3.5 stars
Hm.
I'm kind of split down the middle with this book (as the 3.5 stars reveals). It has an intriguing premise, a cast of likable characters. The book even gave me Six of Crows vibes, though there wasn't the same edge-of-your-seat-oh-my-God-they're-all-going-to-DIE suspense to the heists. (SoC is in a class of its own though, so comparing anything to it is kind of unfair. So...I'll stop.)
But. Something was missing, and I can't put my finger on what, exactly. I just...I feel like this book had a lot of elements to it, and some of them didn't necessarily work together? Also, some parts of the world were just glossed over.
Like Forging.
There are a few things you need to know about the world of this book: 1) it's set in the past (the year 1889, specifically), but 2) there's this thing called Forging, which is a magical art made possible by these things called Babel fragments, and it allows things like "recording devices" to be made. (I'm, like, 99% sure that just means magical cameras.) So there wasn't a lack of "technology", per se, even considering the time period.
Which made me forget at times this novel was historical fiction! Not that that's a bad thing...historical fiction and I have a, er, rocky track record. It was just a little surprising.
Okay, back on track --> Anyway, Forging is never really explained? We learn a little about it, but we never really get an in-depth look at it. Or get told of any limits, so Forging seems like this ungodly power that makes the wielders all-powerful and all-knowing.
And then there were the characters. Listen...I like them all enough. (Except for Séverin. I'm like, thiisss close to disliking him.) They seem like they'd be fun to hang around with. But I don't have any strong feelings for any of them. They seem kind of 2-D, if I'm being honest.
Although if I had to pick a person I wouldn't want to die, it'd be Enrique. He's mildly funny - some of his jokes are just flat-out terrible though - and his relationship with his identity as a person who likes guys and girls, and is half-Filipino and half-Spanish was, at times, heartbreaking. He talked about how he felt as if one part of him was always being ignored - no, erased - and I could understand that. I'm not biracial, but I am a person of color and I've always struggled with my identity as one. It's something I'm working on.
I take back what I said earlier. It looks like I do have a favorite.
The other characters were, like I said, likable enough. There's also a lot of good rep in the book. Zofia is Jewish, Hypnos likes guys and is a PoC, Laila is Indian (!!)(like me!)(INDIAN REP WHOOO)(I wish I liked her more though), Tristan is white, and Séverin is biracial (half-Algerian). Zofia was interesting. Hypnos was...actually, I reserve verdict until the next book. Same with Laila. Tristan was bland, but sweet. (But then that ending happened and I just kind of blinked for a little and then said, very loudly, aloud, WHAT.) And I don't know how I feel about Séverin so I'm not even going to try.
I do know how I feel about the romance between him and Laila though. *sighs* I think I'm cursed not to like any of Chokshi's romances! I just...physically...can't.
Actually, there's Aru's crush in Aru Shah...that's shaping up to be cute. (I literally can't wait for the next book in the Aru Shah series to come out, I'mma riot if I don't get my hands on it soon.) So I guess I do like some of her romances! Yay! But this one between Séverin and Laila - not yay! I don't ship it! At all!
Also, it seems like a love triangle is brewing between some of the other characters, and I'm not a fan. But oh, well, let's see where this train goes.
But these are literally the most nitpicky things. What it boils down to is it was fun to read this. I love heist novels, and this book didn't disappoint. There was genuine tension in all the scenes, one that made me want to keep forging forward, and the stakes and motivations for the characters were thrilling and believable.
So...I'd recommend. It's worth it. :)
Hm.
I'm kind of split down the middle with this book (as the 3.5 stars reveals). It has an intriguing premise, a cast of likable characters. The book even gave me Six of Crows vibes, though there wasn't the same edge-of-your-seat-oh-my-God-they're-all-going-to-DIE suspense to the heists. (SoC is in a class of its own though, so comparing anything to it is kind of unfair. So...I'll stop.)
But. Something was missing, and I can't put my finger on what, exactly. I just...I feel like this book had a lot of elements to it, and some of them didn't necessarily work together? Also, some parts of the world were just glossed over.
Like Forging.
There are a few things you need to know about the world of this book: 1) it's set in the past (the year 1889, specifically), but 2) there's this thing called Forging, which is a magical art made possible by these things called Babel fragments, and it allows things like "recording devices" to be made. (I'm, like, 99% sure that just means magical cameras.) So there wasn't a lack of "technology", per se, even considering the time period.
Which made me forget at times this novel was historical fiction! Not that that's a bad thing...historical fiction and I have a, er, rocky track record. It was just a little surprising.
Okay, back on track --> Anyway, Forging is never really explained? We learn a little about it, but we never really get an in-depth look at it. Or get told of any limits, so Forging seems like this ungodly power that makes the wielders all-powerful and all-knowing.
And then there were the characters. Listen...I like them all enough. (Except for Séverin. I'm like, thiisss close to disliking him.) They seem like they'd be fun to hang around with. But I don't have any strong feelings for any of them. They seem kind of 2-D, if I'm being honest.
Although if I had to pick a person I wouldn't want to die, it'd be Enrique. He's mildly funny - some of his jokes are just flat-out terrible though - and his relationship with his identity as a person who likes guys and girls, and is half-Filipino and half-Spanish was, at times, heartbreaking. He talked about how he felt as if one part of him was always being ignored - no, erased - and I could understand that. I'm not biracial, but I am a person of color and I've always struggled with my identity as one. It's something I'm working on.
I take back what I said earlier. It looks like I do have a favorite.
The other characters were, like I said, likable enough. There's also a lot of good rep in the book. Zofia is Jewish, Hypnos likes guys and is a PoC, Laila is Indian (!!)(like me!)(INDIAN REP WHOOO)(I wish I liked her more though), Tristan is white, and Séverin is biracial (half-Algerian). Zofia was interesting. Hypnos was...actually, I reserve verdict until the next book. Same with Laila. Tristan was bland, but sweet. (But then that ending happened and I just kind of blinked for a little and then said, very loudly, aloud, WHAT.) And I don't know how I feel about Séverin so I'm not even going to try.
I do know how I feel about the romance between him and Laila though. *sighs* I think I'm cursed not to like any of Chokshi's romances! I just...physically...can't.
Actually, there's Aru's crush in Aru Shah...that's shaping up to be cute. (I literally can't wait for the next book in the Aru Shah series to come out, I'mma riot if I don't get my hands on it soon.) So I guess I do like some of her romances! Yay! But this one between Séverin and Laila - not yay! I don't ship it! At all!
Also, it seems like a love triangle is brewing between some of the other characters, and I'm not a fan. But oh, well, let's see where this train goes.
But these are literally the most nitpicky things. What it boils down to is it was fun to read this. I love heist novels, and this book didn't disappoint. There was genuine tension in all the scenes, one that made me want to keep forging forward, and the stakes and motivations for the characters were thrilling and believable.
So...I'd recommend. It's worth it. :)