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mj_reads's Reviews (415)
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So I’ve taken the time to stop and think about this book, and I still love it as much as I did while I was reading it/when I finished it. Reading this was such a fun experience! When the plot was lacking, the dialogue from the characters kept me reading, and when the characters were irritating me the plot was moving at a pace that kept me going because I needed to know what was happening!!
I was very much caught off guard by how much I enjoyed this. The setting was western meets desert and apparently, I’m really into that. The world was unique, it gave off some Ember in the Ashes vibes, but with better world building and more answers. There was an elemental type of magic, so everything was super linked into the setting of the book…it all felt natural and didn’t have me questioning if it was at all possible. That is something I can really appreciate in a fantasy book, when the fantasy aspects are natural enough that I’m not left doubting or wondering where the author came up with it.
The characters were so SO great! I loved them individually, they were all really well developed. These were also the types of characters that don’t give too much away at once, their relationships are slowly built and their own personalities are slowly revealed in a way that lets the readers learn about them as they learn about themselves (which is my favorite thing ever okay). I loved the sprit in Amani, she is strong and passionate and I love how much she grows throughout the story. I was a Jin stan literally from the first time he was introduced. He was just so mysterious and I was trying to figure out who he was the entire time (and despite all of the signs I was wrong). Secondary characters were just enough to keep me interested in the story line and not spend the entire book obsessing over Amani and Jin, but I could have used some more from them. They served a purpose, and they did so well, but there wasn’t too much of them aside from that and I am hoping that there is more of a focus on them in the rest of the series, because tbh that was my ONLY issue with this story.
So basically besides wanting more from the secondary characters I had no issues with this story. I loved everything from the plot to the characters and their relationships. The chemistry between characters and also between the characters and their setting was so intoxicating. The plot was easy to follow but not boring by any means, there are I guess three twists and while I was able to guess the general idea of two of them (although I wasn’t able to guess them completely) the third completely blew my mind. I think that if people can get into the setting of this book that they will really enjoy it. I’ve already placed a request with my library for the next book and I am anxiously waiting to be able to read it!!
I was very much caught off guard by how much I enjoyed this. The setting was western meets desert and apparently, I’m really into that. The world was unique, it gave off some Ember in the Ashes vibes, but with better world building and more answers. There was an elemental type of magic, so everything was super linked into the setting of the book…it all felt natural and didn’t have me questioning if it was at all possible. That is something I can really appreciate in a fantasy book, when the fantasy aspects are natural enough that I’m not left doubting or wondering where the author came up with it.
The characters were so SO great! I loved them individually, they were all really well developed. These were also the types of characters that don’t give too much away at once, their relationships are slowly built and their own personalities are slowly revealed in a way that lets the readers learn about them as they learn about themselves (which is my favorite thing ever okay). I loved the sprit in Amani, she is strong and passionate and I love how much she grows throughout the story. I was a Jin stan literally from the first time he was introduced. He was just so mysterious and I was trying to figure out who he was the entire time (and despite all of the signs I was wrong). Secondary characters were just enough to keep me interested in the story line and not spend the entire book obsessing over Amani and Jin, but I could have used some more from them. They served a purpose, and they did so well, but there wasn’t too much of them aside from that and I am hoping that there is more of a focus on them in the rest of the series, because tbh that was my ONLY issue with this story.
So basically besides wanting more from the secondary characters I had no issues with this story. I loved everything from the plot to the characters and their relationships. The chemistry between characters and also between the characters and their setting was so intoxicating. The plot was easy to follow but not boring by any means, there are I guess three twists and while I was able to guess the general idea of two of them (although I wasn’t able to guess them completely) the third completely blew my mind. I think that if people can get into the setting of this book that they will really enjoy it. I’ve already placed a request with my library for the next book and I am anxiously waiting to be able to read it!!
This was my first time rereading this since I read book 2 and honestly????? This was an emotional trip now that I know certain THINGS. UGH.
Worth it tho.
Worth it tho.
”’Perhaps,’ she said, ‘or perhaps I will go with you to the end of the world. After all, you’ve made me curious.’”
This was my first Schwab book and I am so excited to say that it did not disappoint!!!
I loved everything about this book. LITERALLY EVERYTHING. I have zero complaints because even if there was a point in the story where I was like uhhh what, literally by the end of the next chapter it all made sense. Great concept, great writing and great execution. I’m on cloud 9 after reading this.
So if you are going to continue on with reading this, I’m really just about to praise every aspect of this book. I hope you’re ready.
