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nicolemhewitt's review
5.0
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
This first book in the series throws us into a strange and deadly desert world where every day is a fight for survival.
What Fed My Addiction:
Utterly unique.
I’ve never read anything like this series, and the world that Cameron has created is beyond anything I could possibly imagine. Like, seriously, how does she come up with all of it? It’s unmistakably brilliant.
Diversity.
Traditional gender roles are simply not a thing in this book. In fact, the society in the fantasy world features three completely accepted genders. In addition to that, sexuality and romantic relationships seem to be relatively fluid for the people in this society as well (and some people are asexual). This is all accepted without comment, which I loved.
Family bonds.
The society doesn’t have a traditional family structure. Siblings are rare and almost never raised together. Despite this (or maybe because of this), Khya is extremely close to her brother. My absolute favorite parts of this book had to do with the emotional connection between Khya and her brother.
Hate to love romance.
Khya doesn’t care for Tessen at the beginning of the book, but it’s not because Tessen is unlikable or a jerk (which tends to frustrate me). Still, because of Khya’s initial feelings, the romance is appropriately slow to develop. Which only makes it better when they finally make their way to each other.
What Left Me Hungry for More:
Very complicated worldbuilding.
This book is not a quick and easy read. The world, the society, the magic system, the political and religious systems—they’re all incredibly complex. You’d do well to have the glossary handy!
Slight trouble connecting at first?
It took me a little while to warm up to these characters at first—possibly because I was spending so much of my mental energy on figuring out the worldbuilding.
Not necessarily a Young Adult tone.
The series is marketed as YA, and technically the main characters are young, but they don’t feel young to me. In this society, Khya is already a warrior of sorts and she leads a very adult life. Because parents aren’t really part of the picture in their society (at least not at all directly), there’s very little interaction with them. Khya is self-sufficient and even takes care of her younger brother in a somewhat parental role. Don’t get me wrong, I think YA readers will enjoy this, but the book didn’t have a typical YA tone or feel to it.
I ended Island of Exiles ready to jump straight into Sea of Strangers. The first book was full of surprises and I was eager to see where they all led. I give this first book 4/5 Stars.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley and Chapter by Chapter Blog Tours in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
This first book in the series throws us into a strange and deadly desert world where every day is a fight for survival.
What Fed My Addiction:
Utterly unique.
I’ve never read anything like this series, and the world that Cameron has created is beyond anything I could possibly imagine. Like, seriously, how does she come up with all of it? It’s unmistakably brilliant.
Diversity.
Traditional gender roles are simply not a thing in this book. In fact, the society in the fantasy world features three completely accepted genders. In addition to that, sexuality and romantic relationships seem to be relatively fluid for the people in this society as well (and some people are asexual). This is all accepted without comment, which I loved.
Family bonds.
The society doesn’t have a traditional family structure. Siblings are rare and almost never raised together. Despite this (or maybe because of this), Khya is extremely close to her brother. My absolute favorite parts of this book had to do with the emotional connection between Khya and her brother.
Hate to love romance.
Khya doesn’t care for Tessen at the beginning of the book, but it’s not because Tessen is unlikable or a jerk (which tends to frustrate me). Still, because of Khya’s initial feelings, the romance is appropriately slow to develop. Which only makes it better when they finally make their way to each other.
What Left Me Hungry for More:
Very complicated worldbuilding.
This book is not a quick and easy read. The world, the society, the magic system, the political and religious systems—they’re all incredibly complex. You’d do well to have the glossary handy!
Slight trouble connecting at first?
It took me a little while to warm up to these characters at first—possibly because I was spending so much of my mental energy on figuring out the worldbuilding.
Not necessarily a Young Adult tone.
The series is marketed as YA, and technically the main characters are young, but they don’t feel young to me. In this society, Khya is already a warrior of sorts and she leads a very adult life. Because parents aren’t really part of the picture in their society (at least not at all directly), there’s very little interaction with them. Khya is self-sufficient and even takes care of her younger brother in a somewhat parental role. Don’t get me wrong, I think YA readers will enjoy this, but the book didn’t have a typical YA tone or feel to it.
I ended Island of Exiles ready to jump straight into Sea of Strangers. The first book was full of surprises and I was eager to see where they all led. I give this first book 4/5 Stars.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley and Chapter by Chapter Blog Tours in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
amethystbookwyrm's review against another edition
3.0
Thanks to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing for giving me this book to review.
