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lisashelves's Reviews (976)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5 stars
The Girls I’ve Been is a story about Nora, the daughter of a con artist, who is taken hostage with her girlfriend and ex-boyfriend during a bank heist.
“The girls I’ve been. The perfect daughters to the women my mother has become to con her marks.”
I’ve been eyeing this book for a while since it’s been on my bookshelf and tbr. I have to admit, the red really does stand out so I couldn’t put reading this off too much. I brought it with me while on vacation and finally got a chance to start reading this book when we were driving back home (a 15-hour journey). I started the book in the morning on the ferry from the island to the mainland and finished it while in the car. One of the things I can immediately say; THIS BOOK IS AWESOME! I just couldn’t stop reading it! A total page turner!
As someone who mostly reads fantasy books, I enjoy mystery books just as much! especially the kind that keep you on your toes and guessing what’s going to happen with every turn of the page, this book does exactly that! The synopsis intrigued me from the very beginning and with the more pages I’d read the more intriguing this book became.
The way the chapters were written were really adding to the flow and storyline. I loved how the plans, items gained and time were constantly listed at the beginning of the characters and how transcripts of phone conversations were written down. It added amazingly to the atmosphere created by the author. It made the story engaging as well as very fun. The humour used in these little parts, such as “Plan #1: scrabbed”, or “Holy shit, I am the damsel in distress and I might just be getting saved.” made the book also very fun to read.
A bank heist is not something often seen in books. The characters being hostages, but far from “damsels” was a part that I really liked! I loved how they went about the whole situation and trying to free themselves.
Nora is such an amazing character! I loved every moment more layers of her personality and past came to light. She was super complete and complexly written. All the different girl’s she’s been and the different vibes all these girls have were astonishing and intriguing to read about. The flashbacks to the moments she was those girls also really added to the whole story. I couldn't wait to learn more about her. Her growth, strength and personality were truly amazing. I was also a very big fan of Iris. She is such a character by herself with an amazingly funny personality as well. I would love to be friends with them all in real life. Same with Wes, who is such a caring and strong person as well.
The story, unknowingly, deals with some heavy topics. I hadn’t really noticed it at the beginning, but the more I learned about Nora and the girls, about Iris and Wes, the more apparent these topics became. I’m a big fan of how these topics were woven into the story and how they were part of them growing up, but not something to be shy about. They didn’t seem taboo or something to keep to yourself and I truly believe that it was a believable way they were depicted in this book.
Overall, I absolutely devoured this amazing book. it had a fun and engaging plot with intriguing character that stole my heart.
The Girls I’ve Been is a story about Nora, the daughter of a con artist, who is taken hostage with her girlfriend and ex-boyfriend during a bank heist.
“The girls I’ve been. The perfect daughters to the women my mother has become to con her marks.”
I’ve been eyeing this book for a while since it’s been on my bookshelf and tbr. I have to admit, the red really does stand out so I couldn’t put reading this off too much. I brought it with me while on vacation and finally got a chance to start reading this book when we were driving back home (a 15-hour journey). I started the book in the morning on the ferry from the island to the mainland and finished it while in the car. One of the things I can immediately say; THIS BOOK IS AWESOME! I just couldn’t stop reading it! A total page turner!
As someone who mostly reads fantasy books, I enjoy mystery books just as much! especially the kind that keep you on your toes and guessing what’s going to happen with every turn of the page, this book does exactly that! The synopsis intrigued me from the very beginning and with the more pages I’d read the more intriguing this book became.
The way the chapters were written were really adding to the flow and storyline. I loved how the plans, items gained and time were constantly listed at the beginning of the characters and how transcripts of phone conversations were written down. It added amazingly to the atmosphere created by the author. It made the story engaging as well as very fun. The humour used in these little parts, such as “
A bank heist is not something often seen in books. The characters being hostages, but far from “damsels” was a part that I really liked! I loved how they went about the whole situation and trying to free themselves.
Nora is such an amazing character! I loved every moment more layers of her personality and past came to light. She was super complete and complexly written. All the different girl’s she’s been and the different vibes all these girls have were astonishing and intriguing to read about. The flashbacks to the moments she was those girls also really added to the whole story. I couldn't wait to learn more about her. Her growth, strength and personality were truly amazing. I was also a very big fan of Iris. She is such a character by herself with an amazingly funny personality as well. I would love to be friends with them all in real life. Same with Wes, who is such a caring and strong person as well.
