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The Marghazar Trials #2
The Man or the Monster (Large Print Edition)
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.
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.
448 pages, Paperback
First published August 30, 2022
7 people are currently reading
5410 people want to read
About the author
Aamna Qureshi
14 books882 followersAamna Qureshi is a Pakistani, Muslim American who adores words. She is an award-winning and USA Today, Amazon, and Times bestselling author who grew up on Long Island, New York, in a very loud household, surrounded by English (for school), Urdu (for conversation), and Punjabi (for emotion). Much of her childhood was spent being grounded for reading past her bed-time, writing stories in the backs of her notebooks, and being scolded by teachers for passing chapters under the tables. Through her writing, she wishes to inspire a love for the beautiful country and rich culture that informed much of her identity.
When she's not writing, she loves to travel to new places where she can explore different cultures or to Pakistan where she can revitalize her roots. She also loves baking complicated desserts, drinking fancy teas and coffees, watching sappy rom-coms, and going for walks about the estate (her backyard). She currently lives in New York. Look for her on IG @aamna_qureshi and Twitter @aamnaqureshi_ and at her website aamnaqureshi.com.
When she's not writing, she loves to travel to new places where she can explore different cultures or to Pakistan where she can revitalize her roots. She also loves baking complicated desserts, drinking fancy teas and coffees, watching sappy rom-coms, and going for walks about the estate (her backyard). She currently lives in New York. Look for her on IG @aamna_qureshi and Twitter @aamnaqureshi_ and at her website aamnaqureshi.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
June 9, 2023
omg why did i not even rate & review my own book lmao....
anyway, v proud of this & hope it's a fitting sequel for fans of the first book <33
‼️SPOILERS‼️ for the end bc I consistently get dms about this lol:
everyone always asks which ending is the Real one according to me, the author, to which I will say...it's the second one. i always need HEAs!! it's an extended reference to tswift's song exile: "i think i've seen this film before, and I didn't like the ending."
in Ch. 29 of TLOTL, Durkhanai says, "She knew how this story ended." and in Ch. 30 of TMOTM, Durkhanai tells Asfandyar, "I want /a different ending/. I want you."
anyway, v proud of this & hope it's a fitting sequel for fans of the first book <33
‼️SPOILERS‼️ for the end bc I consistently get dms about this lol:
everyone always asks which ending is the Real one according to me, the author, to which I will say...it's the second one. i always need HEAs!! it's an extended reference to tswift's song exile: "i think i've seen this film before, and I didn't like the ending."
in Ch. 29 of TLOTL, Durkhanai says, "She knew how this story ended." and in Ch. 30 of TMOTM, Durkhanai tells Asfandyar, "I want /a different ending/. I want you."
August 28, 2022
“And so I leave it with all of you: Which came out of the opened door—the man, or the monster?”
Rating: 4.5 stars
★★★★★
consider reading this review on my blog!
The Lady or the Lion is one of the books I wanted to read this month, and since I already had the e-ARC for its sequel, I thought Why not try it? Little did I know I was going to be swooning and crying over the book. It all happened in three days; there was no internet for a good while so I binged the duology and have absolutely no regrets! ✌️
The Man or the Monster is a delightful sequel that lives up to its hype and delivers a lot more! Filled with court intrigue and forbidden romance, The Lady or the Lion leaves readers on a horrid cliffhanger, but thankfully its sequel is now here to save you from prolonged waiting.
The Man or the Monster picks up right after The Lady or the Lion, after the infamous trial of Marghazar. Durkhanai is left to fend for herself after nearly everyone seems to have turned on her. Due to this seclusion, she, as a character, grows a lot during this book. I loved to see Durkhanai go from the spoiled princess of Marghazar to a respectable and dutiful to-be-queen. Her development really shows in the sequel, especially as her relationships with quite a lot of characters towards the end of the book progressed very well.
There were many twists we couldn’t have seen coming and the betrayals really hit the marks! The political tension was so much more better than in the previous novel. We get to see the story from others’ points of view, whose stories often went unheard. I have a feeling I won’t stop if I start about Asfandyar, but here goes! Lots of familial connections and loyalties are explored and tested throughout the novel but Durkhanai and Asfandyar’s love for each stands true. The ending was so wholesome and cute (or not, more about that in a bit)! And honestly, I think the slow burn was really well-done in this one!
