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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed this book. It was a mix between Avatar and Madoka Magica. Elemental powers, past lives, dark mysteries, and great sacrifices.
THANK YOU for not having the main character super powerful and the "savior." I like that Maia had to learn about her powers with the reader and was, in fact, awful. I also liked the author shows how scary fighting these monsters really is. Made me like the story even more because the characters were more realistic with all their flaws.
THANK YOU for not having the main character super powerful and the "savior." I like that Maia had to learn about her powers with the reader and was, in fact, awful. I also liked the author shows how scary fighting these monsters really is. Made me like the story even more because the characters were more realistic with all their flaws.
Yawn. Seriously, I felt like I have read this book before a hundred times better. The biggest problem is that at 100 pages in I was still confused about this universe. There was no setup for the world we were reading and I had to piece things together. Painfully extracting information as I went which made things very difficult to follow. I also wasn't found of the first character voice. She came off very whiny and bubble headed.
3.5 Stars
Pretty solid start to a series, some brief hiccups here and there, but still good. It's an intriguing fantasy with some interesting world-building, somewhat solid characters, and an action-filled plot that helps to keep the story moving along without being bogged down by the world-building explanations. The ending was pretty solid: a good fight sequence followed by some hints of what may come in the next book (and enough foreshadowing that I want to read more). Overall I liked Maia and thought she was a fun character to follow through this story; while she did become a "chosen one" she was reluctant about it and wasn't really all that good at it which is somewhat unusual in these kinds of story, a refreshing unusual at that. I liked that she was nervous and shy and awkward as one would expect a teenager to be, especially if she suddenly had to be around people she considers to be her idols.
The only things I didn't like: the sorta romance subplot. That bit just felt a little too YA cliche at times though at least it didn't actually advance as quickly as it seems to do in a lot of YA. At least all that seemed to develop was a crush between Maia and Rhys but it still felt too rushed and just a little bit off. Also I was kinda irked how pretty much all the main guys that were introduced were "hot." Maia just kind of immediately picked up and commented on their good looks as soon as she saw them (Rhys, Saul, and Vasily). Not that all three couldn't be good looking guys but it was just a little boring to have their hotness described every time one of them came on the scene, especially when it felt kind unnecessary (there was one scene where Saul grabbed Maia and she thought something to the effect that he "pulled her against his hard chest" :X why does it have to be described that way? why did you have to say "hard chest?" why not just "chest"? it just took me out of the story and made me roll my eyes when I read that). I just got a little bored with all the comments about how hot these guys were, or how beautiful the other Effigies were. It's fine that she finds them pretty or good-looking or whatever, but I as the reader really don't need it reiterated every time that character comes on the scene. It gets super redundant after a while, especially when pretty much all the main characters are aesthetically pleasing people (and it's a little unrealistic).
I also wish there had been a little more character growth over the course of the book but hopefully that was mostly due to setting up the world and characters and plot and will be addressed more in the second book.
So all in all, I enjoyed this book. It was an intriguing fantasy and I'd definitely be interested in reading the rest of the series if it keeps on its current trajectory.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Pretty solid start to a series, some brief hiccups here and there, but still good. It's an intriguing fantasy with some interesting world-building, somewhat solid characters, and an action-filled plot that helps to keep the story moving along without being bogged down by the world-building explanations. The ending was pretty solid: a good fight sequence followed by some hints of what may come in the next book (and enough foreshadowing that I want to read more). Overall I liked Maia and thought she was a fun character to follow through this story; while she did become a "chosen one" she was reluctant about it and wasn't really all that good at it which is somewhat unusual in these kinds of story, a refreshing unusual at that. I liked that she was nervous and shy and awkward as one would expect a teenager to be, especially if she suddenly had to be around people she considers to be her idols.
