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laurenfro22's review
slow-paced
3.0
I desperately wanted to like this book. Queer rep, time traveling, prophecies, space travel, big big themes? I love all those things. Which is why I am SO bummed I didn’t care for this. It did a lot well and I definitely think it is a middling read, I think it just wasn’t for me unfortunately.
Plot: the word ambitious comes to mind. The author has great ideas and huge aspirations and that’s super evident in this multi-time/world universe they’ve created. Extremely challenging to follow when there’s a lot of set up for future books. There were also sections where there were time jumps spliced in or weird pacing that made the story hobble along a little bit.
Prose: I didn’t feel close to the writing, like everything was happening at arms length and we weren’t really *there* in the midst. Some really well done sections, flowery language in appropriate places, and then other times it was super choppy, anachronistic, and flat.
People: it was difficult to feel connected to the characters and feel that the characters were connected to each other. One of the 3 important Heros felt like a Flat Stanley, just like super underdeveloped. The other two were certainly more fleshed out but even then there were a lot of moments of ‘why should the reader care,’ which was frustrating because you can tell that the plot hinges on these relationships working.
General: I feel it could’ve used another editing pass. I noticed a couple of spots with missing words and then an entire chapter heading missing a piece of the equation. I think tightening up the threads of the story would help it flow a lot better and improve areas where it struggles more.
Overall I think this book is interesting and full of potential and I want to see what the author does next.
Plot: the word ambitious comes to mind. The author has great ideas and huge aspirations and that’s super evident in this multi-time/world universe they’ve created. Extremely challenging to follow when there’s a lot of set up for future books. There were also sections where there were time jumps spliced in or weird pacing that made the story hobble along a little bit.
Prose: I didn’t feel close to the writing, like everything was happening at arms length and we weren’t really *there* in the midst. Some really well done sections, flowery language in appropriate places, and then other times it was super choppy, anachronistic, and flat.
People: it was difficult to feel connected to the characters and feel that the characters were connected to each other. One of the 3 important Heros felt like a Flat Stanley, just like super underdeveloped. The other two were certainly more fleshed out but even then there were a lot of moments of ‘why should the reader care,’ which was frustrating because you can tell that the plot hinges on these relationships working.
General: I feel it could’ve used another editing pass. I noticed a couple of spots with missing words and then an entire chapter heading missing a piece of the equation. I think tightening up the threads of the story would help it flow a lot better and improve areas where it struggles more.
Overall I think this book is interesting and full of potential and I want to see what the author does next.
finnelyslibrary's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The cover and social media posts really amped this book up for me. I even ordered it from the UK since it hasn't been released in the US yet. The pacing was all over the place, which caused me to take months to read it or even want to pick it up to finish it. Then when I got to the ending it was so underwhelming. There's no excitement in the end to make me want to continue the series. I'm okay saying goodbye to the characters where they are now, which is disappointing in a book that was marketed as Doctor Who inspired. When things finally did happen, they weren't a surprise more of an oh okay.
One thing to note is that on page 352 the antagonist is described as, "became so ugly and evil that my brother's own soul- so closely tangled with that of his mortal charge - began to deteriorate." I thought that we were well past having being ugly as a reason why someone becomes bad. The ugly laws and all of that.
Overall, this book being underwhelming sums my thoughts of it. Stunning cover, clever social media posts and an ending that doesn't have a cliff hanger or a hook to look forward to the next book in the series.
One thing to note is that on page 352 the antagonist is described as, "became so ugly and evil that my brother's own soul- so closely tangled with that of his mortal charge - began to deteriorate." I thought that we were well past having being ugly as a reason why someone becomes bad. The ugly laws and all of that.
Overall, this book being underwhelming sums my thoughts of it. Stunning cover, clever social media posts and an ending that doesn't have a cliff hanger or a hook to look forward to the next book in the series.
jadesarah's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I was engaged enough with this story and did enjoy it but I think the author's editors let her down. Between story and grammatical issues, it definitely would have benefitted from more editing.
The fated mates element especially with Asha and Xavier went from 0-100 without any feeling. I felt unmoved by it. If you're gonna do fated mates make me feel it and actually believe in it.
Obi and George had a bit more feeling but Obi's pining in private but then running away from communicating his feelings to George was frustrating at times.
Xavier was so flat and boring. His personality got lost in space. He felt left behind in more ways than one. I really enjoyed the brief glimpses we got of his family especially the dynamic with his brother but then he abandoned his family with barely a thought. His brother deserves more and will probably turn into a villain because of him lol.