So, the ending. Huh. That was the most brutal and beautiful ending anyone could’ve asked for?!?! I never ever saw that coming but oh my gods, it made sense but also it didn’t. I know I’m not making any sense, but I’m afraid of spoiling so you’ll have to do with what I can! Just trust me, you’re in for a real treat! Hope this review moves you enough to pick up this series because we fans need someone to scream with!
— Thank you Edelweiss, CamCat Books and Rockstar Book Tours for presenting me with an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.
March 25, 2022
thank you to edelweiss for providing me with an arc!
the man or the monster is the sequel to the lady or the lion, and follows shezadi durkhanai as she must grapple with both the consequences of her actions and her family's legacy. without spoiling anything, this book definitely lives up to the first one and is a stunning sequel. i was hooked from the first page to the last one and the ending was an excellent thematic choice.
because this is a sequel, i won't go into specific plot points but i will say that this book builds off of the themes and questions brought up in the first book really well. the majority of the book is presented through durkhanai's point of view and her internal struggles are realistic, making her such a sympathetic character. her relationship with asfandyar is also so well written and had me giggling and kicking my legs at one point. familial and platonic relationships are given the same importance as the romance which is also really refreshing to see. i loved the desi rep in this book as well as the politics throughout. my only complaint was that we didn't see as much of durkhanai interacting with other characters as we did during the first book, though i enjoyed seeing how she grew on her own over the course of the book.
overall, the man or the monster lives up to book 1 and does so much more beyond that. it balances romance, politics, and familial legacy expertly and i can't recommend it enough!
the man or the monster is the sequel to the lady or the lion, and follows shezadi durkhanai as she must grapple with both the consequences of her actions and her family's legacy. without spoiling anything, this book definitely lives up to the first one and is a stunning sequel. i was hooked from the first page to the last one and the ending was an excellent thematic choice.
because this is a sequel, i won't go into specific plot points but i will say that this book builds off of the themes and questions brought up in the first book really well. the majority of the book is presented through durkhanai's point of view and her internal struggles are realistic, making her such a sympathetic character. her relationship with asfandyar is also so well written and had me giggling and kicking my legs at one point. familial and platonic relationships are given the same importance as the romance which is also really refreshing to see. i loved the desi rep in this book as well as the politics throughout. my only complaint was that we didn't see as much of durkhanai interacting with other characters as we did during the first book, though i enjoyed seeing how she grew on her own over the course of the book.
overall, the man or the monster lives up to book 1 and does so much more beyond that. it balances romance, politics, and familial legacy expertly and i can't recommend it enough!
Read
August 25, 2022Yooo we have a series title!!!
October 11, 2022
this review will contain spoilers for which door durkhanai led asfandyar to/which door he chose.
unfortunately for her, sending asfandyar to his fate was not the last of durkhanai’s troubles. she worries she won’t be good enough to be queen and certain factors have led her to question her family. she’s left with the decision to follow tradition or forge a new path.
if i thought the angst in the last book was a lot, it was even more so in this book. i mean, last book our lovebirds definitely had troubles, but now those troubles are added onto with the fact durkhanai was so willing to send asfandyar to his death and that asfandyar is betrothed to another (durkhanai’s cousin, at that). still, i live for angst and i ate this book up!
durkhanai is one of my fav mcs and i’m so glad we got to see more of her in this book. i was a little skeptical at first when i found out about this book since i thought the open ending in the last one was great. however, this sequel did not at all disappoint! highly recommend to anyone who enjoyed the lady or the lion.
unfortunately for her, sending asfandyar to his fate was not the last of durkhanai’s troubles. she worries she won’t be good enough to be queen and certain factors have led her to question her family. she’s left with the decision to follow tradition or forge a new path.
if i thought the angst in the last book was a lot, it was even more so in this book. i mean, last book our lovebirds definitely had troubles, but now those troubles are added onto with the fact durkhanai was so willing to send asfandyar to his death and that asfandyar is betrothed to another (durkhanai’s cousin, at that). still, i live for angst and i ate this book up!
durkhanai is one of my fav mcs and i’m so glad we got to see more of her in this book. i was a little skeptical at first when i found out about this book since i thought the open ending in the last one was great. however, this sequel did not at all disappoint! highly recommend to anyone who enjoyed the lady or the lion.
