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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
This book is the rare novel that suffers due to it's relatively high writing quality.
Let me explain.
T.A. White succeeds in writing multiple plotlines that I frankly find to be incredibly tiresome. I don't find MC adventures into the great unknown to be particularly thrilling. Quite frankly, authors tend to rely on the premise itself to do the heavy lifting instead of going the extra mile to make things interesting. Shockingly, the MC's journey into uncharted lands is incredibly interesting. Through her trials and tribulations there, we learn much about who she is and how the world has treated her. Her psychological baggage is conveyed to the reader in a very digestible and creative manner. We become intimately familiar with her emotional scares. We understand her. Not only that, but the immediate supporting cast is pretty enjoyable as well. They clash a ton, but ultimately they care about her and it's amazing to see them grow together.
And yet ultimately, this is the downfall of the novel.
In my humble opinion, the romantic choices of the main character weren't consistent with who she was, or how people have treated her.
She is a person who has been demeaned, and attacked by men because she's an independent and knowledgeable woman. The MC is someone who has uprooted her life because he felt entitled to her. He claims to think of her happiness, but does little that shows a genuine affection for her, or care for her feelings. He sacrifices very little. He does not make amends. I refuse to believe that he is the first entitled but attractive jerk that she's met. I also refuse to believe that a mapmaker would want to become a manager but honestly that is a minor gripe.
Let me explain.
T.A. White succeeds in writing multiple plotlines that I frankly find to be incredibly tiresome. I don't find MC adventures into the great unknown to be particularly thrilling. Quite frankly, authors tend to rely on the premise itself to do the heavy lifting instead of going the extra mile to make things interesting. Shockingly, the MC's journey into uncharted lands is incredibly interesting. Through her trials and tribulations there, we learn much about who she is and how the world has treated her. Her psychological baggage is conveyed to the reader in a very digestible and creative manner. We become intimately familiar with her emotional scares. We understand her. Not only that, but the immediate supporting cast is pretty enjoyable as well. They clash a ton, but ultimately they care about her and it's amazing to see them grow together.
And yet ultimately, this is the downfall of the novel.
In my humble opinion, the romantic choices of the main character weren't consistent with who she was, or how people have treated her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment
Update: dropped from 3 stars to 1 star just nope
I would say 2.44/5 stars. Like other low reviews stated, it starts off really sucking you in. The interesting world, and Shea as this badass character who worked hard for her shiz but has follies that she could grow on. She’s a pathfinder which is freaking SICK... and then 60-70% thru bam all the sudden the plot just sucks. I was so disappointed.
First off, I REALLY DISLIKE FALLON. he’s an “alpha” a-hole who just is so terrible to Shea during there “starting to like each other phase” and even in their super weird and sudden “friends with benefits phase” and only started accepting her more as an equal when Shea accepts to be his Tolstoi... LIKE BRO WHAT?
Also that. I DONT UNDERSTAND HOW THEY COULDVE FALLEN IN LOVE. I don’t get it. She just gave into her lust. They barely knew each other what the heck?!
She was supposed to be this character that defied being put down by asses like Fallon and she loved being a pathfinder exploring the highlands. THATS WHAT MADE HER SO FREAKIN COOL. I was so excited for that character growth. And I was hoping my first premonitions of Fallon would change- that he wasn’t some patriarchal conquistador a-hole. He had little to no character development WHATSOEVER.
- also a note on the conquistador thing, I also question the justifications of colonization that the Trateri seem to represent... its sus
And then Shea had to go and burn the maps. It was like her saying bye bye to what I was so excited to see her grown in. She talked so much about how much she identified as a pathfinder- and I wanted to learn more and more about the guild, the ancient knowledge, etc. and all the last third of the book was her sucking up to Fallon and becoming his wifey. BRUH.
Also, yeah, don’t really understand how Fallon and them didn’t notice it was Shea.
But, I did like that the author mentions that Eamon and them did notice she was girl but never mentioned it ever, still choosing to see her as an equal. Because that was actually very heartwarming. Sad I can’t say the same for Fallon and her interactions.
