Scan barcode
thewordsdevourer's reviews
503 reviews
The Ashfire King by Chelsea Abdullah
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC
The Ashfire King is a worthy installment to the Sandsea trilogy, with as much adventure as its predecessor, more expansive worldbuilding and exploring, as well as great characters - both old and new.
The novel is tense, leaving the reader afraid of the inevitable catchup by and confrontation with the antagonists, but the constant scattering and games of cat-and-mouse can be a little tiring after several loops. We learn more about the Sandsea, however, and the worldbuilding and magics are quite a delight. My favorite thing about the novel, though, is the characters' growth and development, and the many humane moments throughout the book, which truly demonstrate the heart at the core of the story.
I look forward to the last book, and it's going to be a difficult wait.
The Ashfire King is a worthy installment to the Sandsea trilogy, with as much adventure as its predecessor, more expansive worldbuilding and exploring, as well as great characters - both old and new.
The novel is tense, leaving the reader afraid of the inevitable catchup by and confrontation with the antagonists, but the constant scattering and games of cat-and-mouse can be a little tiring after several loops. We learn more about the Sandsea, however, and the worldbuilding and magics are quite a delight. My favorite thing about the novel, though, is the characters' growth and development, and the many humane moments throughout the book, which truly demonstrate the heart at the core of the story.
I look forward to the last book, and it's going to be a difficult wait.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Murder
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement
The Colonel and the Eunuch by Mai Jia
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
masterful storytelling, though a lil disparate w/ loose threads towards the end.
Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
Didn't See That Coming by Jesse Q. Sutanto
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.0
See Loss See Also Love by Yukiko Tominaga
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
1.75
How Do You Live? by GenzaburÅ Yoshino
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0