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A review by obscurepages
Broken Web by Lori M. Lee
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I seriously wanted to just lay down and stare at the ceiling after reading this. This had been incredible. *cries*
Diving into this book, I was excited to pick up where we left off. The first 30% was slow, and there was little to no action (which is a bummer, I think I would have liked more action). However, as you read, you'll find that there's so much details to uncover, a lot of history and magic, and I love that.
Sirscha as main character just has your attention. It was hard to look away from the book because a) she's a compelling character and you want to root for her b) the little plot twists and the details from her perspective catch you off guard and by then you want to keep reading.
As for the other characters, I really wanted to see more Price Meilyk and Saengo and just dive into their characters more. While I didn't exactly get that, there was one character that pleasantly (or oddly?) surprised me--The Soulless. Here, I thought we'd have a villain that needs to be defeated, that's it. But as Sirscha gets to know a little more about The Soulless, I started to realize that there was more to it. There was a part that made me pause because he was starting to make more sense than the supposed "allies" and I was starting to sympathize with him. Don't get me wrong, I still think he's a manipulative jerk. But damn, his backstory and the depth that the author gave him just got to me.
The world-building, wow. I loved reading the first book especially in terms of world-building. But somehow Broken Web was even richer! I loved reading all about their lands, and the history of the kingdoms, the people, their struggles and their conflicts from the past until the current. It was all so riveting. This book reminded me why Fantasy the genre that made me fall in love with reading. Because of this. Because the fictional world pulls you in, because the magic and mythology makes your mind run wild, and because the same time, it also reflects bits and pieces of reality and humanity. I just really loved this.
Also, I have to talk about something and just highlight something in this review: Sirscha is bi. The way I gasped when I saw the author confirm it on IG/Twitter days before I started to read the book. I was super excited, and so elated! Reading the first book, there was a small part of me that thought Sirscha might be queer and that she might have feelings for Saengo. There was just a lot of times that I felt like her love for Saengo is more than friendship. But I discarded that thought because nothing happened between them in the first book. Now though, reading Broken Web, I am honestly living for bi Sirscha. And I've definitely started to ship Sirscha and Saengo. I can't help it *cries*
Overall, Broken Web was a great read! I regret I wasn't able to read this sooner, and I try not to be too harsh on myself about it because I know life happens. But reading this now, wow. In some ways, it felt like a respite. Like it was the book I needed and read at just the right moment.
Exact rating: 4.5
Thank you so, so much to Page Street for sending me an ARC. This, of course, did not affect my overall opinion of the book.
Diving into this book, I was excited to pick up where we left off. The first 30% was slow, and there was little to no action (which is a bummer, I think I would have liked more action). However, as you read, you'll find that there's so much details to uncover, a lot of history and magic, and I love that.
Sirscha as main character just has your attention. It was hard to look away from the book because a) she's a compelling character and you want to root for her b) the little plot twists and the details from her perspective catch you off guard and by then you want to keep reading.
As for the other characters, I really wanted to see more Price Meilyk and Saengo and just dive into their characters more. While I didn't exactly get that, there was one character that pleasantly (or oddly?) surprised me--The Soulless. Here, I thought we'd have a villain that needs to be defeated, that's it. But as Sirscha gets to know a little more about The Soulless, I started to realize that there was more to it. There was a part that made me pause because he was starting to make more sense than the supposed "allies" and I was starting to sympathize with him. Don't get me wrong, I still think he's a manipulative jerk. But damn, his backstory and the depth that the author gave him just got to me.
The world-building, wow. I loved reading the first book especially in terms of world-building. But somehow Broken Web was even richer! I loved reading all about their lands, and the history of the kingdoms, the people, their struggles and their conflicts from the past until the current. It was all so riveting. This book reminded me why Fantasy the genre that made me fall in love with reading. Because of this. Because the fictional world pulls you in, because the magic and mythology makes your mind run wild, and because the same time, it also reflects bits and pieces of reality and humanity. I just really loved this.
Also, I have to talk about something and just highlight something in this review: Sirscha is bi. The way I gasped when I saw the author confirm it on IG/Twitter days before I started to read the book. I was super excited, and so elated! Reading the first book, there was a small part of me that thought Sirscha might be queer and that she might have feelings for Saengo. There was just a lot of times that I felt like her love for Saengo is more than friendship. But I discarded that thought because nothing happened between them in the first book. Now though, reading Broken Web, I am honestly living for bi Sirscha. And I've definitely started to ship Sirscha and Saengo. I can't help it *cries*
Overall, Broken Web was a great read! I regret I wasn't able to read this sooner, and I try not to be too harsh on myself about it because I know life happens. But reading this now, wow. In some ways, it felt like a respite. Like it was the book I needed and read at just the right moment.
Exact rating: 4.5
Thank you so, so much to Page Street for sending me an ARC. This, of course, did not affect my overall opinion of the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, War, Blood, and Gore
Minor: Death of parent