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blau_elmo's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This Golden Flame is your bog standard YA fiction: adventurous, some vague magical system, a stereotypically bad boss, and a ragtag team of scrappers who somehow defeat the enormous organisation despite the impossible odds.
There really isn't much for me to say other than it's a light read, though very generic at times. Still, it makes me nostalgic of the days I could indulge in the likes of Percy Jackson - though I feel that Riordan's world is a lot more fleshed out than this novel. Nevertheless, an average read.
There really isn't much for me to say other than it's a light read, though very generic at times. Still, it makes me nostalgic of the days I could indulge in the likes of Percy Jackson - though I feel that Riordan's world is a lot more fleshed out than this novel. Nevertheless, an average read.
Content Warnings
Minor: War and Blood
qkat's review against another edition
2.0
I got 2/3 of the way through this book and realized that nothing really happened and nothing was going to happen. Not enough excitement. Highly disappointing.
xenchiaa's review
3.0
2.5/5 Stars
Oh my what a mess this book is
Maybe I'll actually write a review for this one. I'd have a lot of things to say about it
Oh my what a mess this book is
Maybe I'll actually write a review for this one. I'd have a lot of things to say about it
alyssaindira's review against another edition
3.0
**NO MAJOR PLOT SPOILERS WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS REVIEW**
So I read this pretty quickly and to be honest, even if I had stopped to read some more of the scene details and such, the outcome would be the same. This book was alright I guess. The writing was a bit much for me, as in, the author was trying to hard to paint singular locations when she should have been more focused on building up the characters and the world itself. I think? I remember a brief description of the MC...least the robot got at least a paragraph for his efforts. Either way, the actual writing was a bit bland, it was alot of...telling and not showing. X did this, x did that, x thought this, x thought that. I nearly did not even desire to speed read it because the first 30 pages are so dull with just scenery depictions. I like world building and stuff, but..with purpose and intent not just...fluff until you get to the real action.
To be honest, Alix's pov saved this book. He intrigued me, how he saw the world, viewed himself, etc. His pov was the only one I truly desired once he arrived. I loved his struggle with whether he was a person, whether he was a weapon, an individual, a tool, a torment, a life or a lost. HIs mental philosophical journey was the main highlight of this book. Forget pirates and bringing down historical lies, homegirl likes the robot with an essential crisis! Err...person.
The other MC..karis, was a bit forgettable to be honest. She was kind of boring when introduced, one goal, no build up and just..i dont know. It was alot of telling more than showing her character traits and I did not connect with her at all.
The world was alright. I was pretty much picturing the Astroboy movie the entire time. Things happened,..so once the story got going, least it was not dull or dragged on, the timeline once it picked up was fine. It just....I was not that horribly connected to the storyline or characters except for Alix so...
Remember, this is all my opinion. if you want your own, read the book.
So I read this pretty quickly and to be honest, even if I had stopped to read some more of the scene details and such, the outcome would be the same. This book was alright I guess. The writing was a bit much for me, as in, the author was trying to hard to paint singular locations when she should have been more focused on building up the characters and the world itself. I think? I remember a brief description of the MC...least the robot got at least a paragraph for his efforts. Either way, the actual writing was a bit bland, it was alot of...telling and not showing. X did this, x did that, x thought this, x thought that. I nearly did not even desire to speed read it because the first 30 pages are so dull with just scenery depictions. I like world building and stuff, but..with purpose and intent not just...fluff until you get to the real action.
To be honest, Alix's pov saved this book. He intrigued me, how he saw the world, viewed himself, etc. His pov was the only one I truly desired once he arrived. I loved his struggle with whether he was a person, whether he was a weapon, an individual, a tool, a torment, a life or a lost. HIs mental philosophical journey was the main highlight of this book. Forget pirates and bringing down historical lies, homegirl likes the robot with an essential crisis! Err...person.
The other MC..karis, was a bit forgettable to be honest. She was kind of boring when introduced, one goal, no build up and just..i dont know. It was alot of telling more than showing her character traits and I did not connect with her at all.
The world was alright. I was pretty much picturing the Astroboy movie the entire time. Things happened,..so once the story got going, least it was not dull or dragged on, the timeline once it picked up was fine. It just....I was not that horribly connected to the storyline or characters except for Alix so...
Remember, this is all my opinion. if you want your own, read the book.
lahariel's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.25
biancagraey's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
shoelay's review against another edition
4.0
!SPOILERS AHEAD!
