Take a photo of a barcode or cover
1.24k reviews by:
sassenachthebookwizard
2.5/5
HOMG I FINISHED!
This took a lot of things from popular YA books and tropes so it really is a book you've read before but the world wasn't developed. The characters were super one dimensional causing all their voices to just blend together
HOMG I FINISHED!
This took a lot of things from popular YA books and tropes so it really is a book you've read before but the world wasn't developed. The characters were super one dimensional causing all their voices to just blend together
A copy of the title was generously given to me by the author
Firstly, I really like this cover.
So the book itself has its pros and cons. I noticed that it needed another eye or round of editing as there were multiple instances where the wrong tense of a word was used (i.e. everything was written in present tense and then there was a sudden past tense of a word used) which threw me off a few times.
I liked the general plot idea but I feel like this book really lacks structure and information. It's mentioned repeatedly that this is a new world. We've resorted back to some of our old human history but then we have a bunch of science updates but nothing is explained. You're just continuously like "oh...so is that doable in this world? Okay, I guess so." On that same thought, the characters don't have much growth or development. I spent 50% of the book being like "...but why is he helping her? This doesn't make sense" to the point it got frustrating by the end and I wasn't totally sure why I was supposed to like the good people and dislike the villains.
Firstly, I really like this cover.
So the book itself has its pros and cons. I noticed that it needed another eye or round of editing as there were multiple instances where the wrong tense of a word was used (i.e. everything was written in present tense and then there was a sudden past tense of a word used) which threw me off a few times.
I liked the general plot idea but I feel like this book really lacks structure and information. It's mentioned repeatedly that this is a new world. We've resorted back to some of our old human history but then we have a bunch of science updates but nothing is explained. You're just continuously like "oh...so is that doable in this world? Okay, I guess so." On that same thought, the characters don't have much growth or development. I spent 50% of the book being like "...but why is he helping her? This doesn't make sense" to the point it got frustrating by the end and I wasn't totally sure why I was supposed to like the good people and dislike the villains.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aqla5LU0FHM&t=1s
Arden's writing is just so consistent and good! Loved the building of the setting of Grand Prince Russia and the Mongol Yoke.She did an amazing job of showing the differences between life in towns where the Grand Prince's live vs rural life. The pacing is just like book one. I loved getting to see Vasya's family again and how they all feel about each other after their time apart. Vasya is such a strong ass lady & the magic was really cool!
Reread
Yeah. This book is still amazing and it's not fair that it's this good and a debut
Arden's writing is just so consistent and good! Loved the building of the setting of Grand Prince Russia and the Mongol Yoke.She did an amazing job of showing the differences between life in towns where the Grand Prince's live vs rural life. The pacing is just like book one. I loved getting to see Vasya's family again and how they all feel about each other after their time apart. Vasya is such a strong ass lady & the magic was really cool!
Reread
Yeah. This book is still amazing and it's not fair that it's this good and a debut
Good Lord it honestly makes no sense that this was a debut series.
Katherine Arden has some of the most calming and luxurious writing I've ever read. It lends itself so incredibly well to anything mystical or magical. Whether that's in Russian history like this series or more modern times in her Small Spaces series.
I don't think there was a second in this book where I could guess where things were going. All the characters are so good (especially our main girl Vas) and then incorporating the supernatural elements into the history so seamlessly is mindbogglingly good. I will absolutely keep revisiting this series and so glad I own the beautiful hardcovers. Cannot wait to see what the author will come up with next in the YA and adult fields.
Katherine Arden has some of the most calming and luxurious writing I've ever read. It lends itself so incredibly well to anything mystical or magical. Whether that's in Russian history like this series or more modern times in her Small Spaces series.
I don't think there was a second in this book where I could guess where things were going. All the characters are so good (especially our main girl Vas) and then incorporating the supernatural elements into the history so seamlessly is mindbogglingly good. I will absolutely keep revisiting this series and so glad I own the beautiful hardcovers. Cannot wait to see what the author will come up with next in the YA and adult fields.
What in the holy hell is going on with this book's GoodReads rating?!
I thought this was a fascinating read. We switch from past memories to the murder trial with me being Frannie's defendent. I haven't read any fictional books that focus on this time period AND has scenes in one of the colonial empire's countries *cough* England *cough* that evaluates drug usage, the lack of choices women have of every race, have F/F romance AND are quite upfront about what happened once slavery was legally abolished (hint: we didn't just stop the slave trade and give PoC rights) PLUS calling out racism in the judicial system. I loved all of it!
Rep: main character in a F/F romance. and is from Jamaica (the author is of Jamaican descent)
I thought this was a fascinating read. We switch from past memories to the murder trial with me being Frannie's defendent. I haven't read any fictional books that focus on this time period AND has scenes in one of the colonial empire's countries *cough* England *cough* that evaluates drug usage, the lack of choices women have of every race, have F/F romance AND are quite upfront about what happened once slavery was legally abolished (hint: we didn't just stop the slave trade and give PoC rights) PLUS calling out racism in the judicial system. I loved all of it!