December 7, 2022
UM WHAT WAS THE ENDING??? i low-key hate when authors put two different endings and let u choose which one to believe because it makes the story feel incomplete ☹️ but, other than the ending, the rest of the book was a amazing
November 10, 2022
4.25/5 - their angst era was delicious the masochist in me wishes it lasted longer and that ending was literally so ???????/!!/!/&:&: i’m choosing peace and happiness idc
May 10, 2024
I think Aamna wants to fight because what was that? You know what I’m talking about ..🫠
I wanted to slap everyone. Only one who didn’t deserve a slap was Rashid. The betrayal and stubbornness of everyone made me so mad that I took it PERSONALLY!! This was good but could’ve been better. The first book was too good to beat.
I love this author though.
I’m definitely reading more of her work because she knows how to tell a story but also because we support our Muslim girls duhh!!
I wanted to slap everyone. Only one who didn’t deserve a slap was Rashid. The betrayal and stubbornness of everyone made me so mad that I took it PERSONALLY!! This was good but could’ve been better. The first book was too good to beat.
I love this author though.
I’m definitely reading more of her work because she knows how to tell a story but also because we support our Muslim girls duhh!!
February 10, 2022
I’m SO excited for this!!! Can’t wait to request an arc 🥺✨
Update: Thank you to CamCat Books for a copy of this arc. Full review will be on pop-culturalist closer to the pub date! This book was so good I finished it in two days. The ending is absolutely perfect and I think I fell in love with this one.
Update: Thank you to CamCat Books for a copy of this arc. Full review will be on pop-culturalist closer to the pub date! This book was so good I finished it in two days. The ending is absolutely perfect and I think I fell in love with this one.
January 5, 2023
oh my god - this was beautiful😩🫶
January 30, 2022
THIS BOOK!!! the man or the monster has done everything for me. while I loved the lady or the lion, I can confidently say that the man or the monster was absolutely delightful, a pleasure to read, and that the writing evolved tremendously.
to be honest, it did hurt me. feelings were felt!!! emotions were present. oh my god. this book was wonderful in so many ways. fast-paced and immersive writing that grips you from page one and won’t let you go until you’ve reached the end. if you loved book one you’ll fall in love with book two.
the court intrigue was great! I’m not a huge fan of books heavy on politics but this one excelled at portraying believable politics, while keeping it interesting for the readers.
I am just absolutely bewildered by the plot and the story-telling, and this was quite frankly a wonderful read that is worth your time.
to be honest, it did hurt me. feelings were felt!!! emotions were present. oh my god. this book was wonderful in so many ways. fast-paced and immersive writing that grips you from page one and won’t let you go until you’ve reached the end. if you loved book one you’ll fall in love with book two.
the court intrigue was great! I’m not a huge fan of books heavy on politics but this one excelled at portraying believable politics, while keeping it interesting for the readers.
I am just absolutely bewildered by the plot and the story-telling, and this was quite frankly a wonderful read that is worth your time.
May 11, 2022
4.25 stars rounded up
October 14, 2022
what. the. hell.
September 1, 2022
Well, it has been a few days and I am still processing the ending of this one! It was unexpected and thrilling to say the least.
The Man or the Monster picks up right after the ending of The Lady or the Lion. Durhanai must live with her decision, but this is the least of her worries. Duri has taken it upon herself to save her people. She must deal with court intrigue, family squabbles and forbidden love. So many secrets come to light and this forces Duri to re-examine her entire life. Will she be able to move past the betrayal and become the Queen her country needs, or is she tainted and cursed as everyone seems to believe.
There is not much I can say without spoilers, so I won't even try. Just pick up this series and immerse yourself in the wonderful storytelling of The Marghazar Trials. You will not be disappointed.
Thank you to Let's Talk Books Promo, CamCat Books and Aamna Qureshi for my complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 21, 2022
4.5
i'm afraid i'll never break out of the durkhanai & asfandyar chokehold. THEY ARE JUST SO AAAAAAAAA
i loved the ending to this duology so much, espically with how we were given two different endings. i will definitely gaslight myself into thinking it was the man, and not the monster.
aamna qureshi is now one of my to-buy authors for sure i can't wait to read what other books she writes.
i'm afraid i'll never break out of the durkhanai & asfandyar chokehold. THEY ARE JUST SO AAAAAAAAA
i loved the ending to this duology so much, espically with how we were given two different endings. i will definitely gaslight myself into thinking it was the man, and not the monster.
aamna qureshi is now one of my to-buy authors for sure i can't wait to read what other books she writes.