Island of Exiles is a good book with an interesting story and world which is a post-apocalyptic fantasy novel. It was well written with good world building, interesting characters, full of action and a romance which was there but did not take over the story. I really enjoy fantasy books but I found the names and titles overly confusing which caused me to feel that it was slow to start. Similarly, the three genders confused me as it was not explained that Ebet were a different gender and for ages I thought it was a spelling mistake. However, I did like that nobody cared about others sexuality, whether they be bisexual, asexual or somewhere in-between, which is not common in most books.
Khya is strong, protective and dedicated but is also stubborn and selfish. There are three other main characters, Yorri who is intelligent, Tessen who I like as he is cunning but good, and Sanii who had a lot of potential which I hope is explored further in future books.
This is an enjoyable book and I am looking forward to reading the next book Sea of Strangers. I would recommend Island of Exiles to fans of unusual fantasy novels.
This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm
Island of Exiles is a good book with an interesting story and world which is a post-apocalyptic fantasy novel. It was well written with good world building, interesting characters, full of action and a romance which was there but did not take over the story. I really enjoy fantasy books but I found the names and titles overly confusing which caused me to feel that it was slow to start. Similarly, the three genders confused me as it was not explained that Ebet were a different gender and for ages I thought it was a spelling mistake. However, I did like that nobody cared about others sexuality, whether they be bisexual, asexual or somewhere in-between, which is not common in most books.
Khya is strong, protective and dedicated but is also stubborn and selfish. There are three other main characters, Yorri who is intelligent, Tessen who I like as he is cunning but good, and Sanii who had a lot of potential which I hope is explored further in future books.
This is an enjoyable book and I am looking forward to reading the next book Sea of Strangers. I would recommend Island of Exiles to fans of unusual fantasy novels.
This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm
bee324's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. What a fantastic book. I've never read anything quite like it. Of all the books I have read that try to incorporate new words/language into a story, I would have to say I think this one does the best job in terms of including it pretty seamlessly and using them with a good amount of context, so that you can get used to and take in their meaning over time. There is a glossary of terms and types of mages at the end of the book, but I never felt the need to refer to it. (In contrast with say A Clockwork Orange, which was confusing when it wasn't just plain irritating.)
I also love that the use of this new language is used to create a more inclusive world. If one is going to create a new culture and language, why not make it completely normal to be queer and bake words to express those experiences into the story. Pretty much (if not) everyone in this book is just casually queer in some way or other, and it's wonderful. Spoilers in this tag around the specific sexuality and gender of some characters + how those exist within the world:
There is a third sex designation in addition to male and female - ebet. I can't tell whether this is meant to represent intersex or non-binary people or both. I assumed non-binary while reading it, but the glossary does define it as a sex designation, so the more I think about it the more uncertain I am either way. Ebet cannot reproduce, but this isn't shown as bad or negative in any way. There are different pronouns for ebet - ey, eir, emself (in addition to the plural they pronouns). There is also a word for asexual (ushimo). Who people get with isn't something anyone cares about, so there aren't words for bi/pan/lesbian/gay, etc.
The main romance is f/m but Khya (main character) refers to having been with both a man and a woman, one of her friends is both ebet and asexual (romantic relationships are pretty rare so it's unclear if they're aromantic as well), another seems to at least not be into men, Khya's brother is in a relationship with an ebet who is a very important character.
I found the magic - the way it works, the different kinds/categories, etc - to be interesting and really cool. It was nice to see so many types of mages and how they're categorized (in the glossary). I liked that each person had a particular type of magic they could use. It was a nice change from what I've read/seen recently where characters may have a specialty or something they're better at but can learn pretty much whatever magic they'd like.
The romance in this book was superb in my opinion. I do enjoy romance as a part of a story (not as much if it's the focus usually), but this is the first in a long time that I've been properly swooning. That's really down to the way they're written. Like the characters are great, but the scenes themselves truly shine, imo. I also loved seeing a woman who is clearly experienced and enjoys being the one in charge in such situations (it never gets graphic in any way though).
Overall, this is a wonderfully diverse book and a fascinating world. In addition to it being very queer, I don't think anyone in this is white (or at least it's very few). I'd say this was a little bit of a slow burn book for me in that I was enjoying it but not at a 'I can't put it down' level. By the end though, I've definitely fallen in love with it, and I haven't felt moved to write a review in quite a while.
