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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
I loved the world building of this series. I really enjoyed learning about each house and what it represents. I loved seeing the different planets and how the inhabitants lived. The story has some ups and downs. I felt like there was constant action that kept the plot moving, but there is a stupid unnecessary love triangle. (Why does every YA series need to have a love triangle? Let’s move passed that and focus on the actual story.). I think I will continue with the series because I do love the world(s) that she has created and want to see more of that.
The premise of the story had a lot of potential over all. May have turned out better if it was originally set with a slightly older set of main characters. Unfortunately the author stuck the typical clichés of YA books.
The "love triangle" wasn't even necessary for the story, or at least so far it hasn't shown to be an important factor to of had. Honestly don't even get how the character is still onto one of the guys when all he had done for the majority of the book was be condescending to her. Wasn't till the last couple of chapters that the guy even showed support and even an interest in her. Basically a bad example of what a healthy relationship would and should be.
As to the way things unfolded with the rest of the Guardians it came out really wishy-washy. Nothing to really make it appear that they make decisions that would effect their people with any logic. Were actually worse than the kid.
Am a little confussed as to how the main character can come to realize her mistake on how she weren't about things and turn around and continue to not try and grow from it.
Up in the air on if I will even bother with the next book in this series. It has too many of the check points other YA books have that get really bad with each book.
The "love triangle" wasn't even necessary for the story, or at least so far it hasn't shown to be an important factor to of had. Honestly don't even get how the character is still onto one of the guys when all he had done for the majority of the book was be condescending to her. Wasn't till the last couple of chapters that the guy even showed support and even an interest in her. Basically a bad example of what a healthy relationship would and should be.
As to the way things unfolded with the rest of the Guardians it came out really wishy-washy. Nothing to really make it appear that they make decisions that would effect their people with any logic. Were actually worse than the kid.
Am a little confussed as to how the main character can come to realize her mistake on how she weren't about things and turn around and continue to not try and grow from it.
Up in the air on if I will even bother with the next book in this series. It has too many of the check points other YA books have that get really bad with each book.
DNF @ page 50
I really wanted to like this book, it sounded really cool but unfortunately, I just couldn't get into it. I hope someday I can finish this and enjoy it.
I really wanted to like this book, it sounded really cool but unfortunately, I just couldn't get into it. I hope someday I can finish this and enjoy it.
I initially picked up this book because it revolves around something I’ve always been interested in, zodiac signs. It took me a while to get attached to this world as space and strategic battles are not topics I typically like learning or reading about. Once I was able to start connecting with Rho I realized that I couldn’t put the book down. I think this is a really great book concept and I loved diving into each zodiac house. Be able to see the differences in each houses personalities, government, and ways of life was unique and something I’d love to learn more about. At first I wasn’t sure about continuing this series but as I kept reading and falling more in love with the characters, the book came to an end too soon, making me want to immediately pick up the sequel.
The story line is good. Reminds me of my friends and their most amazing quality's. I love the space theme.
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2.5 stars.
Well, that was pretty disappointing.
This book had serious potential at the start. We're introduced to a sci-fi world that is based on the Zodiac constellations. Each one is its own House, with different planets, specialties, personalities, and customs. We start off on Cancer but get to explore a couple other Houses, and the worldbuilding is spectacular. By far it's the best part of the book; the author has clearly spent time on bringing this universe to life.
Moving on to the plot, which was also enough to keep this book afloat. The main gist is that Ophiuchus, the 13th House, was largely considered to be a myth in this world, but it turns out he's real and is ready to wreak havoc. The main character Rho is the only one who can see the warning signs, so she has to try and warn the different Houses. In the first chapter or so, things start off with a literal bang as one of Cancer's moons explodes and causes a mass catastrophe. Rho is one of the only ones on another moon that survives it. I was liking this beginning because it reminded me of when the plot really got going in [b:Last Day on Mars|25183019|Last Day on Mars (Chronicle of the Dark Star, #1)|Kevin Emerson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1468612284l/25183019._SY75_.jpg|44890630], which is some of my favorite sci-fi. Like, boom! Planet-sized disaster happens and the main characters have to figure out what's going on. I thought I was in for a good time.
So if the plot and the world were both fine, what then was left to suck?
Yep, it was the characters. For a while, I was indifferent about them. I didn't think I would like Hysan, but he grew on me and was probably my favorite other than Nishi. Rho was eh, Mathias was eh, yet both of them got the most screentime which I thought was unfair. Anyway,,, as the story progressed I saw the telltale signs of a future love triangle, but I ignored it for as long as I could. Also as the story progressed, Rho and Mathias got worse and worse.
