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heregrim's review against another edition
4.0
Fantastic world building and a world I very much want to visit again. The story was not my favorite, although for no real specific reason. I am still driven to see why the world is the way it is and what future secrets this not fully fleshed out world has in store.
weltenkreuzer's review against another edition
4.0
Mal wieder etwas andere Fantasy mit mechanischen Flügeln und Türmen aus Knochen. Tolle Welt, nachdenkliche Geschichte aber etwas abrupte Charakterentwicklung.
_camk_'s review against another edition
1.0
When I read the premise of Updraft, I thought to myself, this is fresh and new and exciting.
But I got as far as Chapter 5 and was done.
I felt the world-building was too hard to imagine.
Something about Kirit just grated on me and I realised I couldn't continue to read a book in her narrative.
But I got as far as Chapter 5 and was done.
I felt the world-building was too hard to imagine.
Something about Kirit just grated on me and I realised I couldn't continue to read a book in her narrative.
claritybear's review against another edition
4.0
True YA fantasy with a fantastic strong female character. Not a dash of romance throughout and she gets beat up and shredded throughout. It's such fun and just the right amount of dark, and the "rebel against the powers that be" theme is super.
taylstark's review
2.0
Formulaic, predictable YA; chosen one goes against arcane ruling class, discovers secrets about the inhuman "enemy" that changes everything. Nothing came as a surprise. I can be okay, and enjoy, predictable narratives if there are other redeeming qualities, like great characters or great window dressing on the story. This had neither. What drew me to the story, the bone city, flyers, etc, ended up as tacked on and felt more like a replaceable backdrop rather than an organic foundation. The text could also have used another round of edits - some paragraphs just went completely off the rails.
tmleblanc's review against another edition
2.0
Updraft by Fran Wilde
Thanks to the COYER Summer Reading list, I was able to tackle another book that I picked up at MidAmeriCon II in 2016. This book was mentions in several panels I attended over the course of the weekend and I was excited to acquire a copy at the event.
The world of Updraft is amazing. I was drawn in and soared with Kirit as she strived to uncover the secrets of the Spire and her family’s history. Wilde did a wonderful job explaining the caste structure of the world and describe what it felt like to fly among the clouds. I found it amazing that Wilde could make me feel as though I was flying with Kirit as she jumped from the towers. It was an amazing experience as a reader.
Where Updraft falls short me is that is just another installment in the young adult dystopian special snowflake world. There’s nothing new within the plot here. While the world that Kirit inhabits is unique, the structure and how the world is governed by secrets is not new. It’s apparent from the start where the story is going none of the plot twists, in my mind, were plot twists. They were wholly expected because of the number of the books that fit this structure are out there. This plot was probably new and refreshing at one point, but it feels tired and old to me by now.
If you are a fan of dystopian novels like Divergent or The Hunger Games, Updraft should be on your read list. However, if you feel you interests lie beyond special snowflakes saving the world by revealing how bad the ruling government is, it’s probably best to skip this story unless you are looking to dive into a truly unique world built among the clouds.
Thanks to the COYER Summer Reading list, I was able to tackle another book that I picked up at MidAmeriCon II in 2016. This book was mentions in several panels I attended over the course of the weekend and I was excited to acquire a copy at the event.
The world of Updraft is amazing. I was drawn in and soared with Kirit as she strived to uncover the secrets of the Spire and her family’s history. Wilde did a wonderful job explaining the caste structure of the world and describe what it felt like to fly among the clouds. I found it amazing that Wilde could make me feel as though I was flying with Kirit as she jumped from the towers. It was an amazing experience as a reader.
Where Updraft falls short me is that is just another installment in the young adult dystopian special snowflake world. There’s nothing new within the plot here. While the world that Kirit inhabits is unique, the structure and how the world is governed by secrets is not new. It’s apparent from the start where the story is going none of the plot twists, in my mind, were plot twists. They were wholly expected because of the number of the books that fit this structure are out there. This plot was probably new and refreshing at one point, but it feels tired and old to me by now.
If you are a fan of dystopian novels like Divergent or The Hunger Games, Updraft should be on your read list. However, if you feel you interests lie beyond special snowflakes saving the world by revealing how bad the ruling government is, it’s probably best to skip this story unless you are looking to dive into a truly unique world built among the clouds.
cdbaker's review
3.0
It took me a *really* long time to get into this book. I had trouble connecting with the characters or understanding the world. But I kept listening and, by about halfway through, it became a really compelling story that I enjoyed.
leorejoanne's review against another edition
3.0
I really wanted to like this book; in fact, in the beginning I had the feeling that it was going to become a new favourite, the world it described was so different and interesting, and that point remained the strongest in this novel - the worldbuilding is really good, however it does not receive enough focus. Beyond that it was a bit of a miss, a constant "almost". The characters were not fully fleshed out, but rather cardboard-y and stereotypical, and some of them were not consistent in their actions. And finally, I myself have no problem with "chosen one" tropes, but this one did not feel especially fresh or exciting.
boogy_'s review
4.0
I’ve read this a few times and one of the only things that stands out to me is the city. The politics are decent, the characters are flat at times, but the worldbuilding is so unique and well crafted that I keep coming back to this. Kirit fell flat for me occasionally, but she became more enjoyable to read as the book went on. I just love the city! The setting is so original idk..! I think this is worth a read for all fantasy enjoyers which are looking for something different.