The only things I didn't like: the sorta romance subplot. That bit just felt a little too YA cliche at times though at least it didn't actually advance as quickly as it seems to do in a lot of YA. At least all that seemed to develop was a crush between Maia and Rhys but it still felt too rushed and just a little bit off. Also I was kinda irked how pretty much all the main guys that were introduced were "hot." Maia just kind of immediately picked up and commented on their good looks as soon as she saw them (Rhys, Saul, and Vasily). Not that all three couldn't be good looking guys but it was just a little boring to have their hotness described every time one of them came on the scene, especially when it felt kind unnecessary (there was one scene where Saul grabbed Maia and she thought something to the effect that he "pulled her against his hard chest" :X why does it have to be described that way? why did you have to say "hard chest?" why not just "chest"? it just took me out of the story and made me roll my eyes when I read that). I just got a little bored with all the comments about how hot these guys were, or how beautiful the other Effigies were. It's fine that she finds them pretty or good-looking or whatever, but I as the reader really don't need it reiterated every time that character comes on the scene. It gets super redundant after a while, especially when pretty much all the main characters are aesthetically pleasing people (and it's a little unrealistic).
I also wish there had been a little more character growth over the course of the book but hopefully that was mostly due to setting up the world and characters and plot and will be addressed more in the second book.
So all in all, I enjoyed this book. It was an intriguing fantasy and I'd definitely be interested in reading the rest of the series if it keeps on its current trajectory.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
3.5, creative idea, I'm curious to see where the series goes from here
full disclosure: i picked up an arc of this a few comic cons back.
3.5/5
this was really good! it reminded me a bit of the wicked + the divine while still being uniquely its own idea, and a pretty flipping cool one at that. my favorite aspect was definitely that the effigies were treated as mega pop stars, beyonces and taylor swifts, with that level of fandom and antis built around them. that's not something you often see in the superhero genre but oh my god, does that make sO MUCH sense. there were more than a few parts that i wish weren't so rushed through, where the book really seemed to be just racing to get to the end, but - honestly - the uniqueness of the idea constantly made up for anything that seemed wham-bamish or super duper obvious.
def a neat read, and one that really lets people who have never done a thing before not magically know how to do the thing. maia sucked, a lot. but as a person who has had no training and not even tried out her magical power because she was afraid of it? it only made sense for her to suck, a lot. (and it also make sense for her to be afraid of it, i did not begrudge her that at all.) i also especially loved that, her being such a fangirl of the effigies, she had this whole idea of how she would be if she were ever chosen; she gets chosen, and instead is like: oh no, oops, fuck this. because yES. and her relationship with lake, how she went from a judge-y anti of this 'character,' then meeting her as a person and realizing: oh, right, these girls are essentially chosen to die and judging them for how they behave in the face of that is a super duper crappy thing to do. it was very cool to see her go from fangirl to 'star' and how she reconciled those two identities. also, randomly, i really liked that there was so much focus on the collateral damage? both structural and.... people dying. because people would die in huge monster attacks, it's a thing. and it is a thing, when usually it's just a headline in the background, something to show you the stakes but not really emotionally attach you to them. here, yOU'RE ATTACHED.
3.5/5
this was really good! it reminded me a bit of the wicked + the divine while still being uniquely its own idea, and a pretty flipping cool one at that. my favorite aspect was definitely that the effigies were treated as mega pop stars, beyonces and taylor swifts, with that level of fandom and antis built around them. that's not something you often see in the superhero genre but oh my god, does that make sO MUCH sense. there were more than a few parts that i wish weren't so rushed through, where the book really seemed to be just racing to get to the end, but - honestly - the uniqueness of the idea constantly made up for anything that seemed wham-bamish or super duper obvious.
def a neat read, and one that really lets people who have never done a thing before not magically know how to do the thing. maia sucked, a lot. but as a person who has had no training and not even tried out her magical power because she was afraid of it? it only made sense for her to suck, a lot. (and it also make sense for her to be afraid of it, i did not begrudge her that at all.) i also especially loved that, her being such a fangirl of the effigies, she had this whole idea of how she would be if she were ever chosen; she gets chosen, and instead is like: oh no, oops, fuck this. because yES. and her relationship with lake, how she went from a judge-y anti of this 'character,' then meeting her as a person and realizing: oh, right, these girls are essentially chosen to die and judging them for how they behave in the face of that is a super duper crappy thing to do. it was very cool to see her go from fangirl to 'star' and how she reconciled those two identities. also, randomly, i really liked that there was so much focus on the collateral damage? both structural and.... people dying. because people would die in huge monster attacks, it's a thing. and it is a thing, when usually it's just a headline in the background, something to show you the stakes but not really emotionally attach you to them. here, yOU'RE ATTACHED.