I also love that the use of this new language is used to create a more inclusive world. If one is going to create a new culture and language, why not make it completely normal to be queer and bake words to express those experiences into the story. Pretty much (if not) everyone in this book is just casually queer in some way or other, and it's wonderful. Spoilers in this tag around the specific sexuality and gender of some characters + how those exist within the world:
The main romance is f/m but Khya (main character) refers to having been with both a man and a woman, one of her friends is both ebet and asexual (romantic relationships are pretty rare so it's unclear if they're aromantic as well), another seems to at least not be into men, Khya's brother is in a relationship with an ebet who is a very important character.
I found the magic - the way it works, the different kinds/categories, etc - to be interesting and really cool. It was nice to see so many types of mages and how they're categorized (in the glossary). I liked that each person had a particular type of magic they could use. It was a nice change from what I've read/seen recently where characters may have a specialty or something they're better at but can learn pretty much whatever magic they'd like.
The romance in this book was superb in my opinion. I do enjoy romance as a part of a story (not as much if it's the focus usually), but this is the first in a long time that I've been properly swooning. That's really down to the way they're written. Like the characters are great, but the scenes themselves truly shine, imo. I also loved seeing a woman who is clearly experienced and enjoys being the one in charge in such situations (it never gets graphic in any way though).
Overall, this is a wonderfully diverse book and a fascinating world. In addition to it being very queer, I don't think anyone in this is white (or at least it's very few). I'd say this was a little bit of a slow burn book for me in that I was enjoying it but not at a 'I can't put it down' level. By the end though, I've definitely fallen in love with it, and I haven't felt moved to write a review in quite a while.
_camk_'s review
3.0
Island of Exiles was such a unique book.
I did spend a lot of the time trying to figure what is what as they are lots of different types of character, magic, rank etc.
Cameron uses different pronouns for the characters who are neither male or female. Sometimes I would forget and get confused and I think 'is this typo'?
I liked the ease at which sexuality looked at in this story.
I enjoyed the two main character, Khya and Tessen. I thought Tessen was great.
I did spend a lot of the time trying to figure what is what as they are lots of different types of character, magic, rank etc.
Cameron uses different pronouns for the characters who are neither male or female. Sometimes I would forget and get confused and I think 'is this typo'?
I liked the ease at which sexuality looked at in this story.
I enjoyed the two main character, Khya and Tessen. I thought Tessen was great.
Spoiler
Despite how strong his feeling for Khya seem to be, he never once pushed her. And I liked the irony that it was always Khya who instigated anything. Tessen is such a good guy. It was different from seeing the hate to love characters. Sure these two threw quips and they had a rivalry, he always treats Khya with respect.vikcs's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
3.5
This story is an exhilarating adventure in a harsh, brutal, and terrifying world where a girl have to reevaluate her priorities and everything she thought she knows. I really liked it even if it’s not always easy to follow.
I will be honest sometimes it was hard to follow the events and thanks to the unique terminology and intricate magical system and it took me for a while to get into the story but once I reached that point nothing could divert my attention. Where this book shines the most is the incredible world building. It’s really different and new compared to everything you ever read; also it’s extremely detailed and perfectly fleshed out that. The author created a whole new society, magical system, hierarchy and even sexualities and genders and above all everybody is just so accepting. I really enjoyed discovering the different parts of this world and this exploring journey provides plenty of entertainment. But it’s not all because the plot itself is also exciting.
Khya the heroine is a trained warrior and over all kick ass character. She is really duty oriented and lives by the teachings of their clan. Which is simply states that the clan before everybody or anything else. However she has quite a strong bond with his brother. So when something serious happens to him she starts to question her priorities. I liked how strong and resilient she is but not exactly willing to sacrifices the ones she cares about the most.
Then there is Tessen, Khya long time rival who takes up the role of the annoying pest who doesn’t want to go away. He constantly bothers her, he is persistent like that. But as they spend more and more time together they start to form some kind of understanding, bond. They create a pretty funny duo and I enjoyed their little squabbles.
Overall this book is a fascinating and has a lot of original elements to it. You have to take your time with it to really savor every minute of it but it’s worth every minute.
I will be honest sometimes it was hard to follow the events and thanks to the unique terminology and intricate magical system and it took me for a while to get into the story but once I reached that point nothing could divert my attention. Where this book shines the most is the incredible world building. It’s really different and new compared to everything you ever read; also it’s extremely detailed and perfectly fleshed out that. The author created a whole new society, magical system, hierarchy and even sexualities and genders and above all everybody is just so accepting. I really enjoyed discovering the different parts of this world and this exploring journey provides plenty of entertainment. But it’s not all because the plot itself is also exciting.
