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What do I even say? This book was a lot different than I was expecting going in. I couldn’t quite remember the details from my first read, and funnily enough, the only part I remembered was the last quarter and it still shocked me because for some reason I thought it happened in the next book, not this one.
The first 3/4 of this book have a very different vibe to the last bit. This is a dark and disturbing read, and I’m shocked 12/13 year old me read this book and was fine. Though maybe that explains why I couldn’t remember anything about Sileph.
I really loved Enna’s story. It’s a story filled with loss and struggle and desperation. She goes through so much trauma, and by the end she’s mainly focused on her survival and holding on to the part of her she feels is the only connection she has to her brother. It takes her a bit to notice that Isi has also been suffering in silence, and that moment when she decides she wants to help Isi if it’s the last thing she does almost made me cry.
The last quarter of this book was purely focused on friendship and I loved every second of it. Seeing how close Enna and Isi are, watching them play with wind and fire, it was heartwarming and soft and just everything I want to see in a book.
Finn definitely took a while to grow on me. Enna hurt his feelings and Finn sort of went rogue and decided to show Enna he was a true man. I get they’re still kids and it’s a common trope, but it annoyed me a little and I think that’s just because I’m older now. Though I loved Finn’s dedication and how despite what Enna said he was always there for her ready to pick her up when she fell. They did grow on me by the end and it was funny seeing them all in love on the journey back to Bayern.
And then Isi having the baby. Stuff like that always makes me emotional, and when she named him after her father I almost shed tears. Geric’s face when he finds out they can have more kids killed me though lol he’s the cutest himbo
And Razo. That boy is adorable and tiny and I’m so excited to see more of him in the next book!
The first 3/4 of this book have a very different vibe to the last bit. This is a dark and disturbing read, and I’m shocked 12/13 year old me read this book and was fine. Though maybe that explains why I couldn’t remember anything about Sileph.
I really loved Enna’s story. It’s a story filled with loss and struggle and desperation. She goes through so much trauma, and by the end she’s mainly focused on her survival and holding on to the part of her she feels is the only connection she has to her brother. It takes her a bit to notice that Isi has also been suffering in silence, and that moment when she decides she wants to help Isi if it’s the last thing she does almost made me cry.
The last quarter of this book was purely focused on friendship and I loved every second of it. Seeing how close Enna and Isi are, watching them play with wind and fire, it was heartwarming and soft and just everything I want to see in a book.
Finn definitely took a while to grow on me. Enna hurt his feelings and Finn sort of went rogue and decided to show Enna he was a true man. I get they’re still kids and it’s a common trope, but it annoyed me a little and I think that’s just because I’m older now. Though I loved Finn’s dedication and how despite what Enna said he was always there for her ready to pick her up when she fell. They did grow on me by the end and it was funny seeing them all in love on the journey back to Bayern.
And then Isi having the baby. Stuff like that always makes me emotional, and when she named him after her father I almost shed tears. Geric’s face when he finds out they can have more kids killed me though lol he’s the cutest himbo
And Razo. That boy is adorable and tiny and I’m so excited to see more of him in the next book!
that last bit traumatized me wow
this gets a 3 stars for the rep, but as for the rest, remind me to never read adult contemporary romance again lol it really isn't for me
this gets a 3 stars for the rep, but as for the rest, remind me to never read adult contemporary romance again lol it really isn't for me
AMAZING. GO PREORDER THIS RIGHT NOW. REVIEW TO COME ON RELEASE DAY
Today is the day...Love from A to Z is out in the world! So go out and get it form your local bookstore or borrow it from the library, because this book will absolutely melt your heart and change your life completely!
Okay, now for my review, which I wrote the day after I finished this book:
I stan one contemporary author and that author is S.K. Ali
Where do I even start… My heart feels full. This story will always have a special place in my soul.
When I saw the cover reveal a few months back, I immediately knew I needed this book in my life. I mean…THERE IS AN ACTUAL HIJABI ON THE COVER *cries tears of joy* I don’t think tiny, 10-year-old Sakina ever thought she would see someone who looked like her on a cover of a book. And I know for a fact, that present Sakina never thought she would read a Muslim romance, that was done in a halal way, and actually enjoy it?!!
