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A review by thebakersbooks
Beneath the Citadel by Destiny Soria
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I didn't realize how long this book was until I'd started reading (wasn't really feeling focused enough for a long fantasy) but Beneath the Citadel caught my attention and held it to the end. Author Destiny Soria's worldbuilding is innovative and her premise captivating, but characterization and emotional stakes is where her writing really shines. Not every protagonist character is likeable (nor should they be), but each has a clear goal and I ended up rooting for them anyway.
Government corruption, classism, and fighting injustice are main themes of the story. The setting and "magic" system play into these power imbalances, but much of the commentary is beautifully and horrifically applicable to real life. It was also nice that while the book mirrors life in some ways, there is no mention of racism or homophobia in-world. Race never really comes up, and three of the five main characters are queer but never discriminated against because of that. However, one of the characters has a condition reminiscent of EDS, and it's heavily implied that his (off-page) mistreatment at his father's hands is at least partially because of this.
I highly recommend this book to fans of fantasy and anyone looking for a high-stakes heist story featuring a constantly arguing but close-knit friend group. Beneath the Citadel is a new favorite for sure, and I'm off to add Soria's other books to my TBR!
content warnings: mention of parents' deaths; mention of child abuse (physical and emotional)
Government corruption, classism, and fighting injustice are main themes of the story. The setting and "magic" system play into these power imbalances, but much of the commentary is beautifully and horrifically applicable to real life. It was also nice that while the book mirrors life in some ways, there is no mention of racism or homophobia in-world. Race never really comes up, and three of the five main characters are queer but never discriminated against because of that. However, one of the characters has a condition reminiscent of EDS, and it's heavily implied that his (off-page) mistreatment at his father's hands is at least partially because of this.
I highly recommend this book to fans of fantasy and anyone looking for a high-stakes heist story featuring a constantly arguing but close-knit friend group. Beneath the Citadel is a new favorite for sure, and I'm off to add Soria's other books to my TBR!
content warnings: mention of parents' deaths; mention of child abuse (physical and emotional)
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Child abuse