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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
DNF. Honestly, the main reason I purchased this book was that gorgeous cover. I knew I shouldn't have bought it because the YA scene isn't much for me anymore, but I gave it a go anyways.
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
UPDATE AFTER SECOND READ: Bumping this up to 4.5 stars! I loved it so much! This one is underrated!
REVIEW AFTER FIRST READ:
Brooooooo. I really enjoyed this. Through most of the book I thought I'd give it 3 stars, which is still great, but by the end I was like "I can't not give this 4 stars." It had me STRESSING by the end.
The writing was seriously wonderful. I loved the nods to The Odyssey and classic fairy tales by having names like Homer, Andersen, Hansel, and Gretel. One thing that confused me a little was the world of the story. Goodreads says this is fantasy, but it's also <i>kind of</i> set in the real world? I mean, there's no magic in this story, so it's not like a typical fantasy in that sense. So I was just confused about how much this world was supposed to be like ours or if it was like a reimagining of the history of our world or something, I'm not quite sure. I never liked studying history so I don't know much about it, which means I'm not quite sure what parts of this were historical and what parts were made up for this story world, but it definitely felt like a mix of fantasy and history. Which just confused me a little because I wasn't sure what the world was supposed to be. If that makes sense.
Another thing I actually really liked is I had no idea who the love interest would be. In most books you know right away, and that's not a bad thing at all, but it definitely made this book different!At first I totally thought it was going to be Lang, maybe just because he was around her age and he was introduced fairly quickly so I just assumed! And then the whole thing with Bear. I never cared much for him but was definitely shocked when it turned out he was the suitor and had only pretended to be a guard. I totally got why Selah felt betrayed by that, but when she left I totally expected her to meet the next guy, realize she loved Bear, and go back to him. But instead we meet TORDEN THE LOVE OF MY LIFE. I freaking loved him guys. At first I thought he was going to turn out to be manipulating her somehow because he was so perfect. And every time he proved himself to be just as awesome as I thought he was, I fell more in love, right along with Selah! When they were officially like "yeah dude I want to be with you" I started PANICKING because, like, there's too much left in the book, this is going to be ruined right??? I thought he'd somehow betray her or that he'd be KILLED. I was stressing for real, guys. I'm SO GLAD neither of those things happened. They did get forced apart, but I have faith that they'll come back together in the next book. Their love was just so pure and I freaking love them together and I ship them so hard. I'm soooo looking forward to the next book!
REVIEW AFTER FIRST READ:
Brooooooo. I really enjoyed this. Through most of the book I thought I'd give it 3 stars, which is still great, but by the end I was like "I can't not give this 4 stars." It had me STRESSING by the end.
The writing was seriously wonderful. I loved the nods to The Odyssey and classic fairy tales by having names like Homer, Andersen, Hansel, and Gretel. One thing that confused me a little was the world of the story. Goodreads says this is fantasy, but it's also <i>kind of</i> set in the real world? I mean, there's no magic in this story, so it's not like a typical fantasy in that sense. So I was just confused about how much this world was supposed to be like ours or if it was like a reimagining of the history of our world or something, I'm not quite sure. I never liked studying history so I don't know much about it, which means I'm not quite sure what parts of this were historical and what parts were made up for this story world, but it definitely felt like a mix of fantasy and history. Which just confused me a little because I wasn't sure what the world was supposed to be. If that makes sense.
Another thing I actually really liked is I had no idea who the love interest would be. In most books you know right away, and that's not a bad thing at all, but it definitely made this book different!
I loved Torden and that side of things and would love to see him stand up to his father! I am routing for Torden the whole way and feel that yes Selah is too quick to fall in love but we have to remember she’s been very sheltered and lived a naive life. I think Bear was her introduction to the possibility of a good live but I genuinely felt there was a connection with Torden and hope they find a way to be together.
