theravenkingx's Reviews (336)

This is "The Witcher" meets "The Name of the Wind" meets "The Last of us."

Don't fall for the blurb. It is misleading and sort of inaccurate. Here is a better synopsis for you.

Synopsis
A mysterious fog has enveloped the world, extinguishing all life on Earth except for a small island that shelters the world's greatest minds. They have managed to survive by creating a shield around the island.

Years after the fog, we meet Emory, a woman who is dissatisfied with her life on the island. Following her husband's death in an unexplained accident, she begins to doubt the ruling authority known as the Elders. She perceives the villagers' treatment as unfair and observes peculiar occurrences, such as people waking up with unexplained scratch marks on their bodies. Emory is the sole islander who questions the Elders, yet none of her fellow villagers share her skepticism.

Abi is an AI integrated with the consciousness of every islander, except for the Elders. She is built to be a voice of reason, to protect the humans from their tendencies to do evil.

One day, the lead scientist, a member of the Elders, is murdered. This act triggers a self-destruct sequence that Abi is unable to override unless the murderer is apprehended. Thrust into the role of detective, Emory's investigation uncovers startling truths about herself and the island.

Minor Spoilers Ahead
The story is told from a perspective of an Ai, connected to human consciousness via their mitochondrial DNA. The book is more scifi than a murder mystery, in my opinion. The pivotal murder takes place at 30% mark, leaving a short amount of pages for the mystery to unravel and culminate in a satisfying conclusion. Regrettably, each reveal unfruls to be increasingly underwhelming, failing to create a significant impact. This is largely attributable to poorly developed characters that never truly grow on you. Upon learning they are clones, not humans, the islanders’ lack of emotional response is striking, to say the least. Emory's investigation isn't about who did it but why they did it. And despite the murderer being in plain sight, she dedicates a substantial portion of the book to pursuing incorrect leads, neglecting the most obvious suspect.

A good mystery captivates with its character, engages with its plot, and grabs your heart with a reveal that neatly ties all threads together at the conclusion. This book, however, does not meet these criteria. Its plot fails to engage, its characters lack depth, and its reveals are both predictable and uninspiring.

First, I would like to appreciate the author for providing an authentic and positive portrayal of Muslims in literature, devoid of stereotypes and white washing. The characters are not only grounded in reality but are also depicted as practicing Muslims, which is a refreshing change from the usual narratives. It's exceedingly rare to find literature where Muslim men aren't cast as villains and women aren't portrayed as oppressed. The main characters' relationship is beautifully crafted and deeply touching. 

Reading this book can be challenging because it mirrors reality so closely—'closely' being an understatement, as the actual circumstances are far grimmer. While the story is a work of fiction, the events it describes are real  and shine a light on the darker aspects of our world. History has a way of repeating itself: the faces may change, but the narrative remains constant. What was once the plight of Syria has now become that of Palestine, where innocent people live in a state of perpetual fear, despair, and loss. Imagine a life where the threat of death starts to seem like a kind release, and your biggest fear is being captured or living with a dismembered body.

The story is a poignant exploration of our capacity of resilience and perseverance even amdist the darkest of times. Despite the tragedy and trauma encompassing Salama, she is filled with patriotism and determination to protect her loved ones. The events that unfold are dark and hard to read at times. We witness the real and gruesome effects of war on children and the lives of innocent civilians. In particular, it highlights loss of innocence as children are forced to confront the incomprehensible atrocities of humanity at a tender age.

I won’t lie; I shed quite a few tears thinking about people struggling to survive in war-torn areas without shelter, food, or help from anyone. The image of refugees stranded on a boat in the middle of nowhere, with no country willing to take them in, is still vivid in my memory.

The prose is absolutely beautiful. The way she has written her characters and created a vivid and real imagery of war-torn Syria is commendable. It's hard to believe that this is her debut novel. I liked how she dealt with the relationship between Salama and Kenan. She has weaved a tremendous amount hope and love through their cute and halal relationship. It’s refreshing to see how she respected religious sentiments and values and created a love story that is pure and free from any worldly cynicism.
The plot itself is engrossing, and the author's unique perspective as a Muslim lends a genuine and authentic voice to the narrative. She doesn't shy away from writing harrowing and gruesome events that took place during the Civil War. 

<b>3.5 stars ★★★☆</b>

<blockquote><b>The universe may forget us, but it doesn't matter. Because
we are the ants, and we'll keep marching on.</blockquote></b>

This book will shatter your heart, only to mend it with the soothing balm of warmth and affection.

Your review is quite insightful and personal. Here's a revised version:

"This book is a solid **3 to 4-star** read. The way it addresses self-doubt, mental health issues, and grief is done with respect. The author doesn't romanticize these challenges but instead highlights them for a better understanding.

