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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I found a recommendation for this book via an "if you like" thread and figured I'd give it a try. Let me preface my comments by saying that I do believe that there is a decent premise buried within this work, however it required the experienced, guiding hand of a qualified editor to unearth it.
The author presents us with a strong, capable heroine. Skilled in her own right through years of training (though her young age was questionable), Shea is presented as a practical, no-nonsense woman as the story opens. Undervalued and unappreciated by those around her, she is a loner, disdainful of most everyone she comes into contact with and not particularly satisfied with her current situation. As the book continues and her surroundings and companions change her superior attitude persists. I did not find this character trait endearing.
The reader is introduced (albeit briefly) to the male love interest early on in the story. His fleeting time with the heroine is apparently enough to convince him that he must have her (why? that's not really fleshed out). Shea is thankfully not struck by insta-love (however watch for a later retcon) and gives him the slip.
The story jumps ahead 7-8 months where the main plotline launches. Shea winds up in an unfortunate situation which lands her right back in the path of the hero. Once again, she escapes, but doesn't get far. Disguised as a male, she ends up as a scout in the hero's army. I could not understand Shea's motivations. Not because I didn't agree with them, rather because the author failed much of the time to share them with the reader.
Shea is conscripted into a foreign army and immediately placed in the path of a man that had previously tried to abduct her. She has every reason to get as far away as fast as she can, but that motivation abruptly disappears and that confounded me. As the reader, I did not feel like I understood what Shea was thinking much of the time. Her thoughts and motivations were disjointed and incomprehensible throughout the book. This was not a character flaw, this was a writing issue. Thus we have the crux of the matter.
This book was rife with editing issues. I was constantly pulled out of the narrative because of one problem or another. Spelling, grammar, repetitive language, overuse of adverbs. Showing, not telling. Sporadic character development. Muddled, underdeveloped plot. Weak dialogue. I will reiterate that I believe there was an intriguing tale at the heart of this novel, but this presentation doesn't do it justice. As is, the story is much too raw and unpolished. A good editor could have worked with the author to turn what read like a rough first draft into a proper novel with better pacing, focus, and character development. And a copy editor would catch all of the small, niggling errors that should never make it into a final draft.
I love that self-publishing allows for a myriad of writers to get their stories into the hands of readers, but my standards are high and writing of this quality just isn't enough to keep me reading. My mild curiosity about Shea's future escapades does not outweigh my strong aversion to this author's writing style, so I will not be reading further in this series. I do hope that with time, the author's craft will develop and/or they will invest in a good editor.
The author presents us with a strong, capable heroine. Skilled in her own right through years of training (though her young age was questionable), Shea is presented as a practical, no-nonsense woman as the story opens. Undervalued and unappreciated by those around her, she is a loner, disdainful of most everyone she comes into contact with and not particularly satisfied with her current situation. As the book continues and her surroundings and companions change her superior attitude persists. I did not find this character trait endearing.
The reader is introduced (albeit briefly) to the male love interest early on in the story. His fleeting time with the heroine is apparently enough to convince him that he must have her (why? that's not really fleshed out). Shea is thankfully not struck by insta-love (however watch for a later retcon) and gives him the slip.
The story jumps ahead 7-8 months where the main plotline launches. Shea winds up in an unfortunate situation which lands her right back in the path of the hero. Once again, she escapes, but doesn't get far. Disguised as a male, she ends up as a scout in the hero's army. I could not understand Shea's motivations. Not because I didn't agree with them, rather because the author failed much of the time to share them with the reader.
Shea is conscripted into a foreign army and immediately placed in the path of a man that had previously tried to abduct her. She has every reason to get as far away as fast as she can, but that motivation abruptly disappears and that confounded me. As the reader, I did not feel like I understood what Shea was thinking much of the time. Her thoughts and motivations were disjointed and incomprehensible throughout the book. This was not a character flaw, this was a writing issue. Thus we have the crux of the matter.
This book was rife with editing issues. I was constantly pulled out of the narrative because of one problem or another. Spelling, grammar, repetitive language, overuse of adverbs. Showing, not telling. Sporadic character development. Muddled, underdeveloped plot. Weak dialogue. I will reiterate that I believe there was an intriguing tale at the heart of this novel, but this presentation doesn't do it justice. As is, the story is much too raw and unpolished. A good editor could have worked with the author to turn what read like a rough first draft into a proper novel with better pacing, focus, and character development. And a copy editor would catch all of the small, niggling errors that should never make it into a final draft.
I love that self-publishing allows for a myriad of writers to get their stories into the hands of readers, but my standards are high and writing of this quality just isn't enough to keep me reading. My mild curiosity about Shea's future escapades does not outweigh my strong aversion to this author's writing style, so I will not be reading further in this series. I do hope that with time, the author's craft will develop and/or they will invest in a good editor.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really, really liked this book.
I almost gave up at the start but I'm glad I kept going.
I was a bit frustrated with the heroine at times, she gets walked over but it's part of her culture and training, to not explain herself so if someone insults her who cares.
It is slow to get going, you can tell it's a trilogy.
She's quietly skilled and independent.
Quite a bit of humour.
No intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine, it takes place at the end section of the book so a bit slow burn but she's not within his orbit all the time.
He doesn't realise who she is.
Very small hints at other woman drama, he has no interest.
Rumor had it, he had been with other women here and there but nothing on page and no confirmation, he's certainly a warrior and women are not his focus.
Except the heroine.
HFN, I assume their relationship will develop in the next book(s).
I almost gave up at the start but I'm glad I kept going.
I was a bit frustrated with the heroine at times, she gets walked over but it's part of her culture and training, to not explain herself so if someone insults her who cares.
It is slow to get going, you can tell it's a trilogy.
She's quietly skilled and independent.
Quite a bit of humour.
No intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine, it takes place at the end section of the book so a bit slow burn but she's not within his orbit all the time.
He doesn't realise who she is.
Very small hints at other woman drama, he has no interest.
Rumor had it, he had been with other women here and there but nothing on page and no confirmation, he's certainly a warrior and women are not his focus.
Except the heroine.
HFN, I assume their relationship will develop in the next book(s).
Really enjoyed this book. Particularly enjoyed Shea’s continued evasion of Fallon.
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes