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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
I have such mixed feelings about this book. Some of the characters pulled me in, and I found myself eagerly reading certain chapters because I had to know what would happen to them. Exactly what you want from a book, right? So why the mixed feelings? Because when I wasn't eagerly reading those certain chapters, I kept forgetting I was reading this book.
Just like with the first book in the series, Rosemarked, while the plot is intriguing and the characters are compelling, the book is too long for the story it's telling. It's like wandering in the desert alongside Zivah and Dineas...every once in a while, you may come across an oasis of a few chapters and can't stop reading, but in between are long stretches of nothing progressing. It's not a bad read, but the pace was too slow to keep me consistently engaged, and in the end there wasn't even any of the resolution that I expected. Ultimately, if you need something to read and this duology is what's available, go ahead and pick it up. If you're weighing your options and this is one of them, there are better books out there.
Just like with the first book in the series, Rosemarked, while the plot is intriguing and the characters are compelling, the book is too long for the story it's telling. It's like wandering in the desert alongside Zivah and Dineas...every once in a while, you may come across an oasis of a few chapters and can't stop reading, but in between are long stretches of nothing progressing. It's not a bad read, but the pace was too slow to keep me consistently engaged, and in the end there wasn't even any of the resolution that I expected. Ultimately, if you need something to read and this duology is what's available, go ahead and pick it up. If you're weighing your options and this is one of them, there are better books out there.
**Originally posted on The Fandom.**
Zivah and Dineas have failed. Ampara’s attack on their homeland is underway. Without any proof of Emperor Kiran’s betrayal of his own people to perpetuate war, they can’t stop the massive, powerful army moving against them. Shidadi warriors and Dara townspeople alike will need to come together to battle the threat, but even with a warrior culture among them, they don’t have the resources to out-battle Amparan forces.
Meanwhile, Zivah and Dineas are not the people they were before traveling to Sehmar City in Rosemarked. In order to save Dineas’ life, Zivah broke her sacred healing vows… and she may have to do it again. Moving out of the Rosemarked colony and back to Dara also means that she’s nearly always in isolation– a nearly impossible task for a skilled healer during war, despite her extremely contagious and potentially lethal condition.
Dineas keenly remembers the horrors of killing his own people while posing as an Amparan soldier under the effects of Zivah’s memory potion. Though they know the circumstances, many of the Shidadi blame and refuse to trust him in the aftermath. There are also unanticipated effects of the potion that have Dineas wondering where his true feelings lay, especially as he searches his a traitor in their midst. At the same time, there’s a palpable tension between Dineas and Zivah. She fell in love with the bright and hopeful Sehmar City Dineas, a boy without the burdens of the world upon him. That boy is gone forever.
The strength of this duology is in its world building and characters, both of which make as great an impression in Umbertouched as they did in Rosemarked. If you love the side characters from the first novel, fear not– your (surviving) favorites will be back, from Dineas’ former Amparan bestie Walgash to the mysterious rebel Mehtap, who isn’t taking any side but her own. We also get a few new characters including a major ally who works with Zivah on her most perilous mission yet. I really love all of these characters, filled to the brim with moral quandaries and unpredictable emotions. During their adventures, readers get a more intricate picture of the massive fantasy landscape that Blackburne created.
Though the novel dives into war, the pacing of Umbertouched is very similar to book one until about the last 25 percent. Which is to say it runs on the slower, more character-driven side. This still worked for me on the whole because those slower moments involved a lot of scheming and searching that lent itself to a payoff later.
Honestly, Umbertouched didn’t capture my attention with the same fervor I had reading Rosemarked. I think it’s because of the huge shift between Zivah and Dineas that keeps them apart for much of the novel. Their chemistry is fascinating, but readers see a lot less this time. There’s plenty for other character interactions to bask in and action to marvel over, though, so this plot still ranks pretty high in the grand scheme of things.
This duology is built around the idea of a often deadly outbreak known as the Rose Plague, but the novel focuses on the "why" of disease without paying much attention to the "how". It was a bit frustrating at times because I wanted answers that would provide more hope, but at the same time, Blackburne also smashes a major trope and I give her all the respect for that.
