Hi besties !!!
Today I will be reviewing THE MAN OR THE MONSTER (OUT 26th JULY ’22)! I absolutely LOVE Aamna’s writing, and cannot wait to read and support more of her works. When I read THE LADY OR THE LION earlier this year, I instantly fell in love, the book was so beautiful and I had no complaints !!!
It is the same with this book, I was emotionally wrecked but also really happy about how the sequence of events turned out. Before we begin, if you want to read my review for THE LADY OR THE LION and my INTERVIEW with Aamna, you can check them out here 🏔❄️
The Man or the Monster by Aamna Qureshi
SYNOPSIS:
In this sequel to The Lady or the Lion, Durkhanai grapples with the consequences of choosing her lover’s fate. But with war looming and her father’s vengeance threatening to engulf her, the fate of her kingdom once again lies in her hands.
She made her decision. Now she has to live with it.
Durkhanai Miangul sealed her lover’s fate when she sent him through a door where either a lady or a lion awaited him. But her decision was only the beginning of her troubles. Durkhanai worries that she might not be the queen her people need or deserve when conflict threatens her kingdom.
Her presumed-dead father comes back with a vengeance and wishes she join him in his cause. But her family’s denial of his revenge forces Durkhanai to take matters into her own hands and she must decide whether to follow the traditions of her forefathers or forge a new path on her own.
RATING
Thank you to CamCat Books and Edelweiss for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The Man or the Monster begins right where The Lady or the Lion ended. Durkhanai is grappling with the consequences of her actions from the very first chapter of this book, making it an impactful beginning.
The Man or the Monster portrayed Durkhanai’s growth as a person. From the naive and slightly spoiled girl— she became a stronger and more empathetic character. Her personal growth is one of the many commendable aspects of this book, and was an absolute joy to read [even though I wanted to cry for my poor baby, because she was going through so much :’)]
I felt like book 2 focused more on court politics than book 1, which I LOVED reading about. The twists and turns??? It was all so well thought out and showcased. I also liked the fact that platonic relationships were given as much importance as romantic ones (honestly it should be like this in every book!) I cannot talk much about the plot without spoiling everything— but I can say this, I think almost everyone will be very pleased after reading this book !!! I think the ending was a really great choice, it was a very “full-circle” kind of moment, and so was the fact that aspects from book 1 were of importance in book 2 too.
Okay, omg, now let’s talk about one of my favourite parts in this book— Durkhanai and Asfyandar !!! Honestly, I love durreasfi so much at this point, they’re my parents to be honest. I loved how the author portrayed their relationship throughout The Man or the Monster. Everything was there— the angst, the jealously, the feelings™— and I ate all of it up. Honestly I cannot believe this duology is over, I can’t survive without these characters :’)
So to conclude this review, I’m just going to say this— this book definitely lived up to the first one, and PLEASE PLEASE pre-order it, I promise you will not regret it!
Is this book for you?
PERFECT FOR: Readers who love court intrigue in books, romance, forbidden love, focus on family dynamics/ legacy.
THINK TWICE IF: You do not enjoy fantasy or books with court politics.
GENRE: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Death, violence (graphic in some parts), mention of suicide, self-harm (for a particular thing, non-suicidal)
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Thank you so much for reading, I hope you all enjoy THE MAN OR THE MONSTER as much as I did !!!
OMG OMG IM SO EXCITED FOR THIS BOOK TO COME OUT THIS REVIEW WAS AMAZING ITS HYPED ME UP EVEN MORE AHHHH
omgg rania thank you !!! i’m so happy you liked reading my review :’)