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yourbookishbff's reviews
606 reviews
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
For long-time fantasy readers, Suri's intentional focus on female agency in every single story line is so refreshing - in a literary world where women are so often sidelined to martyrdom or romantic plotlines, we see in Suri's world what it looks like when men deliver on these fantasy expectations. What does it look like when men sacrifice themselves for an empress, when men express unrequited love and longing, when men are at the center of emotional court politics and manipulation? And more important, what does it look like for women to direct generals, for women to negotiate international alliances, for women to claim God-power, for women to reject self-sacrifice, for women to live (gasp) selfishly? This genre is so dominated by male writers, that it is exciting to see authors like Suri subverting so many of the classic epic fantasy devices for her purposes, and then putting at the very center a heart-wrenching sapphic love story.
Cannot recommend this series highly enough - it's dark, unsettling, romantic and adventurous, and it will satisfy those who love seeing immortals meddling in human chaos. So, so good. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a complimentary advanced reader copy.
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content and Blood
- 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
4.0
I really can't get past the workplace scenes. Nava's depiction of corporate life is so surreally accurate - satirized possibly at a few points, but only barely - that I felt both deeply validated and deeply angry reading it. Also noteworthy is how rare it is to actually see working class main characters - in a market where so many of the stand-out rom coms literally feature lake houses (why?!), a female main character with her TV propped on a cardboard box and a job working at the bowling alley is so REAL. We need more!!
This isn't going to be for everyone - the conflicts are stressful and the inner monologue leans cheesy, but I'm so grateful it exists - for its representation of Indigenous main characters, working class people, corporate chaos, and so much more.
Graphic: Misogyny, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Addiction and Abandonment
Minor: Death of parent
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Lesbophobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexism, and Classism
- 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? No
3.0
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Trafficking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
5.0
Moderate: Confinement, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Gun violence, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Blood, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
And the romance! I was missing a bit of context on the fall-out between Finchley and Jenny in the previous book, but it ultimately didn't lessen my appreciation for their current relationship tension. Matthews writes such beautiful longing, and I loved that these two actually divulge their affection for each other early on in the story, making the conflict the alignment of their life plans and not the declaration of hidden feelings or miscommunication of some kind. While the final resolution to their third-act breakup missed a beat or two for me, I had a great time with this story and appreciated how Matthews framed their grand gestures and declarations within the context of their backstories and goals.
So many character overlaps for the Matthews fans! Ahmad and Mira!! Alex Archer! Now I need to go back and read book one so I can blow through this series as well. Matthews writing is so elegant and romantic, and I just really enjoy her very earnest characters.
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Abandonment, and Colonisation
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Sexual content and Abandonment