Seriously, her friendships with Eamon and crew were the best part of this book and what kept me reading thru. It was very Mulan-esque. I think her friendships with the scouts were well written and developed.
But back to the cons, wow the romance at the end of this book ruined everything for me. It became the main focus, with these friendships falling out of the plot. She’s stripped of being a scout too so the plot is limited to her time at camp and Fallon (ew).
IMO could’ve done without the romance in the book because from the pace of Fallon and her’s relationship for most part of the book - aka no interactions at all for most of the book- they shouldn’t have suddenly became boos like that. It’s like after her identity was revealed, everything suddenly became rushed and the plot focus, narrower.
Lastly, I do have to commend: the world is really unique. I have to give it to em. But, There isn’t a lot of world building in this book- like a lot is introduced and not explained (mists, history, ancient weapons, beasts). That might be the sole reason I’ll pick up the next book. But we will see.
I would say 2.44/5 stars. Like other low reviews stated, it starts off really sucking you in. The interesting world, and Shea as this badass character who worked hard for her shiz but has follies that she could grow on. She’s a pathfinder which is freaking SICK... and then 60-70% thru bam all the sudden the plot just sucks. I was so disappointed.
First off, I REALLY DISLIKE FALLON. he’s an “alpha” a-hole who just is so terrible to Shea during there “starting to like each other phase” and even in their super weird and sudden “friends with benefits phase” and only started accepting her more as an equal when Shea accepts to be his Tolstoi... LIKE BRO WHAT?
Also that. I DONT UNDERSTAND HOW THEY COULDVE FALLEN IN LOVE. I don’t get it. She just gave into her lust. They barely knew each other what the heck?!
She was supposed to be this character that defied being put down by asses like Fallon and she loved being a pathfinder exploring the highlands. THATS WHAT MADE HER SO FREAKIN COOL. I was so excited for that character growth. And I was hoping my first premonitions of Fallon would change- that he wasn’t some patriarchal conquistador a-hole. He had little to no character development WHATSOEVER.
- also a note on the conquistador thing, I also question the justifications of colonization that the Trateri seem to represent... its sus
And then Shea had to go and burn the maps. It was like her saying bye bye to what I was so excited to see her grown in. She talked so much about how much she identified as a pathfinder- and I wanted to learn more and more about the guild, the ancient knowledge, etc. and all the last third of the book was her sucking up to Fallon and becoming his wifey. BRUH.
Also, yeah, don’t really understand how Fallon and them didn’t notice it was Shea.
But, I did like that the author mentions that Eamon and them did notice she was girl but never mentioned it ever, still choosing to see her as an equal. Because that was actually very heartwarming. Sad I can’t say the same for Fallon and her interactions.
Seriously, her friendships with Eamon and crew were the best part of this book and what kept me reading thru. It was very Mulan-esque. I think her friendships with the scouts were well written and developed.
But back to the cons, wow the romance at the end of this book ruined everything for me. It became the main focus, with these friendships falling out of the plot. She’s stripped of being a scout too so the plot is limited to her time at camp and Fallon (ew).
IMO could’ve done without the romance in the book because from the pace of Fallon and her’s relationship for most part of the book - aka no interactions at all for most of the book- they shouldn’t have suddenly became boos like that. It’s like after her identity was revealed, everything suddenly became rushed and the plot focus, narrower.
Lastly, I do have to commend: the world is really unique. I have to give it to em. But, There isn’t a lot of world building in this book- like a lot is introduced and not explained (mists, history, ancient weapons, beasts). That might be the sole reason I’ll pick up the next book. But we will see.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3.5/3.75 stars. It would have been a solid 4 without the romance side plot, which was the weakest point in the novel. Shea is a fantastic protagonist. I was absorbed by the fifth or sixth chapter and I really loved the arc with Eamon and the others. I was really disappointed when, at around 70%, Shea is forced to be with Fallon. I really don't like the way Fallon treats her...
adventurous
medium-paced
medium-paced
first 85% - great adventure story about a pretty solid female heroine who's a skilled professional at what she does, but struggles with social aspects of her job, but learns to communicate with those she travels with and forges strong friendship bonds along the way
last 15% - abusive leader-man is hot, so she loves him now I guess
last 15% - abusive leader-man is hot, so she loves him now I guess
There's a lot about this book that I liked, but I really struggled with Fallon. Nothing in this book, until the veeeeeerry end, sold whatever feelings Shea had for him. He treats her like his slave - one that he's going to abuse until she agrees to become his whore. It was so off-putting that I nearly quit at several points.
