I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

<strong>Different👁️👁️</strong>

I really liked this book. The concept of your eye color giving you power and the way light eyes were shunned and dark eyes were celebrated and wanted, I devoured every second of it! I can not wait for the sequel to this book. I have to know more about Jantsia and what color her eyes really are.. Maybe Violet?

*Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter | One More Chapter for providing me with this ebook, in exchange for an honest review*

The Girl with the fierce eyes, spoke to my lost, soothed some of my own traumas of not fitting in anywhere and it was done in a way that made me feel heard.. not alone. It was a wonderful experience that I wished I'd experience all over again for the first time!

<I>(Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion - and apologies for the long delay in providing it...)</I>

First of all - dystopian fics are back in full swing and I'm all for it guys!!

This story had great potential and I did like it, but the execution proved tedious at times. It's a very, very, *very* rich world building which would've gained much by being explained more. As it stands, there was barely any explanation for the gods, the cast system, the religions, the languages or anything else. It was just thrown at us and we were supposed to roll with it; this can work but only if the world building is kept simple and straightforward which was definitely not the case here.

As for the characters, I felt little to no connection to them. Jantsia is incredibly naive and unaware for someone who's supposed to stay aware to stay alive; and Soba is just a void of... anything. I wanted the shake the former and could not care less about the latter. The MCs actually kinda saved this for me, especially Daezen, who I found very believable.

Not sure I'll pick up the next book yet, tbh - but this was still quite enjoyable.

Obsessed!!! A 6 star read for me. Crazy original plot, loved the background and the world-building. I loved the characters and found the writing so easy to read!!

This book we follow multiple people who live in the same world, but all experience it differently. Your status is determined by the color of your eyes. Of course this causes some stress and issues with the people who are considered the lowest, because their powers keep society afloat. But what can you do to make your own life better?

This was a fun read! It read easily and was easy to follow. I absolutely loved the multiple POV from different perspectives and it gave a more clear image of how this society thrives.
I did find the book to be pretty predictable, all the way to the end. I do think that that could have been avoided, because for me the plot twists weren't twisting as I saw them coming from miles away.

Overall, this was fun to read, however predictable.
I will give it 3.75 stars and will round it up to 4.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing me with this arc. All opinions are my own.

The Girl with the Fierce Eyes was a good YA story with dystopian vibes, I felt it was written well and the love triangle played out well. The different point of views throughout was great as I love reading multiple povs it gives an insight from all characters. The characters I felt were created well, each fleshed out and really added to the unique storyline.

I really enjoyed reading The Girl with the Fierce Eyes. The story is unique and the romance triangle made it even more enjoyable. I cannot wait for more to come, since this book is one of my favorite fantasy stories of this year so far!

I found this to be a fun YA fantasy with a dystopian feel, love that. I find the premise very interesting and how the color of your eyes determines your future in a sense. It's an interesting take on eye color and easy to get a grasp on. We have a secret that no one can learn, not even Jantsia's best friend. And who doesn't like a dangerous secret threatening to ruin everything.

The writing is good, and the plot is interesting, if perhaps a little predictable at times. The characters feel fleshed out and there are a lot of different POVs, which I sometimes find not necessary. I would have preferred to dig even deeper into just a couple of perspecives, but it still works. I wish there wasn't a love triangle (getting a bit tired of those), but I'm all for some forbidden love.

I feel like it's a bit slow at times, perhaps not as much plot wise, but more that we lack information that I feel we need to better understand the mechanics of it all. Some storylines weren't developed enough to really have an impact, at least not it the way they could have. Also, we end with a bit of a cliffhanger, which I'm not a fan of, but at least there was a nice twist there at the end (which I did see coming but still, it was good).

All in all, a good book that I think a lot of people will like and I'm looking forward to the sequel.

This was a really imaginative story. I loved the concept. Lots of fresh ideas that made the world seem real. The eye system was very interesting and I wished we’d dived into it a bit quicker.

I loved the idea behind Jantsia’s family and looking forward to seeing how it unfolds further.

I would have liked more of the story to have centered on Jantsia and the problems in her every day life. When you’re getting to know a character, it can be tricky when there are multiple points of views as you feel like you’re being pulled away from the person you wanted to read about.