(Special thanks to Patty
for sending me her extra copy. This book has changed my life in so many good ways.)
I am sad. A little. This is the book I needed growing up. But it didn’t exist then. And while I am really happy with how far publishing has come since I was little, I can’t help feeling a little jealous of how today’s young Muslim girls and boys get to see themselves represented in a book. That being said, this book touches on so many important topics, including Islamophobia, which I definitely think is more prevalent now than it was when I was little.
I don’t even know how to start reviewing this book. I fell in love with Zayneb in the first chapter. She’s strong and not afraid to stand up for herself and her faith. And I know this is something I struggle with. I’m not a very vocal person. I don’t like to draw attention to myself, and I hate arguing with people. But I still feel strongly. I just tend to keep my feelings in or express them to close friends. At the same time, I know it’s my duty as a Muslim to stand up against injustice and that I should do more.
Zayneb’s character arc in this book was really well done. She learns that it’s okay to be angry. That she has every right to feel the way she feels. But she learns to channel her anger in a less destructive way that is just as productive. I love how she learned not to stay silent and move on with life, and I really liked the scene where she explains everything to her mother at the end and her mom realizes what Zayneb is going through and why she can’t just keep quiet and invisible.
That scene where Zayneb notices the little white girl on the plane and realizes how differently she is treated just because she doesn’t look or dress like Zayneb, hurt so bad. Reading this book made me realize how rare it is to find a character that I can fully relate to. Zayneb’s experiences in many ways mirror mine and a lot of other Muslims around the world. It’s reality for us, even though it shouldn’t be. And it sucks. But I love the way this was included in the book.
ADAM CHEN…aka the most perfect friend, brother, and son. The little meet-cute on the airplane had me squealing. Especially when Adam makes excuses to go to the bathroom multiple times to try and talk to Zayneb but she’s either sleeping or some annoying flight attendants are in the way of romance.
Adam has a secret, and if you’ve read the synopsis, you know he has MS. You learn that his mother died from MS when he was little. Adam’s story is full of pain. My heart ached the entire time when I wasn’t dying from all the cuteness. Knowing how his mother’s death affected his father, Adam doesn’t want to tell his dad just yet. He wants to avoid what his diagnosis will lead to. The little glimpses we see of Adam with his mother, how he secretly struggles with his MS, until he finally tells his father, it hurts a lot. I was almost in tears at so many points throughout this book. Adam is my child and I just wanted to protect him. I wanted to see him happy and hopeful and in love. He’s such a good person and he deserves lots of hugs.
Adam and Zayneb’s relationship…I loved every aspect of it. We get to see what “halal dating” looks like, the proper precautions and steps that need to be taken, and we get to see both characters consider these things multiple times in the book. That was something I never thought I would ever read in fiction.
Zayneb does try to tone herself down. She tries to be quieter and not voice her thoughts or opinions on everything. And I knew we were headed towards a breaking point. And when that happened, I expected Adam’s reaction. Zayneb did cross a line; her anger got the best of her. But we also see how Adam doesn’t experience the same Islamophobia that Zayneb does on account of the fact that he’s a convert and lives in a majority Muslim country. And I found this an interesting contrast that’s also very important. I sometimes forget how different it is growing up in a community where everyone you know is Muslim. I’m constantly cautious and thinking about what I’m doing and whether it’ll make some people think negatively about Islam. When an act of terrorism occurs somewhere in the world, I can feel people noticing me more than they usually do. I stand out. I feel uneasy and vulnerable. My experiences are different compared to other Muslims. And for Adam, I think this was an important lesson. To realize how different things are, and what Zayneb is going through.
Anyway, back to the relationship. I loved Zayneb’s parents and how they viewed relationships. They taught Zayneb the halal and proper way to go about it. As long as boundaries were followed, and she was in a group setting, she could be friendly with anyone. I love this so much more than the classic arranged marriage story that we see. There’s a lot more openness when relationships are viewed in this way, and it was nice to see a character slowly falling in love, but not being afraid of the consequences of telling their parents. And it was all halal too! I loved seeing the thoughts that would go through Zayneb and Adam’s heads. How they wanted to reach out to each other, but they would stop themselves because it wasn’t right. How they sidestepped talking to each other/flirting using creative ways. I’m still dying over Adam being “thirsty for water.”
