A review by zahraaloujain
Smoke in the Sun by Renée Ahdieh

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative slow-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? It's complicated

4.0

“Smoke in the Sun” by Renée Ahdieh concludes the series with a slow-paced narration that, unfortunately, didn’t fully captivate me until the final third of the book. While I appreciated the story’s progression, I couldn’t help but feel frustrated by the sluggish pacing that dominated much of the narrative.

Ōkami, while a likable character, paled in comparison to other love interests, especially when compared to Ahdieh’s Khalid from her previous series. By the end, I found myself hoping that Mariko would find love with Prince Raiden, whose character development throughout the series was surprisingly engaging.

Ahdieh set a high standard with “The Wrath and the Dawn” series, making it difficult for subsequent works to measure up. While “Smoke in the Sun” didn’t quite reach those heights for me, I still hold out hope that Ahdieh will continue to surprise and impress with her future projects.

Despite its shortcomings, I still enjoyed the series enough to keep Renée Ahdieh on my radar, eagerly anticipating her future endeavors. Her previous works have left a lasting impression, ensuring that I will eagerly keep up with her literary journey.