I want to read the next one mostly to see who she does choose, see her confront the stepmother, and to see if she does grow into herself more
My major complaint with this book was the ended as the sudden change in pace it felt extremely rushed and I found it difficult to understand what was actually going on. I think I may just need to read it again tomorrow when it ISNT past midnight to make sure I did get everything right.
All in all I would say this is a 3.5/5 for me. There’s enough for me to want to read the next one, but I’m concerned it’s not got enough meat to carry it forward and I’m sons seed that the next book will just be Selah pining and whining a bit too much!
We shall see!
I want to read the next one mostly to see who she does choose, see her confront the stepmother, and to see if she does grow into herself more
My major complaint with this book was the ended as the sudden change in pace it felt extremely rushed and I found it difficult to understand what was actually going on. I think I may just need to read it again tomorrow when it ISNT past midnight to make sure I did get everything right.
All in all I would say this is a 3.5/5 for me. There’s enough for me to want to read the next one, but I’m concerned it’s not got enough meat to carry it forward and I’m sons seed that the next book will just be Selah pining and whining a bit too much!
We shall see!
Matka vám zomrela. Jej miesto nahradí protivná macocha. Váš otec zomiera. Jediné, na čo sa spoliehate, je cute chlapec, ktorý vám na slávnosti povie, že prijíma žiadosť o ruku a budete žiť happily ever after.
Až na to, že on vás odmietne. Pred všetkými zúčastnenými, čo je pre vás, ako nástupkyňu veľká hanba. Macocha však príde s veľmi dobrým riešením. Nalodí vás na loď menom Beholder, dá vám hrubý fascikel s profilmi rôznych nápadníkov a povie vám, aby ste sa nevrátili, kým nebudete zasnúbená. Tomu sa hovorí výchova.
Takto v podstate začína príbeh. Asi by som vás mala varovať hneď na začiatku, ak ste skúsili Selekciu a nepáčila sa vám, toto zrejme nie je pre vás. Ak vám na Selekcii vadila len America, kľudne sa do knihy pustite. Selah je totižto úplne iná. Ja osobne som ju ako hrdinku mala veľmi rada, pretože bola milá a nevinná, ale nebola naivná, čo je veľké plus. Vedela používať rozum a aj napriek tomu, že to nebola hrdinka oháňajúca sa mečom a zbožňujúca adrenalínové športy, mala svoj charakter. Neviem, mne osobne veľmi sadla.
Čo sa týka tých nápadníkov... nuž je ich veľa. Videla som názory, že sa ľuďom nepáčilo, že počas celej knihy sa zaplietla dokopy so štyrmi chalanmi... ale akože, Petra nemôžeme brať do úvahy, to bol jej crush, ktorý jej rozbil celý život, len preto, lebo ju poslal do friend zone. Peter kto? A fajn, boli tam nejaké náznaky medzi ňou a Langom, ale to by som tiež nebrala veľmi vážne. Ide o to, že tento námet mne osobne nevadil, dokonca by som povedala, že mi sadol, pretože je to také roztomilá telenovela pre tínedžerov, kde sa popri tom riešia aj intrigy a osobne si myslím, že to bolo dobre spracované. Netrieskala som sa do hlavy, že čo to do kelu Selah robí. Všetko bolo také... príjemné? To asi nie je práve najlepšie slovo na opis. :D A áno, je tam problém s tým, že Selah bola schopná sa zamilovať do mužov počas pár dní a áno, je tam dilema, či je to skutočná láska alebo len príťažlivosť, či dokonca či city, ktoré Selah voči nim cíti sú vôbec reálne a nie vynútené jej situáciou a zdravotným stavom jej otca. Dalo by sa o tom polemizovať, ale... keď mne sa to páčilo. Bolo to také ľahké, zaujímavé a milé čítanie s prísľubom dôležitejších dejových línií ako "koho si so sebou vezmem domov ako manžela".
Mimochodom, ja mám svojho favorita, ale neprezradím vám to.