September 3, 2022
This book kept me up late - I couldn't stop.
Durkhanai Miangul has learned the secret of the lady and the lion. She gives her love a subtle hint - which does he meet : the lion or the lady?
The princess faces many challenges. Managing her title, her family and the court.
Gah I want to tell you about the drama, backstabbing, family drama!
Loved it!
Durkhanai Miangul has learned the secret of the lady and the lion. She gives her love a subtle hint - which does he meet : the lion or the lady?
The princess faces many challenges. Managing her title, her family and the court.
Gah I want to tell you about the drama, backstabbing, family drama!
Loved it!
July 3, 2022
we've gone through a full circle cries
November 13, 2022
i hate this even more. my heart hurts and i feel sick
October 23, 2022
I’m so sad it’s over
Update: haleema just told me the ending and I didn’t read the chapters title properly I’m ganna go kms.
Update: haleema just told me the ending and I didn’t read the chapters title properly I’m ganna go kms.
August 8, 2022
I feel so many things with this book, like ten thousand emotions bombarding me, all happy, all sad, all amazed! The first book had us wait breathlessly at the end with such an chefs kiss of a cliff hanger as like the original tale by Frank Stockton "The Lady or the Tiger" and I'm so relieved and happy to read its final book which addressed this in such a brilliant manner that does justice to the characters and makes sense to the overall story. I am not leaving any spoilers until perhaps much later on, but I will say its such a page turner- I was able to finish this within one day after receiving it in the mail. Honest to God, a worthy conclusion and a fabulous answer to the question of "And so I leave it with all of you: Which came out of the opened door – the lady, or the tiger?". I want to say also Aamnas prose is stunning here. The way she writes is wonderful, tugs at you with precision and like poetry, able to elevate and take your breath away.
March 28, 2022
Thank you Edelweiss for an advanced copy. It has been about 10 months since I read the prequel The Lady or the Lion, and I did not reread it as a refresher. I was too excited to grab the sequel. You definitely need to read the prequel beforehand. I was sometimes foggy on the details of different characters and treaties, and the author does not review any background going forward. The first book was much better, but this one still captures the reader. It was difficult to put this down to attend to real-life work. The first chapter is HORRIBLE, so please continue to the second chapter! I won’t spoil the details as to why. I appreciate the Southeast cultural influences in this different world. Being "Muslim" is not a focus, but Islam does come through a little in the story. I appreciate a clean novel, without profanities. It's not really "halal" romance and there is some violence. I would still recommend this for our high school library.
November 1, 2022
“Perhaps sometimes the heart needed to be wrung dry to keep a person from drowning”
MY GOODNESS THIS DUOLOGY WAS A JOURNEY!! I am in love!! ( i wanted to review the whole series rather than each book individually as I finished the first book last night I’m only reviewing it now after reading the second book today. )
The writing in this book is immaculate. The world building! The setting, the places, the descriptions of the gorgeous palace, the mountains and the valleys, the characters, the struggles and development of the characters, the interaction between each characters, especially the way the cousins were close with each other was so heartwarming to me. As someone who spent my entire childhood with my cousins, It made me remember how cousins can be your bestfriends for life. Also the friendship between gulaila and durkhanai was so much fun to read. Gulaila is a very relatable and fun character omg I love her! The storyline, the backstories, the plot twist! THE PLOT TWIST! It was very well written and the story was crafted so good I was hooked. ( I devoured the second book in one sitting!) It has so many mysteries and twists that had me fidgeting and biting my nails. It's was such a fun ride that kept me guessing at every turn! I didn't see many plot points coming for real! EVERYTHING! EVERYTHING WAS AMAZING!!!! I had so much fun reading this! This is like the first desi book that I actually enjoyed reading without any stereotypes involved. It is an impactful, heart-wrenching story of love and family and discovering what you truly want and value the most.
