4.5*
Ahhhh I am so happy to be back in the Mesopotamian desert with Jayden and company! I loved Forbidden so, so much, and this sequel was a must-read for me- probably one of my most anticipated books of the year. And it was definitely worth the wait. While I didn't love it quite as much as Forbidden, it was still a very solid sequel, and I am very excited for the final installment!
The Good:
- Jayden is amazing as always. In Forbidden, Jayden was a great main character. In Banished, she is freaking amazing. She's tough, but she's classy. She's willing to stand up for herself and those she loves, but is always mindful of the impact of her actions. An she had to go through so, so much already in her short life, and the desert definitely doesn't plan on letting up on her anytime soon.
- Strong family ties are beautiful. Jayden will do about anything to keep her family close/find family that isn't currently together. She values them so, so much and it is refreshing to read. It isn't about obligation, Jayden simply loves them for who they are. While we're talking about family, Jayden's grandmother is just... I love her, okay? It's no wonder that Jayden is the strong and kind woman she is, because her grandma is that woman too. Their relationship is exquisite, and it reminded me of my relationship with my own beloved grandmother, which gave me even more of a connection. The fact that these women are so strong in such a patriarchal society speaks volumes. But the author handles it appropriately- it's very clear that sadly Jayden and her grandmother are not the norm here, no because other women aren't strong, but because it's extraordinarily hard for them to have a chance to show their strength.
- Speaking of, the setting is on point. My goodness, the desert seems like hell on earth. I suppose it was, for the most part, at least outside the cities. And really, inside some of the cities too. One of my favorite things about Forbidden was that I could really sense the setting, could picture it vividly, and that is the same in Banished. The desert is harsh and unforgiving, much like a lot of the people Jayden encounters. But there are pockets of good- again, both in the desert and the people- which is probably quite accurate as well.
- I ship the romance. In the interest of staying spoiler free, let's just say that I shipped it when I read Forbidden, and I still do now- maybe even more so.
The Not As Good:
- None of it was bad so I am saying "not as good", okay? Great. So my only qualm with this particular book was that I did feel like I saw some of the bigger plot points coming, and I found it to be more predictable than its predecessor.
Bottom Line: Lots of love for this series. If you haven't started it, you probably should, and if you've read Forbidden and loved it like I did, you'll want to get your hands on Banished. And then wait impatiently for book three in this unique and cruel world with the unexpectedly loveliest of protagonists.
Copy provided by publisher for review