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charliauthor's Reviews (531)
Stunning!
From the cover to the characters, to the world, to the politics, to the story; City of Brass is just incredibly stunning.
The word ive been using most for CoB is rich. The Middle Eastern/North African inspired world just leaps off the page both in the 18th Century lands you start in and the magical world you end up.
The magic, the clothing, the traditions; everything just had a quality about it that couldnt be denied. It felt so real and i’d be very concerned if anyone had an issue being transported into this world of vibrant colours and sounds and emotions.
The MC Nahri is a con artist on the streets of Cairo with some very special gifts that she doesnt understand. Enter stage left the handsome magical warrior Dara who whisks Nahri away to Daevabad; the city of her real people and when she can possibly get some answers about her heritage and her powers.
Ali is the Prince of Daevabad, a second son destined to protect and serve his older brother while enforcing restrictive yet traditional laws against inferior citizens that he doesnt agree with.
Insert tension, drama, a huge amount of politics and social injustice alongside some ancient genie magic and you might be able to guise what CoB is about!
An admittedly slow start with a ton of information to get your head around which is why it lacks a star, but once you pass that, its all systems go.
If this is one of those books thats been on your shelf forever, then take it down and get involved and pick your allegiance: Daeva, Djinn or Nahid?
From the cover to the characters, to the world, to the politics, to the story; City of Brass is just incredibly stunning.
The word ive been using most for CoB is rich. The Middle Eastern/North African inspired world just leaps off the page both in the 18th Century lands you start in and the magical world you end up.
The magic, the clothing, the traditions; everything just had a quality about it that couldnt be denied. It felt so real and i’d be very concerned if anyone had an issue being transported into this world of vibrant colours and sounds and emotions.
The MC Nahri is a con artist on the streets of Cairo with some very special gifts that she doesnt understand. Enter stage left the handsome magical warrior Dara who whisks Nahri away to Daevabad; the city of her real people and when she can possibly get some answers about her heritage and her powers.
Ali is the Prince of Daevabad, a second son destined to protect and serve his older brother while enforcing restrictive yet traditional laws against inferior citizens that he doesnt agree with.
Insert tension, drama, a huge amount of politics and social injustice alongside some ancient genie magic and you might be able to guise what CoB is about!
An admittedly slow start with a ton of information to get your head around which is why it lacks a star, but once you pass that, its all systems go.
If this is one of those books thats been on your shelf forever, then take it down and get involved and pick your allegiance: Daeva, Djinn or Nahid?
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a solid 3.5 simply for its pacing and meandering of plot. There are so many great elements: characters, world building, romance etc. but it takes an odd way around to get there.
The gems left in hindsight are fabulous into finding out who Celaena really is and the budding romance between she and Chaol is subtle but super sweet.
The gems left in hindsight are fabulous into finding out who Celaena really is and the budding romance between she and Chaol is subtle but super sweet.
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I have absolutely no idea why it took me so long to read this book! It maintains the wonder and richness of the previous book but in some ways it started to get a bit too dense?
I love the characters and the setting and of course the mystery of their world but the politics did continue to go over my head a little.
Despite the above, it is still an amazing read with complex heroes and villains. I loved the tyrannical king and Prince Ali is definitely a great addition. I just need more questions to be answered a lot more quickly as a lot of the middle of this could have been cut down.
Still a great and recommended series, just know that its not a “fluff” read.
I love the characters and the setting and of course the mystery of their world but the politics did continue to go over my head a little.
Despite the above, it is still an amazing read with complex heroes and villains. I loved the tyrannical king and Prince Ali is definitely a great addition. I just need more questions to be answered a lot more quickly as a lot of the middle of this could have been cut down.
Still a great and recommended series, just know that its not a “fluff” read.
Another wonderfully crafted world from VJP!
For lovers of From Blood and Ash and all things Fae, ALOSAS is a character driven tale about a young woman trying to find her place in the world while on the run for murder.
MC Zylah is a forceful and independent character who isnt defined by the other characters around her but instead purposefully tries to carve a name for herself within a community that could either be her greatest enemies or greatest allies.
There are hot Fae men, sassy female companions and a cute animal friend that i really loved. Filled with tons of twists and turns (that at times did confuse a little) ALOSAS is still the start of what seems to be a very rich series of love and loss while holding on to the wonders of life and the freedom the MC strives for.
For lovers of From Blood and Ash and all things Fae, ALOSAS is a character driven tale about a young woman trying to find her place in the world while on the run for murder.