Durkhanai’s character development was my fav to read of all. I love seeing her journey of turning into a responsible yet caring queen for her people from a little spoilt princess we saw in the first book, who did whatever was told for her to do. It was truly astonishin g. I am so proud of her. She deserves everything! Every happiness and love in the world! Also Asfandyar my poor baby he went through so many things *cries* he truly deserves everything he deserves the happy life with durkhanai and the newly found family he has with saifulla, zamina, rashid and gulaila apart from shirin. All of the characters were written in their own beautiful way. We see every character’s development throughout the duology and it was so touching!
“Now, you visit my dreams, your savage little teeth trailing across my skin. At first, it is the best of dreams, for I believe them to be kisses. I realize too late your teeth are those of a lion—a monster. How you slaughter me with a kiss.”. PAIN PAIN PAIN
Oh the romance! What do I say??? The forbidden love stories are always so sweet to read! Aamna qureshi is so cruel!! But I love her!!!?!!!?? It was such an emotional rollercoaster. The first book was fun. The banters between durkhanai and asfandyar , the first enemies to lovers meeting was immaculate! Chef’s kiss! HOWEVER I was crying throughout the entirety of second book. It was urgh how do I explain it was so good and painful I LOVE IT ( I know I might be a sadistic) Everytime I felt like “nothing will happen to them anymore they’re gonna be happy”, something terrible would ALWAYS happen and separate the two lovers!! So cruel!! Also! I’ll admit, I love and hate how there was like two endings to the story???!?? Like what am I supposed to do with that??? What do I choose when I like both sad and happy ending??!!??! However I am not complaining because all the characters deserve a very happy ending. I love how it showcased the struggle of being in an interracial relationship, being torn between blood and love. I cried in pain and I cried happy tears too.
I recommend everyone (especially desi) to read this duology!! It is soo good!! The aesthetic setting, the desi cultures! The attires ( THE DRESSES!! There is nothing more beautiful than desi attires istg! NOTHING) and even the mere fact of them spending their evening with chai and little finger foods hits home so close! Please read it!! So deserving of 5 stars!
MY GOODNESS THIS DUOLOGY WAS A JOURNEY!! I am in love!! ( i wanted to review the whole series rather than each book individually as I finished the first book last night I’m only reviewing it now after reading the second book today. )
The writing in this book is immaculate. The world building! The setting, the places, the descriptions of the gorgeous palace, the mountains and the valleys, the characters, the struggles and development of the characters, the interaction between each characters, especially the way the cousins were close with each other was so heartwarming to me. As someone who spent my entire childhood with my cousins, It made me remember how cousins can be your bestfriends for life. Also the friendship between gulaila and durkhanai was so much fun to read. Gulaila is a very relatable and fun character omg I love her! The storyline, the backstories, the plot twist! THE PLOT TWIST! It was very well written and the story was crafted so good I was hooked. ( I devoured the second book in one sitting!) It has so many mysteries and twists that had me fidgeting and biting my nails. It's was such a fun ride that kept me guessing at every turn! I didn't see many plot points coming for real! EVERYTHING! EVERYTHING WAS AMAZING!!!! I had so much fun reading this! This is like the first desi book that I actually enjoyed reading without any stereotypes involved. It is an impactful, heart-wrenching story of love and family and discovering what you truly want and value the most.
Durkhanai’s character development was my fav to read of all. I love seeing her journey of turning into a responsible yet caring queen for her people from a little spoilt princess we saw in the first book, who did whatever was told for her to do. It was truly astonishin g. I am so proud of her. She deserves everything! Every happiness and love in the world! Also Asfandyar my poor baby he went through so many things *cries* he truly deserves everything he deserves the happy life with durkhanai and the newly found family he has with saifulla, zamina, rashid and gulaila apart from shirin. All of the characters were written in their own beautiful way. We see every character’s development throughout the duology and it was so touching!