Khya the heroine is a trained warrior and over all kick ass character. She is really duty oriented and lives by the teachings of their clan. Which is simply states that the clan before everybody or anything else. However she has quite a strong bond with his brother. So when something serious happens to him she starts to question her priorities. I liked how strong and resilient she is but not exactly willing to sacrifices the ones she cares about the most.
Then there is Tessen, Khya long time rival who takes up the role of the annoying pest who doesn’t want to go away. He constantly bothers her, he is persistent like that. But as they spend more and more time together they start to form some kind of understanding, bond. They create a pretty funny duo and I enjoyed their little squabbles.
Overall this book is a fascinating and has a lot of original elements to it. You have to take your time with it to really savor every minute of it but it’s worth every minute.
thestarsandthesky_5's review
4.0
It was really hard for me to decide if this book was worth three, three-and-a-half, or four stars. I found this story very unique, and fast-paced, and I loved mostly everything about it. I loved the characters and especially Khya and Tessen's relationship, as it left me with my toes curled and butterflies in my stomach.
However, I found the title given to people very hard to remember, and I only really understood a couple of them. Yonin is the lowest class of the society, Miriseh and Kaigo the highest. Then Nyshin straight after the Miriseh and Kaigo (I only remember Nyshin due to Khya being one). That's about all I picked out.
Also, I felt that a bit more character development was necessary, more so for Yorri, as the blurb provided seems like Yorri is the centre of the story. Although he is, it wasn't as I imagined, and in the way it was, it lead to a serious lack of character development on his part.
Apart from that, it was a good read, but I am still not sure if I would ever re-read this or consider buying this, as I tend to buy books that I love, but only if they leave a mark on me.
However, I found the title given to people very hard to remember, and I only really understood a couple of them. Yonin is the lowest class of the society, Miriseh and Kaigo the highest. Then Nyshin straight after the Miriseh and Kaigo (I only remember Nyshin due to Khya being one). That's about all I picked out.
Also, I felt that a bit more character development was necessary, more so for Yorri, as the blurb provided seems like Yorri is the centre of the story. Although he is, it wasn't as I imagined, and in the way it was, it lead to a serious lack of character development on his part.
Apart from that, it was a good read, but I am still not sure if I would ever re-read this or consider buying this, as I tend to buy books that I love, but only if they leave a mark on me.
leahkarge's review against another edition
4.0
***I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
SUMMARY:
In Erica Cameron's ISLAND OF EXILES, we visit a nation ensconced in magic and a hierarchy based upon strength and ability. They're is taught to put complete faith in their leaders and to put the well-being of the clan before themselves or anything/anyone else.
The only person Khya really loves and trusts is her younger brother Yorri, and she is determined to protect and take care of him. When Yorri is suddenly proclaimed dead due to a surprise attack from their enemies, it's not long before Khya starts to suspect that's not the whole truth. To discover what's really going on, she must team up with the boy who's always been her competition, and a person who she doesn't know but who Yorri loved and trusted implicitly.
---------
REVIEW:
Erica Cameron has never let me down, and she continues to succeed in hooking me in with ISLAND OF EXILES.
Admittedly, it took me a little while to get into it at first. From the very beginning, we're immediately tossed into this new world, with a bunch of different terms and sayings. Even with the help of the glossary (which I didn't know existed until I get to the end of the book, so keep an eye out for that, if it's not at the front in the final version), I felt a bit like a fish out of water for a while, trying to understand what exactly was going on. But after a few chapters, and some helpful context clues, I was able to immerse myself in the world Cameron creates without stumbling over the new words.
Which I am so thankful for, because the worldbuilding in this novel is incredible. Cameron details different ethnic nations, social and magical hierarchies, multiple sexual and gender identities, technological advances, and so much more. It doesn't read like a history book at all, but as a history nerd who is fascinated by the progression of these things throughout the ages, it was so fascinating to read about all of these in ISLAND OF EXILES.
Speaking of sexualities and gender, I loved Cameron's work in these two areas, because they are both such non-issues in the society she's created. There is a third gender that is recognized by all in the society, and there are specific pronouns that they use for those who identify as ebet. It's pretty much the same with sexuality. The main character, Khya, is either bisexual or pansexual, and it's never an issue. The same with Etaro, one of Khya's friends and squad members, who is asexual. No one give's a fuck! (Heh. Literally in Etaro's case.) I'd love to to live in a society that is so accepting of sexuality and gender that isn't heterosexual and cisgender. (Not this society because I've read the book so I know what's up, but you know what I mean.)