The story, unknowingly, deals with some heavy topics. I hadn’t really noticed it at the beginning, but the more I learned about Nora and the girls, about Iris and Wes, the more apparent these topics became. I’m a big fan of how these topics were woven into the story and how they were part of them growing up, but not something to be shy about. They didn’t seem taboo or something to keep to yourself and I truly believe that it was a believable way they were depicted in this book.
Overall, I absolutely devoured this amazing book. it had a fun and engaging plot with intriguing character that stole my heart.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ /3 stars
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Screwed is a dystopian, dark romance story where the civilization as we know it has fallen. Women are being kidnapped, since babies are traded for commodity. Mila has stayed away from the black-market breeders, until she isn’t and Ray never wanted to be part of it, until he was.
The dystopian part was really apparent while reading this book. The introduction immediately gives you a lay-out of what happened and how it changes the world these characters live in. While this explanation was given, I kept having the feeling that a lot was still unclear and a lot should’ve been read between the lines. I kept having these questions about what happened, when it happened etc. The book wasn’t really descriptive, whereas in some moments I would’ve liked a bit more information.
There was also a little problem with the format when reading it on my e-reader, where it didn’t show the whole chapter header. So, I was very confused reading chapter two and later discovering it was dual POV.
The characters knew each other while they were in college. I liked the idea of them reconnecting, despite the setting or situation they were in. Due to the characters already knowing each other, not a lot of time was spent on the growth of their relationship, as the feeling had been there for some years. I found that a pity, as I like seeing relationships grow and I missed that a bit here. They just jumped straight into it and it came across as rushed and a bit superficial. It also prevented me from connecting with them. Due to this, I felt rather indifferent about everything that happened.
The ending also felt really rushed and the plan really convenient. It didn’t really seem to be explained and so it felt incomplete somehow. As if pages with the explanation were missing and everything just happened to fall into place.
Overall, Screwed was a book that I neither loved or hated, but felt indifferent towards. It was fast-paced and quick to read.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Screwed is a dystopian, dark romance story where the civilization as we know it has fallen. Women are being kidnapped, since babies are traded for commodity. Mila has stayed away from the black-market breeders, until she isn’t and Ray never wanted to be part of it, until he was.
The dystopian part was really apparent while reading this book. The introduction immediately gives you a lay-out of what happened and how it changes the world these characters live in. While this explanation was given, I kept having the feeling that a lot was still unclear and a lot should’ve been read between the lines. I kept having these questions about what happened, when it happened etc. The book wasn’t really descriptive, whereas in some moments I would’ve liked a bit more information.
There was also a little problem with the format when reading it on my e-reader, where it didn’t show the whole chapter header. So, I was very confused reading chapter two and later discovering it was dual POV.
The characters knew each other while they were in college. I liked the idea of them reconnecting, despite the setting or situation they were in. Due to the characters already knowing each other, not a lot of time was spent on the growth of their relationship, as the feeling had been there for some years. I found that a pity, as I like seeing relationships grow and I missed that a bit here. They just jumped straight into it and it came across as rushed and a bit superficial. It also prevented me from connecting with them. Due to this, I felt rather indifferent about everything that happened.
The ending also felt really rushed and the plan really convenient. It didn’t really seem to be explained and so it felt incomplete somehow. As if pages with the explanation were missing and everything just happened to fall into place.
Overall, Screwed was a book that I neither loved or hated, but felt indifferent towards. It was fast-paced and quick to read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5 stars
Felix Ever After is a story about Felix, a trans person, who has never been in love. When he gets transphobic messages and his deadname posted he comes up with a plot for revenge and ends up in a quasi-love triangle.
“No one else gets to define who I am. Only me.”
This book has been on my shelves for a while, but I put off reading this book until pride month, as I felt that was the best time to read this gem. I ended up listening to the book on Storytell instead of really reading it, but it didn’t take away from how amazing this book is!
This book is such a beautiful story about finding one’s identity, learning to love oneself and be confident about yourself. It carries an amazing, strong message and I would urge anyone to read this book!
This book is one that really moved me. The representation present and the struggles the characters deal with are very real and a lot of people in the world struggle with similar ones. I loved the deep conversations had in this book and how healthy it was to read/listen about these struggles and how the characters dealt with them and overcame them.
The characters really carry this book to further lengths! Felix is such a strong person; I love how confident he is in himself even though he is doubting his identity and his want to find love. He didn’t let himself be brought down by transphobic people and he continued to fight for what he thought was right. He is truly amazing and inspiring. Ezra, Leah and Declan were all three amazing support characters in navigating the world Felix was in and finding himself.
