1001 Nights of Boring in THE WRATH AND THE DAWN (Renee Ahdieh)

[@JulianGreystoke]

One of my pet peeves is when characters praise each other too much because it starts to feel like the author going: "isn't my character cool? How cool is my character?!" I prefer to show how characters feel about each other through their actions.

[@unresolvedtextualtension]

It really is more impactful for the characters actions and the results of those actions to impart “coolness” or whatever it is the author wants you to get rather than being told by other characters. It’s a pet peeve of mine too! - Maria

[@ClaireKinmil]

I'm in two book clubs, but I feel like nobody there is willing to fully critique a work even if it's bad. And online, most of what I find is people nitpicking irrelevant details. This podcast feels so refreshing to me. I love watching you, thank you for doing this, have a nice day! :D

[@unresolvedtextualtension]

That's too bad, half the people that go to book clubs are authors that want insight. Be the change you want to see and engage! Good luck~ -KT

[@AlletaLady]

Same! I wish I could join this book club

[@kaya.darling]

I feel this, honestly. I had a small book club with an ex-friend where we read The Cruel Prince series. We both really enjoyed it, but it felt like every criticism I had she'd sort of write it off, especially when it had something to do with any of the female characters, good or bad.

[@S.M.Owens_]

I know this is a year old so no one will probably see this, but I thought it would have been a better twist and fixed some of the problems with the quickness of the relationship if in the letter that the Khalid wrote about his love for her we found out that actually, Shazzi wasn't actually the Scheherazade character, but that her best friend was and that her best friend every night for weeks told him stories about her childhood with Shazzi and that through those stories Khalid fell in love with Shazzi and that he knew exactly who she was the first night when she told him her name and that's why he made the choices he did to spare her and that her best friend knew about the curse because Khalid explained it to her because he liked her and she told him to kill her because she understood that she wasn't more important that all the people that would die if he didn't.

[@joyc.e.7511]

Omg, I love this!!! It'd be so heartbreaking too.

[@stevejames9224]

This channel is hands down the best place for book reviews on KZbin right now. Entertaining and informative, and all three hosts bring something different and valuable to the table. An enthusiastic two thumbs up from me.

[@unresolvedtextualtension]

Thank you!!! We really appreciate the feedback! - Maria

[@PirateQueen1720]

Hmm. You know, I don't think I WANT the king in 1001 nights to be secretly a good guy. In the original story, he kills women because he's a straight-up misogynist. His wife cheated on him, and his solution to this is to just marry girls and then kill them before they can cheat on him. Sheherazade is the daughter of his (highly distressed) vizier, who is like: "I got this, dad. I know exactly how to manipulate this asshole to save all the other women of the kingdom." Then not only is Sheherazade proving her own wit, a lot of her stories also feature smart, capable women. And after like 2 and half years of this, the sultan finally chills out and decides Sheherazade, at least, is worthy of some respect.

[@JulianGreystoke]

This book is very popular which goes to show that your book doesn't need to be perfect to be beloved. Gives us authors hope

[@unresolvedtextualtension]

Exactly. I think I said in a previous video that these books are still worth reading; we're just discussing the pros and cons, and we hope that by doing so we not only get to have fun discussing books, but we also get to hopefully provide helpful criticism that could either assist the authors themselves (IF they happen to see) or the writers who are viewing as well. No book is perfect, but some seem to accomplish their goals with varying success. I mean, we also just share our personal opinions as well. Good luck! -KT

[@johnnyritenbaugh1214]

ALL IT NEEDS IS AMNESIA! I'm dead. Hahah Kdramas forever. They've progressed so far from their melodrama heights but kept all their hallmark charm.

[@maximilianlopez196]

How do I get my novel in your hands so you can critique it on this channel? You three are great! I just published it and even if y'all thrash it I feel like your perspectives and detailed breakdowns are worth it.

