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gypdrop's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bexwalsh's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
jan_coco_day's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Contains very cool world-building. The downside of cool world-building is that I want to know more backstory than what is available in the text. Genetics are usually more complex (messier) than what is presented here, but the author's timeline only encompasses one generation (sort of), so perhaps there hasn't been enough time allocated for more complex genetics.
jane_kelsey's review
3.0
It was enjoyable, but it did not blow me away unfortunately. Review to follow.
holly1345's review against another edition
5.0
this book caught my eye mainly due to the cover, I mean it's truly eye-catching but then you hit the first page and the magic of this story dose grip you immensely from the world-building to the characters who literally feel like they're coming to life in front of you this book was beyond anything I could imagine and more, it quickly became one of my most loved books this year.
alongreader's review
2.0
I really tried to enjoy this. It's just the sort of story I like. But the action is so breakneck, and all the characters are so confused all the time, it's hard to keep a handle on what's going on, or who's who, or who's on what side for what reason. Even the (extremely hurried) relationship was hard to follow or believe in.
This could be a great story if it was expanded out, allowed to breathe, given better explanations. As it is, I'm afraid it's just messy. Even in the excerpt included below...taken from the ARC so it might not read like this in the finished book...the nun is described as 'beside the blackboard' and 'beside his desk' without any intervening movement. It's just confusing. There's a great idea here, but I feel like the book missed a round of edits to really bring it out.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I remember a boy called Janus disappearing from his bed one night when I was younger, long before I met Joshua and Kestrel. We were all curious about where he'd gone, but not scared, not yet, we were too small for that. No one but me was stupid enough to ask. The nurse who taught us arithmetic was young, and had a kind, open face. I asked her in the middle of the lesson, as she stood beside the blackboard. The room was cold, stone grey.
'Where's Janus?'
I must have been about four. She looked at me with that and empty eyes, so terrible a look I was scared to meet her gaze. Then she just said, with nothing at all in her voice, 'Who's Janus?'
She was standing right next to his empty wooden desk.
This could be a great story if it was expanded out, allowed to breathe, given better explanations. As it is, I'm afraid it's just messy. Even in the excerpt included below...taken from the ARC so it might not read like this in the finished book...the nun is described as 'beside the blackboard' and 'beside his desk' without any intervening movement. It's just confusing. There's a great idea here, but I feel like the book missed a round of edits to really bring it out.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I remember a boy called Janus disappearing from his bed one night when I was younger, long before I met Joshua and Kestrel. We were all curious about where he'd gone, but not scared, not yet, we were too small for that. No one but me was stupid enough to ask. The nurse who taught us arithmetic was young, and had a kind, open face. I asked her in the middle of the lesson, as she stood beside the blackboard. The room was cold, stone grey.
'Where's Janus?'
I must have been about four. She looked at me with that and empty eyes, so terrible a look I was scared to meet her gaze. Then she just said, with nothing at all in her voice, 'Who's Janus?'
She was standing right next to his empty wooden desk.
annabrewer972's review against another edition
4.0
A good choice if you want a stand alone fantasy. I loved the characters, even if some of aspects of the magic system and the plot details weren't totally rock solid. I also liked the ending and the questions it raised about the ethics of power and magic.
astrid9595's review against another edition
4.0
I had no high expectations as most of the reviews of this book weren't that great. But I actually quite enjoyed this book, especially the writing which I found nice and unique!
I understand that maybe some people struggle with the book because of this. The story was action-packed and filled with lots of fun characters. Though I found the ending a little bit rushed and abrupt.
I understand that maybe some people struggle with the book because of this. The story was action-packed and filled with lots of fun characters. Though I found the ending a little bit rushed and abrupt.
anzubanzu92's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not sure what to think of this book to be honest. It was good and surprised me in a good way.
BUT!
I feel like the summary mislead me a bit and that annoyed me a lot.
BUT!
I feel like the summary mislead me a bit and that annoyed me a lot.
meowreads_94's review against another edition
1.0
It breaks my heart to give such low ratinv to this book because it has huge potential. An interesting world but without unclear background and non moving plot just ruined it.
This book is about a world where gods are killed by human and half god and god and other orphans are thrown into an orphanage. Reaching to age 18, kids are brought to a blood test if they are human or other things and then the guards who rule the word kill them if they are not human. Gods and half gods have supernatural powers and they kind of formed a rebellion. A group of kids run away from the orphanage and join this rebel but then the story does not go anywhere.
The characters remind me of x men but the development of them is very shallow. It fails to hold my attention at one point because of the lackings of plot movement. But I really want to like this book because the starting was so good. Deep Sigh but in a negative way.
This book is about a world where gods are killed by human and half god and god and other orphans are thrown into an orphanage. Reaching to age 18, kids are brought to a blood test if they are human or other things and then the guards who rule the word kill them if they are not human. Gods and half gods have supernatural powers and they kind of formed a rebellion. A group of kids run away from the orphanage and join this rebel but then the story does not go anywhere.
The characters remind me of x men but the development of them is very shallow. It fails to hold my attention at one point because of the lackings of plot movement. But I really want to like this book because the starting was so good. Deep Sigh but in a negative way.