Čo bolo cool, autorka do príbehu zakomponovala rozprávky. Na začiatku je to vyslovene Snehulienka, dokonca som si aj myslela, že to bude retelling, ale nie tak celkom. Je tam príbeh o Jankovi a Marienke, o dome na stračej nôžke, Popoluška... no a do toho celého je vhodená ešte Nórska mytológia. Ak mám byť úprimná, toto bola hranica, ktorú autorka nemala prekročiť, ale stalo sa, išla tam a mne osobne sa to až tak nepáčilo. Bol to taký bizarný mix. Jasné, ak chceš miešať rôzne rozprávky, to je super, ale Thora a Lokiho nechaj pre Marvela. Nerobím si srandu. Pri návšteve nórskej krajiny idú do mesta Asgard (side eye emoji) a jeden z princov je úplný Thor - dokonca má aj svoje kladivo, ktoré sa dá chytiť len do jednej ruky (niekde sa v tom skrýva neslušný vtip), pretože pri jeho výrobe urobili chybu. Ďalší princ je vyslovene Loki, rád púta pozornosť, podpichuje a vyvoláva konflikty a snaží sa upútať pozornosť svojho otca, kráľa, ktorý je zase... áno, Odin. Dokonca má aj svojich poskokov Huginn and Muninn.
Aj napriek tomuto sa to však čítalo veľmi dobre a rýchlo. Dokonca tam boli aj zvraty v deji, ktoré som nečakala a koniec nebol nutne zakončený cliffhangrom, ale rozhodne sa budete pýtať mnoho otázok, na ktoré, dúfam, dostaneme odpovede v druhej časti. Na tú sa úprimne teším, pretože chcem vedieť, ako to dopadne s mojím favoritom.
Ak sa vám teda páčila Selekcia a chcete niečo na jej spôsob, ale s pokojnejšou hrdinkou, ktorá vie logicky uvažovať a má príjemný charakter, aj keď teda nevie veľmi ovládať svoje city, je to kniha pre vás. Jednotka je síce viac orientovaná na ten romantický element, ale v pozadí je jasne vidieť dejovú líniu, ktorá sa viac sústreďuje na politickú situáciu vo svete. (BTW, ten svet je trochu čudný, pretože máme Anglicko, ale potom je tam vymyslená federácia akoby? nemecká... bola som z tých krajín zmätená) Preto predpokladám, že dvojka by mohla byť viac orientovaná na revolúciu alebo niečo také... ale ako poznám Selah, bude tam aj romantika.
Až na to, že on vás odmietne. Pred všetkými zúčastnenými, čo je pre vás, ako nástupkyňu veľká hanba. Macocha však príde s veľmi dobrým riešením. Nalodí vás na loď menom Beholder, dá vám hrubý fascikel s profilmi rôznych nápadníkov a povie vám, aby ste sa nevrátili, kým nebudete zasnúbená. Tomu sa hovorí výchova.
Takto v podstate začína príbeh. Asi by som vás mala varovať hneď na začiatku, ak ste skúsili Selekciu a nepáčila sa vám, toto zrejme nie je pre vás. Ak vám na Selekcii vadila len America, kľudne sa do knihy pustite. Selah je totižto úplne iná. Ja osobne som ju ako hrdinku mala veľmi rada, pretože bola milá a nevinná, ale nebola naivná, čo je veľké plus. Vedela používať rozum a aj napriek tomu, že to nebola hrdinka oháňajúca sa mečom a zbožňujúca adrenalínové športy, mala svoj charakter. Neviem, mne osobne veľmi sadla.