[@unresolvedtextualtension]

Good question, we shall discuss. It might take a bit for something like that to happen, though that is a wonderful idea. Take this opportunity also: GIVE US THE NAME OF THINE BOOK, WOMAN. The comments section can be a great advertisement area, lol -KT

[@maximilianlopez196]

@@unresolvedtextualtension The title is The Dreams That Bind Us Synopsis: This sci-fi thriller explores the possibility that when we dream, we're merely glimpsing into an alternate reality. Three strangers bound together by a shared dream fight against the current of fate. Can they come to terms with the truth? Are we the only versions of ourselves? Are you the best version of you to exist? They must find each other without losing themselves. Two universes hang in the balance as external forces vie for control of their ability to peer into an alternate reality. My website is www.maximilianlopez.com Of course, I'd love to send you three the novel in any medium you'd like (PDF, ePub, or even physical) before you decide it was "worthy" of discussion. If interested, my contact info is on the website. Either way, love what you're doing, keep up the great work!

[@deedaceopondo3520]

​@@maximilianlopez196would love to read this book! Where can I get it?

[@maximilianlopez196]

@@deedaceopondo3520 Amazon, Apple, B&N or any online retailer :)

[@lpst4405]

YES. The prologue killed the mood for everything. I wanted to have doubts about Kallid´s intentions until the very end but in the first page, I discover he´s a boy with a lot of self-pity and has mom issues. The slow burn everyone talks about??? NON EXISTENCE. The girl is in love after 2 days and I don´t even know how. I was expecting plans to kill him. She never even attempts... And that because he killed her best friend.

[@akernis3193]

I really enjoyed listening to this analysis. I haven´t read the book itself, but I felt like I could follow along without any issues regardless, and your critiques rang very true for things I have read in similar stories. And I think you all did a phenomenal job of honing on why the story did not work for you.

[@daweithisisdavidinmandarin6121]

I am spending so much time with all three of you, that I think I am developing withdrawal symptoms. ☺Thanks a lot for the long format, the in-detail analysis and all the content available. What a trio! Bravo!

[@Shalaena]

I have been refreshing KZbin for a week waiting for my UTT fix. I love you guys too much. Don't ever do that to me again! (Kidding, we all have lives.) AND THE GANG IS ALL HERE! All three of you are lovely co-hosts, don't sell yourself short, William.

[@unresolvedtextualtension]

Thank you! I have been saying this forever; I am totally lovely. --Will

[@llindberg194]

I had an illustrated children's book containing the tale of Bluebeard as a kid... Reading it is my first coherent memory of experiencing true horror. Funny thing is whenever I mention it to someone they've never heard of the story, so cool you brought it up here!

[@unresolvedtextualtension]

Honestly I'm just waiting for the Disney adaption. --Will

[@llindberg194]

@@unresolvedtextualtension I'd totally watch that.

[@rogersisson8580]

I think the end should have been more like romeo and juliet. She kills him then herself. i think it would be better if he had already killed 99. and he just can't kill the last one.

[@saitan2712]

I'm at 9:20 and I so hope Katie has read that one manhwa adaptation where Shehrzad is a MAN who disguises himself as his sister and is brought to the Sultan and the final story is set in the modern world where a Korean man who goes around stalking this one girl is said to be an avatar of Shiva. Edit: YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A GAY ADAPTATION! I WONDER IF IT'S THE ONE I MENTIONED.

[@ladyredl3210]

I truly hated this because it’s 4 days in and she’s already going “I’m in love with him, but he murdered my sister!”

[@emj7336]

I FINALLY REALISED WHERE I REMEMBER THE NAME SCHEHEREZADE FROM! My mum and dad gave the name to a cat to dissuade mum's best friend from using it for his first daughter. The cat got called Sherry most of the time.

[@SilenceAtTheLibrary]

I literally just checked if there was a new episode and 20 min later here it is Made my night

[@ln4750]

Yeeeeeeeessss!!!! The prologue was a Huge mistake. It gave away the entire "mysterious" plot/conflict before we even met either of the main pair. Set up the "he's doing it for the right reasons" cliche waaaay too early.

[@ln4750]

Great review btw! I very very much agree :D.... (sadly book 2 is more of the same but more weirdness and a few more things make sense. But they probably should have been one book instead of two with a strange cliffhanger... and should have had a few more drafts to add depth to the story. The prose is lovely though.)

[@thehobbyist188]

I would love to see you guys' thoughts on The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winters and/or The Poppy War by R. F Kuang, as an avid fantasy reader these two are my all time favourites and I think they are objectively different to the books you have so far reviewed whilst still being something I think would be right up your alley!

