Book Review: ‘Dawn of the Firebird’ is a Brutal, Mythical Fantasy that’s NOT Going to be For Everyone
I’ll admit it: the insanely stunning cover and sprayed edges of Dawn of the Firebird by Sarah Mughal Rana are what first caught my eye. I was really hoping the story inside would live up to the beautiful outside, but unfortunately it didn’t for me. This book is not going to be for everyone. I honestly believe this could have been a beautiful novella instead and it would have been five stars. Instead, the author attempted to create a sweeping world of Jinn and magic and violence, but it turned into a wordy mess with the plot all over the place. There were moments of brilliance, and pieces of it that read like a myth, and I absolutely loved it. And then there were moments where I felt the book was never going to be over. I kept thinking, “How do I still have so much of this book left?”. It was somehow SO slow even though there was action. I don’t shy away from violence or gore in my books, but this was a little over the top at times, even for me. Sometimes violence and brutality can move the plot forward and in some instances, it did. While at other times, it felt like it was purely for shock value and unnecessary to the story. I’m not sure what I was supposed to get from this book. That war destroys everything in the end? That everyone will betray you? That love is both a blessing and curse? Maybe one or all of these things.
Things to Know:
Grimdark Fantasy
Revenge
Jinn, Curses, Myths
Manipulation and betrayals
TW: brutal violence, torture, child death
The main character is filled with rage the entire book. Girl, I get it. She went through it. But sometimes I was like…why aren’t you more mad at certain characters?! And then the ending, for me was deeply unsatisfying. I get that there’s probably going to be a sequel, but I don’t think I’ll be picking it up. The twist wasn’t that hard to guess, and honestly just made me annoyed the FMC didn’t figure it out sooner.
This book started out beautifully, and truly felt like I was going to be reading a modern myth. Sometimes the writing was lovely, and sometimes it was so wordy and convoluted, and I found myself thinking, “Is she done talking/thinking yet?” It felt like the author was trying to write a massive world and tale, but the strategy was to throw as many words as possible at it. It didn’t work for me.
Also, the amount of times the FMC was poisoned was excessive. I mean, it makes sense later, but it was just over the top again.
The MMC (this is not a Romantasy, btw) was actually one of the more interesting characters and we don’t even get much time with him. I’d be curious for more of his backstory, which I’m guessing we’ll get in the next book.
I did an immersive read with the book and the audiobook, and the narrator did do a stunning job. Honestly, I think that’s why I stuck it out and finished it, because the narrator’s voice was so soothing to listen to. If you’re an audiobook reader, and you want to give this book a try, you can find the audiobook on Audible or Libro.fm (ProTips: Audible is 99 cents/mo for three months (99 cents/book) right now AND you can get two free audiobooks on Libro.fm with the code SWITCH right now).
Favorite Quotes:
“Love, I see, is all the withering darkness between the stars, small in appearance, but limitless to experience.”
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“Because humans like destroying beautiful things.”
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“You understood the meaning of a true warrior: one who fights not for glory, not for pride, but for justice.”
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