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A review by storyorc
The Bruising of Qilwa by Naseem Jamnia
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
A thoughtful and detailed political landscape playing host to lovely characters with tragic yet believable flaws.
I especially enjoyed that the queernorm elements of the setting were different depending on the culture - not only nice but worldbuilding too! Kofi knowingly nicknaming Firuz they-Firuz after the Dilmuni style of introduction that was foreign to him was such a dad joke that it instantly established his character and the relationship he would take with Firuz. The differences in gender healthcare between their home and Qilwa provoke a whole subplot with their transitioning brother. Jamnia leverages their worldbuilding very elegantly to add depth.
Blood magic is described with a cool level of detail too. I was not surprised to learn Jamnia is a neuroscientist. The chair they use in training reminded me of the Guardian's techniques in NK Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy and brought all the same agonising over whether it can be justified again. I would have liked the magical mechanics we were taught throughout the book to have played a bigger role in the final confrontation, however. The technical aspects of that confrontation seemed to go so far beyond what we had learned that they felt a bit deus-ex-machina'ed to me. I also couldn't help wishing Firuz could havetried Kofi's ideas, via a less murderous methodology. He was groping at a beautiful combination of their practices, only for the story to relax into the playing God/man-gone-too-far trope that felt oddly anti-intellectual for such an intelligent protagonist. But perhaps I'm being naïve .
Despite the cruelties in the setting, this book felt very safe and kind thanks to its main character. They spend most of the narrative working themselves to the bone for their community. It is nice, but I was most interested in them in the moments they were questioning their assumptions about blood magic, their training, and their culture's complicated history. Afsoneh, on the other hand, kept me guessing whether she would be able to control herself or become a real problem. I might have found the story more engaging from her perspective but I don't at all regret listening to this version.
I especially enjoyed that the queernorm elements of the setting were different depending on the culture - not only nice but worldbuilding too! Kofi knowingly nicknaming Firuz they-Firuz after the Dilmuni style of introduction that was foreign to him was such a dad joke that it instantly established his character and the relationship he would take with Firuz. The differences in gender healthcare between their home and Qilwa provoke a whole subplot with their transitioning brother. Jamnia leverages their worldbuilding very elegantly to add depth.
Blood magic is described with a cool level of detail too. I was not surprised to learn Jamnia is a neuroscientist. The chair they use in training reminded me of the Guardian's techniques in NK Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy and brought all the same agonising over whether it can be justified again. I would have liked the magical mechanics we were taught throughout the book to have played a bigger role in the final confrontation, however. The technical aspects of that confrontation seemed to go so far beyond what we had learned that they felt a bit deus-ex-machina'ed to me. I also couldn't help wishing Firuz could have
Despite the cruelties in the setting, this book felt very safe and kind thanks to its main character. They spend most of the narrative working themselves to the bone for their community. It is nice, but I was most interested in them in the moments they were questioning their assumptions about blood magic, their training, and their culture's complicated history. Afsoneh, on the other hand, kept me guessing whether she would be able to control herself or become a real problem. I might have found the story more engaging from her perspective but I don't at all regret listening to this version.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Transphobia