The Writing: Okay WHAT. I know people praise Schwab’s writing from the top of mountains, but I was still somehow blown away by how incredible it was. Everything about the presentation of this story just SCREAMED about how well thought out this plot was. Nothing felt rushed. Nothing felt out of place. Every single word in this story was important to the plot, world or characters. The pacing of the story was excellent, I was never bored. The revelation of everything was so well done, it kept me guessing but in a nice curious way, not a confused way. Event were revealed in a way that allowed the reader to make assumptions of what might happen later on, but not in a way that distracted from what was going on at the moment. This was just such a pleasant reading experience for so many reasons, and I am definitely excited to dive back into the authors work, both with the rest of this series and her other books!!
The Characters: FIRST OF ALL, I LOVE KELL WITH MY WHOLE ENTIRE HEART. He is so noble and pure and he kind of reminds me of a little puppy who makes all of these rash decisions but only because he feels some type of way and then spends the rest of his time regretting it or trying to make it better and I JUST WANT TO HOLD HIM AND TELL HIM ITS OKAY. Lila is also a really great character but I love her differently than I love most characters. And by that I mean, right now I appreciate her character and her role but I don’t know just how much I ~actually enjoy~ her. She definitely grows a lot in this book but I think I need to see more growth to really know how I’ll feel about her. As for the secondary characters I fucking LOVED the dane twins like…so evil and I was here for it. I loved how badass Holland was and I’m super excited to see what comes next from him, I think the events in this book set him up for some GREATNESS. I loved the Red London royal family, Rhys is so pure and I want so much more of him from the next books!!!
The relationships in this book are all so great. I feel the chemistry and the attachment between everyone. Nothing feels forced on readers or out of place. Every interaction feels natural and fits with where the characters are at in the story.
Plot and Worldbuilding SO WELL DONE. I commented on this a bit while praising the writing but it is just so clear that this was really well thought out. There aren’t any periods of info dumps, we find out what we need to know when we need to know it. The pacing is excellent, I’d probably consider this a slowburn kinda book, but it doesn’t really feel like it. I was pulled into the story from the first line, and continued to fall deeper and deeper into the world with every page. It was just so well done.
IN SUMMARY I LOVED THIS BOOK. OKAY BYE.
Also this was a buddy read w/ Chelsea!
This was my first Schwab book and I am so excited to say that it did not disappoint!!!
I loved everything about this book. LITERALLY EVERYTHING. I have zero complaints because even if there was a point in the story where I was like uhhh what, literally by the end of the next chapter it all made sense. Great concept, great writing and great execution. I’m on cloud 9 after reading this.
So if you are going to continue on with reading this, I’m really just about to praise every aspect of this book. I hope you’re ready.
The Writing: Okay WHAT. I know people praise Schwab’s writing from the top of mountains, but I was still somehow blown away by how incredible it was. Everything about the presentation of this story just SCREAMED about how well thought out this plot was. Nothing felt rushed. Nothing felt out of place. Every single word in this story was important to the plot, world or characters. The pacing of the story was excellent, I was never bored. The revelation of everything was so well done, it kept me guessing but in a nice curious way, not a confused way. Event were revealed in a way that allowed the reader to make assumptions of what might happen later on, but not in a way that distracted from what was going on at the moment. This was just such a pleasant reading experience for so many reasons, and I am definitely excited to dive back into the authors work, both with the rest of this series and her other books!!
The Characters: FIRST OF ALL, I LOVE KELL WITH MY WHOLE ENTIRE HEART. He is so noble and pure and he kind of reminds me of a little puppy who makes all of these rash decisions but only because he feels some type of way and then spends the rest of his time regretting it or trying to make it better and I JUST WANT TO HOLD HIM AND TELL HIM ITS OKAY. Lila is also a really great character but I love her differently than I love most characters. And by that I mean, right now I appreciate her character and her role but I don’t know just how much I ~actually enjoy~ her. She definitely grows a lot in this book but I think I need to see more growth to really know how I’ll feel about her. As for the secondary characters I fucking LOVED the dane twins like…so evil and I was here for it. I loved how badass Holland was and I’m super excited to see what comes next from him, I think the events in this book set him up for some GREATNESS. I loved the Red London royal family, Rhys is so pure and I want so much more of him from the next books!!!
The relationships in this book are all so great. I feel the chemistry and the attachment between everyone. Nothing feels forced on readers or out of place. Every interaction feels natural and fits with where the characters are at in the story.
Plot and Worldbuilding SO WELL DONE. I commented on this a bit while praising the writing but it is just so clear that this was really well thought out. There aren’t any periods of info dumps, we find out what we need to know when we need to know it. The pacing is excellent, I’d probably consider this a slowburn kinda book, but it doesn’t really feel like it. I was pulled into the story from the first line, and continued to fall deeper and deeper into the world with every page. It was just so well done.
IN SUMMARY I LOVED THIS BOOK. OKAY BYE.
Also this was a buddy read w/ Chelsea!
Character growth and plot development without anything really happening??? Idk this one dragged a bit but the ending was intense so I’m still ready for the next one!!
