A Song of Wraiths and Ruin

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You were born on Moon Day and your patron deity is Patuo the Owl. As a Moon-Aligned person, your specialty is healing magic. Moon-Aligned people are naturally inquisitive, and you are likely happiest when acquiring knowledge or mastering a new skill. But remember to step outside your own head now and again to remember there’s a whole world that cares as much about you as it does what you know! I do feel like this duology might have benefited from being NA, rather than YA. The subject matter dealt with is pretty heavy and - though I'm aware YA readers unfortunately have to face similar things often - I felt like the constraints of YA as a category limited what the author could do with said subject matter. Which sometimes left extremely intense things feeling... lessened or glossed over, due to not wanting to cross any lines. Must you always be so dramatic? sighed Aminata as they sidestepped a group constructing an altar to Patuo in the middle of the street.

But this is not immediately a romance. From nearly the beginning, their goals and actions are at odds with one another. SteveDunk (2021-11-04). "Everything Is Canon: A Psalm Of Storms And Silence". Cinelinx | Movies. Games. Geek Culture . Retrieved 2022-02-07. This had been one of my most anticipated releases of the year and is one book that took bookstagram by storm! And I must say, the hype is legit real! ❣️✨ Admittedly, I hadn't done a re-read of the first book, A Song of Wraiths and Ruin, beforehand and it took a little while to become re-acquainted with the plot and characters. However, it started off very, very well. Intriguing and to the point, with a storytelling style to it. As if the readers are listening to a storyteller encountered in Zirani listening entranced to Malik and Karina's story. This was a very nice touch which I really, really like in spite of my usual dislike of the narrator referring to the reader. This time it fit well with the tone of the story.The evil spirit says that he has to kill the princess by Solstasia's end or they will kill Malik's sister. So Malik becomes a champion to get closer to the princess. Solstasia is a festival celebrating a comet that passes once in every 50 years. Malik's chapters were much slower for me, with a lot of unnecessary focus on his trials. He's an all around nice guy with some magical connection, but by and large I wasn't taken in by his journey and felt his development was limited. He and Karina do not meet until about the middle of the book. I already loved Karina and Malik in ASOWAR, as well as how well-developed they were, and I loved seeing both their growth arcs in this book. I couldn’t help but root for both of them. APOSAS introduced even more amazing characters that I could fall in love with. I even found myself finding unexpected new appreciation for a certain character. Furthermore, in general, I found the characters to be developed nicely, also the villain. Apart from the characters on their own, I enjoyed seeing the dynamics between them: the friendships, the love. There were so many sweet and fluffy scenes that I absolutely adored. Altogether, A Song of Wraiths and Ruin is just a dazzling, refreshing book. Malik and Karina are compelling characters with complicated goals and aspirations. The magic of Sonande feels new and exciting, but also dangerous and dark. The trials of the Solstasia competition weave together with the lavish parties of the wealthy as well as the riotous revelry of the lower city in Ziran, creating a complex tapestry of culture that is simply enchanting and original. Now that he was seeing Karina up close, mistaking her for a servant felt like having mistaken the sun for a candle.”

It was impressive. Karina’s gaze slid to the coin purse on his hip. If I may ask, exactly what do you plan to do with your earnings? This book takes place in the city of Ziran during the week of Solstasia which happens once every 50 years. Told from the dual perspective of Malik and Karina the princess of Ziran. Karina was by far the hi light of this book. Shes a princess with a sharp tongue and an affinity for playing music- she's sort of the "second son"- and has been wildly considered a bit of a screw up. Her character frequently bangs out fun and witty dialogue and the way the other characters interact with her can be interesting, as she often defies their expectations of her as a spoiled, screw up princess. You are not strong in body, no. No one will ever sing songs about your physical prowess. But you are kind, Malik Hilali. Do not underestimate the strength it takes to be kind in a world as cruel as ours."

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The man who sold this to me couldn’t even read the title, said the bard. He didn’t realize that he had pawned away a true remnant from the time of the pharaohs of old. And I’ve found another favorite book! When I first read the synopsis I knew this was a book that I needed in my life. I’m happy that I actually took my time with it because the world building was something to behold. It was so much more complex than I thought. Every minute was riddled with stories and folklore and it was all just so magnificent that I couldn’t really put the book down (had to force myself to most of the time). It wasn’t in an info dumping way but everything was told when it needed to be. You never got to know something unless it was the absolute perfect moment for it. Karina sang the first verse in Zirani, turning in a circle as she played so every person could hear. Zawenji: A magic user whose powers affect the physical world (summoning fire, shaking the earth etc.)

You were born on Water Day and your patron deity is Susono the Hippo. As a Water-Aligned person, your specialty is water magic. Water-Aligned people tend to go with the flow, easily changing and adapting to meet whatever obstacle may stand in their way. However, remember that you are whatever you wish to be, and you never have to change your core identity to please anyone else. Always Someone Better: How Karina feels towards her deceased mother and sister, like however she struggles, she can't follow in their footsteps. The griot’s voice warbled through the scorching desert air, cutting through the donkey pens and jeweled caravans that populated the tent settlement outside the city-state of Ziran’s Western Gate. On instinct, Malik angled his body toward the storyteller’s call, his grip tightening around the satchel strap slung across his chest.Farid: Karina’s adopted older brother. Was in love with Karina’s older sister. Is currently very stressed trying to wrangle Karina into caring about being queen. Deserves a nap. Malik brushed the curls from Nadia’s eyes. She had always been small for her age; now, after months of malnutrition, she was so tiny that Malik sometimes feared a strong enough breeze might carry her away forever.

This was not a bad book, but I still can't get over the fact (or the impression I have at least) that Malik is a 13 years old or 14 years old teenager and I have trouble connecting with that. The ending is also quite open, with no big cliffhanger. There is obviously a sequel coming, but I really don't think that I will read it because I am not feeling this urge to know what will happen to the characters.I WAS PROMISED ENEMIES TO LOVERS BUT THEY DIDN'T EVEN MEET UNTIL 50% I GOT 25% OF ‘ENEMIES TO LOVERS AND THERE WAS HARDLY ANY TENSION I AM MADDDDDD. The romance is quite predictable (the whole ''I need to kill you but somehow I find myself attracted to you'') but I honestly could not get into the whole romance thing because Malik behaves and thinks like he is 13 or 14 years old. How old is he actually? Because he says at some point that the 5 years since his dad left them do not even represent a third of his life. Are we to understand that he is not even 15 years old yet? If that is the case, having him master old magic, run around the city, and fall in love with Karina seems pretty unrealistic. The Alignment System: The major religion of this world, through which every person is matched with a patron deity based on the day of the week on which they’re born. A person’s patron decides what kind of magic they can do. You can discover yours here.