I enjoyed Kain and Daezen’s story but didn’t feel connected to the inspector Soba story as much. It was a tricky one to interweave.

I am interested to see where it goes next!

I struggled to get into this book, and I’m still not entirely sure why. Whether it was the dystopian setting, the best-friend-turned-love-interest dynamic, or simply that I wasn’t in the right mood—something just didn’t click for me. I found it hard to connect with the characters, which made it a bit of a slow read.

That said, the world-building was intriguing, with a modern yet dystopian feel and a quasi caste-like system that added depth and tension. While it didn’t quite work for me, I can see it appealing to readers who enjoy speculative settings, social hierarchies, and slow-burn relationships.

If dystopia with a contemporary edge is your thing, this might be worth a try.

The Girl with the Fierce Eyes is a striking debut that tackles power, identity, and belonging through a fresh dystopian twist where eye color defines social rank. The multi-POV approach adds variety but made it harder to connect with all characters—Daezan stood out the most. The world-building is imaginative but sometimes unclear, leaving me wanting more detail. Despite that, the story moves at a good pace, the themes hit hard, and the ending leaves a strong impression. A promising start, and I’m excited to see what book two brings.

The Girl With Fierce Eyes by Sophia Vahdati is a dystopian novel where we follow the point of view of three different characters who are each living unique lives within the world’s discriminatory society.

I loved reading each character’s povs. They’re all super interesting and pretty different from each other but with all their secrets they become parallels of each other which I really love.

The real world critique through the eye colour system was interesting especially when that wasn’t the only way to discriminate against people in the world.

The world building was amazing and lively with the writing and descriptions being very visual. I loved the magic system and the sci-fi elements as well as how complex it was without actually making anything too confusing to read.

Also I kinda really liked the anthem’s lyrics. They only showed up once but they clearly stated how the world worked within a few lines which was really interesting.

The ending and climax are awesome, I was really on the edge of my seat for the last few chapters but now I wanna know what colour are her eyes? I'm thinking heterochromic blue and black maybe both in each eye? One thing I’m certain about though is that I need a second book right now. There will be a sequel right? Right?

This is such a strong book filled with action, adventure and a storyline that reflects what is happening in out current world.

The magic system was unique and rich, eyes deciding which magic you will have.

I love the different relationships and how we can slowly start to see a love triangle forming!

100% would recommend!

The Girl with the Fierce Eyes is a bold and emotional YA fantasy debut that explores identity, rebellion, and the fight for freedom. I came for the premise—an empire where eye color determines your worth—and stayed for the strong characters and a story that kept me turning pages.

Jantsia was the standout for me. Her chapters were the most engaging, and I really connected with her inner conflict and growing sense of power. Her secret, her fear, and her courage felt raw and real, and I found myself rooting for her from the very first chapter.

There were a few moments that didn’t land quite as well. Some of the romance plotlines felt a little unclear, and I occasionally had trouble understanding the science behind the magic system. A map or glossary would have gone a long way in helping me feel grounded in the world. There was also a section in the middle where the pacing slowed down a bit, mostly due to uneven POV distribution. But honestly, these were minor things in the grand scheme.

What impressed me most was how this book handled difficult topics like discrimination, identity, trauma, and even grooming. The author wrote these topics with lots of care, leaving it to be thought-provoking without overly heavy-handed.

This is a story about fear, about choice, and about breaking free from the expectations that trap us. It’s sharp, character-driven, and full of heart. I’d definitely recommend it to older teens or anyone looking for a fresh YA fantasy with real emotional depth. I have no doubt this is just the beginning of an exciting series—and I’ll be keeping my eye (pun intended) on what Vahdati writes next.

I'm not going to lie, I requested this ARC almost exclusively because of "Ooh! Pretty Cover" syndrome. It ended up being an enjoyable read. The story has interesting worldbuilding, handles character complexities pretty well (I especially liked the way the author wrote one of the characters recovering from a problematic relationship), references sexual content and sexual activity while keeping everything closed door, and has a pretty solid YA fantasy/dystopian vibe. There were a few things I struggled with (some of the romance plotlines had confusing chemistry for me, some of the writing felt closer to middle grade for some reason, and there were parts of the worldbuilding that could have used a bit more fleshing out), but they were pretty minor. I'd be very comfortable giving this book to an older teen who can handle some of the content and wants a bit of a YA dystopian/fantasy fix.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review!

