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nhonami's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.25
If you like a book that is half one-liners and half villain monologue... This is the book for you.
I personally found it to be boring and trying to hard to be funny.
The characterization of the main two characters was poorly executed. Nico (or how ver it's spelled) has some really BAD views on healthy behavior that should not be imitated and he is supposed to be the health nut.
So, just in case people got ideas... 8 hours of sleep is healthy for you and your mental health. A properly rested person doesn't equate to a lazy person. These are two unrelated qualities.
Also, you can have seasoning on your food and there are plenty of healthy salad dressings out there in the world. Eating healthy doesn't mean you have to sacrifice all flavor in your food.
I personally found it to be boring and trying to hard to be funny.
The characterization of the main two characters was poorly executed. Nico (or how ver it's spelled) has some really BAD views on healthy behavior that should not be imitated and he is supposed to be the health nut.
So, just in case people got ideas... 8 hours of sleep is healthy for you and your mental health. A properly rested person doesn't equate to a lazy person. These are two unrelated qualities.
Also, you can have seasoning on your food and there are plenty of healthy salad dressings out there in the world. Eating healthy doesn't mean you have to sacrifice all flavor in your food.
dflemmons's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-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
4.0
dajoyofit's review
3.0
I liked it. I like the twist on the idea of elves, and a few other creatures. My interest is sufficiently peaked to continue on to book 2. The ending was dramatic and heart pounding. The Darkling was creepy as heck.
katyanaish's review
4.0
This is a really interesting, really ambitious book. I enjoyed it, even as I spent a lot of time analyzing it on a meta level, because some of the choices really surprised me, and I just couldn't decide whether they helped or hurt the book.
Specifically, what I'm calling interesting and ambitious is
That said, though, the way that the whole thing was handled REALLY made me afraid for how things were going to end. I'll be honest, there were a couple points where the only way I could reassure myself that Cal was going to come out of this alright was because this is the first book in a SERIES. Haha.
Another thing that was a little bit off to me was that I like Niko better as a main character than I like Cal, so He's an amazing character, with a lot more emotion under the surface... I would have loved to get into his head.
But there were lots of things I did like. The relationship between the brothers was arguably one of the best such relationships that I've ever read. I liked that there was no bullshit, no misunderstandings, no hurt feelings, no recriminations between them. They were solid, unwavering, and absolutely had each other's back. And don't get me wrong, I did like Cal. I just found Niko to be particularly fascinating.
I'll definitely read on in the series.
Specifically, what I'm calling interesting and ambitious is
Spoiler
the decision to take the main character - the book is from his POV - and have him get possessed by the bad guy... and continue the book from that same POV, which is now the bad guy POV. It was weird, for sure - I kept wanting to see what Niko and Robin were up to, but their story arc was pretty much entirely offscreen. I also kept looking for signs that Cal was still in there. You got bits occasionally - memories that would be overwhelming to the Darkling - but we never got to see Cal surge up, fight for control, or even actively fool the Darkling, leading him to make poor decisions. Given that we were in his POV the whole time, I would have hoped we'd see some presence from Cal, even if it was just in his/their heads. I get the Darkling being the dominant personality, I'd just expect we'd get something of Cal in there.That said, though, the way that the whole thing was handled REALLY made me afraid for how things were going to end. I'll be honest, there were a couple points where the only way I could reassure myself that Cal was going to come out of this alright was because this is the first book in a SERIES. Haha.
Another thing that was a little bit off to me was that I like Niko better as a main character than I like Cal, so
Spoiler
it was really rough having almost no Niko for a good 40% of the book, while we were running around with Evil Cal. Sure, he'd pop up for their brief encounters, but then it would be back to just Evil Cal again.But there were lots of things I did like. The relationship between the brothers was arguably one of the best such relationships that I've ever read. I liked that there was no bullshit, no misunderstandings, no hurt feelings, no recriminations between them. They were solid, unwavering, and absolutely had each other's back. And don't get me wrong, I did like Cal. I just found Niko to be particularly fascinating.
I'll definitely read on in the series.
luciearan's review against another edition
3.0
Tohle byl poměrně zajímavý počin... A to rozhodně nemyslím nijak ve zlém.