[@laurenalyssa4677]

I found this today and binged six of y'all's podcasts

[@unresolvedtextualtension]

I’m glad you enjoyed! What’s your favorite of what you’ve watched so far? - Maria

[@laurenalyssa4677]

@@unresolvedtextualtension I haven’t heard many people talk about the Scholomance and I LOVE it so I’m glad y’all enjoyed that, but the Wrath and the Dawn cracked me up because I went back to read it a few months ago and had the exact same thoughts 😂

[@vintageincolor]

I actually loved this book and fell in love with Renee’s writing but her second series wheeewww a complete departure

[@eloramooncp]

Ahh! I enjoyed this book but I'm excited to hear your take on it. Also: I know you don't want to do too many take downs, but I would LOVE to hear what you think of The Other Side of the Sky by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner. It's YA fantasy, super easy read, but I had about 30 pages of "tearing my hair out" notes with all of the plot holes, inconsistencies, and just bonkers weird world stuff. And I promise to go back and watch some of your other non-takedown videos, too! :)

[@Luumus]

I don't understand the logic here. So the father of the first wife loses his daughter, feels tremendous pain for it and his revenge to that is to make 100 random families feel exactly the same pain as he did and 100 random women to die as his daughter died, on the off chance his son in law may feel some guilt because he will eventually have to kill a bunch of innocent people? What?! Why?!! Talk about misdirected anger. Why is it that in this book the women are nothing but numbers to get screwed over so that the male characters can feel sad or vindicated. And the focus is on them, not on the victims.

[@qprego6742]

Cause it's a retelling of the one thousand and one night's main story but the author probably thought that the love interest killing hundreds of women because he's such a mysoginist he thinks all women are evil cheaters would be not enticing, so she came up with that.

[@ruthprophete5566]

I like listening to you guys discuss books. I am a writer working to become an author. This helps my writing improve

[@Disarrayable]

My crafters brain is like "what is Maria doing with those two cans of polycrylic?" 😅😅

[@unresolvedtextualtension]

I forgot those were there! I bought an unfinished wall bed that Will helped me put together and then we had to finish it! Alas, not super exciting. 😂😂 - Maria

[@RymesWithPineapple]

I saw that too lol

[@thatgamingfreak]

I was very surprised when you said the book ended there. It sounded like the first half-first two thirds of a book

[@joytaylor120]

I know you didn't like the book very much but now I want to read it because: 1) I was semi-familiar with this folk story but didn't know that it inspired this entire subgenre of stories which I'm now very interested in diving into; and 2) I'm an aspiring writer who struggles with describing surroundings and sensations, and the way you described the book makes me think I'll learn a lot from this. Great video again guys! I thought I was gonna have to wait a month for the next update since you only posted like a week ago (it takes me around a month to get through a book lol) so I was pleasantly surprised with the upload. Looking forward to the next one!

[@unresolvedtextualtension]

YES. This book would be a great example for simple but sensual descriptions that don't eat up wordcount but get the job done spectacularly. -KT

[@nmartinez18]

One book I genuinely want them to read, and it is one I really enjoyed, is Wearing the Cape. It's short, under 400 pages I want to say. But it is a superhero book that the author self published on Amazon. It is about a college girl named Hope who is caught in a terrorist attack, develops superpowers in what is called a Breakthrough, and then starts learning under another super afterwards. I feel like I am the only one who has ever read it, but I think it deserves more spotlight and they have paid their dues in the bad books for a bit.

[@RymesWithPineapple]

Is this about Kamala Khan???

[@nmartinez18]

@@RymesWithPineapple Nope, it's its own universe. But I do really like Kamala Khan Ms. Marvel.

[@PepperMint249]

Hey guys, a little bit of topic but have you read or are you planning to read The Daevabad Trilogy by Shannon Chakraborty? I thought of the trilogy because it is kind of tonally similar to this book. At least the setting is Middle-East, and the main love interest also did some truly horrible things in the past. Though in my opinion, The Daevabad Trilogy has a much more developed political subplot and stronger worldbuilding. I really enjoyed all three books, and I'm sure it will be highly entertaining to watch you go through them. There is a lot to discept there, even if you do not enjoy it as much as I did.