I SAW THAT SAINTS AND MISFITS REFERENCE AND I LOVED IT.
The ending…Adam, his dad, and Hanna spending time together in the room Adam made. It was so emotional. I love their relationship so much. It’s so pure and heartwarming.
I haven’t touched much on Fencer or Zayneb’s friends. I didn’t know this was based off of a true story, but I really loved how Noemi joined in with Kavi and Ayaan. In some cases, we need the support from our white and non-Muslim friends to stand up against Islamophobia. It showed Fencer that it wasn’t just Zayneb speaking out against his Islamophobic and racist topics in class, she had the support from other people as well.
The end…the cutest, sweetest, most adorable ending I have ever read. I was all smiles. And I had happy tears in my eyes.
Some of my favourite quotes:
5/5 stars. I can’t recommend this book enough. I feel happy and full of all these wonderful emotions.
(Sidenote: there’s a scene where Adam and Zayneb discuss who Zayneb is named after ie. she’s named after the Prophet’s cousin. I had never heard of her before and am way more familiar with the Prophet’s granddaughter, who’s name is also Zaynab. Our main character definitely feels more similar to the Prophet’s granddaughter, who stood up against oppression and injustice, all while being dragged in chains from Iraq to Syria, hijab ripped off her head by the same people who killed her brother and family.)
Today is the day...Love from A to Z is out in the world! So go out and get it form your local bookstore or borrow it from the library, because this book will absolutely melt your heart and change your life completely!
Okay, now for my review, which I wrote the day after I finished this book:
I stan one contemporary author and that author is S.K. Ali
Where do I even start… My heart feels full. This story will always have a special place in my soul.
When I saw the cover reveal a few months back, I immediately knew I needed this book in my life. I mean…THERE IS AN ACTUAL HIJABI ON THE COVER *cries tears of joy* I don’t think tiny, 10-year-old Sakina ever thought she would see someone who looked like her on a cover of a book. And I know for a fact, that present Sakina never thought she would read a Muslim romance, that was done in a halal way, and actually enjoy it?!!
(Special thanks to Patty
for sending me her extra copy. This book has changed my life in so many good ways.)
I am sad. A little. This is the book I needed growing up. But it didn’t exist then. And while I am really happy with how far publishing has come since I was little, I can’t help feeling a little jealous of how today’s young Muslim girls and boys get to see themselves represented in a book. That being said, this book touches on so many important topics, including Islamophobia, which I definitely think is more prevalent now than it was when I was little.
I don’t even know how to start reviewing this book. I fell in love with Zayneb in the first chapter. She’s strong and not afraid to stand up for herself and her faith. And I know this is something I struggle with. I’m not a very vocal person. I don’t like to draw attention to myself, and I hate arguing with people. But I still feel strongly. I just tend to keep my feelings in or express them to close friends. At the same time, I know it’s my duty as a Muslim to stand up against injustice and that I should do more.
Zayneb’s character arc in this book was really well done. She learns that it’s okay to be angry. That she has every right to feel the way she feels. But she learns to channel her anger in a less destructive way that is just as productive. I love how she learned not to stay silent and move on with life, and I really liked the scene where she explains everything to her mother at the end and her mom realizes what Zayneb is going through and why she can’t just keep quiet and invisible.
That scene where Zayneb notices the little white girl on the plane and realizes how differently she is treated just because she doesn’t look or dress like Zayneb, hurt so bad. Reading this book made me realize how rare it is to find a character that I can fully relate to. Zayneb’s experiences in many ways mirror mine and a lot of other Muslims around the world. It’s reality for us, even though it shouldn’t be. And it sucks. But I love the way this was included in the book.
Zayneb is unapologetically Muslim and angry, as she has a right to be. Muslims have a right to express their emotions, to not keep quiet and invisible. This needs to be normalized and accepted, instead of shamed and feared. There is a fine line between being angry and getting violent, and I think people get scared that they'll cross that line, or they won't be able to stop others from crossing it. But that doesn't mean we should stay completely quiet and just accept the way things are.
ADAM CHEN…aka the most perfect friend, brother, and son. The little meet-cute on the airplane had me squealing. Especially when Adam makes excuses to go to the bathroom multiple times to try and talk to Zayneb but she’s either sleeping or some annoying flight attendants are in the way of romance.
