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4.33 AVERAGE
4.33 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Listening to this audiobook was wonderful! The clarity and quality was top tier. The narrator Magnus Carlsson, really understood the story and had such emotion in their voice.
This book deals with some dark subjects (loss of a child and partner, religious beliefs) but handles it with dignity.
There was a lot to love about this scifi/fantasy novel. It's an interesting mix of a couple of styles and I feel like Katee is finding her voice as an author.
We have characters that don't always do the right things, act with haste and have regrets. You know...like real humans! I think the characters are the real strength here....they are complex and developed. I loved the sacrifices the author makes them experience. It brings realness to the story.
The villains aren't that villainous and I would have loved to see some real scary stuff in the next installment to this duology!
This book deals with some dark subjects (loss of a child and partner, religious beliefs) but handles it with dignity.
There was a lot to love about this scifi/fantasy novel. It's an interesting mix of a couple of styles and I feel like Katee is finding her voice as an author.
We have characters that don't always do the right things, act with haste and have regrets. You know...like real humans! I think the characters are the real strength here....they are complex and developed. I loved the sacrifices the author makes them experience. It brings realness to the story.
The villains aren't that villainous and I would have loved to see some real scary stuff in the next installment to this duology!
adventurous
dark
emotional
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:
N/A
I listened to the audiobook version of this thanks to author Katee Stein. And what a great experience this was. First off, props to the narrator Magnus. The narration of this flowed so well and the different characters were easily identifiable and unique thanks to his interpretation and delivery.
Onto the story, wow. I had a great time with this one. Such an interesting blend of fantasy and sci-fi in this world. The characters, all 3 POVs, were super engaging. They might be flawed individuals but I felt myself rooting for them, mostly haha. They all have their struggles and tough obstacles to barrel through.
The magic in this was great and super interesting and unique. The creatures/monsters gave me Dune/Tremors vibes and they sound horrendous! The world-building was a great balanced blend of background and details without pummeling you in the face about everything. The action scenes were my absolute favorite parts. You can easily immerse yourself in those parts and be a part of the action. And that ending!?!? Whew...
Definitely had a ton of fun and look forward to the next book!
Onto the story, wow. I had a great time with this one. Such an interesting blend of fantasy and sci-fi in this world. The characters, all 3 POVs, were super engaging. They might be flawed individuals but I felt myself rooting for them, mostly haha. They all have their struggles and tough obstacles to barrel through.
The magic in this was great and super interesting and unique. The creatures/monsters gave me Dune/Tremors vibes and they sound horrendous! The world-building was a great balanced blend of background and details without pummeling you in the face about everything. The action scenes were my absolute favorite parts. You can easily immerse yourself in those parts and be a part of the action. And that ending!?!? Whew...
Definitely had a ton of fun and look forward to the next book!
I was gifted this audiobook from the author in exchange for an honest review! I LOVED this book. I will admit that certain characters drove me absolutely crazy, but I still found myself unable to put this book down.
I laughed, I cried, I raged… and I came out absolutely in love with the world Katee has created (and Knox). Cannot wait for book 2!
I laughed, I cried, I raged… and I came out absolutely in love with the world Katee has created (and Knox). Cannot wait for book 2!
Earthbound by Katee Stein is a thrilling epic fantasy that you don't want to miss! I loved all the characters and their intricate politics at play. My heart bled for all they didn't know and the decisions they made because of it! Each POV was gripping!
But let's be clear, Knox was my favorite 😍 He's amazing and that's all I have to say about that. The magic system being built on secretive oaths and coming from the sky was so interesting to me. They way they intermingled and caused conflict had me invested the whole way through. I need more of this in my life!
Absolutely 5/5 read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ would recommend you pick this book up ASAP!
But let's be clear, Knox was my favorite 😍 He's amazing and that's all I have to say about that. The magic system being built on secretive oaths and coming from the sky was so interesting to me. They way they intermingled and caused conflict had me invested the whole way through. I need more of this in my life!
Absolutely 5/5 read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ would recommend you pick this book up ASAP!
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
ENTER MY NEW FAVORITE BOOK OF THE YEAR.
This book unironically caused me to:
☁️ forget to eat
☁️ sob uncontrollably
☁️ avoid my responsibilities
☁️ forget I was reading
I requested an eARC at the recommendation of a friend and did not expect to so hooked from the first chapter alone.
Earthbound has been pitched as The Way of Kings meets Dune meets The Mandalorian, which I think fits well, but it’s so much more than that. This science fantasy masterpiece combines an immersive world, political and religious intrigue, split loyalties, amazing characters with a lot of depth, and heart-wrenching twists.
Plot/pacing: I truly couldn’t wait to find out what happened next after every chapter and I enjoyed all three POVs equally and they all felt distinct.
