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tacochelle's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It takes a while with exposition, but by the end, I was pretty hooked. As much as I liked the action in Ashiva's pov, she can be a little insufferable, especially in justifying lying to her sister to keep her from leaving home. The romance also felt forced, but no more than I expected from ya dystopian fiction. The climax, though, the final push was excellent, and I will read the sequel so I can see how it all comes together.
michaelacm's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The plot was really interesting and I'd give it 4 stars, but unfortunately the writing fell short; I'd rate it about 3 stars. This book really could have used another couple rounds of editing, both to fix misspellings and incorrect usage of words, as well as to tighten up the story itself. There were several instances in which you could tell the author had written a couple different versions of scenes, but didn't narrow down to one or make them cohesive. There were also some plot issues that I couldn't make sense of.
The characters were likeable and it was cool to see a dystopian/post-apocalyptic story set in a different culture than you typically see, and I'll probably still read the second book (I believe it's a duology) if it shows up at my library, but unfortunately the writing just didn't live up to its potential.
The characters were likeable and it was cool to see a dystopian/post-apocalyptic story set in a different culture than you typically see, and I'll probably still read the second book (I believe it's a duology) if it shows up at my library, but unfortunately the writing just didn't live up to its potential.
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
3/5
I felt like this book took a long time to read. I guess the pacing felt slow to me. I enjoyed the characters in the book but I had a hard time keeping up with them and their stories. Lately, I haven’t came across any books that I enjoyed all around. I’m hoping that will change soon.
I felt like this book took a long time to read. I guess the pacing felt slow to me. I enjoyed the characters in the book but I had a hard time keeping up with them and their stories. Lately, I haven’t came across any books that I enjoyed all around. I’m hoping that will change soon.
heyitsmeg777's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the characters of this book, including the heroine, and her sister, but I admit that the info dump in this book was too much. I think flashbacks would have been better and to have some mystery to the backstory. It was interesting to see it take place in south asia. It could've been better, I suppose
knittyreader's review against another edition
3.0
This book left me with some mixed feelings.
It was very plot-driven, and I think the writer did that quite well in the second half of the book. The first half wasa little slow, but it did give a good understanding on what the world is like. I did not think it was too descriptive, it was exactly right to my taste. Tastes can differ though. The plot was mostly what I expected it to be, but Chadha did manage to surprise me on some points. Not on the one about insta-love, unfortunately. I had hoped on a book where respect would grow without that.
One thing I am hesitant to mention, because I read an advanced copy, but in this case I will anyway. Especially the first half was full of spelling mistakes, grammar mistakes and simply clunky sentences that did not add up. Like 13% in, I got the sentence "In the past the Red Hand commits arson and arms civillians" - this reads very crooked, if it's in the past, it should be past tense. It read like Chadha learned (like we did in primary school) that you should either always use present tense or always past tense. In a lot of ways that does not work though, like in the aforementioned example.
I think this book has a lot of potential to be awesome. I also think that it can greatly improve with a couple of extra proofreads.
I received a free copy through Netgalley. My opinions are my own.
It was very plot-driven, and I think the writer did that quite well in the second half of the book. The first half wasa little slow, but it did give a good understanding on what the world is like. I did not think it was too descriptive, it was exactly right to my taste. Tastes can differ though. The plot was mostly what I expected it to be, but Chadha did manage to surprise me on some points. Not on the one about insta-love, unfortunately. I had hoped on a book where respect would grow without that.
One thing I am hesitant to mention, because I read an advanced copy, but in this case I will anyway. Especially the first half was full of spelling mistakes, grammar mistakes and simply clunky sentences that did not add up. Like 13% in, I got the sentence "In the past the Red Hand commits arson and arms civillians" - this reads very crooked, if it's in the past, it should be past tense. It read like Chadha learned (like we did in primary school) that you should either always use present tense or always past tense. In a lot of ways that does not work though, like in the aforementioned example.
I think this book has a lot of potential to be awesome. I also think that it can greatly improve with a couple of extra proofreads.
