Reviews - The Map of Salt and Stars

1.27k reviews for:

The Map of Salt and Stars

Zeyn Joukhadar

4.03 AVERAGE

gregory_glover's review against another edition

3.25

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I like this book more than the rating suggests. However, it still did not grab me like some do, hence the lower rating. There’s nothing specifically wrong—and much that is great—about the book. If I were much younger, I think the book might have had a deeper emotional impact. I loved the descriptions and the weaving in of history. I am not big on fantasy, especially the “touch of fantasy“ in an otherwise straightforward novel. The neurodivergence was somewhat interesting, but again did not move me to love the book. Very solid. Very good. Worth reading for the cultural diversity.

Content Warnings

reallycoolusername's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous emotional inspiring slow-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: No

livelovelibrary's review against another edition

5.0

medium-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: Complicated

tastelessreader's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous emotional informative inspiring reflective tense medium-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: No

nick_w's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring sad tense medium-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: No

Content Warnings

gracemuelle's review against another edition

5.0

this book was beautiful. i definitely want to reread in the future

wellyreads's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-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: No

fanny_epub's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

“I wouldn’t mind having more scars if you could have had less”

This book was wonderful, and that line perfectly encapsulates how this family is so willing to give everything to get their love ones to safety. This journey is one worth reading.

custicm's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-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: No

marlisphillips's review against another edition

4.0

I mostly enjoyed this book though I did struggle at a few points. This is about Syrian refugees in the present day as well as Syrian explorers centuries ago. Rawiya and Nour somewhat follow similar physical paths as well as life paths. The descriptions of the refugee experience are heart-wrenching, as always. It was the story of Rawiya that didn’t completely hold my interest, maybe because it was a bit mythological which has never been my thing. Joukhadar’s writing is lovely and makes me curious about some of her other stories.

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