Adam has a secret, and if you’ve read the synopsis, you know he has MS. You learn that his mother died from MS when he was little. Adam’s story is full of pain. My heart ached the entire time when I wasn’t dying from all the cuteness. Knowing how his mother’s death affected his father, Adam doesn’t want to tell his dad just yet. He wants to avoid what his diagnosis will lead to. The little glimpses we see of Adam with his mother, how he secretly struggles with his MS, until he finally tells his father, it hurts a lot. I was almost in tears at so many points throughout this book. Adam is my child and I just wanted to protect him. I wanted to see him happy and hopeful and in love. He’s such a good person and he deserves lots of hugs.
Adam and Zayneb’s relationship…I loved every aspect of it. We get to see what “halal dating” looks like, the proper precautions and steps that need to be taken, and we get to see both characters consider these things multiple times in the book. That was something I never thought I would ever read in fiction.
Zayneb does try to tone herself down. She tries to be quieter and not voice her thoughts or opinions on everything. And I knew we were headed towards a breaking point. And when that happened, I expected Adam’s reaction. Zayneb did cross a line; her anger got the best of her. But we also see how Adam doesn’t experience the same Islamophobia that Zayneb does on account of the fact that he’s a convert and lives in a majority Muslim country. And I found this an interesting contrast that’s also very important. I sometimes forget how different it is growing up in a community where everyone you know is Muslim. I’m constantly cautious and thinking about what I’m doing and whether it’ll make some people think negatively about Islam. When an act of terrorism occurs somewhere in the world, I can feel people noticing me more than they usually do. I stand out. I feel uneasy and vulnerable. My experiences are different compared to other Muslims. And for Adam, I think this was an important lesson. To realize how different things are, and what Zayneb is going through.
Anyway, back to the relationship. I loved Zayneb’s parents and how they viewed relationships. They taught Zayneb the halal and proper way to go about it. As long as boundaries were followed, and she was in a group setting, she could be friendly with anyone. I love this so much more than the classic arranged marriage story that we see. There’s a lot more openness when relationships are viewed in this way, and it was nice to see a character slowly falling in love, but not being afraid of the consequences of telling their parents. And it was all halal too! I loved seeing the thoughts that would go through Zayneb and Adam’s heads. How they wanted to reach out to each other, but they would stop themselves because it wasn’t right. How they sidestepped talking to each other/flirting using creative ways. I’m still dying over Adam being “thirsty for water.”
I SAW THAT SAINTS AND MISFITS REFERENCE AND I LOVED IT.
The ending…Adam, his dad, and Hanna spending time together in the room Adam made. It was so emotional. I love their relationship so much. It’s so pure and heartwarming.
I haven’t touched much on Fencer or Zayneb’s friends. I didn’t know this was based off of a true story, but I really loved how Noemi joined in with Kavi and Ayaan. In some cases, we need the support from our white and non-Muslim friends to stand up against Islamophobia. It showed Fencer that it wasn’t just Zayneb speaking out against his Islamophobic and racist topics in class, she had the support from other people as well.
The end…the cutest, sweetest, most adorable ending I have ever read. I was all smiles. And I had happy tears in my eyes.
Some of my favourite quotes:
“If everyone listened to their parents who feared the consequences of fighting for justice, this world would be a more awful place than it is now.”
”I had to learn to be quietly angry. Spring without a roar. And spring I will.”
“There was a reason love was a round-sounding word. It completed you and then some, like treading a circular path, the way it was immemorial. Whole. But also…infinite. It went on and on as long as you went on and on, to meet it, keep it, treasure it. And I would.”
5/5 stars. I can’t recommend this book enough. I feel happy and full of all these wonderful emotions.
(Sidenote: there’s a scene where Adam and Zayneb discuss who Zayneb is named after ie. she’s named after the Prophet’s cousin. I had never heard of her before and am way more familiar with the Prophet’s granddaughter, who’s name is also Zaynab. Our main character definitely feels more similar to the Prophet’s granddaughter, who stood up against oppression and injustice, all while being dragged in chains from Iraq to Syria, hijab ripped off her head by the same people who killed her brother and family.)
