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I finished Kingdom of Souls by @renathedreamer about a month or two ago and I cannot get it out of my head, it has captivated me in a way I have been by a novel since I was in middle school. I cannot recommend it enough and with that being said here are my thoughts on it [Thread]
Imma refer to it as KOS to make life is easier. KOS is really good and borders being near a god damn masterpiece to me, except for one minor detail but thats for later. Lets start with point number 1; Free will vs Determinism
Arrah, our heroine goes through it bro. Just when you don't think things can get worse for her, it does, it gets so much worse. But regardless Arrah continues to get back up and fight. As though even if destiny is determined to knock her down she continues to get back up.
Do her choices matter then? Why does she continue to fight what seems to be fate for her to take this L. Well I interpret it as regardless as how set her destiny is, she refuses to accept that and exerts her free will as a means of legitmazing the fact that her choices are hers
This leads me to point number 2, Arrah and all of the main cast are so damn well written. Not only is Arrah a strong black female lead but even though she is in compromising positions she never feels like she lacks agency. Which was done in such a masterful way.
Point 2.5/3, the other characters are just so good. Everyone is so well written and I never felt like well this doesn't work all the pieces were always well put together. In addition to this the story was pretty air tight to me, everytime I thought why doesn't she do X action
It seemed like @renathedreamer was one step ahead going nah bud, try again that wont work either. Which leads me to point 4, The Twists.
MY GUY WHEN I TELL YOU I GASPED OUTLOUD AT THE TWISTS. I MF GASPED SO HARD. I THOUGHT I KNEW THINGS, I REALIZE I AM JOHN SNOW AND KNOW NOTHING.
Point 5, Relatability. Something about Arrah just feels so real, continuing to get smacked in the face by life by things very much out of your hand but continuing to keep getting up, its a feeling that resonated so deeply with me.
I read some interviews and I know Rena said something about it a book about being a survivor and that is a very good way to express the book.
Point 6, Trauma. KOS does an amazing job at talking and discussing the different ways trauma can affect an individual and having to confront that trauma.
So after all that what you are wondering is my only hang up? The pacing, Rena does such an amazing job world building within the first part of the book that as a result the pacing in the beginning suffers and the book is pretty slow in the first 100ish pages.
Okay Im done now, but if you can't tell I really really liked KOS and would highly recommend anyone who is looking for something to read, check it out. I could literally gush about this book all day but I need to stop this thread somewhere.