The romance in this book was adorable and heartwarming! Yes, there is a sort of love-triangle, but not really strong or very obvious. It fits right in with Felix finding himself and figuring his feelings out. It was sweet and so real and I loved every second of it. At first, I shipped him with person A, but as the story progressed that shipping shifted to person B haha.
I listened to this book and I have to say, the voice actor did an amazing job in bringing these characters to life! His voice fitted so well with the idea of Felix and his emotions were really heard in his acting. He brought these characters to life and it really added another layer to how I experienced this book.
Overall, Felix Ever After will be a favourite of mine for a long time. A book with a beautiful message and an amazing cast of characters.
Felix Ever After is a story about Felix, a trans person, who has never been in love. When he gets transphobic messages and his deadname posted he comes up with a plot for revenge and ends up in a quasi-love triangle.
“No one else gets to define who I am. Only me.”
This book has been on my shelves for a while, but I put off reading this book until pride month, as I felt that was the best time to read this gem. I ended up listening to the book on Storytell instead of really reading it, but it didn’t take away from how amazing this book is!
This book is such a beautiful story about finding one’s identity, learning to love oneself and be confident about yourself. It carries an amazing, strong message and I would urge anyone to read this book!
This book is one that really moved me. The representation present and the struggles the characters deal with are very real and a lot of people in the world struggle with similar ones. I loved the deep conversations had in this book and how healthy it was to read/listen about these struggles and how the characters dealt with them and overcame them.
The characters really carry this book to further lengths! Felix is such a strong person; I love how confident he is in himself even though he is doubting his identity and his want to find love. He didn’t let himself be brought down by transphobic people and he continued to fight for what he thought was right. He is truly amazing and inspiring. Ezra, Leah and Declan were all three amazing support characters in navigating the world Felix was in and finding himself.
The romance in this book was adorable and heartwarming! Yes, there is a sort of love-triangle, but not really strong or very obvious. It fits right in with Felix finding himself and figuring his feelings out. It was sweet and so real and I loved every second of it. At first, I shipped him with person A, but as the story progressed that shipping shifted to person B haha.
Spoiler
Person A being Declan and person B being Ezra hahahaI listened to this book and I have to say, the voice actor did an amazing job in bringing these characters to life! His voice fitted so well with the idea of Felix and his emotions were really heard in his acting. He brought these characters to life and it really added another layer to how I experienced this book.
Overall, Felix Ever After will be a favourite of mine for a long time. A book with a beautiful message and an amazing cast of characters.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 4
Gilded is a Rumpelstiltskin retelling, where Serilda is forced to spin straw into gold after telling the Erlking she can.
"Your stories, I think they’re sort of like spinning, too. Because it’s like you’re making something beautiful out of nothing."
I love a good retelling and one of Rumpelstiltskin is one I haven’t read before. The way this story starts, with Serilda telling a story about how she came about, her father saving a God and getting a wish in return really grabbed my attention from the first page. It was interesting to see how the story unfolded.
The worldbuilding was very vast and a lot of elements were introduced in this book. I wished sometimes the different creatures which existed were a bit better explained, as a lot of times creatures were named, but I didn’t really know anything about them. The same could be said about all the different moons, such as hunger moon; crow moon etc, that were mentioned but not explained what they all meant. I missed a bit of the details and explanation here.
I liked the plot a lot. I hadn’t really noticed this was a retelling until I connected the dots myself haha. I really liked how the retelling was done. Gild seemed a lot less mean as how I’ve always pictured Rumpelstiltskin, but after how the story ended, I am curious to see how he’ll change in the second book.
The characters were interesting. I liked Serilda, although she did seem rash at times. Gild was definitely my favourite of them all! I really liked the vibes he gave off and his story. I loved the banter between the two as well.
I loved the way the story telling concept was added in the overall plot of the book. It added to the story, although the story became a bit predictable in the end. It did make me more interesting in the book though. The other parts of the story felt dragged out and repetitive, so the interludes where another story was told was a nice switch.
Overall, I enjoyed this story and I liked it. It did feel a bit dragged out, but with the ending I am curious to see how it will unfold in the sequel.
Gilded is a Rumpelstiltskin retelling, where Serilda is forced to spin straw into gold after telling the Erlking she can.
"Your stories, I think they’re sort of like spinning, too. Because it’s like you’re making something beautiful out of nothing."