Rep: main character in a F/F romance. and is from Jamaica (the author is of Jamaican descent)
So this is like Harry & Meghan meets a soap opera with all the romance problems. There were a few times where snooty royal institution...alists (that's not a word but roll with it) acted like the British tabloids do towards Meghan (#StanDuchessofSussex). It was cheesy for sure, pretty predictable (I mean there's a power hungry ex-girlfriend) but it was just what I needed to read. There's clearly a lot left open with the ending so I will definitely be picking up the sequel.
So I've heard a lot of negative things about this book honestly and they all seem to revolve around two criticisms:
1. there's too many POVs
2. the POV's or plots were confusing
I hardcore disagree with those two but to each their own.
Now is this book mindbogglingly unique and blew me out of the water? No but it's a solid YA fantasy and I'm rather impressed this is a debut. I think the characters can be more fleshed out (and I assume this will come in the series) but I had no issue keeping them all separate. I liked that they all had their own stories which began braiding together. The conflict in this world revolving around the Witnesses was FAR TOO similar to our world (I hate humanity). The conclusion seemed very epic and cinematic to me and I am so excited for the sequel
My beef with this book (and I will go to my grave saying this) is IT IS RIDICULOUSLY OVERPRICED outside of the US. It's $27 CAD...for a YA book...of a debut author...TWENTY SEVEN DOLLARS. (for context, I picked up Kingdom of Souls for $24 CAD which is the higher end of YA pricing here). Are the Publishers out of their damn mind?! Publishers are already embargoing, delaying and increasing the prices of books to libraries in order to drive up waitlist times hoping readers will go buy the books themselves AND THEN YOU PRICE YOUR BOOK AT DAMN $27 CAD?!
I only picked this up when it went on sale for $16.50 CAD. Price your shit better.
1. there's too many POVs
2. the POV's or plots were confusing
I hardcore disagree with those two but to each their own.
Now is this book mindbogglingly unique and blew me out of the water? No but it's a solid YA fantasy and I'm rather impressed this is a debut. I think the characters can be more fleshed out (and I assume this will come in the series) but I had no issue keeping them all separate. I liked that they all had their own stories which began braiding together. The conflict in this world revolving around the Witnesses was FAR TOO similar to our world (I hate humanity). The conclusion seemed very epic and cinematic to me and I am so excited for the sequel
My beef with this book (and I will go to my grave saying this) is IT IS RIDICULOUSLY OVERPRICED outside of the US. It's $27 CAD...for a YA book...of a debut author...TWENTY SEVEN DOLLARS. (for context, I picked up Kingdom of Souls for $24 CAD which is the higher end of YA pricing here). Are the Publishers out of their damn mind?! Publishers are already embargoing, delaying and increasing the prices of books to libraries in order to drive up waitlist times hoping readers will go buy the books themselves AND THEN YOU PRICE YOUR BOOK AT DAMN $27 CAD?!
I only picked this up when it went on sale for $16.50 CAD. Price your shit better.
3.5/5
There were parts of this book that I loved. The first 1/3 or so was especially good but then there was just a lot of time where my interest waned and I felt myself rather bored. It would pick up a gain for a bit and then go stagnate again. With a book this size, I can see why people were/are not always enjoying it. The pacing is just so inconsistent. I also honestly felt like the book should have ended before it actually did and the end of the book should've gone into the sequel. There was just no gasp and shock at the end that would drive me through hell or high water to the sequel. I do think I'll read the sequel but it won't be high up on my Most Anticipated lists. I liked most of the characters and events and conflicts but the pacing is just such a struggle.
There were parts of this book that I loved. The first 1/3 or so was especially good but then there was just a lot of time where my interest waned and I felt myself rather bored. It would pick up a gain for a bit and then go stagnate again. With a book this size, I can see why people were/are not always enjoying it. The pacing is just so inconsistent. I also honestly felt like the book should have ended before it actually did and the end of the book should've gone into the sequel. There was just no gasp and shock at the end that would drive me through hell or high water to the sequel. I do think I'll read the sequel but it won't be high up on my Most Anticipated lists. I liked most of the characters and events and conflicts but the pacing is just such a struggle.
MA'AM! MA'AM! THAT IS SO NOT COOL!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marissa is one of those few authors that manages to write such good conclusions. Considering there's career NYT bestselling authors who still can't do that, it's so satisfying. I loved the stand off with Ace, I loved getting to see the jail, I loved how everyone's hidden persona was revealed and I loved the conclusion with Max and powers. The epilogue freaking HURT though if they don't do a spin off series or novella or something! Pleaseeeeeeeee!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marissa is one of those few authors that manages to write such good conclusions. Considering there's career NYT bestselling authors who still can't do that, it's so satisfying. I loved the stand off with Ace, I loved getting to see the jail, I loved how everyone's hidden persona was revealed and I loved the conclusion with Max and powers. The epilogue freaking HURT though if they don't do a spin off series or novella or something! Pleaseeeeeeeee!