MC Zylah is a forceful and independent character who isnt defined by the other characters around her but instead purposefully tries to carve a name for herself within a community that could either be her greatest enemies or greatest allies.
There are hot Fae men, sassy female companions and a cute animal friend that i really loved. Filled with tons of twists and turns (that at times did confuse a little) ALOSAS is still the start of what seems to be a very rich series of love and loss while holding on to the wonders of life and the freedom the MC strives for.
Underneath It All is a short story about a young girl who has been sexually abused by her step father and the emotional steps she has to take, reliving those events - in court - in order to bring him to justice.
Split between the court hearings and the events over different years, we see how manipulative some people can be in their abuse of power and because of such a sensitive subject, i was angered pretty much the whole way through about what this poor girl was subjected to.
Where i found issue with this was mainly the order of events, in that sometimes i was a little confusing what year we were in or in which order certain things had played out. It took me out of the emotional journey as i was having to go back and check the years to make sure things made sense/added up etc.
While not a read for entertainment or “fun”, it was humbling to read heartbreak and realise how strong people are to come out the other side of abuse as well as they do.
Thank you to Angelika for my copy of her book which she provided in exchanged for an honest review.
Split between the court hearings and the events over different years, we see how manipulative some people can be in their abuse of power and because of such a sensitive subject, i was angered pretty much the whole way through about what this poor girl was subjected to.
Where i found issue with this was mainly the order of events, in that sometimes i was a little confusing what year we were in or in which order certain things had played out. It took me out of the emotional journey as i was having to go back and check the years to make sure things made sense/added up etc.
While not a read for entertainment or “fun”, it was humbling to read heartbreak and realise how strong people are to come out the other side of abuse as well as they do.
Thank you to Angelika for my copy of her book which she provided in exchanged for an honest review.
A bit of a slow start but once it finally got going, i quite enjoyed this. It was genuinely rather spooky in parts and the MC Ellerie was good in that she didnt annoy or do outrageously silly things that got her into trouble but rather the antics of others.
I was slightly disappointed by the ended/big reveal as i almost wanted it to be much more sinister. It still had a relatively happy ending and i wanted there to be some real loss. The death of characters you actually WANT dead, doesnt count lol.
Overall a different read for me but very much enjoyed and would pick up something from this author again.
I was slightly disappointed by the ended/big reveal as i almost wanted it to be much more sinister. It still had a relatively happy ending and i wanted there to be some real loss. The death of characters you actually WANT dead, doesnt count lol.
Overall a different read for me but very much enjoyed and would pick up something from this author again.
I got roped into reading this by some bookish buddies and after a slow start, I was appropriately intrigued by its premise and its main characters, but by the end, i wasnt as invested in it to want to commit to the lengthy series.
The plot/content was unexpected which was good, so for lovers of teen angst mixed with X-Men, then this might be the book for you. However, the main character is just a little too dramatic for me and the writing style full of hyperbole that just made me laugh at it the whole time
The plot/content was unexpected which was good, so for lovers of teen angst mixed with X-Men, then this might be the book for you. However, the main character is just a little too dramatic for me and the writing style full of hyperbole that just made me laugh at it the whole time
[2022]
This is an updated review since i had to give this a re read before the sequels release. Now that i gave myself time to really take in the worldbuilding/lore, i was able to appreciate this a lot more than i did the first time around.
Im a much bigger fan of Bryce and Hunt is still a lovely character and deserves all the good things! I do remember feeling half of what i wrote in my previous review lol there were emotional bits but nothing that outlandish. Maybe im just a different type of reader now.
Excited to see Brunt’s relationship sail in book 2 tho!
[2020]
A bit a slow and convoluted start but post chapter 7 all makes up for it. Another stunning female protagonist in Bryce Quinlan and stupidly hot male in Hunt Athalar! Couldnt put it down and cried so much! Awesome stuff!
This is an updated review since i had to give this a re read before the sequels release. Now that i gave myself time to really take in the worldbuilding/lore, i was able to appreciate this a lot more than i did the first time around.
Im a much bigger fan of Bryce and Hunt is still a lovely character and deserves all the good things! I do remember feeling half of what i wrote in my previous review lol there were emotional bits but nothing that outlandish. Maybe im just a different type of reader now.
Excited to see Brunt’s relationship sail in book 2 tho!
[2020]
A bit a slow and convoluted start but post chapter 7 all makes up for it. Another stunning female protagonist in Bryce Quinlan and stupidly hot male in Hunt Athalar! Couldnt put it down and cried so much! Awesome stuff!