Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
I absolutely loved this book and I can't wait until the next one! Dystopian, futuristic, romance and ancient gods. What could be better?
So I'm not a huge fan of the Vampire Academy series, they're way better than most other YA vampire fiction out there, but some parts of it fell short for me. This book was a jump up! I loved the world-building, it was very well-rounded and I loved that there were not necessarily a huge amount of info dumping, it was more organically folded in. There was a great balance of character development and plot, it reminded me a little bit of a hundred thousand kingdoms, if you've read that, but with a little less god involvement - I can see that changing with the next installment in this series.
I did have a few problems though, this would probably be more around three and a half stars than four. I really liked the character of Tessa, the sixteen year old immigrant, but she was only really important for a couple of chapters and then dropped? I feel like she was used to be our proxy so that some more exposition could be laid out, which seemed too contrived for me. I liked her and wanted to see her be more integral to the plot. I also wasn't a huge fan of the way that both of the main characters were white and the ones who weren't were provincial and looked down upon - if you're going to go into the same racial stuff that exists now I would want the book to be a little more self-aware of that, especially since it's set in the future and the Nordic roots of the main character are so often emphasized?
I loved the main characters though! Justin March was your typical eccentric but charming super intelligent white dude protagonist, which who cares, but he was made interesting through his love for and interactions with Mae, a super soldier who is genetically enhanced. Her character was awesome, and I would have loved to see more of her interactions and friendships with fellow soldiers. Anyway, someone else I'm friends with please read this and talk to me about it!!
I did have a few problems though, this would probably be more around three and a half stars than four. I really liked the character of Tessa, the sixteen year old immigrant, but she was only really important for a couple of chapters and then dropped? I feel like she was used to be our proxy so that some more exposition could be laid out, which seemed too contrived for me. I liked her and wanted to see her be more integral to the plot. I also wasn't a huge fan of the way that both of the main characters were white and the ones who weren't were provincial and looked down upon - if you're going to go into the same racial stuff that exists now I would want the book to be a little more self-aware of that, especially since it's set in the future and the Nordic roots of the main character are so often emphasized?
I loved the main characters though! Justin March was your typical eccentric but charming super intelligent white dude protagonist, which who cares, but he was made interesting through his love for and interactions with Mae, a super soldier who is genetically enhanced. Her character was awesome, and I would have loved to see more of her interactions and friendships with fellow soldiers. Anyway, someone else I'm friends with please read this and talk to me about it!!
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"My life was a game that had been played on me, but I wasn't going to let it happen anymore."
Mead takes us on a journey to a future world that is full of danger and mystery, where supernatural claims and religious groups are investigated by a team of elite soldiers. The story centers around Justin March, an exiled investigator, and Mae Koskinen, a soldier with enhanced skills. These two are thrown together to solve a series of ritualistic murders that have been taking place.
One of the things that I loved about this book is the intricate world-building that Mead has created. The Republic of United North America (RUNA) is a dystopian society that has been devastated by religious extremists. The supernatural elements that are woven throughout the story add a layer of mystery and intrigue that kept me hooked until the very end. Mead has a talent for creating complex characters, and I found myself invested in the lives of both Justin and Mae.
The writing style is fast-paced and engaging. Mead also touches on important themes such as the role of religion in society and the power of the government over its citizens. However, some parts of the book can be a bit confusing, and there are a lot of characters to keep track of.
Mead takes us on a journey to a future world that is full of danger and mystery, where supernatural claims and religious groups are investigated by a team of elite soldiers. The story centers around Justin March, an exiled investigator, and Mae Koskinen, a soldier with enhanced skills. These two are thrown together to solve a series of ritualistic murders that have been taking place.
One of the things that I loved about this book is the intricate world-building that Mead has created. The Republic of United North America (RUNA) is a dystopian society that has been devastated by religious extremists. The supernatural elements that are woven throughout the story add a layer of mystery and intrigue that kept me hooked until the very end. Mead has a talent for creating complex characters, and I found myself invested in the lives of both Justin and Mae.
The writing style is fast-paced and engaging. Mead also touches on important themes such as the role of religion in society and the power of the government over its citizens. However, some parts of the book can be a bit confusing, and there are a lot of characters to keep track of.
3.5 ~ 4 stars?
This was a LONG book. And heavy. (In both weight and content.)
It was a slow burn, that's for sure. In fact, I wondered if it was going anywhere at all.
The glossary (in my updates below) would have been helpful had I seen it upfront, but I managed to figure out a few things on my own.
Curious about book two...
This was a LONG book. And heavy. (In both weight and content.)
It was a slow burn, that's for sure. In fact, I wondered if it was going anywhere at all.
The glossary (in my updates below) would have been helpful had I seen it upfront, but I managed to figure out a few things on my own.
Curious about book two...
This is a late review (I read it when it was released), but it was a big departure from the regular Richelle Mead style that I was used to - and I read most of her previous books. A little confusing, but might appeal to sci-fi/dystopian fans.
When I heard this was a futuristic book, I was like oh please, not another dystopian novel! This one is different than the YA dystopian novels, though. I didn't really know what to expect, but being that Mead is one of my favorite authors, I thought that this book would be good. And I was right, it was. RM told us that this book was not a young adult book, and I think she tried to write with a more serious tone because of it. This book is certainly different than her other series, which have more romantic tension in them. That being said, I thought it was written very well, and well thought out. We can tell that you have had this idea in your head for years :)
The only reason for 4/5 stars was because I felt that at times the plot dragged a little. Overall, a good read.
The only reason for 4/5 stars was because I felt that at times the plot dragged a little. Overall, a good read.
I have enjoyed all of Mead's other books, but this one was not great. The story and characters took a remote second place to world-building and (often incomprehensible) information. I don't consider myself a dimwitted reader, but I am still unsure of what many of the terms in this book meant. (I.e. What exactly is the numerical score based on?!) Mae was too perfect, Justin was a douchebag most of the time. I only finished the book because I kept hoping it would get better and because I have an aversion to leaving books unfinished. I hope the sequel finds some of that Mead magic that this one missed.
Amazing series by an amazing writer. Love how it captures your attention and transports you to the scenes with great details. No series by this author has disappointed me to this day. They are great reads and rereads.