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doppelganger's review against another edition
3.0
Mi reseña: http://www.eltemplodelasmilpuertas.com/critica/sombra-latente-primera-parte-saga/1869/
annieslibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
5.0
My third time re-reading :)
annyy94's review against another edition
Empecé este libro con muchas ganas. No sabía mucho de él, es cierto, más allá que era fantasía y poco más necesitaba para leerlo. Es verdad que es una historia original, al menos su premisa, ya que nos encontramos en una sociedad con existen dos tipos de personajes: las normales y los anómalos. Estos últimos tienen distintos poderes. Entre ellos, se encuentra Vesper, la protagonista, que es capaz de ver tus miedos y hacerlos realidad.
Me pareció original que tuviera esa trama peeeero la historia no se ha desarrollado para nada como yo pensaba que lo haría. Me costaba bastante ponerme a leer y aunque luego me atrapaba el libro, cuando lo dejaba tampoco tenía tantas ganas de continuarlo.
Uno de los aspectos negativos es el romance. Es muy instalove y odio este tipo de romances, que surjan de la nada y se desarrollen (o mejor dicho, no desarrollen) así.
Pensaba que hacia el final el libro me gustaría mucho más por los plots twists que pudieran haber pero me los vi venir todos y aunque hubo acción tampoco me entusiasmó mucho. No voy a seguir con la trilogía, lamentablemente.
Me pareció original que tuviera esa trama peeeero la historia no se ha desarrollado para nada como yo pensaba que lo haría. Me costaba bastante ponerme a leer y aunque luego me atrapaba el libro, cuando lo dejaba tampoco tenía tantas ganas de continuarlo.
Uno de los aspectos negativos es el romance. Es muy instalove y odio este tipo de romances, que surjan de la nada y se desarrollen (o mejor dicho, no desarrollen) así.
Pensaba que hacia el final el libro me gustaría mucho más por los plots twists que pudieran haber pero me los vi venir todos y aunque hubo acción tampoco me entusiasmó mucho. No voy a seguir con la trilogía, lamentablemente.
mysakaeda's review against another edition
3.0
This book had so much potential and it started off with such a great start. However, it began to lose me about halfway through the book. I felt less engaged to the story and not as interested into knowing what was going to happen.
Plus side. Fantastic characters. They felt real and truly themselves. I thought their powers and this world was a really fun development. It felt like X-Men but less trying to be superheros and more just trying to exist. Each type of power had its own category and they way they interacted with each other was interesting. Add that into some well developed characters and it made for a good read. However, it did feel like only Vesper and Sam were well developed and everyone else only existed to serve the main characters. I wished they had been more fleshed out so if needed, they could have stood on their own. The relationship between Sam and Vesper felt very real and very teenager-like. It was lust filled and driven and I appreciate the author adding that aspect into the book. Its a slow burn initially and then when it happens, it happens quickly. Not love but lust. And I think it was portrayed well.
I think when this story began to veer away from the competition is when it started to lose me as well. The competition was the main reason I wanted to read this story and for it to feel like such a small part of the story was a little disappointing. The story was still interesting but not what I was hoping for or expecting.
Overall, I thought this was a decent read. Not spectacular but not horrible. If you enjoy X-Men or any other superhero type story then I think you will enjoy this book.
Plus side. Fantastic characters. They felt real and truly themselves. I thought their powers and this world was a really fun development. It felt like X-Men but less trying to be superheros and more just trying to exist. Each type of power had its own category and they way they interacted with each other was interesting. Add that into some well developed characters and it made for a good read. However, it did feel like only Vesper and Sam were well developed and everyone else only existed to serve the main characters. I wished they had been more fleshed out so if needed, they could have stood on their own. The relationship between Sam and Vesper felt very real and very teenager-like. It was lust filled and driven and I appreciate the author adding that aspect into the book. Its a slow burn initially and then when it happens, it happens quickly. Not love but lust. And I think it was portrayed well.
I think when this story began to veer away from the competition is when it started to lose me as well. The competition was the main reason I wanted to read this story and for it to feel like such a small part of the story was a little disappointing. The story was still interesting but not what I was hoping for or expecting.
Overall, I thought this was a decent read. Not spectacular but not horrible. If you enjoy X-Men or any other superhero type story then I think you will enjoy this book.
gjj274's review against another edition
3.0
I was gifted a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for review. I was really drawn in by the synopsis, a fantasy story set in a contemporary setting is one I haven't read in a while and I was keen to dive in. Unfortunately, although I thought the plot was interesting,I think this could have been executed better.
As I just said, I enjoyed the plot of this story. It has a really interesting premise, although it was a bit tropey. We follow our main character, Vesper, who develops powers that she doesn't want. Things happen in her life and she ends up amongst others like her, taking part in an underground fighting contest to win a prize she desperately wants however, not all is as it seems. I liked the idea of the underground fighting scene and I really enjoyed all of the different types of magic in this book. However, I think these aspects were underdeveloped, especially the magic, and I would of loved if they had been expanded on a little bit more.
I thought the writing style was good. The story itself was fast paced and I read it quite quickly, even though the book is nearly 500 pages long. It wasn't as complex as I usually like though, as I said before there are aspects of the story I would of liked to have been expanded upon. It read very much like your typical YA story.