I wish I could have read the physical copy of this because the illustrations are beautiful. The story itself was really good. It has an old-timey fairy tale feel, which was a nice change from the other books I’ve been reading. I loved all the characters, but especially Rose and Ivo. And Earl Grey and the kittens
I can’t even begin to describe how much this book means to me. Everything that Gerald went through, every single thought and feeling, I’ve felt exactly. His circumstances were almost identical to mine. This book made me cry, it made me angry and hurt, it made me put words to my own thoughts. The bad moods and hopelessness and mistrust are just so relatable. This book is triggering in so many ways, but I’m so glad I decided to end off 2020 with it. It’s perfect despite how much it hurts and now I need to get my hands on a physical copy
~reread 2021~
A lot has changed since I last read Thorn. It’s weird because it hasn’t been that long, but the changes we see Thorn go through, how she finds her voice and stands up for herself and what she believes in...it reminded me of how much I’ve changed. I related to Thorn a lot during my first read, but even more so the second time around. I’m also glad I took my time rereading. This book is character-driven and slow-paced, and reading it a little every night just fit the whole vibe of the story. I think it allowed me to enjoy it more too because I was able to take my time reading and reflecting on everything. I can’t recommend this book enough. It means more to me now than it did before, and I’m so excited to pick up The Theft of Sunlight.
***
This is a difficult book for me to rate and review. I'm not sure what I was hoping for when I picked this one up, but I guess I wasn't expecting such a character-driven story. That being said, there were some really great parts that I want to highlight.
Thorn is about standing up for what is right, even though you feel small and defeated and unheard. It's about making difficult choices and accepting that people make their own decisions. It's about abuse and how the recovery is difficult and a lifelong journey. It's about finding a home and a family among people who are not related to you by blood. It's about strength in the smallest of actions, and justice and mercy.
Overall, it's a beautiful story and I think I would appreciate it a lot more if I read it a second time around.
The writing is in first person POV. I always struggle with first person for some reason. It's just not my favourite, but it didn't annoy me as much as it has in the past. We only get to see Thorn's point of view, and while at first I liked seeing her day-to-day duties, and her walks with Falada, etc. it started to drag midway through the book. Like I said, this book is very character-driven, so it reads kind of slow as we follow Thorn on her journey. She's very hesitant and passive as a character, and that did annoy me for a lot of the book, until I realized the decisions she was making were ones I would make too. She's been abused and betrayed and left with nothing, and when she finally finds herself a place and a home, all she wants is to cherish what she has. She wishes she didn't have to deal with the other plots that are revolving around her, and I honestly get that. That feeling of "ahh I can finally relax, I can be happy" and trying to ignore the other problems in your life is just so relatable. She's also been abused by her brother and her mother, and to see her wary around Kestrin and the other men was understandable.
There should be trigger warnings for murder, violence, and rape. While rape isn't described on the page, it is something that happens to another character, and reading that scene about 3/4 of the way through the book was a little difficult. I think this book does a good job on highlighting how flawed justice can be. How men easily take the word of other men over a woman. How women are always the ones to be punished and blamed. We get to see how justice is a privilege for the rich and highborn, while the poor suffer and have to take justice into their own hands. It's an interesting look into society and politics and I really liked this aspect. However...
This book can get really confusing sometimes. I think it's mostly the court talk that happens whenever Thorn is at court or speaking with Kestrin or the Lady or some other noble. There's so much that's said, but the speaker never means what they say, or there is some double meaning. And at times even Thorn points that out to the reader, but it does make it difficult to understand what is being said and what are the implications. I felt lost and I don't know if it's because I'm not used to reading books like this, or if it wasn't done as well as it could have been.
I fell in love with Falada, our Horse. He is just a perfect guardian and friend for Thorn. I loved his advice, though he did annoy me a little with this questions and half-answers. I just liked seeing a horse friend in this book. As for the geese, they don't really play a huge role in the story, but Thorn is a goose girl. Though she seems to be heading towards becoming a hostler midway through the book.
The side characters, especially Violet and Sage were lovely and so sweet to Thorn. And the boys too. I loved how they protected and cared for Thorn as if she were their sister. And how they stood up for her when she had no one else. I think people might find Thorn too passive and not angry enough or willing to do anything about her situation. But I think people need to understand that when you've been beaten down your whole life, it's hard to stand up and speak out and do something. Especially in a world where your word doesn't matter.