I love a good retelling and one of Rumpelstiltskin is one I haven’t read before. The way this story starts, with Serilda telling a story about how she came about, her father saving a God and getting a wish in return really grabbed my attention from the first page. It was interesting to see how the story unfolded.
The worldbuilding was very vast and a lot of elements were introduced in this book. I wished sometimes the different creatures which existed were a bit better explained, as a lot of times creatures were named, but I didn’t really know anything about them. The same could be said about all the different moons, such as hunger moon; crow moon etc, that were mentioned but not explained what they all meant. I missed a bit of the details and explanation here.
I liked the plot a lot. I hadn’t really noticed this was a retelling until I connected the dots myself haha. I really liked how the retelling was done. Gild seemed a lot less mean as how I’ve always pictured Rumpelstiltskin, but after how the story ended, I am curious to see how he’ll change in the second book.
The characters were interesting. I liked Serilda, although she did seem rash at times. Gild was definitely my favourite of them all! I really liked the vibes he gave off and his story. I loved the banter between the two as well.
I loved the way the story telling concept was added in the overall plot of the book. It added to the story, although the story became a bit predictable in the end. It did make me more interesting in the book though. The other parts of the story felt dragged out and repetitive, so the interludes where another story was told was a nice switch.
Overall, I enjoyed this story and I liked it. It did feel a bit dragged out, but with the ending I am curious to see how it will unfold in the sequel.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 4 stars
Infinity Reaper is the second book in the Infinity Cycle Series. It starts right after the ending of Infinity Son, with Brighton having drunk the Reaper's Blood and Emil being stabbed.
I loved reading Infinity Son two years ago and it was high time for me to pick up its sequel. I didn’t really remember everything that had happened in Infinity Son, so the little glossary at the beginning was definitely needed. It might've been better if I'd reread the last few chapters of Infinity Son thought haha.
Infinity Reaper is very fast-paced sequel. It has multiple POV’s and a lot is happening at the same time. It has a lot of world-building, but it felt a bit flat at times. Not everything I understood completely, but that might also be because I don’t really remember it from the first book.
A lot of things kept happening the whole time, lots of action and battles. I did like the high stakes which were noticeable when reading this book and the sense of urgency the fast-pace also gave.
The characters hadn’t seemed to change much from the first book. Emil is still very much a gentle soul who only wants the best. I would’ve hoped he grew a bit more of a backbone during this book. I’m not a fan of Brighton and his character in this book. I didn’t like how he developed; he is very egocentric in the worst way. I had hoped he would become better, as seemed to be during the middle part of the book, but he took a turn for the worst at the ending.
I liked the new characters, although I would’ve liked more from them in terms of development. Tala and Wyatt have a lot of room to grow and I hope to see more of that in the third book. Tala, for example, just seems rather angry at the world right now because of what happened to her parents.
The relationships between characters were a bit predictable, as they came forth from the first book also. I was a big fan of the sex-positivity between Brighton and Prudencia and how they grew towards each other. The reunion between Emil and Ness was predictable and I really liked how it played out. The only thing I didn’t like was the love triangle it came with. Emil has great chemistry with both males, but I really hope the love triangle won’t be dragged out.
The ending really took me by surprise! Of course, I knew something was going to happen, but these last 70 pages really wasn’t what I’d expected. I loved the direction the story was going towards, until the very last chapter.
Overall, a fast-paced sequel with lots of new aspects added to the story and that left me guessing what would happen next.
Infinity Reaper is the second book in the Infinity Cycle Series. It starts right after the ending of Infinity Son, with Brighton having drunk the Reaper's Blood and Emil being stabbed.
I loved reading Infinity Son two years ago and it was high time for me to pick up its sequel. I didn’t really remember everything that had happened in Infinity Son, so the little glossary at the beginning was definitely needed. It might've been better if I'd reread the last few chapters of Infinity Son thought haha.
Infinity Reaper is very fast-paced sequel. It has multiple POV’s and a lot is happening at the same time. It has a lot of world-building, but it felt a bit flat at times. Not everything I understood completely, but that might also be because I don’t really remember it from the first book.
A lot of things kept happening the whole time, lots of action and battles. I did like the high stakes which were noticeable when reading this book and the sense of urgency the fast-pace also gave.