I received a free copy through Netgalley. My opinions are my own.
athenezadam's review against another edition
4.0
Set in a climate-changed, post-WWIII dystopia with an immersive South Asian culture, Rise of the Red Hand is about two people from different social classes fighting a technocratic regime. The book is slow to start in the first few chapters, but the pacing becomes action-packed once the massive world building is established. The characters are likeable and the cyborg technology is interesting. The way that time including memories was referenced was a bit confusing. But this book's science fiction dystopia is phenomenal.
charvi_not_just_fiction's review against another edition
DNF at 12%
I just couldn't make myself read it. I was honestly bored to death because there was so much information and world building being dumped on me and yet I had no reason to care fir the mc or any character really. I felt detached, not pulled into the story.
Trust me, nobody is more disappointed than myself that I didn't like this book
I just couldn't make myself read it. I was honestly bored to death because there was so much information and world building being dumped on me and yet I had no reason to care fir the mc or any character really. I felt detached, not pulled into the story.
Trust me, nobody is more disappointed than myself that I didn't like this book
erdicooper's review against another edition
Gonna leave this unrated for a bit.
This was a tricky read for me! On one hand, it was much not for me. I struggle with cyberpunk in general, and to combine that with a shifting first-person perspective? Quite frequently I felt unanchored. Maybe that was intentional! Who knows! But I don't do well with that feeling. (I had a similar experience, though different in its reasoning, with the Misery, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy.)
Simultaneously, I was deeply impressed every time I did manage to sink into this story, to a degree that reaffirmed that this was a me-issue! I loved every character and the terrifically conceived and realized setting! And it is because of this story's strengths that I would uncomfortable rating it now (with probably a woefully sufficient 3/5?)
So, I won't! Instead, I'm gonna give myself some time away and come back hopefully soon! When I do, I WILL be reading the kindle version of the book. If I have any firm complaints, it's that the typeface of the format I read (paperback) had commas that were very hard to tell apart from periods. Oh the horror lol
Looking forward to loving this book more!
This was a tricky read for me! On one hand, it was much not for me. I struggle with cyberpunk in general, and to combine that with a shifting first-person perspective? Quite frequently I felt unanchored. Maybe that was intentional! Who knows! But I don't do well with that feeling. (I had a similar experience, though different in its reasoning, with the Misery, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy.)
Simultaneously, I was deeply impressed every time I did manage to sink into this story, to a degree that reaffirmed that this was a me-issue! I loved every character and the terrifically conceived and realized setting! And it is because of this story's strengths that I would uncomfortable rating it now (with probably a woefully sufficient 3/5?)
So, I won't! Instead, I'm gonna give myself some time away and come back hopefully soon! When I do, I WILL be reading the kindle version of the book. If I have any firm complaints, it's that the typeface of the format I read (paperback) had commas that were very hard to tell apart from periods. Oh the horror lol
Looking forward to loving this book more!
soulsow's review against another edition
2.0
i received an e-arc of Rise of the Red Hand by Olivia Chadha from Netgalley for an honest review.
i liked it honestly, but maybe i had too much expectations the concept is Amazing and i liked the plot but the writing style didn’t helped to really dive in the book. the first part was a massive info dump, i had trouble getting through it, it made it seem like nothing was happening and terribly slow and i was also kinda confused.
also there was a bit too many pov who sounded the same, the romance i hated it but it’s small so it’s fine, i didn’t understand the point of it.
the world building was interesting and what it talked about too- ableism, elitism, activism, climate change, pandemic- it’s very on time, we can easily identify with it.
the characters lacked depth in my opinion, i felt like they had one layer.
beside that passed the first part i liked the story, i would still recommend it for the cyberpunk universe, it was enjoyable and the south asian rep + language was really nice, i wish i liked it more
i liked it honestly, but maybe i had too much expectations the concept is Amazing and i liked the plot but the writing style didn’t helped to really dive in the book. the first part was a massive info dump, i had trouble getting through it, it made it seem like nothing was happening and terribly slow and i was also kinda confused.
also there was a bit too many pov who sounded the same, the romance i hated it but it’s small so it’s fine, i didn’t understand the point of it.
the world building was interesting and what it talked about too- ableism, elitism, activism, climate change, pandemic- it’s very on time, we can easily identify with it.
the characters lacked depth in my opinion, i felt like they had one layer.
beside that passed the first part i liked the story, i would still recommend it for the cyberpunk universe, it was enjoyable and the south asian rep + language was really nice, i wish i liked it more