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aforestofbooks 's review for:
Witches Steeped in Gold
by Ciannon Smart
I was so excited for this book, especially after the HCCFrenzy event, however I didn't end up loving it as much as I was hoping.
The writing really put me off. The way things were worded, sentences structured, and even the specific choice of words confused me more times than I can count. Especially in the beginning, there were so many different characters and groups of people and events thrown into the dialogue and narrative, that with the confusing way it was written, it didn't really help me understand what was happening. And while it did seem to get better half-way through the book, I still felt like I was piecing together bits and pieces without really knowing what was going on.
I did read the arc of this book, so maybe there are changes in the finished copy, and I'm really hoping the finished copy comes with a glossary or a cast of characters or something. I started to get confused between all the different terms, especially since it was hard to keep track with how much is going on in this book.
The magic system was really cool, especially with the use of gold as conduits. Though I was a bit confused with how it worked, especially considering how there didn't seem to be limits to what you could do with the magic.
As for the characters, I think they were okay. I didn't fall in love with anyone in particular. There's a lot that happens off page that as the reader you just don't expect. It reminded me in many ways of Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom. There's underlying plots that are maybe hinted at, but a lot of the action revolving these plots happens off-screen, which I found kind of disorienting.
It does make for a pretty intense conclusion however. A lot happened in the last 100 pages or so, and I will admit that while the writing and characters fell short for me, the plot was definitely engaging after the mid-way point. It's intense and fast-paced, and everyone is sort of lying and you don't really know what's happening so when things do happen it's a nice shock-factor.
Overall, an okay read. 3/5 stars
The writing really put me off. The way things were worded, sentences structured, and even the specific choice of words confused me more times than I can count. Especially in the beginning, there were so many different characters and groups of people and events thrown into the dialogue and narrative, that with the confusing way it was written, it didn't really help me understand what was happening. And while it did seem to get better half-way through the book, I still felt like I was piecing together bits and pieces without really knowing what was going on.
I did read the arc of this book, so maybe there are changes in the finished copy, and I'm really hoping the finished copy comes with a glossary or a cast of characters or something. I started to get confused between all the different terms, especially since it was hard to keep track with how much is going on in this book.
The magic system was really cool, especially with the use of gold as conduits. Though I was a bit confused with how it worked, especially considering how there didn't seem to be limits to what you could do with the magic.
As for the characters, I think they were okay. I didn't fall in love with anyone in particular. There's a lot that happens off page that as the reader you just don't expect. It reminded me in many ways of Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom. There's underlying plots that are maybe hinted at, but a lot of the action revolving these plots happens off-screen, which I found kind of disorienting.
It does make for a pretty intense conclusion however. A lot happened in the last 100 pages or so, and I will admit that while the writing and characters fell short for me, the plot was definitely engaging after the mid-way point. It's intense and fast-paced, and everyone is sort of lying and you don't really know what's happening so when things do happen it's a nice shock-factor.
Overall, an okay read. 3/5 stars