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bamfling's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
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
nettle_'s review
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- 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
I could not get enough of this forbidden love that was somehow encouraged and hated by the gods. It had so much awareness for so many topics including suicide, grooming, racism, transphobia, trauma, abuse, and I guess I was very seen by having these topics discussed. It has so many layers of magic I will not even try to explain but it was magical hearing about the magic.
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.
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.
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
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
This book has me screaming!!!!! It is a must read! I wish I could rate it 100 stars 🤩
Content Warnings
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
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- 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
(I didn't read through this after writing it. It's all rapid fire thoughts, so excuse any spelling or grammar issues.)
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:Farid and Hanane's relationship is definitely one of the darker YA relationships I have read, and that's not because other books don't try to do this kind of relationship, but it's because it doesn't shy away from showing how scary it is for Hanane. The book also doesn't waiver in who Farid is as a character nor doesn't it overshoot who he is to where he becomes a caricature. There were many moments where he was in a scene and I could see him manipulating those around him, but it was so subtle.
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:I loved Karina's growth in this book and how we got to see her interact with her family towards the end.
Hanane: Man poor Hanane. She never really got a chance at life because of Farid, and even though it feels like she got some justice towards the end, she still is dead and that can't change. It's tragic to think about how young she was and she felt young in the scenes that we saw her in.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
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
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Self harm, Police brutality, Grief, Emotional abuse, Colonisation, Physical abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
lady_valhella's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Picking right up where Hyena left of we continue on the path of Malik and Karina’s story. We learn what happens after Solstasia and where that leads Malik and all the adventures Karina goes on. I also think the Ms. Brown handles the darker themes of grooming and self harm well without delving into triggering topics graphically. I would love to read some stories about the side character also, specifically Afua, Ife, and Leia and Nadia. Malik has a good heart but alas they say the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Confinement, Torture, Trafficking, and Physical abuse
queer_bookwyrm's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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
5 ⭐ CW: (provided by the author) fantasy violence, self-harm, emotional and physical abuse, anxiety/panic attacks, grooming, suicidal ideation
A Psalm of Storms and Silence by Roseanne A. Brown is the second and final book of the Song of Wraiths and Ruin duology. This book blew my mind! The only thing I regret is not having read it sooner. I may have loved this book even more than the first one! Read the rest at your own risk, as there will be spoilers for book 1.
We pick up with Karina and Malik's perspectives after the very upsetting ending of the last book. Karina is on the run trying to figure out how take back her throne, get revenge on Farid, and have more control over her wind powers. Malik is with Farid and the lich still struggling with the war of anxiety in his mind along with the presence of the spirit Idir. I have never read a series where my opinions on the MCs have made a complete 180° since the last book. Last book I found Karina annoying, and I was constantly yelling at her to get it together and be responsible, but in this book I found her infinitely more relatable, courageous, and determined. I was rooting for her the whole time. Malik started out as the gentle boy with anxiety who tended to be self-destructive, and I just wanted to wrap him up and protect him. In this book, he becomes Farid's cowardly dog, and in his desire for control (over his mind and Idir), he becomes cruel, self-serving, and violent.
We get some great new side characters in this book that I wish we had gotten more of. This book was a study of the gray areas of life. No character was completely good or bad. Each made mistakes and hurt people, but it's hard to label someone a villain when you understand their motives and the circumstances that led up to them. The reasons don't absolve that person of their actions, but understanding goes a long way. It's also a story about forgiving yourself for your mistakes and moving forward to find something to live for. Just one thing.
Karina's story in particular, was about seeing what is wrong and being the one who does something about it. Things don't have to stay the way they have always been. Change, though slow and difficult, can happen if you're the one to make it happen. It's also a story of sacrifice, though it's never the sacrifice you expect.
This series is so severely underrated! I need everyone to go pick up a copy of A Song of Wraiths and Ruin. Roseanne A. Brown did a marvellous job with duology. She made me feel so many things. Her words, especially while describing Malik's anxiety hit home, along with his trauma response of fawning whenever he thought Farid was upset. I never realized I do the same thing until I read this book.
Will be immediately buying all of Brown's future books as they come out.
A Psalm of Storms and Silence by Roseanne A. Brown is the second and final book of the Song of Wraiths and Ruin duology. This book blew my mind! The only thing I regret is not having read it sooner. I may have loved this book even more than the first one! Read the rest at your own risk, as there will be spoilers for book 1.
We pick up with Karina and Malik's perspectives after the very upsetting ending of the last book. Karina is on the run trying to figure out how take back her throne, get revenge on Farid, and have more control over her wind powers. Malik is with Farid and the lich still struggling with the war of anxiety in his mind along with the presence of the spirit Idir. I have never read a series where my opinions on the MCs have made a complete 180° since the last book. Last book I found Karina annoying, and I was constantly yelling at her to get it together and be responsible, but in this book I found her infinitely more relatable, courageous, and determined. I was rooting for her the whole time. Malik started out as the gentle boy with anxiety who tended to be self-destructive, and I just wanted to wrap him up and protect him. In this book, he becomes Farid's cowardly dog, and in his desire for control (over his mind and Idir), he becomes cruel, self-serving, and violent.
We get some great new side characters in this book that I wish we had gotten more of. This book was a study of the gray areas of life. No character was completely good or bad. Each made mistakes and hurt people, but it's hard to label someone a villain when you understand their motives and the circumstances that led up to them. The reasons don't absolve that person of their actions, but understanding goes a long way. It's also a story about forgiving yourself for your mistakes and moving forward to find something to live for. Just one thing.
Karina's story in particular, was about seeing what is wrong and being the one who does something about it. Things don't have to stay the way they have always been. Change, though slow and difficult, can happen if you're the one to make it happen. It's also a story of sacrifice, though it's never the sacrifice you expect.
This series is so severely underrated! I need everyone to go pick up a copy of A Song of Wraiths and Ruin. Roseanne A. Brown did a marvellous job with duology. She made me feel so many things. Her words, especially while describing Malik's anxiety hit home, along with his trauma response of fawning whenever he thought Farid was upset. I never realized I do the same thing until I read this book.
Will be immediately buying all of Brown's future books as they come out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, and Self harm
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Suicidal thoughts
violetreader's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
4.5
Picked it up because the main character shares my name, kept reading because the story was awesome!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
Minor: Self harm and Grief
For all the trauma the characters go through, there is an equal and proportional amount of healthy coping mechanisms to heal from trauma.aseel_reads's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
2.75
I liked how the ending came about, it was a good plot, not unrealistic but it was quite slow and I just didn't care or connect with any of the characters but I liked their arcs
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, Trafficking, Violence, War, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Child death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Slavery, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Death, Gaslighting, and Kidnapping
ofbooksandechos's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Grief, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: Murder, Pregnancy, Torture, and Miscarriage
other CWs: grooming, fictional racism/racial slurs, fictional police brutality