[@unresolvedtextualtension]

I read the first two! I’ll get around to the third one (since we’ve started the podcast my reading has been monopolized hahaha). I definitely enjoyed it and could also fill a podcast on what it does well and what could be improved! - Maria

[@GilTheDragon]

18:27 wit would be seeing her being sassy, cutting even; but then switching to flattering, inviting. people confuse a sharp tongue with a silved tongue; sharpness of wit with the wit being cutting. silver tongue is Cat Parr getting herself off the headsman's block by claiming her heresy (as H8 saw it) was her but wanting to ellicit an education from her husband. it is to do aikido with words 21:52 oh! that's charming. adamas (a: not damas: overpowered, made to yield) is often only read as diamond (you can hear the linguistic connection) but it also meant lodestone. (rough diamonds look a lot like iron) 43:37 effendi is sorta like "Sir" but it is an Ottoman-Turkish term (borrowed from the eastern roman empire). thing is if there's Ottomans it means the monarch over persia isnt a caliph but a sultan. it became very recorded in orientalisms because of the whole Ottoman Empire being the sick man of europe, the crimean war etc... it strikes me on reading comments that like the original "i am doing it to right a social wrong" rather than it being personal revenge is more heroic? so i am thinking on the way the stories are threaded... like if he is shown as proud haughty type: daring him to tell a better story or having obvious errors or wonders that bait him into having to find the errors in the story or like needing a few weeks to see an astronomical event...

[@krys7463]

loved this breakdown! y’all continue to give such well thought out criticism!! i love long form content but i often struggle to find book reviews that are as long as y’all’s episodes. I find myself being excited for y’all’s next upload & what y’all’s thoughts are! thanks so much for sharing your conversations with us

[@sashathesheep8912]

Just realised that I would love for you guys to read the Eon/Eona books, because all the reviews I've seen of it are surface level and you guys go very much in depth and like... Honestly I just hope you guys do more stuff like this because it's a big serotonin boost.

[@mirroredhour]

The fanfic brainstorming session cracked me up 😭

[@missallisnow]

It's funny because I haven't read the book, but I came across the webtoon and started reading it and... Thought it was kinda dull

[@summerb5153]

God I'm so addicted to your podcast! You guys make amazing points! Great episode!

[@AlletaLady]

Please.... if you want a good book series that is high fantasy adventure and slow burn. Please. Read the Cradle series by Will Wight. It's a fun series that really gets going after book 1, but they are fast reads with smart characters and fun settings. Deets: This has a distinct Asian Cultivation setting. You follow Lindon, an 18 year old kid who wants to become a sacred artist in his clan. Watch him try to overcome his station in life as he becomes an underdog in matters way out of his hands. Highly recommend.

[@WeepingValkyrie]

I love how old day time soap operas now translate to Kdrama lol

[@kryslee0324]

So I read the comic version of this story. It was created based on novel and they switched up some order of events. As in no prologue, and better pacing of learning why Kalif kills his wives. But the points you brought up I do agree with. Some of Shazi's choices make no logical sense.

[@Rivenlore99]

Yes! The webcomic version inspired me to get the book

[@ryleegayle5293]

I literally get so excited when y'all post- I could listen to you guys critique books all day I swear!!!

[@briarwolf0501]

I really like the Wrath of the Dawn webtoon

[@purplepigment4283]

THE DARK ELF TRILOGY -R.A. SALVATORE ...for the love of God...

[@abbyk.6410]

The webtoon remake of this was phenomenal. When I read the book I was super disappointed.

[@WeepingValkyrie]

I have rarely read or plan to read all the books in your podcast but I love listening to you guys tell the stories of these books anyways. Although I have attempted to dive into a few because of you guys. I actually discovered you through trying to find someone that hated Iron Widow as much as me. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@brittanyhoward1741]

I treid to read the Webtoon adaptation of this book a little while a go. Got maybe 20 episodes in and could not finish it.

[@angryotter9129]

Back again to watch this masterpiece! Ily guys ❤

[@IzzysTravelDiaries]

I love listening to you guys so much! Wish I was in a book club with you!

[@unresolvedtextualtension]

I mean -- you sorta are? -KT

[@onceuponabook7838]

Tariq and Khalid...someone has been reading the "switcheroo, I must kill evil ruler, said ruler is intrueged, both fall in love" fanfic 😏

[@sarahmatthews5878]

You've curbed my need for a rantish review.

