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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was soo good! cool dystopian world building, I rlly liked the prison setting. The visuals were at times quite brutal and nasty but that fits the dystopian energy underground for sure. The story moved slowly at times but I think that is pretty realistic.
I don't loveee the poetry but I don't mind it being there either. The writing is good, but I think the side characters fell a bit too flat. I like them but Khalani's friends didn't get much development.
Takeshi is so hot omg. And the tension between them!! I love me a good training segment and the things this man would say omg! so lowkey kinky istg. The romance was like 30% of the plot I'd say, it's a bit more slowburn for sure and very intriguing! I'm so excited to see where they will go in future books.
Khalani is a really strong main character with a terrible past and I think she'd be a rlly soft and sweet girl had she been allowed to grow up in a different world.
This book also made me appreciate the beauty of our earth and nature more :) Truly I couldn't imagine it just being so destroyed that humans would have to go underground for hundreds of years.
I don't loveee the poetry but I don't mind it being there either. The writing is good, but I think the side characters fell a bit too flat. I like them but Khalani's friends didn't get much development.
Takeshi is so hot omg. And the tension between them!! I love me a good training segment and the things this man would say omg! so lowkey kinky istg. The romance was like 30% of the plot I'd say, it's a bit more slowburn for sure and very intriguing! I'm so excited to see where they will go in future books.
Khalani is a really strong main character with a terrible past and I think she'd be a rlly soft and sweet girl had she been allowed to grow up in a different world.
This book also made me appreciate the beauty of our earth and nature more :) Truly I couldn't imagine it just being so destroyed that humans would have to go underground for hundreds of years.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
"There lies a riot in you. With your very first breath, you cried in protest."
The take on government power in this book is thought-provoking and feels terrifyingly accurate. I loved the message about how art and literature serve as tools to inspire people to dream, and how this creativity becomes a form of rebellion:
The take on government power in this book is thought-provoking and feels terrifyingly accurate. I loved the message about how art and literature serve as tools to inspire people to dream, and how this creativity becomes a form of rebellion:
"The last thing the Apollo Councilmen want is for its citizens to become inspired and creative. They want their people to remain content. Obedient. Art has the ability to embolden and galvanize people to desire more. They can't have that."
The dystopian plot starts somewhat cookie-cutter and slow, but I trusted the process. That ending twist was exactly what the story needed to elevate the stakes!
Where the book falls short:
The romance, while intriguing with its Stockholm syndrome elements, felt underwhelming and emotionally underdeveloped for a romance reader like me. I'm hoping for more in the next book.
The writing aims for profundity but tries too hard. Sometimes less is more. Also, the quotes at chapter beginnings felt disconnected and overreached - what's their purpose when the book is already full of metaphors, “deep thoughts,” and the FMC’s poems? If they'd been her own writings, excerpts from the stolen poetry book that was burned, or real philosophical quotes, they might have added more value.
Character-wise, while Winnie stole my heart 🥹, most side characters needed more development. Maybe different POVs would have enriched this third-person narrative?
What bothered me was how she weaponized his trauma against him. First using his mother's memory to hurt him, then later appealing to that same painful history to convince him to help. I don't think she intentionally meant to be manipulative, but it still felt uncomfortable watching her hit him where it hurt most - especially after he'd trusted her with his story. It revealed a more complex and flawed side to her character that was difficult to reconcile.
Despite these issues, I’m still going to read book 2 in hopes of more character development and adventure! Plus supporting indie authors is always worth it ❤️
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
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
I feel bad for all the books I'm reading while I'm in this slump because nothing is cutting it.
I didn't hate the book, but I wasn't HOOKED.
1. The "enemies-to-lovers" was very much so flimsy in my opinion. He seemed to fall in love with her out of nowhere and I just didn't get any sparks when they were together.
2. How are you hiding in a closet, then you hear someone knock, and then turn off the light??? Obviously they're going to know someone is in there😂😂😂. Like be so FR right now
3. WTH do you mean robot???? That came out of nowhere for me (might be because I go in BLIND and never read blurbs to figure out the general plot of the book🤭).
4. Winnie better stay alive, or else....
Will I continue the series, who knows?? But I'm certain I'm taking a bit of a break from this.
I didn't hate the book, but I wasn't HOOKED.
1. The "enemies-to-lovers" was very much so flimsy in my opinion. He seemed to fall in love with her out of nowhere and I just didn't get any sparks when they were together.
2. How are you hiding in a closet, then you hear someone knock, and then turn off the light??? Obviously they're going to know someone is in there😂😂😂. Like be so FR right now
3. WTH do you mean robot???? That came out of nowhere for me (might be because I go in BLIND and never read blurbs to figure out the general plot of the book🤭).
4. Winnie better stay alive, or else....
Will I continue the series, who knows?? But I'm certain I'm taking a bit of a break from this.