The characters hadn’t seemed to change much from the first book. Emil is still very much a gentle soul who only wants the best. I would’ve hoped he grew a bit more of a backbone during this book. I’m not a fan of Brighton and his character in this book. I didn’t like how he developed; he is very egocentric in the worst way. I had hoped he would become better, as seemed to be during the middle part of the book, but he took a turn for the worst at the ending.
I liked the new characters, although I would’ve liked more from them in terms of development. Tala and Wyatt have a lot of room to grow and I hope to see more of that in the third book. Tala, for example, just seems rather angry at the world right now because of what happened to her parents.
The relationships between characters were a bit predictable, as they came forth from the first book also. I was a big fan of the sex-positivity between Brighton and Prudencia and how they grew towards each other. The reunion between Emil and Ness was predictable and I really liked how it played out. The only thing I didn’t like was the love triangle it came with. Emil has great chemistry with both males, but I really hope the love triangle won’t be dragged out.
The ending really took me by surprise! Of course, I knew something was going to happen, but these last 70 pages really wasn’t what I’d expected. I loved the direction the story was going towards, until the very last chapter.
Spoiler
I already wasn’t a fan of Brighton, but he took a complete turn for the worst in his egocentrism with how he acted and attacked Emil. It felt a bit like how he acted with drinking the Reaper's Blood at the end of book 1, but worse.Overall, a fast-paced sequel with lots of new aspects added to the story and that left me guessing what would happen next.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 4 stars
The Black Flamingo is a story about Michael, who comes to terms with his identity as s mixed-raced gay person.
“Remember, you have the right to be proud; remember, you have the right to be you.”
I got this book as a present and haven’t really been in the mood until now to read it, during Pride. It may also have to do with this book being a verse novel, as I've never before read verse novels and didn't know how I would feel about that or how well I could connect to the story.
The book is wonderfully written and very easy to read and very quick as well. I do believe it is better to take your time reading this book and really soaking all the words in and their meaning. Personally, I listened to the audiobook. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the voice actor, but his delivery of the lines and feelings was really on point. I did think the audiobook doesn’t give you the full effect of reading it. At first, I didn’t have my physical copy in front of me, so I listened to the first part and noticed it was different from other books. Later I listened and read at the same time and it became much more impactful.
While it was way more impactful when reading as well, I couldn’t connect to the story as much as I wanted because it was written in verse. It has nothing to do with the writing style being “bad”, just that I personally prefer books not written in that way. it is written beautifully and lyrical, but that sometimes made it harder for me to connect to what was happening in the book.
The story itself was beautifully crafted and showed Michael’s life. From the moment he was born, the milestones in his life and the moments he found more of himself. That combined with the representation and the other characters, such as Michael’s family and friends, really tied this whole story together.
Overall, it is an empowering story about finding your identity and embracing whoever you are and what makes you unique. It is an experience reading this book and I would really recommend picking this book up!
The Black Flamingo is a story about Michael, who comes to terms with his identity as s mixed-raced gay person.
“Remember, you have the right to be proud; remember, you have the right to be you.”
I got this book as a present and haven’t really been in the mood until now to read it, during Pride. It may also have to do with this book being a verse novel, as I've never before read verse novels and didn't know how I would feel about that or how well I could connect to the story.
The book is wonderfully written and very easy to read and very quick as well. I do believe it is better to take your time reading this book and really soaking all the words in and their meaning. Personally, I listened to the audiobook. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the voice actor, but his delivery of the lines and feelings was really on point. I did think the audiobook doesn’t give you the full effect of reading it. At first, I didn’t have my physical copy in front of me, so I listened to the first part and noticed it was different from other books. Later I listened and read at the same time and it became much more impactful.
While it was way more impactful when reading as well, I couldn’t connect to the story as much as I wanted because it was written in verse. It has nothing to do with the writing style being “bad”, just that I personally prefer books not written in that way. it is written beautifully and lyrical, but that sometimes made it harder for me to connect to what was happening in the book.
The story itself was beautifully crafted and showed Michael’s life. From the moment he was born, the milestones in his life and the moments he found more of himself. That combined with the representation and the other characters, such as Michael’s family and friends, really tied this whole story together.
Overall, it is an empowering story about finding your identity and embracing whoever you are and what makes you unique. It is an experience reading this book and I would really recommend picking this book up!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ /5 stars
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
The Final Strife is the first book in an African, Arabian-inspired fantasy with three woman who band together against the rule of the Empire that divides people by the color of their blood.
“A dancer’s grace, a killer’s instinct, an Ember’s blood, a Duster’s heart.”