Finally, I loved all of the characters! None of them are flat or one dimensional. They're all human, with vast and differing emotions. They love, they hurt, they get angry, they forgive, they keep secrets, they try to protect their loved ones. None of them are perfect by any means. They're just as flawed and broken as an every day person, which is something I love to see in characters I'm reading about and trying to identify with.
Overall, this book is amazing and a wonderful read. I cannot wait to read the second one, and to see what else Erica Cameron releases in the future.
SUMMARY:
In Erica Cameron's ISLAND OF EXILES, we visit a nation ensconced in magic and a hierarchy based upon strength and ability. They're is taught to put complete faith in their leaders and to put the well-being of the clan before themselves or anything/anyone else.
The only person Khya really loves and trusts is her younger brother Yorri, and she is determined to protect and take care of him. When Yorri is suddenly proclaimed dead due to a surprise attack from their enemies, it's not long before Khya starts to suspect that's not the whole truth. To discover what's really going on, she must team up with the boy who's always been her competition, and a person who she doesn't know but who Yorri loved and trusted implicitly.
---------
REVIEW:
Erica Cameron has never let me down, and she continues to succeed in hooking me in with ISLAND OF EXILES.
Admittedly, it took me a little while to get into it at first. From the very beginning, we're immediately tossed into this new world, with a bunch of different terms and sayings. Even with the help of the glossary (which I didn't know existed until I get to the end of the book, so keep an eye out for that, if it's not at the front in the final version), I felt a bit like a fish out of water for a while, trying to understand what exactly was going on. But after a few chapters, and some helpful context clues, I was able to immerse myself in the world Cameron creates without stumbling over the new words.
Which I am so thankful for, because the worldbuilding in this novel is incredible. Cameron details different ethnic nations, social and magical hierarchies, multiple sexual and gender identities, technological advances, and so much more. It doesn't read like a history book at all, but as a history nerd who is fascinated by the progression of these things throughout the ages, it was so fascinating to read about all of these in ISLAND OF EXILES.
Speaking of sexualities and gender, I loved Cameron's work in these two areas, because they are both such non-issues in the society she's created. There is a third gender that is recognized by all in the society, and there are specific pronouns that they use for those who identify as ebet. It's pretty much the same with sexuality. The main character, Khya, is either bisexual or pansexual, and it's never an issue. The same with Etaro, one of Khya's friends and squad members, who is asexual. No one give's a fuck! (Heh. Literally in Etaro's case.) I'd love to to live in a society that is so accepting of sexuality and gender that isn't heterosexual and cisgender. (Not this society because I've read the book so I know what's up, but you know what I mean.)
Finally, I loved all of the characters! None of them are flat or one dimensional. They're all human, with vast and differing emotions. They love, they hurt, they get angry, they forgive, they keep secrets, they try to protect their loved ones. None of them are perfect by any means. They're just as flawed and broken as an every day person, which is something I love to see in characters I'm reading about and trying to identify with.
Overall, this book is amazing and a wonderful read. I cannot wait to read the second one, and to see what else Erica Cameron releases in the future.
momwithareadingproblem's review against another edition
4.0
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the contents of this review.
Island of Exiles by Erica Cameron is an addictive, high-stakes read. I found myself engrossed from page one. What makes it so addictive was the unique world-building and setting Cameron developed through the eyes of her main character Khya. It is unlike anything I’ve ever read!
Khya is a warrior, put simply. She, like everyone else, puts Shiara, her home and people, above everything else. Basically the way the society works is like an “all for one and one for all” mentality. It is the only way they could survive this harsh world. But back to Khya. She has bought into this idea wholeheartedly. She will give her life for Shiara, and do whatever is asked of her. That is until her brother is killed.
Yorri is the catalyst of this story. We see a very small glimpse of him through Khya’s eyes before he dies, then we see him in another light. Khya would do anything for him, and it takes her from a character that is hardened and disliked to one you love and root for.
The plot of the book is that the elders of Shiara are hiding something and killing people to do so. It’s devastating for someone like Khya who has devoted her life to doing what the elders wish. I couldn’t sit the book down at this point. I was so engrossed in the mystery and deception Khya uncovers. Not to mention the romance 😉 My favorite person in the book is Terren and he is Khya’s least favorite person. It’s obvious to everyone but Khya Terren’s intentions. I found myself swooning over him and his unintentional sweet acts over and over. So much swooning!!