The main thing that let this book down for me though was the main character. I didn't really like her very much and I struggled to connect with her. I found Vesper to be very whiny and full of self pity. There was a point at about 100 pages in where I nearly DNFed this one because I was getting fed up with Vesper's attitude towards everything however, the plot kept me going. I didn't feel she had much character development and spent most of the book being quite negative about herself and her situation rather than finding ways to resolve her problems. I thought Sam was quite sweet but Vesper's personality meant that I found myself struggling to enjoy their interactions and relationships.
Overall I thought this one was just okay. I definitely would of enjoyed it more had I liked the main character I think. I think this is going to be a series based on Goodreads however, this book finished quite conclusively and therefore I don't think I will be continuing on.
As I just said, I enjoyed the plot of this story. It has a really interesting premise, although it was a bit tropey. We follow our main character, Vesper, who develops powers that she doesn't want. Things happen in her life and she ends up amongst others like her, taking part in an underground fighting contest to win a prize she desperately wants however, not all is as it seems. I liked the idea of the underground fighting scene and I really enjoyed all of the different types of magic in this book. However, I think these aspects were underdeveloped, especially the magic, and I would of loved if they had been expanded on a little bit more.
I thought the writing style was good. The story itself was fast paced and I read it quite quickly, even though the book is nearly 500 pages long. It wasn't as complex as I usually like though, as I said before there are aspects of the story I would of liked to have been expanded upon. It read very much like your typical YA story.
The main thing that let this book down for me though was the main character. I didn't really like her very much and I struggled to connect with her. I found Vesper to be very whiny and full of self pity. There was a point at about 100 pages in where I nearly DNFed this one because I was getting fed up with Vesper's attitude towards everything however, the plot kept me going. I didn't feel she had much character development and spent most of the book being quite negative about herself and her situation rather than finding ways to resolve her problems. I thought Sam was quite sweet but Vesper's personality meant that I found myself struggling to enjoy their interactions and relationships.
Overall I thought this one was just okay. I definitely would of enjoyed it more had I liked the main character I think. I think this is going to be a series based on Goodreads however, this book finished quite conclusively and therefore I don't think I will be continuing on.
jlouise's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
audiobookingwithleah's review against another edition
4.0
❐ Overall Rating 4¼ | Narration 4¼
❐ Narrated by Amanda Dolan
❐ Listening Length ➯ 11H 29M
❐ The Beckoning Shadow #1
❐ Superhero/Freaks
❐ Part Urban Fantasy, Part Science Fiction, Part Contemporary
❐ With some romance
So...the comparison to X-Men is spot on...like if the X-Men (so sexist) were to enter an MMA fighting contest to see who was left in the end. I wasn't entirely into this...but that was probably all me...when you listen to about a book a day....sometimes certain books fall through the cracks. Looking back on it, I still think it was a solid story and if she never writes the second book in the series; I can say that this ended in a way that gives perfect closure. Yes, there is some romance, but it really takes a back seat to the friendships that are cultivated throughout, and those are what really shines in this story. The narration is not quite a favorite...but it's solid.
❐ Narrated by Amanda Dolan
❐ Listening Length ➯ 11H 29M
❐ The Beckoning Shadow #1
❐ Superhero/Freaks
❐ Part Urban Fantasy, Part Science Fiction, Part Contemporary
❐ With some romance
So...the comparison to X-Men is spot on...like if the X-Men (so sexist) were to enter an MMA fighting contest to see who was left in the end. I wasn't entirely into this...but that was probably all me...when you listen to about a book a day....sometimes certain books fall through the cracks. Looking back on it, I still think it was a solid story and if she never writes the second book in the series; I can say that this ended in a way that gives perfect closure. Yes, there is some romance, but it really takes a back seat to the friendships that are cultivated throughout, and those are what really shines in this story. The narration is not quite a favorite...but it's solid.
itskitasai's review against another edition
4.0
I struggled to get into this but I think that was more due to the previous book I read (well two books ago) putting me in a partial slump with how bad it was.
I liked the story premise but felt there needed to be a bit more world building, it wasn't confusing I just wanted a bit more.
I enjoyed the magic system overall and would totally be interested in picking up the next one when it comes out!
I wasn't overly into the love story because I honestly felt like it wasn't really needed, I mean it makes sense but I would have rather seen Vesper become a really strong person on her own and not need anyone else.
The blurb saying it was X-Men meets Fight Club was 90% right and I really liked that, because normally they are very wrong about that. I love X-Men and think if you enjoy X-Men too, you'd enjoy this.
3.5/5 more like a 3.75
I liked the story premise but felt there needed to be a bit more world building, it wasn't confusing I just wanted a bit more.
I enjoyed the magic system overall and would totally be interested in picking up the next one when it comes out!
I wasn't overly into the love story because I honestly felt like it wasn't really needed, I mean it makes sense but I would have rather seen Vesper become a really strong person on her own and not need anyone else.
The blurb saying it was X-Men meets Fight Club was 90% right and I really liked that, because normally they are very wrong about that. I love X-Men and think if you enjoy X-Men too, you'd enjoy this.
3.5/5 more like a 3.75