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A review by readingthroughinfinity
Blood Scion by Deborah Falaye
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Thanks to Harper360 for sending me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Buddy read with Charvi.
I was really excited for this book and ready to love it so I'm pretty disappointed that I didn't. This is a YA military fantasy about fifteen-year-old Sloane, who trains with her enemies, the Lucis, to find out the truth about what happened to her mother. Despite being YA, this book is actually darker than some adult novels I've read, so please check the content warnings before you pick it up.
This book had so much potential and there were some great moments between Izara and Sloane, but I had some issues were with the plot, pacing and writing style. The writing style feels very repetitive at the beginning of the story, with the main character telling us the same information multiple times in the first few chapters. The narrative style also made it hard to connect with the characters initially, as it felt like there was distance between us and them.
I think the book could have done with a big structural overhaul, as there were a few plot holes and things that didn't match up with what we'd previously been told. The pacing and use of time in the book also felt off, as there were times when a week would pass and it felt like no time at all, but at other times, hours felt like days. The whole book is set within the span of a month, but it feels more like six months from the way things are described.
The novel's world building is good and I really liked the inclusion of Yoruba culture and mythology. Izara was definitely my favourite character; I enjoyed seeing her grow and develop as a person. Her friendship with Sloane was one of my favourite aspects of the book soit's an understatement to say I was upset about what happened to her later in the story .
The book shows us, in detail, the destructive impact war has on childhood and is highly critical of colonialism. I think the narrative could have benefited from with even more nuance and depth in these discussions. (I also think, due to the nature of this story, romance was unnecessary and the overtones of coloniser/colonised romance were a big no for me.)
Content warnings for murder, torture, death, death of a parent, death/murder of children, blood, violence, fire and injuries from fire, sexual assault, attempted rape, war, genocide, colonialism and colonial violence, cultural appropriation.
Buddy read with Charvi.
I was really excited for this book and ready to love it so I'm pretty disappointed that I didn't. This is a YA military fantasy about fifteen-year-old Sloane, who trains with her enemies, the Lucis, to find out the truth about what happened to her mother. Despite being YA, this book is actually darker than some adult novels I've read, so please check the content warnings before you pick it up.
This book had so much potential and there were some great moments between Izara and Sloane, but I had some issues were with the plot, pacing and writing style. The writing style feels very repetitive at the beginning of the story, with the main character telling us the same information multiple times in the first few chapters. The narrative style also made it hard to connect with the characters initially, as it felt like there was distance between us and them.
I think the book could have done with a big structural overhaul, as there were a few plot holes and things that didn't match up with what we'd previously been told. The pacing and use of time in the book also felt off, as there were times when a week would pass and it felt like no time at all, but at other times, hours felt like days. The whole book is set within the span of a month, but it feels more like six months from the way things are described.
The novel's world building is good and I really liked the inclusion of Yoruba culture and mythology. Izara was definitely my favourite character; I enjoyed seeing her grow and develop as a person. Her friendship with Sloane was one of my favourite aspects of the book so
The book shows us, in detail, the destructive impact war has on childhood and is highly critical of colonialism. I think the narrative could have benefited from with even more nuance and depth in these discussions. (I also think, due to the nature of this story, romance was unnecessary and the overtones of coloniser/colonised romance were a big no for me.)
Content warnings for murder, torture, death, death of a parent, death/murder of children, blood, violence, fire and injuries from fire, sexual assault, attempted rape, war, genocide, colonialism and colonial violence, cultural appropriation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, and War
Moderate: Cultural appropriation and Rape
Minor: Body horror