“Now, you visit my dreams, your savage little teeth trailing across my skin. At first, it is the best of dreams, for I believe them to be kisses. I realize too late your teeth are those of a lion—a monster. How you slaughter me with a kiss.”. PAIN PAIN PAIN
Oh the romance! What do I say??? The forbidden love stories are always so sweet to read! Aamna qureshi is so cruel!! But I love her!!!?!!!?? It was such an emotional rollercoaster. The first book was fun. The banters between durkhanai and asfandyar , the first enemies to lovers meeting was immaculate! Chef’s kiss! HOWEVER I was crying throughout the entirety of second book. It was urgh how do I explain it was so good and painful I LOVE IT ( I know I might be a sadistic) Everytime I felt like “nothing will happen to them anymore they’re gonna be happy”, something terrible would ALWAYS happen and separate the two lovers!! So cruel!! Also! I’ll admit, I love and hate how there was like two endings to the story???!?? Like what am I supposed to do with that??? What do I choose when I like both sad and happy ending??!!??! However I am not complaining because all the characters deserve a very happy ending. I love how it showcased the struggle of being in an interracial relationship, being torn between blood and love. I cried in pain and I cried happy tears too.
I recommend everyone (especially desi) to read this duology!! It is soo good!! The aesthetic setting, the desi cultures! The attires ( THE DRESSES!! There is nothing more beautiful than desi attires istg! NOTHING) and even the mere fact of them spending their evening with chai and little finger foods hits home so close! Please read it!! So deserving of 5 stars!
August 12, 2023
I really wanted to like the follow up to "The Lady or the Lion", the debut novel of Pakistani-American Aamna Qureshi, a second world fantasy novel that takes inspiration from Pakistani mythology and folklore (with an Islamic presence). The novel picks up right where the first novel ends, and you see the results of the decisions that Durkhani makes from the first book, and how that plays out for the second book.
To start with what I liked - I think Qureshi did a fantastic job with her cast of characters. They are flawed, and I think that enables the reader (Desi or not) to find themselves in the characters, and understand where they are coming from. I also really liked the court drama of the Mianghul family, and how it was messy but also resembling that of a Desi family that suffers from the generational trauma (manifested in a more nefarious manner). Also, I really appreciated that she utlized Urdu/Arabic/Punjabi throughout the novel because this was the language that her characters were utilizing regulalry, and not shying away from that inclusion.
However, that is pretty much where the book stops being positive, and the negatives really did take away from my overall enjoyment of the novel. First, the pacing in the second book actually became worse in comparison from the first book. Some chapters the pacing was on point, and I found myself getting somewhat entraped by the narrative - but then Qureshi would slow it down, or she would just explain halfway through being in Durkhani's head what was happening. My second issue came with the overall politics of the Court. From the Badshah and the Wali (her grandparents), the other Walis, the Kingdom and Empire that they bordered and even the succession and the roles that members of her family held - for me the lack of structure and even foundation of this political breakdown (and make no mistake, Qureshi reminds us that this is a novel that has political elements because of the role that Durkhani plays). I kept getting pulled out of the novel because the conflict never really amounted to the level of drama that was playing out, nor did it explain the motivation of actors that were outside of the royal family. In addition, the motivations of both Asfyandar and Durkhani - for each other, their allies, enemies and family/friends was heavily disjointed. We keep being told that Durkhani has been trained for this (ruling and leading), yet throughout the narrative we see her attempt to be blunt, not dpilomatic or deft in any of her interactions - and also seeminly a couple of steps behind her counterparts that are the same age and rank as her.
Finally, that ending - with the buildup that Qureshi was hinting at, to then have that be subverted for a detour that served little more than a fake out to then wrap up with two endings that the reader chooses. The two endings aren't the issue, but rather much like the earlier complaint of the pacing, the endings also came up as abrupt and shifted the overall impact on how the story for these characters could have played out.
While this was a disappointing end to a duology that had such great potential, I will def be checking out other books that Qureshi releases because I see a lot of potential of her romantic works.
To start with what I liked - I think Qureshi did a fantastic job with her cast of characters. They are flawed, and I think that enables the reader (Desi or not) to find themselves in the characters, and understand where they are coming from. I also really liked the court drama of the Mianghul family, and how it was messy but also resembling that of a Desi family that suffers from the generational trauma (manifested in a more nefarious manner). Also, I really appreciated that she utlized Urdu/Arabic/Punjabi throughout the novel because this was the language that her characters were utilizing regulalry, and not shying away from that inclusion.