I am all for new, exciting fantasy books. I am constantly looking for new books to discover and read and this discovery is one that makes me very happy to have found! Honestly, this book is just a phenomenal debut!
The book follows three women, all of a different class and all with a very different background and childhood. A Ghostling, a Duster and an Ember. Just the fact that there are different blood colors and thus different classes and how this corresponds to everything in the story makes it so rich in worldbuilding. It takes a tiny while in the beginning to get in the flow of the book because a lot of information is given, but once you’re past that part this book will blow your mind!
The pacing is very well done. The right pace to give you the time to learn the world, the setting, the character but also the stakes. Combine this with a super intriguing plot and it’s a recipe for an amazing, rich and entertaining story. The way everything ties together, story wise and character wise is an amazing example for clever and grabbing writing.
I also loved how this book is written more as new adult/adult as opposed to young adult, with heavier topics being shown and the characters being older. It was amazing to see the darker sides, drug addiction, oppression, grief and how the characters deal with it, but also how it shaped them in who they are. It really added another layer and also made the characters themselves more real in my eyes. I also especially loved the mental growth paired with these topics.
While the book is very rich in its worldbuilding and plot, the book would be nothing without its amazing cast of character. Sylah, Anoor and Hassa are three amazing woman who really bring their whole to the story and who make you fall in love with this story as well. Very distinguishable, remarkable and characters that can’t be missed in this book. All of them have their distinct part in bringing everything together and tying the different plotlines together. Sylah’s humor is also something that I loved, almost as much as I adored how innocent Anoor could be, but also how well she meant everything.
The relationships between the characters really grow quite a bit in this book. I loved the friendship between Hassa and Sylah at the beginning, almost a pity not much of it was seen during the middle of the book. I also really loved Anoor and Sylah together. They came together in an unusual way, but I loved how they made it work and how their “forced to be and work together” evolved into a friendship and later in more. I loved seeing that development and with the ending that broke my heart a bit I really want to know how they will overcome all that happened in the sequel!
Overall, this was an amazing debut with lots of action, adventure, suspense, romance. It is super intriguing with amazing characters who will capture your heart and won’t let go.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
The Final Strife is the first book in an African, Arabian-inspired fantasy with three woman who band together against the rule of the Empire that divides people by the color of their blood.
“A dancer’s grace, a killer’s instinct, an Ember’s blood, a Duster’s heart.”
I am all for new, exciting fantasy books. I am constantly looking for new books to discover and read and this discovery is one that makes me very happy to have found! Honestly, this book is just a phenomenal debut!
The book follows three women, all of a different class and all with a very different background and childhood. A Ghostling, a Duster and an Ember. Just the fact that there are different blood colors and thus different classes and how this corresponds to everything in the story makes it so rich in worldbuilding. It takes a tiny while in the beginning to get in the flow of the book because a lot of information is given, but once you’re past that part this book will blow your mind!
The pacing is very well done. The right pace to give you the time to learn the world, the setting, the character but also the stakes. Combine this with a super intriguing plot and it’s a recipe for an amazing, rich and entertaining story. The way everything ties together, story wise and character wise is an amazing example for clever and grabbing writing.
I also loved how this book is written more as new adult/adult as opposed to young adult, with heavier topics being shown and the characters being older. It was amazing to see the darker sides, drug addiction, oppression, grief and how the characters deal with it, but also how it shaped them in who they are. It really added another layer and also made the characters themselves more real in my eyes. I also especially loved the mental growth paired with these topics.
While the book is very rich in its worldbuilding and plot, the book would be nothing without its amazing cast of character. Sylah, Anoor and Hassa are three amazing woman who really bring their whole to the story and who make you fall in love with this story as well. Very distinguishable, remarkable and characters that can’t be missed in this book. All of them have their distinct part in bringing everything together and tying the different plotlines together. Sylah’s humor is also something that I loved, almost as much as I adored how innocent Anoor could be, but also how well she meant everything.
The relationships between the characters really grow quite a bit in this book. I loved the friendship between Hassa and Sylah at the beginning, almost a pity not much of it was seen during the middle of the book. I also really loved Anoor and Sylah together. They came together in an unusual way, but I loved how they made it work and how their “forced to be and work together” evolved into a friendship and later in more. I loved seeing that development and with the ending that broke my heart a bit I really want to know how they will overcome all that happened in the sequel!
Overall, this was an amazing debut with lots of action, adventure, suspense, romance. It is super intriguing with amazing characters who will capture your heart and won’t let go.