Svět jako takový byl vymyšlený a propracovaný skvěle, v tomto směru jsem byla naprosto nadšená. A i tak si nemůžu pomoct, ale kniha jako celek na mě působí poměrně průměrným dojmem. Příběh byl vtipný a nemůžu říct, že by mě nějak nudil, ale zároveň mě ani nijak výrazně nepohltil. Působil podivně ploše, bez výrazu a hlubších emocí. Škoda, protože svět jako takový měl vážně úžasný potenciál. Dám ještě šanci dalšímu dílu a budu doufat, že série postupně získá větší hloubku.
Svět jako takový byl vymyšlený a propracovaný skvěle, v tomto směru jsem byla naprosto nadšená. A i tak si nemůžu pomoct, ale kniha jako celek na mě působí poměrně průměrným dojmem. Příběh byl vtipný a nemůžu říct, že by mě nějak nudil, ale zároveň mě ani nijak výrazně nepohltil. Působil podivně ploše, bez výrazu a hlubších emocí. Škoda, protože svět jako takový měl vážně úžasný potenciál. Dám ještě šanci dalšímu dílu a budu doufat, že série postupně získá větší hloubku.
serru's review
3.0
Urban fantasy series with a snarky and sarcastic narrator who is half-human and half-scary-bloodthirsty-creature. The book starts off with the main character and his completely human half-brother on the run from his monster family. Pretty fun book overall, although the main character's sarcastic internal commentary sometimes drags on at the expense of the story's pace. The central relationship seems to be between the main character and his brother, although both have potential love interests. The bond between the brothers really shines, and as it's the first book in a series, they seem to be slowly gathering a group of paranormal friends around them.
alexandrabree's review
2.0
I would have enjoyed this book as a teen. It's a pretty good fantasy world set up, and the cranky teenage Cal would have seemed less immature and whiney and more... angsty misunderstood tough guy...
Unfortunately, as an adult, I struggled to get into the story, the brother's dynamic was cliche and trope. The first half was good but not great and then everything after the possession just fell apart. The suspense didn't work, it made everything dislikable instead of more likeable. The weird flexible self referencing nickname language that spread across the board just made everything slightly painful to read.
Instead of depth, it made the author seem immature. Grendels (because Beowulf reference) are really Oaf who are really dark elves... should have simply been dark elves... I got where the author was trying to go but like I already said... childish
Ditto so much. I might try out another book or two in the series and I might not
Unfortunately, as an adult, I struggled to get into the story, the brother's dynamic was cliche and trope. The first half was good but not great and then everything after the possession just fell apart. The suspense didn't work, it made everything dislikable instead of more likeable. The weird flexible self referencing nickname language that spread across the board just made everything slightly painful to read.
Instead of depth, it made the author seem immature. Grendels (because Beowulf reference) are really Oaf who are really dark elves... should have simply been dark elves... I got where the author was trying to go but like I already said... childish
Ditto so much. I might try out another book or two in the series and I might not
mary_soon_lee's review
3.0
This is the opening novel in a series. I would classify it as horror of the supernatural flavor, crossing the line out of dark fantasy. Horror is not a genre I am drawn to, and that is probably part of the reason that I feel ambivalent about the book. For me, it's a 2 1/2 star book. There is a central brother-brother relationship that I liked considerably, but there was another aspect that I didn't care for at all (I'll cite it soon, after a spoiler warning). Since I think the brothers will continue through the series, and I am hopeful that the other aspect will not recur, I do plan to read the second book.
So, spoiler warning.... Despite my lukewarm reaction to this book, I'm optimistic that I'll like book two more wholeheartedly.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
So, spoiler warning....
Spoiler
There is a stretch of over a hundred pages that is narrated from the viewpoint of a thoroughly unlikable character, and which also contains a good deal of unpleasantness. Being neither a horror aficionado, nor someone who is fine with unsympathetic protagonists, I did not enjoy this. As a lesser complaint, the prologue weakened the main part of the book for me. Yes, it provided a type of hook, but it also gave away much of the climax. (Rather than a flashback, it was a flash-ahead.)About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).