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lindseyokay's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
mrs_jonesie's review
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
medium-paced
3.5
Rated this a 3.5. In the beginning I felt the MFC was a bit too whiny and "woe is me" all the time. I know this character will still be growing in the next books to come so Inwill probably read the next book.
kateymarie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
tense
fast-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
4.75
risaleel's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
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? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Colonisation, Racism, and Grief
katemcm2's review against another edition
4.0
Its rare that I like a .5 book this much. Love this series!
thewordslinger's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-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? No
3.75
Okay, so I went into this completely blind. I'm still not sure I know what I'm getting into (this is only a prequel after all, not strictly part of the main series). I probably shouldn't have read this book first (prequels are rarely best at the beginning of a series, considering mysteries end up getting revealed that pertain to the main series, but fuck it).
That being said, I had a pretty good time with this. Even if there were elements in it that I didn't at all care for.
I'm going to make a list below of things I liked and things that irked me. There will be spoilers, so read with caution.
.
.
.
.
.
<b>Things I liked:</b>
1. Vale and Tessla's communication. Yes. They get off on the wrong foot. But Tessla is no shrinking violet. She puts him in his place in such a <i>fantastic</i> way I was screaming. We obviously very quickly become aware that his initial, apparent disdain for her and her poor upbringing is entirely fiction, and the conversation they have where they figure out exactly who and what they are had me kicking my feet in the air with glee. The two are really, really, insanely, stupidly cute together.
2. The magic. The fact that their magic is so perfectly synced. The magic system in this book was really interesting, and I liked very much how Vale and Tessla's fire seemed to be an extension of who they are--like another set of limbs. It has me really looking forward to seeing more of this magic system.
3. Fain. Are you kidding me? Possibly the best character in this whole story.
4. The way Vale and Tessla are so immediately on the same page about protecting Fain (and later the selkie and her baby, the other races, and people in general who are innocent).
<b>Things that irked me:</b>
1. The fastings. While I enjoyed the cultural significance they seem to have, I didn't like that women get forced into it in this book. The whole ceremony has an oppressive patriarchal tinge to it that set my teeth on edge. The fact that a woman is bound forever to a man--and only that man--or she's burned and hurt by her marks, but a man can still fuck around with whoever he wants is fucked up. What happens if a fasted woman is assaulted? Do her lines still hurt her, on top of that intimate trauma? And the purity culture! Eugh. Clearly it's only important for a WOMAN to be a virgin. I just hate this altogether. If I let myself think too hard about this it'll cause me to 1 star this book, and potentially this whole series. The way it was discussed and then flippantly brushed aside made me want to punch the author. Because <i>how dare she</i>? Alas, I understand this is a part of world-building--we don't have to like every aspect of a society, and in fact, it's probably more realistic that we don't. Still. Grr.
2. Genna, Nils, and Malken. And everybody else who jeered and spat at Tessla for having a friend in Jules. Rosebeth too, for being a childish weakling who refused to stand up for her friend. The insinuation that Tessla's a slut. I was sort of hoping that the lot of them would be punished somehow for their snot-nosed behavior, but once Vale and Tessla are fasted, all of them sort of evaporate out of the story, never to be seen or heard from again. I'm sure that at least <i>some</i> of these people (or maybe their descendants?) will end up in the main series, so there's still hope that they're gonna get theirs.
3. While Vale and Tessla are cute as hell. The insta-love is INSTANT. Vale and Tessla have known each other a whole 2 days before he's confessing he's in love with her. I...I don't. They've shared some very intimate talks, and there's the whole affinity stuff to consider...but LOVE?!?! After less than a week of truly knowing each other? Ehhhhhhh. It's even worse with Rosebeth and Myles. They see each other and it's literally love at first sight. Wholly unbelievable.
4. Tessla's grandfather. Fuck that old man. Fuck him for being a traditionalist patriarchal misogynist. Fuck him for forcing Tessla into a fasting against her will. And honestly? Fuck Tessla for just immediately forgiving him. The way I'd have had him thrown off a cliff...
5. Pacing. This book has issues. I'm sure if I'd read the original series first, it might feel different--this after all is just meant to fill readers in on backstory. Still, this is a novella in its own right, and should have been treated like one--the way things feel hella rushed wasn't it.
That being said, I had a pretty good time with this. Even if there were elements in it that I didn't at all care for.
I'm going to make a list below of things I liked and things that irked me. There will be spoilers, so read with caution.
.
.
.
.
.
<b>Things I liked:</b>
1. Vale and Tessla's communication. Yes. They get off on the wrong foot. But Tessla is no shrinking violet. She puts him in his place in such a <i>fantastic</i> way I was screaming. We obviously very quickly become aware that his initial, apparent disdain for her and her poor upbringing is entirely fiction, and the conversation they have where they figure out exactly who and what they are had me kicking my feet in the air with glee. The two are really, really, insanely, stupidly cute together.
2. The magic. The fact that their magic is so perfectly synced. The magic system in this book was really interesting, and I liked very much how Vale and Tessla's fire seemed to be an extension of who they are--like another set of limbs. It has me really looking forward to seeing more of this magic system.
3. Fain. Are you kidding me? Possibly the best character in this whole story.
4. The way Vale and Tessla are so immediately on the same page about protecting Fain (and later the selkie and her baby, the other races, and people in general who are innocent).