*I received this book through netgalley, but all thoughts and opinions are my own*
Holy moly! When they say this is a mix between Pacific Rim and Sailor Moon, they aren't kidding, and I loved every second of it.
Well, mostly ^_^
I love the idea, the concept, and the badass girls. It did seem a little cliche that of course the new girl is the important one and can't figure out her powers, but I got over it considering why she couldn't get them to work.
Another thing I really appreciated was how death is brought up and how these girls-- the Effigies, all think about fighting and dying in different ways, yet still all hate it. It makes sense and adds another depth to the novel.
Seeing memories of the past... I'm not totally sold on it [Getting an Avatar-vibe and i'd like a little more clarity], as well as the science-y stuff and "the fifth Effigie", but the action and scenes were awesome.
I should probably admit that I absolutely loved Pacific Rim and while reading this book, the theme song continuously played in my head, perhaps the Sailor Moon one would have been more accurate with the fighting and winning love-- but there is always a snag.
As a downside, I really did want more details on a few things: What does the main character look like?, How old are the Effigies?, How does one pick their soul weap-- their sword?, Why is Rhys such a popular name now?.
I loved this book, but I worry I am over hyping it. I'll have to re-read it when the next book comes out and HELL YES I will be reading it.
I recommend this book to fans of Sailor Moon (They don't start as friends either you know), monster movies, and anyone who likes reading kick ass fight scenes (while understanding the characters have realistic fears).
Looking forward to the sequel!!
Holy moly! When they say this is a mix between Pacific Rim and Sailor Moon, they aren't kidding, and I loved every second of it.
Well, mostly ^_^
I love the idea, the concept, and the badass girls. It did seem a little cliche that of course the new girl is the important one and can't figure out her powers, but I got over it considering why she couldn't get them to work.
Another thing I really appreciated was how death is brought up and how these girls-- the Effigies, all think about fighting and dying in different ways, yet still all hate it. It makes sense and adds another depth to the novel.
Seeing memories of the past... I'm not totally sold on it [Getting an Avatar-vibe and i'd like a little more clarity], as well as the science-y stuff and "the fifth Effigie", but the action and scenes were awesome.
I should probably admit that I absolutely loved Pacific Rim and while reading this book, the theme song continuously played in my head, perhaps the Sailor Moon one would have been more accurate with the fighting and winning love-- but there is always a snag.
As a downside, I really did want more details on a few things: What does the main character look like?, How old are the Effigies?, How does one pick their soul weap-- their sword?, Why is Rhys such a popular name now?.
I loved this book, but I worry I am over hyping it. I'll have to re-read it when the next book comes out and HELL YES I will be reading it.
I recommend this book to fans of Sailor Moon (They don't start as friends either you know), monster movies, and anyone who likes reading kick ass fight scenes (while understanding the characters have realistic fears).
Looking forward to the sequel!!
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Nothing new, for anyone that doesn't know, the W.I.T.C.H. comics series did this already.
I couldn't get into it. It wasn't that deep, smart, fun or exciting. The monsters were just monsters, whereas in the comics, they weren't mindless, and could disguise themselves as people, which was way more interesting.
I'm just not feeling it.
DNFed after chapter 2. (Although I don't think I will be coming back to this.)
I couldn't get into it. It wasn't that deep, smart, fun or exciting. The monsters were just monsters, whereas in the comics, they weren't mindless, and could disguise themselves as people, which was way more interesting.
I'm just not feeling it.
DNFed after chapter 2. (Although I don't think I will be coming back to this.)