Čo sa týka tých nápadníkov... nuž je ich veľa. Videla som názory, že sa ľuďom nepáčilo, že počas celej knihy sa zaplietla dokopy so štyrmi chalanmi... ale akože, Petra nemôžeme brať do úvahy, to bol jej crush, ktorý jej rozbil celý život, len preto, lebo ju poslal do friend zone. Peter kto? A fajn, boli tam nejaké náznaky medzi ňou a Langom, ale to by som tiež nebrala veľmi vážne. Ide o to, že tento námet mne osobne nevadil, dokonca by som povedala, že mi sadol, pretože je to také roztomilá telenovela pre tínedžerov, kde sa popri tom riešia aj intrigy a osobne si myslím, že to bolo dobre spracované. Netrieskala som sa do hlavy, že čo to do kelu Selah robí. Všetko bolo také... príjemné? To asi nie je práve najlepšie slovo na opis. :D A áno, je tam problém s tým, že Selah bola schopná sa zamilovať do mužov počas pár dní a áno, je tam dilema, či je to skutočná láska alebo len príťažlivosť, či dokonca či city, ktoré Selah voči nim cíti sú vôbec reálne a nie vynútené jej situáciou a zdravotným stavom jej otca. Dalo by sa o tom polemizovať, ale... keď mne sa to páčilo. Bolo to také ľahké, zaujímavé a milé čítanie s prísľubom dôležitejších dejových línií ako "koho si so sebou vezmem domov ako manžela".
Mimochodom, ja mám svojho favorita, ale neprezradím vám to.
Čo bolo cool, autorka do príbehu zakomponovala rozprávky. Na začiatku je to vyslovene Snehulienka, dokonca som si aj myslela, že to bude retelling, ale nie tak celkom. Je tam príbeh o Jankovi a Marienke, o dome na stračej nôžke, Popoluška... no a do toho celého je vhodená ešte Nórska mytológia. Ak mám byť úprimná, toto bola hranica, ktorú autorka nemala prekročiť, ale stalo sa, išla tam a mne osobne sa to až tak nepáčilo. Bol to taký bizarný mix. Jasné, ak chceš miešať rôzne rozprávky, to je super, ale Thora a Lokiho nechaj pre Marvela. Nerobím si srandu. Pri návšteve nórskej krajiny idú do mesta Asgard (side eye emoji) a jeden z princov je úplný Thor - dokonca má aj svoje kladivo, ktoré sa dá chytiť len do jednej ruky (niekde sa v tom skrýva neslušný vtip), pretože pri jeho výrobe urobili chybu. Ďalší princ je vyslovene Loki, rád púta pozornosť, podpichuje a vyvoláva konflikty a snaží sa upútať pozornosť svojho otca, kráľa, ktorý je zase... áno, Odin. Dokonca má aj svojich poskokov Huginn and Muninn.
Aj napriek tomuto sa to však čítalo veľmi dobre a rýchlo. Dokonca tam boli aj zvraty v deji, ktoré som nečakala a koniec nebol nutne zakončený cliffhangrom, ale rozhodne sa budete pýtať mnoho otázok, na ktoré, dúfam, dostaneme odpovede v druhej časti. Na tú sa úprimne teším, pretože chcem vedieť, ako to dopadne s mojím favoritom.
Ak sa vám teda páčila Selekcia a chcete niečo na jej spôsob, ale s pokojnejšou hrdinkou, ktorá vie logicky uvažovať a má príjemný charakter, aj keď teda nevie veľmi ovládať svoje city, je to kniha pre vás. Jednotka je síce viac orientovaná na ten romantický element, ale v pozadí je jasne vidieť dejovú líniu, ktorá sa viac sústreďuje na politickú situáciu vo svete. (BTW, ten svet je trochu čudný, pretože máme Anglicko, ale potom je tam vymyslená federácia akoby? nemecká... bola som z tých krajín zmätená) Preto predpokladám, že dvojka by mohla byť viac orientovaná na revolúciu alebo niečo také... ale ako poznám Selah, bude tam aj romantika.
this is a prime example of why i should wait for series to be finished /before/ i start reading it
my heart
my heart
Terrible worldbuilding it was so confusing it made my head hurt. The main character was so childish and dense and I just could not with that girl. I liked the potential plot with her trying to find a husband but all the rebellion, spy additions kind of ruined it for me. I still want to read the next book in the series just to see how it ends though.
This book is fantastic. The story caught me from the first page and the writing is beautiful. Cannot wait for the next one!
