annieice's Reviews (791)

Thanks to BookSirens, author and publisher for this arc ebook! Opinions are as always my own.

Well, this was advertised as a cute, short fun and funny dystopian adventure story… it was only short and kinda funny and a little dystopian.

I don't even know how to describe the plot, it didn't really have one. Just the MC and his friend/enemy who drive this HRM and Sebastian likes to broadcast old music to fellow apocalyptic survivers. And then this scammer ex comes and he has some fight, she's quickly discovered as a fake scammer by others too and she runs away. Then they have this kinda big fight with these monsters and the end…

It was very quick and though I read it slower then how I usually do and didn't skim I still didn't really understand much. The author didn't really give us much of a clear way into how this world works, and what the monsters and threats exactly are and look like, annoying. The MC Sebastian was meant to be quirky and comedic, he was mostly just annoying, and self centered. His conflict with his scammer ex was ended too adruptly and fast it was pretty annoying.

Then the MC also kept referencing very old stuff, like Hamlet which I don't think makes sense as it's quite old for us, let alone for him who is meant to live like at least a centuty later or more… and especially his taste in music was very old and he kept talking about how in the old times people were as if he lived then, but at the same time he was annoyed by an actual old man talking about his experiences which weren't as old…?!

I didn't really feel anything. Some lines were kinda funny, but most absurd and just creepy… yeah I don't think I'll read any sequels, it wasn't interesting enough, sorry…

WOW, just wow… did this book make me so disoriented, and wanting for more? Yes, yes it did…

First off, I LOVE the cover, it's so GORGEOUS! It's definitely what made me want to read this, lol.

This is the first book in a sci-fi/fantasy series which is simply called Zadok Series and follows mainly Harlow an 18-year-old girl living on the planet named Zadok as a reborn human. Basically, every humanoid creature let's say reborn on different planets, so before being reborn as a Zadok citizen, they were humans on Earth. And on this planet there are four different races of different kinds of creatures, but not in the traditional fantasy sense of fae and stuff. There are four places with different static seasons with different appearances and powers. There's the Winter folk which are divided into 3 subtypes based on eye and hair colors, they have pale skin and they have some snow/ice power. Then there's the Spring folk who have the power of the land, and they have chocolate skin and green, yellow, or hazel hair and eyes. There are Fire people whose eyes swirl like molten lava and Fall people who have wings, etc. The worldbuilding is set pretty well, I'd say.

So Harlow apparently remembers her past human life, while the majority don't, and she knows how she was killed on her 18th birthday by her so-called friend. But one day she can actually visit earth as a ghost and actually see her twin sister with whom she's apparently still connected and her killer still not being caught or suspected… yikes. There she meets her killer's brother and well, they look at how their siblings' lives will play out, and they like each other.

But that isn't all there's to the story, as Harlow lives a double life she also has a lot of trouble in Zadok, as she's a Pastel born to two Magenta parents, which isn't a thing that ever happened, and her twin is a Magenta too, so Harlow is always seen as other and different. In this place, Pastels are seen as low lives, and they're weak, and they don't get a lot of opportunities. But Harlow starts to get some because of Jax who is a Purple and the son of the commander. He actually has a secret plan to destroy the coloring system which is totally not fair… And, Harlow also has a best friend who is also a Pastel, who apparently has a crush on her, but she doesn't, so yikes.

It's typical YA fantasy with twists and turns. I'd say I really liked the premise and was very intrigued and on edge until the end, and still am as it ends in a cliffhanger… AH!!! I already got the 2nd book, so I'll be fine, lol. I liked the idea of this book being about social injustice a lot, and all the weird things going on, both on Earth with Harlow's killer getting close to her twin and especially in Zadok, where things are getting dangerous. I liked the writing style and how each chapter mentioned from who's perspective the book is written from, and if Harlow is in Earth as Ruby, or in Zadok. I also liked the descriptions and the feeling were very well conveyed. There were twists and turns which really made reading it enjoyable. The characters were well-rounded and likable or hatable, all according to plan…

What I think was done poorly, or didn't like is that the world wasn't explored enough. Now I understand, as there are other books and opportunities to do so, but you can't set up all these interesting creatures and powers and not really use them enough. Like they gave Zeeks the power of water and ice and they don't even use that often, or at all which was quite annoying.

Also, the romantic side plots were not doing it for me… totally annoying and cringe, to be honest. Especially the annoying BFF. Like it's not her fault she doesn't see him that way! Alex wasn't better either, he was kinda creepy to me. Then the whole all guys liking our girl MC who doesn't think she's pretty or special was pretty annoying, but I'm hoping to get resolved in the next book!

I really didn't like how the ending turned out, total things are so perfect and 'sweet' until the next part everything is worse happens too often in YA books, it's annoying.

This book didn't really follow the typical adventure narrative as it's not meant to be that way, but it does drag quite long, though it's quite eventful. I found that it was kinda repetitive in the context that Harlow or Zavier had quite some accidents that resulted in them blacking out and going to the 'hospital'. And Jax saved Harlow too often, it wasn't that cute.

Then there are some issues that I hated the MOST and that is the representation. I think the author wanted to come as inclusive, but she failed in some sensitive marks, especially when she made a small side character have Asperger Syndrome in the most stereotypical way possible… it was too cringe and it really annoyed me, especially the use of Asperger… These are the words the autistic guy said for himself:

“I have a photographic memory,” he says robotically, “and I get fixated on subjects that interest me, it’s a trait I’ve always had.” His cheeks redden. “In the human world, they diagnosed me with a developmental disorder called Asperger’s syndrome, which is the category most humans with unique abilities like mine, fall into.”

…

RJ taps the wooden end of his brush against his chin, face knowing. “Those of us born of magic, hear and see patterns in things that ‘normal’ humans/Zeeks can’t. It’s distracting and overwhelming at times, but it can also act as a gift if you have the concentration to tune in to certain patterns and follow them.”

It just sounds soo wrong and untrue for how autistic people actually are… I know she wanted to play the card of autism being a special ability or whatever but she really could have done this differently if she did some research.

But this isn't the worse, as she made the killer be schizophrenic because of his highly abusive and traumatic childhood. This also fails to understand that schizophrenia doesn't have to do with committing murder when they aren't in meds and get into psychosis immediately after drinking… yikes… also there's a queer side character, who also just sounds so stereotypical in what she says, especially when she says that she doesn't date guys because they're messy, which totally sounds wrong. And when the MC finds out she's dating girls she throws the idea of her being jealous of some guy out as if she couldn't possibly be into guys as well.

Considering the ups and downs in this book, and especially the intriguing and enjoyable factor I'm giving this a passing grade of 3.75 as I'm quite curious to know how it goes and if the things I mentioned get fixed and more explored in the future.

I'd say it's a very promising series, and if this sounds intriguing to you, then don't let my criticism stop you, go read it!