If you love stories of conspiracy, war, pandemics, and impossible odds, Umbertouched is a thrilling conclusion that complements its predecessor and will leave you curious but satisfied in its own bittersweet way.
Zivah and Dineas have failed. Ampara’s attack on their homeland is underway. Without any proof of Emperor Kiran’s betrayal of his own people to perpetuate war, they can’t stop the massive, powerful army moving against them. Shidadi warriors and Dara townspeople alike will need to come together to battle the threat, but even with a warrior culture among them, they don’t have the resources to out-battle Amparan forces.
Meanwhile, Zivah and Dineas are not the people they were before traveling to Sehmar City in Rosemarked. In order to save Dineas’ life, Zivah broke her sacred healing vows… and she may have to do it again. Moving out of the Rosemarked colony and back to Dara also means that she’s nearly always in isolation– a nearly impossible task for a skilled healer during war, despite her extremely contagious and potentially lethal condition.
Dineas keenly remembers the horrors of killing his own people while posing as an Amparan soldier under the effects of Zivah’s memory potion. Though they know the circumstances, many of the Shidadi blame and refuse to trust him in the aftermath. There are also unanticipated effects of the potion that have Dineas wondering where his true feelings lay, especially as he searches his a traitor in their midst. At the same time, there’s a palpable tension between Dineas and Zivah. She fell in love with the bright and hopeful Sehmar City Dineas, a boy without the burdens of the world upon him. That boy is gone forever.
The strength of this duology is in its world building and characters, both of which make as great an impression in Umbertouched as they did in Rosemarked. If you love the side characters from the first novel, fear not– your (surviving) favorites will be back, from Dineas’ former Amparan bestie Walgash to the mysterious rebel Mehtap, who isn’t taking any side but her own. We also get a few new characters including a major ally who works with Zivah on her most perilous mission yet. I really love all of these characters, filled to the brim with moral quandaries and unpredictable emotions. During their adventures, readers get a more intricate picture of the massive fantasy landscape that Blackburne created.
Though the novel dives into war, the pacing of Umbertouched is very similar to book one until about the last 25 percent. Which is to say it runs on the slower, more character-driven side. This still worked for me on the whole because those slower moments involved a lot of scheming and searching that lent itself to a payoff later.
Honestly, Umbertouched didn’t capture my attention with the same fervor I had reading Rosemarked. I think it’s because of the huge shift between Zivah and Dineas that keeps them apart for much of the novel. Their chemistry is fascinating, but readers see a lot less this time. There’s plenty for other character interactions to bask in and action to marvel over, though, so this plot still ranks pretty high in the grand scheme of things.
This duology is built around the idea of a often deadly outbreak known as the Rose Plague, but the novel focuses on the "why" of disease without paying much attention to the "how". It was a bit frustrating at times because I wanted answers that would provide more hope, but at the same time, Blackburne also smashes a major trope and I give her all the respect for that.
If you love stories of conspiracy, war, pandemics, and impossible odds, Umbertouched is a thrilling conclusion that complements its predecessor and will leave you curious but satisfied in its own bittersweet way.
This was a great ending to the duology! I really enjoyed this book, and I felt like the ending was perfect, even if it made me tear up a bit. I highly recommend this duology!
adventurous
dark
sad
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
This was...not as satisfying as I had hoped.
While Rosemarked ended with many questions and loose threads, it took Umbertouched far too long to tie everything up. The first hundred pages of this book could’ve been trimmed down significantly, since they were mostly background. The ending is ultimately satisfying, but takes too long to come to fruition. Honestly, I think that Rosemarked and Umbertouched could’ve been edited into a single book to avoid some of the lulls in both volumes.
That being said, I loved the focus on chronic illness in a fantasy setting and really hope to see more fantasy novels that tackle this issue with the level of nuance that appears in this series. It’s rare to see disabled/ill characters in fantasy (especially as the lead) and I really hope that other authors follow Blackburne’s lead in approaching this topic.
While Rosemarked ended with many questions and loose threads, it took Umbertouched far too long to tie everything up. The first hundred pages of this book could’ve been trimmed down significantly, since they were mostly background. The ending is ultimately satisfying, but takes too long to come to fruition. Honestly, I think that Rosemarked and Umbertouched could’ve been edited into a single book to avoid some of the lulls in both volumes.