At about 3/4 of the way through the book, things really started to pick up. I actually flew through this last bit because a lot more was happening all at once, and I could feel everything heading towards the conclusion. There was one reveal that had me feeling a bit disappointed. It just wasn't what I wanted at all, and it made all the interactions between Thorn and this other character feel weird and staged. That being said, I'm glad there isn't really any romance in this book. I'd say it's mostly one-sided, which I think is why the reveal annoyed me. Thorn doesn't know and when she realizes the truth, it just all feels very contrived, which makes sense in some ways, but I was really worried we'd end with a HEA and two people in love. We don't get that. We see Thorn realizing she has a friend and confidante and someone she can trust, and she hopes one day, it'll lead to love.
Kestrin was an interesting character. I don't know if I really love him as a whole? He really terrified Thorn and while he wasn't violent towards her, he does get angry and it hints at a more violent aspect of his personality. I could feel the fear Thorn was going through. And despite everything, I don't know if the explanations we get later on make up for that.
One thing I wish we saw more of was the city. The thieves and Red Hawk really fascinated me. It kind of gave me Tamora Pierce vibes, what with George being the King of Thieves. It would have been nice to see what happens after the end of this book and the changes that Thorn tries to make to make the people (especially the women and children) of this city safer. I would have liked to see her growing in her confidence and her abilities and putting her foot down more. It would have also been nice to see somewhat of a confrontation with her mother and brother, even if she didn't say anything, but just to see them shocked at what's happened to her and what she's managed to do on her own.
The short story at the very end of this book was interesting? It doesn't really connect with much of Thorn, besides for one character. But it did give me major Graceling vibes and it was just a nice short thing to read afterwards.
Overall 3.5/5 stars. Thank you so much to HccFrenzy and Harpercollins for an arc!
A lot has changed since I last read Thorn. It’s weird because it hasn’t been that long, but the changes we see Thorn go through, how she finds her voice and stands up for herself and what she believes in...it reminded me of how much I’ve changed. I related to Thorn a lot during my first read, but even more so the second time around. I’m also glad I took my time rereading. This book is character-driven and slow-paced, and reading it a little every night just fit the whole vibe of the story. I think it allowed me to enjoy it more too because I was able to take my time reading and reflecting on everything. I can’t recommend this book enough. It means more to me now than it did before, and I’m so excited to pick up The Theft of Sunlight.
***
This is a difficult book for me to rate and review. I'm not sure what I was hoping for when I picked this one up, but I guess I wasn't expecting such a character-driven story. That being said, there were some really great parts that I want to highlight.
Thorn is about standing up for what is right, even though you feel small and defeated and unheard. It's about making difficult choices and accepting that people make their own decisions. It's about abuse and how the recovery is difficult and a lifelong journey. It's about finding a home and a family among people who are not related to you by blood. It's about strength in the smallest of actions, and justice and mercy.
Overall, it's a beautiful story and I think I would appreciate it a lot more if I read it a second time around.
The writing is in first person POV. I always struggle with first person for some reason. It's just not my favourite, but it didn't annoy me as much as it has in the past. We only get to see Thorn's point of view, and while at first I liked seeing her day-to-day duties, and her walks with Falada, etc. it started to drag midway through the book. Like I said, this book is very character-driven, so it reads kind of slow as we follow Thorn on her journey. She's very hesitant and passive as a character, and that did annoy me for a lot of the book, until I realized the decisions she was making were ones I would make too. She's been abused and betrayed and left with nothing, and when she finally finds herself a place and a home, all she wants is to cherish what she has. She wishes she didn't have to deal with the other plots that are revolving around her, and I honestly get that. That feeling of "ahh I can finally relax, I can be happy" and trying to ignore the other problems in your life is just so relatable. She's also been abused by her brother and her mother, and to see her wary around Kestrin and the other men was understandable.
There should be trigger warnings for murder, violence, and rape. While rape isn't described on the page, it is something that happens to another character, and reading that scene about 3/4 of the way through the book was a little difficult. I think this book does a good job on highlighting how flawed justice can be. How men easily take the word of other men over a woman. How women are always the ones to be punished and blamed. We get to see how justice is a privilege for the rich and highborn, while the poor suffer and have to take justice into their own hands. It's an interesting look into society and politics and I really liked this aspect. However...