For me, this book was triggering because I have experienced bullying in school. I wish I had allies like Diego and Audrey to help me navigate those difficult times, but I was alone. The main character seems fortunate in a way, as most bullying victims are often too frightened to interact, much less make friends. I had no friends, dreaded leaving my house, and became overly critical of myself. I couldn't share my struggles with my family because I was too embarrassed to disclose what was happening at school.

This book also brought back memories of a time when I experienced love and loss. This is one reason I tend to avoid reading charming romance novels; they often remind me of my own loneliness.

While this book may not be for me, I understand its appeal. It reminds me of 'History Is All You Left Me' by Adam Silvera." however, in my opnion, HAYLM is much better.

I thought this book would never end. Finishing this book proved to be a challenge. I loved the first law trilogy but this was utterly disappointing. The narrative was bogged down by excessive banter and a convoluted political landscape that was difficult to navigate. The multitude of characters introduced became a task to track, and the extensive buildup often culminated to both lackluster and predictable conclusions.

The premise of this book is intriguing—a girl banding together with an eclectic mix of mercenaries and former foes—but the execution leaves a lot to be desired. The plot feels scattered, all over the place, and lacks depth. I struggled to empathize with the main character; partly because the relationship between her and her brother isn’t compellingly depicted, and partly because her character is poorly developed. She claims to have led a thousand swords—an army of mercenaries—for eight years, yet she exhibits no leadership qualities throughout the narrative. It is mostly other people doing the work and calling the shots for her. She relies heavily on treacherous criminals and foes who are ready to stab her in the back.

With that being said, there are certain parts and characters that are really well done. Unfortunately, the good parts are buried under a pile of boring pages. The needed better editing. 

The two characters that stand out are Nicomo and Morveer. They carried the whole book for me. The character of shenkt is intriguing and I hope to see him return.

Unfortunately, the poorly written sex scenes make a comeback. They are even more detailed and gross than in the previous books. I think Joe should refrain from writing these kinds of scenes. You can tell the author is as straight as a stick because he thinks dipping into someone’s posterior is wet and sloppy when, in fact, it’s usually a messy endeavor. IYKWIM, lol."

Although this book isn't marketed as a mystery/thriller, it certainly reads like one—and, frankly, it surpasses many recent entries in the genre. I'm looking at you, 'The Housemaid' series, and you too 'The Only One Left Behind.' 

I don't think books always need  a shocking and unexpected reveal to be compelling. Sometimes, simplicity and well timed-reveal is better than unnecessary complexities and reveals that drops on you out of nowhere. This book is a prime example of how streamlining your plot and pacing can enhance the reading experience. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Its setting is remarkably unique and stands out as the highlight. While the plot may not be revolutionary, the narrative's execution and development are so engaging that they keep you immersed. It's a treat for sure, but without the desert it wouldn't be a dessert (if you know what I mean.) The story itself is quite straight forward. 

The characters are well-written. The author purposefully and skillfully makes you suspect each one of them, when the answer is hiding in plain sight. 

In short, it's a cleverly crafted novel and a definite must-read.

"Last Argument of Kings," the final book in Joe Abercrombie's First Law Trilogy, is a masterful conclusion to a series that has become a reference book for grim dark fantasy writers. Abercrombie's world is grim and unforgiving, a place where heroes are flawed, and victories come at a steep price.

This book is not for the faint of hearts, nor for those who seek a satisfying conclusion to a story, even if they have endure some deaths. It definitely delivers on death, but then it seizes the satisfying conclusion, tortures it, extracts its teeth, and slaps you with a disheveled ending that leaves you scrambling through pages in search of its arms and legs.

The character development these characters undergo is, without a doubt, the best I have ever seen since Daenerys. Who would have thought my favorite character would be the one whose biggest enemy is the stairs? lol.
Glotka remains an undefeated, crippled King. He is the most compelling character I’ve ever encountered in literature. You feel for him even when is breaking someone's bones. His smarts and wits add layers of depth and intrigue to the plot and his inner monologue is a captivating blend of cynicism and sharp insight, revealing the complexities of his character. Indeed, he carries the plot on his crippled shoulders—undeniably so.

Among the previous two, this book boasts some of the most well-crafted action scenes. However, I am not particularly keen on reading extensive action sequences, so it became somewhat overwhelming. A significant portion of this book is set amidst war. But the reward was worth it.

The ending is polarizing; you'll either love it or hate it. Personally, I appreciated how the stakes escalated to a climax that was both unexpected and inevitable at the same time. A true masterpiece and I can't wait to read rest of the books set in this world.