Final Rating:
Date of Completion: 29/03/2024
Published by: Little, Brown Audio
ISBN: B08XZPSZM5
Cover:
This stunning illustration captures the fierce and defiant nature of one of the main characters, Touraine, while also hinting at her complex feelings of being caught between two worlds. The additional details of soldiers and the desert landscape help convey the genre and highlight key aspects of the story.
Writing:
Though I found the third-person narrative slightly confusing, I loved the vibrant descriptions that brought the desert setting and complex world brimming with culture and brutal politics to life. However, the magic system was underwhelming, as it seemed to be a convenient plot device and was poorly explained.
Winning isn’t everything. It’s how you win that matters most.
Storyline:
The slow-paced, character-driven storyline brilliantly uses the struggles of the main characters to explore different aspects of colonialism. Despite this and the constant twists and turns of the story, my interest eventually waned as the second half felt messy and unrealistic.
Main character(s):
Touraine and Luca are fierce, determined characters whose complex motives and emotions make their narratives compelling. The self-discovery journey both characters experience also results in strong growth arcs, but their frustrating decisions along the way made it hard for me to connect with or root for them.
You don’t find a life. You have to make one, with the people around you and the causes you put your strength into.
Secondary characters:
Although I struggled to keep track of the large cast of secondary characters, several were memorable as their roles added depth and complexity to the story.
Romance:
Hints of attraction between the main characters developed into deeper feelings that felt forced as the progression of their connection was not well demonstrated. Additionally, besides the dynamics of colonisation and the power imbalance between them, the actions of both characters throughout the story made their connection somewhat uncomfortable and ridiculous.
Know a person’s desires, and you have leverage- Give a person their desires, and you have an extension of your own will
Narration & Audio:
Rasha Zamamiri did a fantastic job bringing the character-driven story to life with skilful vocal effects and variety.
Ultimately, I was left with mixed feelings after reading ‘The Unbroken‘. While I enjoyed the clever examination of colonization, the second half of the story missed the mark for me. I would recommend ‘The Jasmine Throne‘ by Tasha Suri as a similar fantasy read with women shaping the fate of an empire.
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