Mathias was just super broody and negative the entire time. Rho was frustrated that he didn't believe her about the Ophiuchus threat despite being her closest Advisor and yet somehow she was still in love with him because that's how this works. But I can't see what she ever saw in him?? Okay I guess he's hot but he was annoying to read about so I bet he would be annoying in person too.
Rho went from "hey this character has potential" to "generic YA female protag" in less than half the book. She was made Guardian early on, meaning that she became the leader of her entire House. Yet, she actually admits to being pretty much useless a few times throughout the book, worries about her love triangle issues when millions of people are dying and there's a powerful enemy on the loose, and NEVER stands up for herself. Girl...
Even the tiny bit of personality she had at the beginning (playing the drums) is basically forgotten and is mentioned a total of like 3 times in the whole thing.
Okay yes on to the love triangle. I tried ignoring it, as I mentioned earlier, which only worked until about halfway through when it just became way too damn prevalent. So Rho is (somehow) indecisive about who she loves more, the hot guy who she's "been in love with" ever since she was a kid (please kill me now) who consistently doesn't have any faith in her, or the new guy her own age who is super optimistic and trusts her completely. Oh and then she decides to be with the second guy and ends up cheating on him with the first.
Well, that was pretty disappointing.
This book had serious potential at the start. We're introduced to a sci-fi world that is based on the Zodiac constellations. Each one is its own House, with different planets, specialties, personalities, and customs. We start off on Cancer but get to explore a couple other Houses, and the worldbuilding is spectacular. By far it's the best part of the book; the author has clearly spent time on bringing this universe to life.
Moving on to the plot, which was also enough to keep this book afloat. The main gist is that Ophiuchus, the 13th House, was largely considered to be a myth in this world, but it turns out he's real and is ready to wreak havoc. The main character Rho is the only one who can see the warning signs, so she has to try and warn the different Houses. In the first chapter or so, things start off with a literal bang as one of Cancer's moons explodes and causes a mass catastrophe. Rho is one of the only ones on another moon that survives it. I was liking this beginning because it reminded me of when the plot really got going in [b:Last Day on Mars|25183019|Last Day on Mars (Chronicle of the Dark Star, #1)|Kevin Emerson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1468612284l/25183019._SY75_.jpg|44890630], which is some of my favorite sci-fi. Like, boom! Planet-sized disaster happens and the main characters have to figure out what's going on. I thought I was in for a good time.
So if the plot and the world were both fine, what then was left to suck?
Yep, it was the characters. For a while, I was indifferent about them. I didn't think I would like Hysan, but he grew on me and was probably my favorite other than Nishi. Rho was eh, Mathias was eh, yet both of them got the most screentime which I thought was unfair. Anyway,,, as the story progressed I saw the telltale signs of a future love triangle, but I ignored it for as long as I could. Also as the story progressed, Rho and Mathias got worse and worse.
Mathias was just super broody and negative the entire time. Rho was frustrated that he didn't believe her about the Ophiuchus threat despite being her closest Advisor and yet somehow she was still in love with him because that's how this works. But I can't see what she ever saw in him?? Okay I guess he's hot but he was annoying to read about so I bet he would be annoying in person too.
Rho went from "hey this character has potential" to "generic YA female protag" in less than half the book. She was made Guardian early on, meaning that she became the leader of her entire House. Yet, she actually admits to being pretty much useless a few times throughout the book, worries about her love triangle issues when millions of people are dying and there's a powerful enemy on the loose, and NEVER stands up for herself. Girl...
Even the tiny bit of personality she had at the beginning (playing the drums) is basically forgotten and is mentioned a total of like 3 times in the whole thing.
Okay yes on to the love triangle. I tried ignoring it, as I mentioned earlier, which only worked until about halfway through when it just became way too damn prevalent. So Rho is (somehow) indecisive about who she loves more, the hot guy who she's "been in love with" ever since she was a kid (please kill me now) who consistently doesn't have any faith in her, or the new guy her own age who is super optimistic and trusts her completely. Oh and then she decides to be with the second guy and ends up cheating on him with the first.
Rho is from House Cancer. She loves her family & friends. But she cant seem to do her schoolwork the way the professors want her to. She relies on the ways her mother taught her.
She sees a darkness on the raise for the Zodiac.
Beware the Thirteenth House!
She sees a darkness on the raise for the Zodiac.
Beware the Thirteenth House!