This book can get really confusing sometimes. I think it's mostly the court talk that happens whenever Thorn is at court or speaking with Kestrin or the Lady or some other noble. There's so much that's said, but the speaker never means what they say, or there is some double meaning. And at times even Thorn points that out to the reader, but it does make it difficult to understand what is being said and what are the implications. I felt lost and I don't know if it's because I'm not used to reading books like this, or if it wasn't done as well as it could have been.
I fell in love with Falada, our Horse. He is just a perfect guardian and friend for Thorn. I loved his advice, though he did annoy me a little with this questions and half-answers. I just liked seeing a horse friend in this book. As for the geese, they don't really play a huge role in the story, but Thorn is a goose girl. Though she seems to be heading towards becoming a hostler midway through the book.
The side characters, especially Violet and Sage were lovely and so sweet to Thorn. And the boys too. I loved how they protected and cared for Thorn as if she were their sister. And how they stood up for her when she had no one else. I think people might find Thorn too passive and not angry enough or willing to do anything about her situation. But I think people need to understand that when you've been beaten down your whole life, it's hard to stand up and speak out and do something. Especially in a world where your word doesn't matter.
At about 3/4 of the way through the book, things really started to pick up. I actually flew through this last bit because a lot more was happening all at once, and I could feel everything heading towards the conclusion. There was one reveal that had me feeling a bit disappointed. It just wasn't what I wanted at all, and it made all the interactions between Thorn and this other character feel weird and staged. That being said, I'm glad there isn't really any romance in this book. I'd say it's mostly one-sided, which I think is why the reveal annoyed me. Thorn doesn't know and when she realizes the truth, it just all feels very contrived, which makes sense in some ways, but I was really worried we'd end with a HEA and two people in love. We don't get that. We see Thorn realizing she has a friend and confidante and someone she can trust, and she hopes one day, it'll lead to love.
Kestrin was an interesting character. I don't know if I really love him as a whole? He really terrified Thorn and while he wasn't violent towards her, he does get angry and it hints at a more violent aspect of his personality. I could feel the fear Thorn was going through. And despite everything, I don't know if the explanations we get later on make up for that.
One thing I wish we saw more of was the city. The thieves and Red Hawk really fascinated me. It kind of gave me Tamora Pierce vibes, what with George being the King of Thieves. It would have been nice to see what happens after the end of this book and the changes that Thorn tries to make to make the people (especially the women and children) of this city safer. I would have liked to see her growing in her confidence and her abilities and putting her foot down more. It would have also been nice to see somewhat of a confrontation with her mother and brother, even if she didn't say anything, but just to see them shocked at what's happened to her and what she's managed to do on her own.
The short story at the very end of this book was interesting? It doesn't really connect with much of Thorn, besides for one character. But it did give me major Graceling vibes and it was just a nice short thing to read afterwards.
Overall 3.5/5 stars. Thank you so much to HccFrenzy and Harpercollins for an arc!
Really enjoyed this. The art was beautiful and the story super fast-paced and engaging, though also a difficult read.
oh hi
how do I review this?
ummm 4.5/5 stars
what did I learn...falling in love is hazardous to your health and can be used against you by evil computers in order to save people
computers are creepy and have brains that are capable of emotions and murder, do no trust your MacBook
(but also Aidan like had the right mindset with Copernicus, kind of. like I'm not for killing people, but like they were all sick and going Walking Dead on each other, so...but he made a huge mistake letting Bay 4 loose, like wth Aidan, I still hate you)
the writing was beautifully creepy, especially at the end. huge props to the authors, how do you even co-write something like this, like do you guys have half of each other's brains or something, did the girl dragging the heart behind her help with the procedure or what
highly recommend. this is The Walking Dead but in space. i have the other two books on hold at the library. if the crazy people who kill and skin other people and use the bodies to form the words "Help Us" come back I will probably die
how do I review this?