That being said, I loved the focus on chronic illness in a fantasy setting and really hope to see more fantasy novels that tackle this issue with the level of nuance that appears in this series. It’s rare to see disabled/ill characters in fantasy (especially as the lead) and I really hope that other authors follow Blackburne’s lead in approaching this topic.
Umbertouched was one of my most anticipated releases of 2018. And it didn't disappoint! Why am I reading this now? Well, pneumonia and 4 other infections at the same time were a bit distracting so I lost the month of December and half of January entirely. I waited until I was well enough because I really want to savor this book. Usually when a series end - and it has a good end in my opinion - I'm satisfied. I'm not one of those people who want endless novella's and spinoffs. I make an exception for this duology, I NEED MORE. But first things first.
Umbertouched starts where Rosemarked ends, with Zivah and Dineas on the run, trying to get home. Only, home might not have been what it once was. War is coming, and people change because of it. Dineas and Zivah have changed too, Dineas has lost himself and Zivah has to live with the consequences of what she's done. I really can't say more without spoilering. What I love about this book is how real it all feels. All the characters are really fleshed out, and we meet characters from the previous books which I loved! Dineas dealing with his PTSD is heartbreaking, and I loved how Zivah has grown, and how she deals with being terminally ill. That brings me to another subject: worldbuilding. It is soooo well done. Especially the medical part. It just all works, how Zivah treats people and how the Roseplague is very consistent and it really could exist in this world. But also how Zivah feels about it. What I love most is that there isn't some short cut to end suffering, no magical potion that just waits to be found and as a reward for all their bravery and cunning, the heroine is healed. I hate that trope. I'm sure it has some theme like it stands for their healed hearts or whatever, but it's just really hurtful for disabled people who don't get healed. As if we are not enough with our disabilities. Sorry, I got a bit distracted there. The other aspect that feels very real to me in this book is war. It really is brutal and let's just be honest, a lot of characters will not survive and those who do have scars.
And my babies Dineas and Zivah... I love them so much! They both grow so much in this book, despite a lot of hopelessness. I cannot help but love them to bits. And the ending is perfect, though I doubt all people will agree on that. But for me, it truly is. Thank you, Livia Blackburne, for writing such an amazing novel. I know they say it's awesome for fans of an Ember in the Ashes, and yes, it truly is, but I also think this series might surpass it. As a huge fan of Sabaa, that is really saying something.
Umbertouched starts where Rosemarked ends, with Zivah and Dineas on the run, trying to get home. Only, home might not have been what it once was. War is coming, and people change because of it. Dineas and Zivah have changed too, Dineas has lost himself and Zivah has to live with the consequences of what she's done. I really can't say more without spoilering. What I love about this book is how real it all feels. All the characters are really fleshed out, and we meet characters from the previous books which I loved! Dineas dealing with his PTSD is heartbreaking, and I loved how Zivah has grown, and how she deals with being terminally ill. That brings me to another subject: worldbuilding. It is soooo well done. Especially the medical part. It just all works, how Zivah treats people and how the Roseplague is very consistent and it really could exist in this world. But also how Zivah feels about it. What I love most is that there isn't some short cut to end suffering, no magical potion that just waits to be found and as a reward for all their bravery and cunning, the heroine is healed. I hate that trope. I'm sure it has some theme like it stands for their healed hearts or whatever, but it's just really hurtful for disabled people who don't get healed. As if we are not enough with our disabilities. Sorry, I got a bit distracted there. The other aspect that feels very real to me in this book is war. It really is brutal and let's just be honest, a lot of characters will not survive and those who do have scars.
And my babies Dineas and Zivah... I love them so much! They both grow so much in this book, despite a lot of hopelessness. I cannot help but love them to bits. And the ending is perfect, though I doubt all people will agree on that. But for me, it truly is. Thank you, Livia Blackburne, for writing such an amazing novel. I know they say it's awesome for fans of an Ember in the Ashes, and yes, it truly is, but I also think this series might surpass it. As a huge fan of Sabaa, that is really saying something.