[@teodorapetkovic]

The K-Drama reading of this book sounds more interesting than the actual book? Send us the fanfiction if you ever write it!!!

[@ladyredl3210]

6:57 I died laughing because Hannibal the tv show is currently my hyperfixation and all the fanfic talk about his burgundy eyes. I thought it was a fic thing.

[@ammalyrical5646]

You say it feels very YA-y but this is a YA novel, right? And a bit of an older one at that (from 2015). So I'm not that surprised it would be or feel very tropey. I've also never been much of a YA reader. When I was the target demographic I mostly had just Dutch works to choose from, but those were targeted to slightly younger readers most of the time or they were things I just didn't want to read. I remember in secondary school at some point we had to read books for German and the school library on the German end was for the most part filled with YA romance (not my thing) and classics that were very hard to read. I fished out the two good books in the first of 3 years I had to read such books and then I got stuck. If only I'd known where to find decent books. I still feel the same about YA now, for the most part. Outside of the odd gem I'm not really impressed. One of the gems I came across years ago was The Hush by Skye Melki-Wegner. A solid story that probably has some flaw but it remains one of my fave YAs to this day. I'd be keen to see an analysis of that one. It's really easy to read and not very long so pretty ideal :)

[@neydiapascandy1995]

I must say, I love this channel! So good to have real explanation of what was good or not in the book in a deeper level

[@ruthprophete5566]

Have you guys read the night circus? I feel like that was a let down on the romance.

[@mel4957]

Rewatching these videos (finally found them again in KZbin algorithm) and honestly it makes me think that the book could've been a lot tighter plot wise if the author had just made it so that there was a set number of wives that would die bc of the curse. Schaze is the last one, and because of this, the caliph sends the letter of condolences to her family immediately (accounting for the time the messenger would take and all that) So Schaze, when she finds the stack of personal, heartfelt letters, doesn't find herself there and assumes he never intended to kill me, not knowing about the official one already being sent out. And she obviously doesn't write letters to her family because she doesn't want any consequences to fall on them should she successfully kill the caliph for killing her friend. Meanwhile, her father thinks she's dead, which starts off his desire for "power" except it's more so a "if I was the caliph, none of this would've ever happened." Make it so since he used to be the old advisor to the previous ruler, he knows about the curse. Guilt and a sense of failing his daughter would be his drive for taking power. (Make him like a magic advisor, wherein he has a lot of magical power but difficulty fine-tuning it, hence why he can't make the flower bloom properly but can summon a massive storm)

[@danielleoliver1734]

If you want fantasy romance with great relationship building you should try Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri. Such a great cast of characters and slow build relationships, it also shows the power females have even in cultures and situations where we don’t tend to think they do.

[@clpearson991]

This is the story of a brother by the name of Othello, he liked white women and he liked green jello...and a fool named Iago who made himself a menace 'cuz he didn't like Othello, the Moor of Venice. Sorry not sorry for random Othello rap

[@AnimalLover101195]

I love you guys so much!!!!!!

[@adf3903]

Found you guys when I was looking for commentary on Hyperion and I love you guys. Don't know whether you guys have read it yet but If you want to just talk about prose, Piranesi by Susanna Clarke is just incredible. That book lives and dies on the prose.

[@JustForeverSmile]

Do you guys take book recs? I'd be curious to hear your opinions on certain books!

[@unresolvedtextualtension]

We do! Feel free to drop a recommendation! - Maria

[@vasyabrave2832]

Quick question, but is there anywhere they are posting what book they are doing a review of next? I prefer reading books before listening to reviews, but then I have to wait to watch til I finish the book if it's one I haven't read yet. Just hoping someone knows so my life can be simpler.

[@unresolvedtextualtension]

Usually we try and post on our community tab the books we're going to read. In the next month or so we're going to be reading: --Children of Blood and Bone --Dustborn --Hyperion --Kushiel's Dart

[@vasyabrave2832]

@@unresolvedtextualtension Thank you!

[@mysteryismymiddlename2142]

try the all souls trilogy. it's my comfort series

[@GilTheDragon]

Will trying to get himself spared by enticing Shahriyar in 3 months rathed tha 3 years...

