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nikafreeka's review against another edition
2.0
It was hard to finish this book, but I got through it. Did I know what was going on or what happened? Barely. Did the main character know what was going on? Definitely not. Did the author know where the story was going and how it would continue? I’m not convinced they did. I found the constant contradictions and then over explanations of why contradictions were happening to be frustrating. Also the vagueness every time something actually important was happening was extremely frustrating. Some of it can be excused because it’s told through the eyes of the main character, who is young, dumb, and headstrong. But that lead to weird descriptions of the world and odd behavior from her.
I did not enjoy it. I also may be biased against the audio book narrator.
I did not enjoy it. I also may be biased against the audio book narrator.
saltysapphic's review against another edition
5.0
I reread this book every couple years, one of my favorites!!
lyrrael's review against another edition
5.0
I ended up reading this whole series in one ...well, weeks-long sitting. I had book two sitting on my to-read shelf at home, and just decided to dive right in. Little did I know it wouldn't let me up for breath.
I really enjoyed this. I enjoyed the fact that the books are set one right after the other, not with several months in between. I enjoyed the fact that Kaylin just couldn't seem to catch a break, and that even though she had GREAT COSMIC POWERS they were still greatly flawed. She's stubborn, hard-headed, temperamental and insecure. And I enjoyed the fact that Kaylin seems to have to confront her prejudices and insecurities and fold them into herself, and that even after she learns better she's not entirely "fixed."
Anyway. Cool.
I really enjoyed this. I enjoyed the fact that the books are set one right after the other, not with several months in between. I enjoyed the fact that Kaylin just couldn't seem to catch a break, and that even though she had GREAT COSMIC POWERS they were still greatly flawed. She's stubborn, hard-headed, temperamental and insecure. And I enjoyed the fact that Kaylin seems to have to confront her prejudices and insecurities and fold them into herself, and that even after she learns better she's not entirely "fixed."
Anyway. Cool.
lookingtoheaven's review against another edition
3.0
The characters started out broken and didn’t move very much though a lot happened to them. I didn’t like the lack of resolution in the relationships and with the big bad. More angsts overall than I like my strong heroine books to be.
peppermintbat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
alexperc_92's review against another edition
4.0
I was tempted to DNF but after the middle it picked up in a really good point! Also if the fan art I've seen is right, then this is going to be a very good series!
jwels's review against another edition
3.0
A completely different universe with different breeds of characters, literally. The main character has power she has no idea about and this book takes her through the discovery of what she is and what her power can do. Not much was given away in regards to that power or the darkness she is facing. The most complicated character was that of Nightshade. I'm curious about the whole world but it didn't draw me in as much as I had hoped it would. More detailed information about the world would have been better but I guess we'll get more in subsequent books.
storiedadventures's review against another edition
3.0
This is really a 3 1/2 star rating. I really liked the story and characters but the writing sometimes left me a little confused.
itabar's review against another edition
SPOILERS!!
Why didn't I like this book? Evil Being who is responsible for many deaths and wants to control the kingdom *could* have been killed by one of the Merrie Band of Warriors out to get him, but he isn't so that more books in the series could be written. This is the kind of plotting which drives me INSANE and I refuse to read books by authors who do this. Cassandra Clare (City of Bones) or Rachel Caine (Ill Wind 1) did this and it's the reason I won't read anything by them.
I'm not sure I would have continued with the series in any case. I didn't care for the heroine who was always late, hungry, and disheveled. Instead of humanizing her, it got annoying. And you would think that the person who called her out to secretly help heal would make sure she ate properly afterwards.
I am disappointed because I really want to like Sagara's books. Her LJ blog where she talks about raising her autistic son is fascinating.
Why didn't I like this book? Evil Being who is responsible for many deaths and wants to control the kingdom *could* have been killed by one of the Merrie Band of Warriors out to get him, but he isn't so that more books in the series could be written. This is the kind of plotting which drives me INSANE and I refuse to read books by authors who do this. Cassandra Clare (City of Bones) or Rachel Caine (Ill Wind 1) did this and it's the reason I won't read anything by them.
I'm not sure I would have continued with the series in any case. I didn't care for the heroine who was always late, hungry, and disheveled. Instead of humanizing her, it got annoying. And you would think that the person who called her out to secretly help heal would make sure she ate properly afterwards.
I am disappointed because I really want to like Sagara's books. Her LJ blog where she talks about raising her autistic son is fascinating.
waterfairy's review against another edition
2.0
Random thoughts:
- It was honestly a slog at times.
- The world was certainly interesting.. but I felt I was dropped in between without a full understand. Am I missing the previous books? I was floundering at times trying to understand what really happened.
- The characters: interesting characters but again I couldn't get the full picture. How did they look? What was the difference between them?
- MC: Kaylin - God, it's so hard to imagine a MC this clueless. Or very Mary Sue-ish. pretty much liked by everybody despite the huge red sign and her not caring or trying not to understand or work through the signs. It's a running point of acceptance that she fails basic magic lessons because they weren't practical. I don't need a perfect MC but this swings the pendulum in the opposite end which is also frustrating.
- Triggers: Everybody keeps speaking quietly or softly. It was so overused that I was getting triggered. At one point, one character even managed to nod quietly. I didn't even realize you could nod with sound unless you had a bell on you.
I have heard so much about this series.. and in a way I was glad to start because there are 16 books in this series and if it clicked, that means I had a good series to read. I will try the next one but without much hope.
- It was honestly a slog at times.
- The world was certainly interesting.. but I felt I was dropped in between without a full understand. Am I missing the previous books? I was floundering at times trying to understand what really happened.
- The characters: interesting characters but again I couldn't get the full picture. How did they look? What was the difference between them?
- MC: Kaylin - God, it's so hard to imagine a MC this clueless. Or very Mary Sue-ish. pretty much liked by everybody despite the huge red sign and her not caring or trying not to understand or work through the signs. It's a running point of acceptance that she fails basic magic lessons because they weren't practical. I don't need a perfect MC but this swings the pendulum in the opposite end which is also frustrating.
- Triggers: Everybody keeps speaking quietly or softly. It was so overused that I was getting triggered. At one point, one character even managed to nod quietly. I didn't even realize you could nod with sound unless you had a bell on you.
I have heard so much about this series.. and in a way I was glad to start because there are 16 books in this series and if it clicked, that means I had a good series to read. I will try the next one but without much hope.