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inkandplasma 's review for:
Wicked as You Wish
by Rin Chupeco
Full review: https://inkandplasma.wordpress.com/2020/02/26/wicked-as-you-wish-by-rin-chupeco-(review)
I really wanted to like this book, but I just... didn't. I didn't like the characters (except for maybe Cole, who's barely in it anyway). I didn't like the writing style, and I didn't like the plot execution. The more I think about this, a couple of days after reading it, the more disappointed I am, I think. The premise itself was really really interesting, and the world-building could have been amazing, but there was just something missing. From what I've read, this book was the author's longest running story, and a labour of love. I definitely get that impression, but I kind of feel like maybe because the world was so well-built inside the author's head, the information didn't translate onto the page. If I'd been eased into the world, I would have adored it, but instead I spent most of the time I was reading it just confused about who was who and what was going on.
The plot itself was interesting, and there were a lot of mysteries I wanted to know the answers to, unfortunately I didn't want to read the book to find them because the execution just wasn't there. I didn't even really understand the ending, and thinking back I don't really know if I could sum the story up. The characters were really fascinating and diverse, but the banter between them was uncomfortable and took up too much space. I didn't form an emotional connection with any of the characters and the tone just felt... off? I couldn't connect to the writing, and I could see where it was supposed to be funny but it didn't quite land.
I love what this book was trying to do, and I can tell that there's been a lot of love and thought put into the story, it just didn't work for me. It's super, super diverse and I loved the Filipina MC and the culture that was jam-packed into it, and I will probably look for the sequel, because there were mysteries laid out in the story that I do want the answers to, and the end, while as confusing, was intriguing too. But it'll probably be a library loan or a discounted ebook pick up for me, rather than a preordered new release.
I really wanted to like this book, but I just... didn't. I didn't like the characters (except for maybe Cole, who's barely in it anyway). I didn't like the writing style, and I didn't like the plot execution. The more I think about this, a couple of days after reading it, the more disappointed I am, I think. The premise itself was really really interesting, and the world-building could have been amazing, but there was just something missing. From what I've read, this book was the author's longest running story, and a labour of love. I definitely get that impression, but I kind of feel like maybe because the world was so well-built inside the author's head, the information didn't translate onto the page. If I'd been eased into the world, I would have adored it, but instead I spent most of the time I was reading it just confused about who was who and what was going on.
The plot itself was interesting, and there were a lot of mysteries I wanted to know the answers to, unfortunately I didn't want to read the book to find them because the execution just wasn't there. I didn't even really understand the ending, and thinking back I don't really know if I could sum the story up. The characters were really fascinating and diverse, but the banter between them was uncomfortable and took up too much space. I didn't form an emotional connection with any of the characters and the tone just felt... off? I couldn't connect to the writing, and I could see where it was supposed to be funny but it didn't quite land.
I love what this book was trying to do, and I can tell that there's been a lot of love and thought put into the story, it just didn't work for me. It's super, super diverse and I loved the Filipina MC and the culture that was jam-packed into it, and I will probably look for the sequel, because there were mysteries laid out in the story that I do want the answers to, and the end, while as confusing, was intriguing too. But it'll probably be a library loan or a discounted ebook pick up for me, rather than a preordered new release.