[@brittanyg7700]

Yo, I want the link, a name, I don't care, but send me in that direction to that gay adaptation, please~

[@unresolvedtextualtension]

Katie said it was called “one thousand and one nights.” It’s a Manhwa! - Maria

[@brittanyg7700]

@@unresolvedtextualtension Bless your soul, I found it. Thank you so much!

[@kaugummikauen3607]

Still love ya Maria

[@BlackFairy1751]

I didn't know there was a genre of this. Can you give some reccs?? Specifically for anime lol

[@unresolvedtextualtension]

It's been too long, Maria might have better recs. I seem to remember a manga (no anime, sorry) of this same exact concept but it's M/M. It's called, as you might imagine, 1001 Nights. It was very good and there a ton of tales that really reflect the main story's arcs. -KR

[@marocat4749]

The manga agiis pretty good too, and its own world, but also, clearly 1001 nights inspired, but also its own thre, and its sindbad prologue spin off too. An the characters are very inspired but its own, and it a shounen, not romance.There is i think, but very good adventure. Alo read kubera its really good a romance havy but allrounder story that just hits more and more . Why canthe be more jane austine like sass and just witt. And the end could be amazing if her father cant be calmd down, and h ha to kill him with bow and arrow as last choice to entd that cycle, making a tragic end. Even more of she likes him actually as her father. Which could make her relate him to her.Seriously her not believing in a cur to go to stop, and ultiately ening killing her dad, would be something.

[@majikai9077]

Was the name of that 1001 Nights manga ever given? I've read one (a manwha actually) but I'm curious if that's what is referenced.

[@RymesWithPineapple]

It's actually called 1001 Nights lol, just google manga and you've got it

[@majikai9077]

@@RymesWithPineapple I kinda remembered that was the title of what I read. But I wanted to know if that was the manga being referenced, and I didn't want to be leading. Katy said she read several inspired by the tale.

[@unresolvedtextualtension]

Katie, I don’t think people realize it’s you when you comment from not our channel hahaha - Maria

[@majikai9077]

@@unresolvedtextualtension ah, that was Katie! Cool. And thanks.

[@majikai9077]

@@RymesWithPineapple I didn't know this was Katie actually giving me the answer. I read that manwha years ago. Something about the ending felt a little rushed, but otherwise I did enjoy it. Thanks for responding. Love the channel!

[@schreiboderstirb389]

Also, do you have any opinion on the Witcher books? (Spoiler: they re infinity better than the Netflix show, in my opinion at least)

[@KristinaVeshtort-Kask]

I have come across this channel only a short while ago, but they seem to be concentrating on the romance genre - even their channel name is a play on that - and The Witcher series doesn't revolve around romance as much. (And yeah, they're much better than the Netflix show, in my opinion. However, I'm very biased - these were my favorite books back in the 90's, and I still have a soft spot for them)

[@wesbeuning1733]

You guys are hilarious

[@cassiebravevlogs1868]

Ive been reading the webtoon of this. Interesting

[@mentkansleyunitedstatesgov6364]

I think sheharazzad as a sassy chick doesn't work, she always came off as more of an elegant woman like for lack of a better term the "onee-chan" stereotype from anime, she the type to bust out an "ara ara" or two

[@schreiboderstirb389]

I think making videos in which you just rant about books would be 100% legitimate and even refreshing if you do it carefully and with consideration and good arguments (which in my opinion you do ;)) however I can also see how this could turn you into cynics in the long run which might not be that satisfying..

[@RymesWithPineapple]

I'm not too worried. They've also covered "good books" as well

[@davemcveigh3996]

I listen to your videos, so I'm about to be a hypocrite, but I wonder why you feel trashing "bad" books is so enjoyable? I've heard the defense that it's out there and open for criticism, which is obviously true, but it feels pretty antithetical to the idea of supporting fellow artists. This is not meant to be a troll, promise. Just curious.

[@arkkon2740]

Its an interesting exercise to pick out what you and maybe others might think what is and isn't wrong with a book, whats cliche, whats been done badly, etc. That and they're paid to do this. People ask for what to look at and this enjoyment changes depending on how much they disliked it, its catharsis in a way