<b>Things that irked me:</b>
1. The fastings. While I enjoyed the cultural significance they seem to have, I didn't like that women get forced into it in this book. The whole ceremony has an oppressive patriarchal tinge to it that set my teeth on edge. The fact that a woman is bound forever to a man--and only that man--or she's burned and hurt by her marks, but a man can still fuck around with whoever he wants is fucked up. What happens if a fasted woman is assaulted? Do her lines still hurt her, on top of that intimate trauma? And the purity culture! Eugh. Clearly it's only important for a WOMAN to be a virgin. I just hate this altogether. If I let myself think too hard about this it'll cause me to 1 star this book, and potentially this whole series. The way it was discussed and then flippantly brushed aside made me want to punch the author. Because <i>how dare she</i>? Alas, I understand this is a part of world-building--we don't have to like every aspect of a society, and in fact, it's probably more realistic that we don't. Still. Grr.
2. Genna, Nils, and Malken. And everybody else who jeered and spat at Tessla for having a friend in Jules. Rosebeth too, for being a childish weakling who refused to stand up for her friend. The insinuation that Tessla's a slut. I was sort of hoping that the lot of them would be punished somehow for their snot-nosed behavior, but once Vale and Tessla are fasted, all of them sort of evaporate out of the story, never to be seen or heard from again. I'm sure that at least <i>some</i> of these people (or maybe their descendants?) will end up in the main series, so there's still hope that they're gonna get theirs.
3. While Vale and Tessla are cute as hell. The insta-love is INSTANT. Vale and Tessla have known each other a whole 2 days before he's confessing he's in love with her. I...I don't. They've shared some very intimate talks, and there's the whole affinity stuff to consider...but LOVE?!?! After less than a week of truly knowing each other? Ehhhhhhh. It's even worse with Rosebeth and Myles. They see each other and it's literally love at first sight. Wholly unbelievable.
4. Tessla's grandfather. Fuck that old man. Fuck him for being a traditionalist patriarchal misogynist. Fuck him for forcing Tessla into a fasting against her will. And honestly? Fuck Tessla for just immediately forgiving him. The way I'd have had him thrown off a cliff...
5. Pacing. This book has issues. I'm sure if I'd read the original series first, it might feel different--this after all is just meant to fill readers in on backstory. Still, this is a novella in its own right, and should have been treated like one--the way things feel hella rushed wasn't it.
5kita's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
aliceruth's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
ameserole's review against another edition
4.0
Second time read & review.
Even though it has been a few years since I've read Wandfasted, I still enjoyed it. I'll admit that I got a bit more annoyed with all the prejudice and stuff but that's because it also annoyed me in the first book of this series. I just don't get the whole tit for tat thing and how anyone thinks they are more superior to anyone else. It just rubs me the wrong way.
The one thing I did enjoy was getting to know Tessla once again. She's a very strong and independent character. She doesn't want to bow down to every rule or person. Plus, the whole being forced to fast with someone is pretty dumb in my eyes. So, when she starts to think the same thing? Well, I just knew that I was going to like the girl.
Then there's the romance between her and Vale which was just really freaking cute. I adored them and it just sucks with what they went through. Ugh. Still not happy about it but I did enjoy their little adventure together. Bittersweet AF though.
_________________________
I LOVED THIS NOVELLA!
Well, I think I love this series in general and I'm so freaking pumped to dive into the next book of this series.
Wandfasted made a super boring day at work a heck of a lot better. In it you will meet Tessla and her family. You'll also get to know about the whole wandfasting a bit more as well.
Okay, I loved Tessla. I loved Vale. Heck, I loved all of the characters in this book - except for Tessla's grandfather, who magically became an asshole at the end of this book. I most definitely fell in love with the whole romance part of this book. The little smut scenes we got, and that book - which led to more books, were amazing as well.
Other than that, I loved the magic and the drama in this book. I hated how people were treating Tessla in the beginning. Then when we met other characters in this book and seeing how some people looked down upon them - it just broke my heart. I think that's why I just loved getting my scenes about Tessla and Vale.
This novella was way too short, in my opinion. Then again, I feel like that's the truth for all novellas. I'm still super pumped for the next book in my queue though.
Even though it has been a few years since I've read Wandfasted, I still enjoyed it. I'll admit that I got a bit more annoyed with all the prejudice and stuff but that's because it also annoyed me in the first book of this series. I just don't get the whole tit for tat thing and how anyone thinks they are more superior to anyone else. It just rubs me the wrong way.
The one thing I did enjoy was getting to know Tessla once again. She's a very strong and independent character. She doesn't want to bow down to every rule or person. Plus, the whole being forced to fast with someone is pretty dumb in my eyes. So, when she starts to think the same thing? Well, I just knew that I was going to like the girl.
Then there's the romance between her and Vale which was just really freaking cute. I adored them and it just sucks with what they went through. Ugh. Still not happy about it but I did enjoy their little adventure together. Bittersweet AF though.
_________________________
I LOVED THIS NOVELLA!
Well, I think I love this series in general and I'm so freaking pumped to dive into the next book of this series.
Wandfasted made a super boring day at work a heck of a lot better. In it you will meet Tessla and her family. You'll also get to know about the whole wandfasting a bit more as well.
Okay, I loved Tessla. I loved Vale. Heck, I loved all of the characters in this book - except for Tessla's grandfather, who magically became an asshole at the end of this book. I most definitely fell in love with the whole romance part of this book. The little smut scenes we got, and that book - which led to more books, were amazing as well.
Other than that, I loved the magic and the drama in this book. I hated how people were treating Tessla in the beginning. Then when we met other characters in this book and seeing how some people looked down upon them - it just broke my heart. I think that's why I just loved getting my scenes about Tessla and Vale.
This novella was way too short, in my opinion. Then again, I feel like that's the truth for all novellas. I'm still super pumped for the next book in my queue though.
nourarchive's review against another edition
2.0
I liked this! Vale and Tessla were such a good characters. Also this made me want to reread the series to pay attention more and also for jules.