However, that is pretty much where the book stops being positive, and the negatives really did take away from my overall enjoyment of the novel. First, the pacing in the second book actually became worse in comparison from the first book. Some chapters the pacing was on point, and I found myself getting somewhat entraped by the narrative - but then Qureshi would slow it down, or she would just explain halfway through being in Durkhani's head what was happening. My second issue came with the overall politics of the Court. From the Badshah and the Wali (her grandparents), the other Walis, the Kingdom and Empire that they bordered and even the succession and the roles that members of her family held - for me the lack of structure and even foundation of this political breakdown (and make no mistake, Qureshi reminds us that this is a novel that has political elements because of the role that Durkhani plays). I kept getting pulled out of the novel because the conflict never really amounted to the level of drama that was playing out, nor did it explain the motivation of actors that were outside of the royal family. In addition, the motivations of both Asfyandar and Durkhani - for each other, their allies, enemies and family/friends was heavily disjointed. We keep being told that Durkhani has been trained for this (ruling and leading), yet throughout the narrative we see her attempt to be blunt, not dpilomatic or deft in any of her interactions - and also seeminly a couple of steps behind her counterparts that are the same age and rank as her.
Finally, that ending - with the buildup that Qureshi was hinting at, to then have that be subverted for a detour that served little more than a fake out to then wrap up with two endings that the reader chooses. The two endings aren't the issue, but rather much like the earlier complaint of the pacing, the endings also came up as abrupt and shifted the overall impact on how the story for these characters could have played out.
While this was a disappointing end to a duology that had such great potential, I will def be checking out other books that Qureshi releases because I see a lot of potential of her romantic works.
July 21, 2023
Thank you, Net Galley and CamCat Books for a copy of The Man or the Monster
The Man or the Moster is a sequel to another book and this is not my typical read. I am glad that I went outside my comfort zone. I had a wonderful experience.
The Narrator: I adore her voice and how soothing and lovely it is. The narrator makes the audience feel connected with the characters. You feel the emotions that are within this book. I was consumed by this book.
I stayed up way past my bedtime reading The Man or the Monster. It's full of betrayal, drama, forbidden romance, twists and turns. It was such a good book that I felt as though I was there. I felt heartbreak and fell in love with every aspect of the book. This is a book that is not forgettable. It is one that will stay with the reader for a very long time.
Now, I need to go read the first book in this series and this author is now on my auto-buy list.
The Man or the Moster is a sequel to another book and this is not my typical read. I am glad that I went outside my comfort zone. I had a wonderful experience.
The Narrator: I adore her voice and how soothing and lovely it is. The narrator makes the audience feel connected with the characters. You feel the emotions that are within this book. I was consumed by this book.
I stayed up way past my bedtime reading The Man or the Monster. It's full of betrayal, drama, forbidden romance, twists and turns. It was such a good book that I felt as though I was there. I felt heartbreak and fell in love with every aspect of the book. This is a book that is not forgettable. It is one that will stay with the reader for a very long time.
Now, I need to go read the first book in this series and this author is now on my auto-buy list.
September 13, 2022
I was up late into the night reading this book! It's full of betrayal, drama, forbidden romance, surprising twists and so much more! The Man or the Monster picks up right after the ending of The Lady or the Lion and Durhanai must live with the consequences. She is going through a lot but her character went through a lot of changes. It's definitely a series that once you start you can't stop! I can't wait to see what happens next! Thank you Rockstar Book Tours, Aamna Qureshi, and CamCat Books for sharing this wonderful story with me!
November 23, 2024
4.5 stars
This was even better! We get so much character growth from Durkhanai, and she finally grows up and becomes the woman she needs to be. The way the first book ended, I feel like saying too much about the plot here would be a spoiler. But I will say we get more action, more politics, and more reveals.
This is also another book that I loved the narrator for the audio, but also kind of wish I had read the ebook so I could highlight so many beautifully written passages.
Anyway, highly recommend this duology!
This was even better! We get so much character growth from Durkhanai, and she finally grows up and becomes the woman she needs to be. The way the first book ended, I feel like saying too much about the plot here would be a spoiler. But I will say we get more action, more politics, and more reveals.
This is also another book that I loved the narrator for the audio, but also kind of wish I had read the ebook so I could highlight so many beautifully written passages.
Anyway, highly recommend this duology!
February 19, 2024
what a great sequel to the first book! it's not always easy to follow up a strong opening book in a sequel, but this one actually went ahead and had the audacity to be tons better than its predecessor. the tension, the angst, the political manoeuvring... *chef's kiss*
July 22, 2023
I feel like this had pacing issues
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