Characters: I love characters that are messy, imperfect, and don’t always make the right choice. I loved Knox, Tehran and Emilia and felt deeply invested in their journeys.
World building: I felt like I was given just the right balance of background info without feeling bogged down by details. Everything from the unique magic system, the Dune-like monsters and the corrupt religious leaders made for an extremely compelling story.
Writing: writing plays a big part in my reading experience and I really enjoyed Stein’s simple yet emotional and atmospheric prose.
If you’re a fan of epic stories with morally grey heroes, impossible choices and amazing twists, you need to give Earthbound a try. It’s the first book in a duology, and I am DYING to read the sequel, Skysworn (coming out next year, I believe).
This book unironically caused me to:
☁️ forget to eat
☁️ sob uncontrollably
☁️ avoid my responsibilities
☁️ forget I was reading
I requested an eARC at the recommendation of a friend and did not expect to so hooked from the first chapter alone.
Earthbound has been pitched as The Way of Kings meets Dune meets The Mandalorian, which I think fits well, but it’s so much more than that. This science fantasy masterpiece combines an immersive world, political and religious intrigue, split loyalties, amazing characters with a lot of depth, and heart-wrenching twists.
Plot/pacing: I truly couldn’t wait to find out what happened next after every chapter and I enjoyed all three POVs equally and they all felt distinct.
Characters: I love characters that are messy, imperfect, and don’t always make the right choice. I loved Knox, Tehran and Emilia and felt deeply invested in their journeys.
World building: I felt like I was given just the right balance of background info without feeling bogged down by details. Everything from the unique magic system, the Dune-like monsters and the corrupt religious leaders made for an extremely compelling story.
Writing: writing plays a big part in my reading experience and I really enjoyed Stein’s simple yet emotional and atmospheric prose.
If you’re a fan of epic stories with morally grey heroes, impossible choices and amazing twists, you need to give Earthbound a try. It’s the first book in a duology, and I am DYING to read the sequel, Skysworn (coming out next year, I believe).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Blood
⚠️ death, loss of loved ones, miscarriage, violence, blood
🌶️ vague fade to black scene, brief mentions of desire/longing, passionate kisses
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I loved so much about this book and can’t wait for the 2nd part of the duology to see how it all resolves. The world building is great and, for me, easy to immerse myself in. The Mecurial with its technology mixed with amostly rural settings felt similar to some of the simpler planets in the Star Wars world. The “magic”/political system was simple to understand and somewhat familiar which might just be similarities to Jewish/Christian stories/history where the belief system was used/abused by those who sought power over the people they were sworn to protect.
My favorite character is Knox, who, in this story, had the most growth and strength of character (which I hope we see more of from Tehran and Emilia in the next part). Similar to the whole deconstruction/reconstruction of beliefs that I and others have had the past few years, he is forced to examine and discover what’s actually important and what was added just for the sake of order and control.
I want to talk about the romantic parts of the story because they are important to the ideas presented, but I feel like it might give to much away. Within that part of the plot, I think what I liked was the ideas of not just the spoken part of an oath/promise/commitment that gives power but also the intention and actions.
My favorite character is Knox, who, in this story, had the most growth and strength of character (which I hope we see more of from Tehran and Emilia in the next part). Similar to the whole deconstruction/reconstruction of beliefs that I and others have had the past few years, he is forced to examine and discover what’s actually important and what was added just for the sake of order and control.
I want to talk about the romantic parts of the story because they are important to the ideas presented, but I feel like it might give to much away. Within that part of the plot, I think what I liked was the ideas of not just the spoken part of an oath/promise/commitment that gives power but also the intention and actions.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Wow. What a book. There are very few that leave me this impressed. I truly felt immersed in this world and fell in love with it and the characters. This definitely pushed the bounds of a fantasy meets science fiction book in a way I didn’t expect. They use technology that varies from ours, but some individuals known as Overseers receive powers from the Sky that help them protect their lands. The story rotates between three characters; however, with two of the characters being with each other almost the entire time, I felt like two POVs would have worked just fine. I will say that the additional POV did not take away from or repeat the story. Each had their own distinct voice, desires, goals. Also, the book had maps, descriptions of creatures, and a glossary of unfamiliar terms. I love when authors add those tiny but important things to the book. It really helps. This story evoked feelings of joy, adventure, determination, suspense, and sadness. A well-rounded book, and well-rounded characters.
Overall, I loved this book and hope others do as well. I will be eagerly awaiting book 2.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
My God! This is a true hidden treasure. I had so much fun, I was sad, I was angry, I was screaming, I was laughing. The world feels very real, and I just loved the characters from the first few sentences. 99% of the time I was just completely sucked in. I genuinely can't think of a bad thing to say. Maybe, at times, it was a bit hard to follow, but I would just go back a page and re-read it from there, felt more like a me problem than a problem with the book. Absolutely recommend to anyone.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.