Even the found family elements were not cohesive enough. These three characters are connected and they're supposed to love each other and care for each other but it felt disconnected with what they said and how they acted. I need more. I need to believe in their connections more.
I came to enjoy Alarick and George's dynamic even if hostile.
I hope to see more of Obi and his father's relationship and hopefully an eventual reconciliation.
There's a lot of potential here. I enjoyed what I read but there's definite issues and disconnects with what the concept is and what actually happens. The author's writing style is really nice and I enjoyed that there were tropes that the author could have easily fell into here that would have ruined it more for me. I felt endeared to Obi, Asha and even George. I probably shouldn't like Alarick but I think I do? Lol. I'm also intrigued by the mythology, the time travel, reincarnations and how the villains and heroes stories will play out.
The writing and characters felt juvenile in the beginning which they are young so it's understandable but I came to appreciate their growth. Their rage and sadness and reckless behaviour at times grew on me. Particularly with Obi and Asha. My heart hurts for George too.
I hope in the next book, the world is developed much better and that we can really get a feel for the characters and their connections. I hope romantic and platonic relationships continue to grow where they feel solid and authentic.
The fated mates element especially with Asha and Xavier went from 0-100 without any feeling. I felt unmoved by it. If you're gonna do fated mates make me feel it and actually believe in it.
Obi and George had a bit more feeling but Obi's pining in private but then running away from communicating his feelings to George was frustrating at times.
Xavier was so flat and boring. His personality got lost in space. He felt left behind in more ways than one. I really enjoyed the brief glimpses we got of his family especially the dynamic with his brother but then he abandoned his family with barely a thought. His brother deserves more and will probably turn into a villain because of him lol.
Even the found family elements were not cohesive enough. These three characters are connected and they're supposed to love each other and care for each other but it felt disconnected with what they said and how they acted. I need more. I need to believe in their connections more.
I came to enjoy Alarick and George's dynamic even if hostile.
I hope to see more of Obi and his father's relationship and hopefully an eventual reconciliation.
There's a lot of potential here. I enjoyed what I read but there's definite issues and disconnects with what the concept is and what actually happens. The author's writing style is really nice and I enjoyed that there were tropes that the author could have easily fell into here that would have ruined it more for me. I felt endeared to Obi, Asha and even George. I probably shouldn't like Alarick but I think I do? Lol. I'm also intrigued by the mythology, the time travel, reincarnations and how the villains and heroes stories will play out.
The writing and characters felt juvenile in the beginning which they are young so it's understandable but I came to appreciate their growth. Their rage and sadness and reckless behaviour at times grew on me. Particularly with Obi and Asha. My heart hurts for George too.
I hope in the next book, the world is developed much better and that we can really get a feel for the characters and their connections. I hope romantic and platonic relationships continue to grow where they feel solid and authentic.
rthpr's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I think the concept of this book is great, and I did enjoy it, but I don’t think it reaches its full potential. Some more editing could have benefited this book massively. There were repetitive bits, and at some point the book has the line “much to Asha’s surpise (not!)” - seriously? This line made it through edits to be put in an actual book???
The 1812 plot line started off great, and then once Obi left was a complete drag. The prophecy was a bit heavy handed, it liked the archive notes at the end of each chapter though, that was a great idea. AndAziza being the weapon was great! Even if the foreshadowing wasn’t very subtle.
Could not get behind Xavier, didn’t care about him in the slightest and the romance between him andAsha wasn’t very convincing.
The firstprison break was completely pointless. Why wasn’t this edited out? It added nothing to the plot and made the second one feel less high stakes, even with an exploding planet and how many times do we need to describe stealing a spaceship!
I probably will read the sequel (presuming there is one) because overall I liked the ideas! The main let down of this book seems to be the lack of a proper editor
The 1812 plot line started off great, and then once Obi left was a complete drag. The prophecy was a bit heavy handed, it liked the archive notes at the end of each chapter though, that was a great idea. And
Could not get behind Xavier, didn’t care about him in the slightest and the romance between him and
The first
I probably will read the sequel (presuming there is one) because overall I liked the ideas! The main let down of this book seems to be the lack of a proper editor
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation and Slavery
como022's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Somehow this book moved very quickly but also DRAGGED. Reading it was a struggle, though I really wanted to know what happened.