I had so much fun reading this book and am keeping fingers crossed that there's a sequel in the works, because I need more of Selah and Torden and the Beholder crew in my life.
The Fun Size Reader Insta
I actually give this one 3.5 but there is no way to do that here. I have thoughts about this book. First, the cover. 😍 Like wow. This cover and the title TOTALLY drew me in, so I was SUPER EXCITED to read this, and I did so in a buddy read so I had someone to talk to about it. There were parts of this book I really liked. I am already on a book boyfriend team (not gonna say which one because I don’t want to spoil anything) and I do want to read the next book. But there were some things that really bugged me about this book.
First off, I love picturing the world that I am reading, and I had a difficult time doing that. Every time I would think I finally got it, something else happened that threw me back into thinking WHERE THE HECK AM I? What time period is this? Is it current? Is it old? Is it dystopian? There were real and fake places mixed in, so I ended up getting really confused.
Second, I also was a little bugged by one of the places and therefore sets of characters... I couldn’t tell if it was a retelling, or border-lining not being creative enough to spin your own characters. 🤷🏼♀️ In the end I couldn’t get past the world thing... but I did really enjoy the story and wanted to keep reading the book. We actually finished the buddy read a day early because we had to know what happened in the end.
I actually give this one 3.5 but there is no way to do that here. I have thoughts about this book. First, the cover. 😍 Like wow. This cover and the title TOTALLY drew me in, so I was SUPER EXCITED to read this, and I did so in a buddy read so I had someone to talk to about it. There were parts of this book I really liked. I am already on a book boyfriend team (not gonna say which one because I don’t want to spoil anything) and I do want to read the next book. But there were some things that really bugged me about this book.
First off, I love picturing the world that I am reading, and I had a difficult time doing that. Every time I would think I finally got it, something else happened that threw me back into thinking WHERE THE HECK AM I? What time period is this? Is it current? Is it old? Is it dystopian? There were real and fake places mixed in, so I ended up getting really confused.
Second, I also was a little bugged by one of the places and therefore sets of characters... I couldn’t tell if it was a retelling, or border-lining not being creative enough to spin your own characters. 🤷🏼♀️ In the end I couldn’t get past the world thing... but I did really enjoy the story and wanted to keep reading the book. We actually finished the buddy read a day early because we had to know what happened in the end.
I was so excited to read this book! It is set in an alternate historical world, with similar countries and empires as our world.
I noticed some historical storytellers who worked on the ship, the Beholder, right away. Homer, Grimm, and Andersen were the ones I recognized. I was so excited to find these storytellers in the book. The story also had elements of different fairytales, such as Cinderella, Snow White, and The Odyssey. Selah has an evil stepmother who sends her away, like Cinderella and Snow White. She also goes on an epic journey like Odysseus. I wish there had been more storytelling throughout the book, because I loved these references to famous tales.
I was hoping that there would be more time spend with various suitors in this story. I didn’t realize it would be more than one book, so I was a little confused as to why Selah was spending so much time with only two suitors when she had many more to visit. However, I loved the historical elements from all of the places she visited.
The ending was fast paced and exciting. It gave a great cliffhanger for the next book!
Thank you Indigo for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I noticed some historical storytellers who worked on the ship, the Beholder, right away. Homer, Grimm, and Andersen were the ones I recognized. I was so excited to find these storytellers in the book. The story also had elements of different fairytales, such as Cinderella, Snow White, and The Odyssey. Selah has an evil stepmother who sends her away, like Cinderella and Snow White. She also goes on an epic journey like Odysseus. I wish there had been more storytelling throughout the book, because I loved these references to famous tales.
I was hoping that there would be more time spend with various suitors in this story. I didn’t realize it would be more than one book, so I was a little confused as to why Selah was spending so much time with only two suitors when she had many more to visit. However, I loved the historical elements from all of the places she visited.
The ending was fast paced and exciting. It gave a great cliffhanger for the next book!
Thank you Indigo for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.