The Girl with the Fierce Eyes is a bold and timely YA dystopian fantasy that tackles real-world issues through a sharp speculative lens. With a society stratified by eye color and corresponding magical ability, Sophia Vahdati weaves a story that blends the allure of fantasy with the weight of social commentary.

At the center of it all is Jantsia, a compelling protagonist caught between worlds—trying to blend in with the dominant Azure caste while hiding her true heritage, her identity, and the blood sickness that marks her as different. Her journey of self-acceptance and resilience is both powerful and painful, especially as she navigates the harsh realities of a caste-based society built on discrimination and conformity.

Daezen, the brooding older brother of Jantsia’s best friend, brings a sense of grounded maturity to the story. Tasked with leading his household after personal loss, his quiet strength and nuanced arc make him a standout among the cast. Then there’s Soba, the story’s most morally complex figure—a hardened inspector tasked with dismantling rebel movements, yet shaped by a tragic past that makes her actions deeply human, even when they conflict with the reader’s sympathies.

The book handles difficult themes—discrimination, identity, trauma, and even grooming—with surprising sensitivity and clarity for a YA audience. It doesn’t preach, but it does provoke thought, and it does so through well-drawn allegory and character-driven storytelling.

While the premise is rich and the plot compelling, the world building occasionally feels limited—especially with two of the castes left largely unexplored. A bit more depth in those areas would’ve made the social structure even more impactful. Some readers may also find it hard to connect fully with all three POV characters due to the limited time spent in each headspace, and some characters—especially Soba—read younger than their roles suggest.

That said, The Girl with the Fierce Eyes is a strong debut and a promising start to what looks to be a meaningful and imaginative series. It’s perfect for readers who enjoy dystopian fantasy with substance—where magic meets metaphor, and the fight for justice feels both personal and powerful.

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, One More Chapter, and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read this book early in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of The Girl With The Fierce Eyes immediately caught my attention— a dystopian fantasy world structured around eye colour felt fresh and original. I was particularly drawn to the exploration of the caste system and how eye colour influenced both social standing and magical ability. However, I would have loved a bit more depth in the worldbuilding, especially regarding the two castes we didn’t explore as closely. With three main characters representing only two of the castes, I was left curious about the full scope of this society.

Character-wise, I found it somewhat difficult to connect with the protagonists. I typically enjoy multi-POV storytelling, but in this case, the limited time spent with each character made it harder to fully understand or engage with them. Jantsia and Soba, in particular, were occasionally frustrating. Part of this disconnect might stem from how young they read—especially Soba, given her role as an inspector. That said, this tone and voice feel appropriate for the YA audience the book is aimed at, even if it didn’t quite resonate with me personally as an older reader. Daezen ended up being the standout for me, likely because his responsibilities and perspective felt more mature.

The plot itself was compelling, and I’m definitely interested in returning to this world. This book serves as a strong foundation for what promises to be an engaging series, and I have a feeling book two will deepen both the story and characters in satisfying ways. While I didn’t fully connect with everything this time around, it was still an enjoyable and solid read overall.

I personally didn’t really like this book, but I might just be too old to relate to certain y/a themes. I thought the world building and magic was really interesting, but also a bit complicated and I whish we got more time to get used to it. The characters didn’t interest me that much, except our main girl Jantsia. The love interest and ‘rebellious clubbing scene’ annoyed me but I understand how this suits a younger audience. I’m also sad to say this isn’t a standalone, even though it looks like one, because we should have more of those. Sorry to be a bit of a Negative Nancy this story just didn’t work for me :(

The Girl with the Fierce Eyes by Sophia Vahdati is a wonderfully written debut.
I liked the plot, the pacing was decent. The characters were amazing.
The way the story developed was literal perfection, I wasn't bored whatsoever, I ate this book up.