sadomasochism, Graphic sexual content, Abuse (sexual and psychological), Rape, Manipulation, Mentions of Harry Potter
.
First and foremost, “First, Become Ashes” may not be an easy book to read for some. Considering the content warnings mentioned, I do not think it is sufficient enough to know what to expect going into it. In relation, this book was a different experience and quite difficult to review. But I can say that for a reader like me who is very much open to contents with sensitive topics, it was nonetheless a worthwhile read.
.
I loved the simplistic writing style. It is a multi-POV dark, magical, and adventurous story where fantasy meets reality; a story self-discovery and realizations, a journey to healing from trauma and to escaping from what no longer serves one’s personal beliefs, with topics of manipulation disguised as magic and teachings.
.
It also has intriguing character relationships, dynamics, and progressions, as well as good world building. The development of each of the characters’ understanding and empathy towards one another is definitely also one of the most memorable things I can compliment which could possibly be hard to miss when reading the book.
.
The reading experience through an unreliable narration makes it quite a ride and thought provoking; like a mind battle of what is real and what is not, truths and untruths.
.
It was overall a good story but is not one that I can easily recommend to anyone considering the sensitive topics it contains.
.
I would recommend “First, Become Ashes” if you want a story about healing and found family, and only if you are not sensitive to the content warnings mentioned. I think it is still worth the read if you want to venture into something that is out of your reading comfort zone to get the full insights of the book.