I don't particularly like him or his people - with the exception of Shea's friends - nor their casual cruelty. But the last 10% was solid, to me, and marked a bit of a turning point. So I'm going to read on and see where it goes.
****3.5****
Re-read Dec 2023
This series is a favorite, though I struggle a bit with the first book. This is fantasy romance, barbarian style - warlord/alpha MMC that begins by bulldozing the FMC quite a bit. The FMC is a very 3-dimensional badass, complete with flaws. She's used to expecting the worst from people, and has a long history of it (alluded to in this first book, but we get more detail later).
There are a lot of series that start out this way that I struggle with, but adore once we're over that first hurdle. Books where it is hard for me to justify because the guy is pretty toxic at first. There are two things that make it tolerable for me:
1 - it's fiction, so I can forgive stuff I wouldn't IRL as long as they don't cross any unforgivable lines (like, rape = immediate DNF for me)
2 - making some allowances for his culture. Fallon (the MMC) is a warlord in a culture of nomadic tribal people, which are organized into clans. The clans often war with each other, and so their "marriage" tradition (in quotes because they call it something else, but it amounts to the same thing - a beloved equal partner) is kidnapping your chosen mate from their clan and slowly winning their trust and loyalty. To be fair, that's not uncommon in highlander books either - it's kind of a common trope in clan-type medieval style books. And if you look at it from that perspective, Fallon's actions become a bit more understandable. He never hurts her - it isn't about hurting her, and in fact because the point is to win the trust of their chosen partner, the abduction is the beginning of a slow wooing and abuse would utterly undercut that. So I can live with it when that needle is carefully thread, as it is here.
Anyway, YMMV of course, but this series is a favorite for me.
I don't particularly like him or his people - with the exception of Shea's friends - nor their casual cruelty. But the last 10% was solid, to me, and marked a bit of a turning point. So I'm going to read on and see where it goes.
****3.5****
Re-read Dec 2023
This series is a favorite, though I struggle a bit with the first book. This is fantasy romance, barbarian style - warlord/alpha MMC that begins by bulldozing the FMC quite a bit. The FMC is a very 3-dimensional badass, complete with flaws. She's used to expecting the worst from people, and has a long history of it (alluded to in this first book, but we get more detail later).
There are a lot of series that start out this way that I struggle with, but adore once we're over that first hurdle. Books where it is hard for me to justify because the guy is pretty toxic at first. There are two things that make it tolerable for me:
1 - it's fiction, so I can forgive stuff I wouldn't IRL as long as they don't cross any unforgivable lines (like, rape = immediate DNF for me)
2 - making some allowances for his culture. Fallon (the MMC) is a warlord in a culture of nomadic tribal people, which are organized into clans. The clans often war with each other, and so their "marriage" tradition (in quotes because they call it something else, but it amounts to the same thing - a beloved equal partner) is kidnapping your chosen mate from their clan and slowly winning their trust and loyalty. To be fair, that's not uncommon in highlander books either - it's kind of a common trope in clan-type medieval style books. And if you look at it from that perspective, Fallon's actions become a bit more understandable. He never hurts her - it isn't about hurting her, and in fact because the point is to win the trust of their chosen partner, the abduction is the beginning of a slow wooing and abuse would utterly undercut that. So I can live with it when that needle is carefully thread, as it is here.
Anyway, YMMV of course, but this series is a favorite for me.
Good, although the end lagged a bit for me once the main character was un-masked. Satisfying conclusion, although some sloppy editing in the back half, maybe I have an older version?