ummm 4.5/5 stars
what did I learn...falling in love is hazardous to your health and can be used against you by evil computers in order to save people
computers are creepy and have brains that are capable of emotions and murder, do no trust your MacBook
(but also Aidan like had the right mindset with Copernicus, kind of. like I'm not for killing people, but like they were all sick and going Walking Dead on each other, so...but he made a huge mistake letting Bay 4 loose, like wth Aidan, I still hate you)
the writing was beautifully creepy, especially at the end. huge props to the authors, how do you even co-write something like this, like do you guys have half of each other's brains or something, did the girl dragging the heart behind her help with the procedure or what
highly recommend. this is The Walking Dead but in space. i have the other two books on hold at the library. if the crazy people who kill and skin other people and use the bodies to form the words "Help Us" come back I will probably die
Oh hi I finished this at like 5:30am and that ending wow
I almost got angry there for a second
I absolutely love how this series is formatted, it makes for a quick and easy read and it’s just so interesting and unique
I will say that I liked Illuminae a bit more? Cause it was sort of more terrifying lol and who knew I actually like that stuff
Creepy alien worm things though...they were scary but I was expecting more? Like a possible chase scene between worm and character while in the vents sort of thing. That would have given me nightmares lol
The ending tied things up a bit too well? Kind of? I also wasn’t a huge fan of how in Gemina the main characters also end up together by the end, cause it was so similar to Illuminae, and why can’t people focus on creepy alien worms and crazy people who want to kill you instead of on romance? Like I’m sorry I don’t have time for that, maybe a quick hug or handshake and then we have to go do some crazy technical stuff so we can SURVIVE
Excited to see where Obsidio goes. Why is the library taking forever *cries*
I almost got angry there for a second
I absolutely love how this series is formatted, it makes for a quick and easy read and it’s just so interesting and unique
I will say that I liked Illuminae a bit more? Cause it was sort of more terrifying lol and who knew I actually like that stuff
Creepy alien worm things though...they were scary but I was expecting more? Like a possible chase scene between worm and character while in the vents sort of thing. That would have given me nightmares lol
The ending tied things up a bit too well? Kind of? I also wasn’t a huge fan of how in Gemina the main characters also end up together by the end, cause it was so similar to Illuminae, and why can’t people focus on creepy alien worms and crazy people who want to kill you instead of on romance? Like I’m sorry I don’t have time for that, maybe a quick hug or handshake and then we have to go do some crazy technical stuff so we can SURVIVE
Excited to see where Obsidio goes. Why is the library taking forever *cries*
Going to keep this short...
Overall, this was entertaining enough to read, but it wasn't amazing and mind-blowing like Illuminae was. So much of the plot was predictable and repetitive. I am not a fan of the romances in this series. Like everyone is falling in love, and it's happening over a span of a couple days, and there's a war going on and people are dying, but somehow there's time for love. It just got annoying, by the third book. A lot of the plot elements are repeated. We're given the whole "oh no a main character is dead", but then they don't turn up dead. Almost reminded me of the end of ACOWAR, where no one dies.
The format though was unique and I did really enjoy it. I need more books written this way, cause they're so much quicker to read lol but still entertaining.
ALSO...
Was reading the acknowledgements and apparently there were 4 people who served as hijabi experts...except guess what? There's only one line that has the word hijab in it and it only refers to Hannah's mother who apparently wore one. Kind of disappointed. They had the chance to make Hannah a hijab-wearing Muslim, but didn't. Would have liked the representation, despite the difficulties that come with being a Muslim in space.
Overall, this was entertaining enough to read, but it wasn't amazing and mind-blowing like Illuminae was. So much of the plot was predictable and repetitive. I am not a fan of the romances in this series. Like everyone is falling in love, and it's happening over a span of a couple days, and there's a war going on and people are dying, but somehow there's time for love. It just got annoying, by the third book. A lot of the plot elements are repeated. We're given the whole "oh no a main character is dead", but then they don't turn up dead. Almost reminded me of the end of ACOWAR, where no one dies.
The format though was unique and I did really enjoy it. I need more books written this way, cause they're so much quicker to read lol but still entertaining.
ALSO...
Was reading the acknowledgements and apparently there were 4 people who served as hijabi experts...except guess what? There's only one line that has the word hijab in it and it only refers to Hannah's mother who apparently wore one. Kind of disappointed. They had the chance to make Hannah a hijab-wearing Muslim, but didn't. Would have liked the representation, despite the difficulties that come with being a Muslim in space.