After finishing the book my favourite aspect of this book definitely was how imperfect all the characters were especially Karis and Alix. I loved that when given a tough choice between saving ppl she cared for and doing what was considered "the greater good" she like most people would, made the selfish choice. It made her more personable to me at least. I also loved that her choice ended up being the wrong the choice almost damning everything, because how many times have we seen MC’s just magically making all the right choices and calling all the shots. Having Karis mess up and realize how dumb her choice really had been showed growth in her character. The cherry on top for me was Alix being unable to forgive Karis and wasn’t ready to trust her after being so heavily betrayed by the one person he trusted after his father. Seeing how hard it was for him to regain trust in Karis just made it all the more realistic and idk I just loved that it wasn’t a happy go lucky easy ending. All the characters faced their hardships and are in their own ways healing at the end as anyone would after an epic adventure like the one they faced.
Overall, I really did love the book and I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking to find parts of themselves in the pages of a book and a new family to belong in. Karis and Alix’s story is one where you can easily see urself in and realize its ok to be lost and it may be hard but you will find yourself and your path one day ✨
Favourite quote:
“So just be you, because that’s enough. It’s always been enough”
After finishing the book my favourite aspect of this book definitely was how imperfect all the characters were especially Karis and Alix. I loved that when given a tough choice between saving ppl she cared for and doing what was considered "the greater good" she like most people would, made the selfish choice. It made her more personable to me at least. I also loved that her choice ended up being the wrong the choice almost damning everything, because how many times have we seen MC’s just magically making all the right choices and calling all the shots. Having Karis mess up and realize how dumb her choice really had been showed growth in her character. The cherry on top for me was Alix being unable to forgive Karis and wasn’t ready to trust her after being so heavily betrayed by the one person he trusted after his father. Seeing how hard it was for him to regain trust in Karis just made it all the more realistic and idk I just loved that it wasn’t a happy go lucky easy ending. All the characters faced their hardships and are in their own ways healing at the end as anyone would after an epic adventure like the one they faced.
Overall, I really did love the book and I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking to find parts of themselves in the pages of a book and a new family to belong in. Karis and Alix’s story is one where you can easily see urself in and realize its ok to be lost and it may be hard but you will find yourself and your path one day ✨
Favourite quote:
“So just be you, because that’s enough. It’s always been enough”
atrailofpages's review against another edition
3.0
I did enjoy this book, I just think it fell a bit short of my expectations. We follow Karis who finds Alix an automaton who reminded me sooooo much of BEN from Treasure Planet. Very naive, cute, and suffering from memory loss, not to mention they both have that same copper like “skin”. They run away from the Scriptorium to start new lives, but end up being captured by pirates, that turn out to be more like rebels fighting against the Scriptorium and fighting for a free and better world. Karis and Alix decide to join in their cause to stop the Scriptorium.
I first have to say the world and the magic system is amazing! The book had such potential just based on the world that seemed to be based off Rome, with people who used runes to control objects. The setting also seemed to be set at sea for the most part, which is my favorite setting of any book! It had a lot of u inquest representation in the book with the diverse characters, as well as focusing a lot on the oppression and lack of freedom many have because of who, or what, they are.
I think I would have loved this story, if I had liked the characters, and if the pacing was different. Everything seemed very rushed. The relationships of the characters seemed to happen so fast. I mean, one minute they’re taken by pirates, and the next minute, everyone seems to trust each other and be allies suddenly. It just wasn’t very believable for me. Then the characters themselves were actually rather boring to me. I might have appreciated Karis more if she were less selfish(granted she learned in the end, but took her the whole book to realize that), but none of the characters resonated with me. Once I got through the first part of the book, I kind of just wanted to get the story over with, which sounds awful, but I just got bored honestly.
Although I was disappointed in this book, I’m sure others would love this book. It just wasn’t for me.
I first have to say the world and the magic system is amazing! The book had such potential just based on the world that seemed to be based off Rome, with people who used runes to control objects. The setting also seemed to be set at sea for the most part, which is my favorite setting of any book! It had a lot of u inquest representation in the book with the diverse characters, as well as focusing a lot on the oppression and lack of freedom many have because of who, or what, they are.
I think I would have loved this story, if I had liked the characters, and if the pacing was different. Everything seemed very rushed. The relationships of the characters seemed to happen so fast. I mean, one minute they’re taken by pirates, and the next minute, everyone seems to trust each other and be allies suddenly. It just wasn’t very believable for me. Then the characters themselves were actually rather boring to me. I might have appreciated Karis more if she were less selfish(granted she learned in the end, but took her the whole book to realize that), but none of the characters resonated with me. Once I got through the first part of the book, I kind of just wanted to get the story over with, which sounds awful, but I just got bored honestly.
Although I was disappointed in this book, I’m sure others would love this book. It just wasn’t for me.
brownwall268's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I loved this book! I appreciated that there wasn’t really a romance plot and the friendship between Alix and Karis was very cute! Alix was an adorable character and I love robot/android characters, especially with a bit of a steampunk element to it!