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woolerys's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Graphic: Death, Body horror, Violence, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexism and Xenophobia
booksthatburn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The worldbuilding is immersive, conveying the language barrier in the gap between what Demane thinks and how stilted his speech is with the rest of the caravan. I love the way AAVE is used by the caravan brothers, forming a blend between casual speech and Demane's smatterings of technical knowledge that he keeps trying to apply to what's happening. It creates a visceral sense of the language barrier he experiences, wanting to say so much more but not having the words, or frustrated that the closest words don't carry the meanings he intends.
The ending is ambiguous, but it's clearly meant to be unresolved rather than a teaser or cliffhanger. There is a sequel, but it seems to be an indirect follow-up.
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Colonisation, Cursing, Racial slurs, Homophobia, Animal death, War, Grief, Slavery, Racism, Sexism, Misogyny, and Vomit
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, and Excrement
janae's review
- 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
For a lover of black queer fantasy, this was rain on dry soil.
The ending left me devastated and sad, but I can't say unsatisfied. Just full of emotions.
I recommend this for anyone who loves fantasy, black books, lovable characters, complex relationships, queerness, magic, and gods.
Graphic: Gore and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia
erebus53's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I see some similarities to (of all things?!) Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir. In both we are immersed in a world explained by scientific and theoretic under underpinnings that we know we know little of, with queer love, and anime-style hyper-violent action fight scenes. I've never really been one for fight scenes or battles so the splurt and slice does little for me, and leaves me feeling a little like hardly anything relevant has happened.
The descriptions are sumptuous and creative. The author has a real handle on simile and metaphor that can make seemingly bland things seem visceral and organic. The best things in the way the story is told though, are the dialogue and the world. This is probably even more striking in the Audiobook performance. The "brothers" feel like Black American soldiers...
... kinda want to understand where those soldiers are going and what for though. The whole book feels like it left off at the end of the first chapter and you've come to your first crossing, but nowhere near the end of your journey.
Graphic: Alcohol, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Gore, Grief, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Cursing, Medical content, Murder, and Sexual content
lanid's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Gore
zed_dog's review against another edition
3.5
The reason I’m not rating this more highly is
Graphic: Gore and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault
szuum's review
Graphic: Violence
Minor: Misogyny
cassimiranda's review against another edition
Graphic: Violence and Gore
willdarlingg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Gore and Violence
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Homophobia
The f-slur is used in one instance.bex_knighthunterbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Vomit