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bamfling'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
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Death, Self harm, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
Minor: Sexual content
aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition
4.25
Def read trigger/content warnings especially if you struggle with mental health.
Graphic: Murder, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Child death, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Self harm
megdconway's review
2.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Violence, and Torture
Moderate: Slavery, Trafficking, Fire/Fire injury, Death, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racial slurs, Death of parent, Grief, and Child abuse
oyindaaa's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Do be aware of content warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness
bookishmillennial's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
I buddy read this with a friend and we really enjoyed it, maybe even more than the first book in the duology! It was a fantastic way to end the duology and we saw characters confront their pain/trauma and ultimately grow from it. I felt satisfied with this conclusion and think other readers will too!
I would love to see this adapted to a limited series or a movie!!
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Violence, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Death, and Grief
Minor: Sexual content
nettle_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
It has a more deep dive into the same topics so many fantasy YA books have so don’t run away because of the content warnings.
Minor: Gore, Kidnapping, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Suicide, Trafficking, Violence, Abandonment, Classism, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicide attempt, Torture, Transphobia, War, Sexual violence, Blood, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Homophobia, Self harm, Sexual content, Slavery, and Suicidal thoughts
jupitersuns's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Murder, Racism, and Grief
bibliorama's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Enjoyment - 4.5
Well here we are. This may seem like a surprise considering my review of the first book where I go into how it put me into a reading slump. But I have to say, this is a full star more than the first and that's not usually how this goes. The characters, world, and story felt so much more settled into themselves. It feels like this was the story that was always meant to be told and the first book was just one big setup to get us here.
For how much ground was covered in this book, I have to say the writing is so skillfully done. I just want to give Roseanne A. Brown a round of applause because the emotional journey these characters went on was heavy, but it was well done. It's only a 4.5 and not a 5 because I started to speed through the audiobook at the end during the wrap-up, partially because all the major moments and beats were done but also because my library loan was almost up and that's on me CX.
OH ALSO how could I forget to mention the plagues! I love a good wrathful god raining down some plagues. Can't beat the foreboding that adds to a story.
Start - 4.5
We started strong with Hyena giving us a little more backstory about Farid which I found interesting and it added to the emotional depth of who he was as a character. I also appreciated that Karina and Malik's stories intersected right off the bat. You could see their plots interweaving more from the start than you could in the first book. Since I listened to the audiobook, I have to add that all three of the narrators are fantastic and brought each of their characters to life with nuance.
Characters - 5
I loved that the focus settled itself on our main characters and it didn't waiver much from them. The mains/most important/most interesting characters to me are this group: Malik, Karina, Farid, Hanane, Nadia, and Leia. This core is where all the emotional beats hinge, and when they cross and hurt each other it's a knife that cuts deep. There were some really nice interior moments that we got with Karina and Malik as individuals. They felt very real, and there never was a moment where they acted out of character. The only thing I wish we got more of at the back half of the book is Malik with his sisters cause there is some real shit that goes down with them that I would like to see resolved. One more thing before going into individual characters, I loved how these characters all did some bad things and the book doesn't let them off the hook for that, it makes them have to reconcile their actions in their mind and work towards fixing things.
Listen Spoilers, Beware:
Farid:
Chapter 31 with Malik, that was real and I felt it, but I also have to say it was beautifully written. To me, that chapter was the most emotional.
Karina:
Hanane:
Atmosphere - 4
I loved getting to see more of the world and the little details it holds. I could have done with some more, but I think the characters felt so real and had such great details to them that they made the world feel real.
Plot - 4
Okay, so the actual plot is another fetch quest -ish. That's not my favorite. But lets be real, the story was always way more about the characters and their emotional journeys which I enjoyed very much.
Ending - 4
Hits all the satisfying beats and I have to say what a great job Brown did wrapping this all up because not a thread was dropped. The wrap up part of the story might be a bit long for my preference, but I also know there are people who like that so to each their own.
Style - 4
The Hyena narrator interludes were gripping and Hyena's voice was so strong. The background info she gives us and the meta addresses were some of my favorite parts.
Overall - 4.25
There's so much in this story that I enjoyed but just didn't fit into this review. I will say I'm happy that I picked up the second book and give the ending a shot because it was well worth it.
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Self harm, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, and Physical abuse
Minor: Slavery, Blood, Colonisation, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Incest, and Xenophobia
This book doesn't shy away from its themes and the way it discusses them is nuanced and never feels like the story is using them for shock value. I would think an older teen would be able to handle these topics and possibly find solace in this story if they've experienced some of these in their own life.alyssasaurus'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
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Self harm, Police brutality, Grief, Emotional abuse, Colonisation, Physical abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
melinajoy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Wow did I love this book! It's book 2 and I found it answered a lot of questions I'd had in the first book and was also just easier to understand. Karina and Malik are amazing characters and I also love Ife. A story of perseverance!
I appreciate how the author presents Malik's mental illnesses, his anxiety, and his self harm, suicidal thoughts/attempts.
I love Karina's queerness.
And I just appreciate most of the characters' tenacity, will, and how very much themselves they are.
I loved the journey we go through with them all separately and then together.
I WISH we got a third book and that this wasn't a duology. We need a part 3 of them living their lives! But I guess I'll just deal with the end chapter.
This book is definitely getting added to my favorites list!
*This book is graphic and contains a lot of trauma. Please check content warnings*.
Graphic: Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Racial slurs, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death of parent, Murder, Kidnapping, Grief, Violence, Confinement, and Gaslighting
Minor: Chronic illness and Injury/Injury detail
CW: grooming