Overall, I really enjoyed Island of Exiles. I’ll admit that even though I couldn’t sit the book down, it did take me longer to read than usual. I think that is do to the world-building at the beginning of the book. It is all told through the character’s perspective and the author avoids big info-dumps. As a result, it took a little while for me to catch on to the terminology and setting than it usually would. That’s a positive though because it is unlike anything I’ve ever read. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a dystopian fantasy.
Island of Exiles by Erica Cameron is an addictive, high-stakes read. I found myself engrossed from page one. What makes it so addictive was the unique world-building and setting Cameron developed through the eyes of her main character Khya. It is unlike anything I’ve ever read!
Khya is a warrior, put simply. She, like everyone else, puts Shiara, her home and people, above everything else. Basically the way the society works is like an “all for one and one for all” mentality. It is the only way they could survive this harsh world. But back to Khya. She has bought into this idea wholeheartedly. She will give her life for Shiara, and do whatever is asked of her. That is until her brother is killed.
Yorri is the catalyst of this story. We see a very small glimpse of him through Khya’s eyes before he dies, then we see him in another light. Khya would do anything for him, and it takes her from a character that is hardened and disliked to one you love and root for.
The plot of the book is that the elders of Shiara are hiding something and killing people to do so. It’s devastating for someone like Khya who has devoted her life to doing what the elders wish. I couldn’t sit the book down at this point. I was so engrossed in the mystery and deception Khya uncovers. Not to mention the romance 😉 My favorite person in the book is Terren and he is Khya’s least favorite person. It’s obvious to everyone but Khya Terren’s intentions. I found myself swooning over him and his unintentional sweet acts over and over. So much swooning!!
Overall, I really enjoyed Island of Exiles. I’ll admit that even though I couldn’t sit the book down, it did take me longer to read than usual. I think that is do to the world-building at the beginning of the book. It is all told through the character’s perspective and the author avoids big info-dumps. As a result, it took a little while for me to catch on to the terminology and setting than it usually would. That’s a positive though because it is unlike anything I’ve ever read. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a dystopian fantasy.
book_hoarding_dragon's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to get into this book and enjoy it but I just couldn't get into it (I think it might be I've been binging on too much YA books lately). The main character, Khya, didn't really grab my attention. I don't know if it was the writing style or something else but I found myself having to force myself to read the book. I just wasn't enjoying it.
I think a part of me not enjoying it was the terminology. At times I felt completely lost with the basaku, dyunji, nyshin, ebet, yonin, etc. Though some of these I was able to figure out. I didn't notice until I was over halfway through the book that there was a glossary (I do like when books have a glossary in the beginning as opposed to the back since I'm more likely to encounter it then). I would have liked the author to explain some of these concepts. I like that there's terminology for a third sex, ebet, and there's gender neutral pronouns, "ey" and "eir." Also, the glossary for ebet says, "the sex designation for those neither male nor female." But I've seen a lot of reviewers refer to ebet as a third gender. Sex and gender are not the same thing (this was something that was relevant to my master's thesis and it's one of my pet peeves).
I think a part of me not enjoying it was the terminology. At times I felt completely lost with the basaku, dyunji, nyshin, ebet, yonin, etc. Though some of these I was able to figure out. I didn't notice until I was over halfway through the book that there was a glossary (I do like when books have a glossary in the beginning as opposed to the back since I'm more likely to encounter it then). I would have liked the author to explain some of these concepts. I like that there's terminology for a third sex, ebet, and there's gender neutral pronouns, "ey" and "eir." Also, the glossary for ebet says, "the sex designation for those neither male nor female." But I've seen a lot of reviewers refer to ebet as a third gender. Sex and gender are not the same thing (this was something that was relevant to my master's thesis and it's one of my pet peeves).
captain_valour's review against another edition
5.0
At the beginning, I wasn't quite sure what to make of the story, because there were terms that were a little hard to follow, but I got used to them eventually, and fell in love with it. About halfway through is when I really got engrossed in the story, not wanting to put the book down. Something about this world is quite intriguing; whether it's the magic, the culture, or the BA main character, I'm not sure. Maybe it's all of that combined. I honestly can't wait to read the next one in the series, whenever it comes out!