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ptaradactyl's review against another edition
1.0
I tried, because I was really intrigued by the premise. However, the writing kept pulling me out of the story. I kept catching myself mentally rewriting sections and realized I wasn’t going to get through this one
see_sadie_read's review against another edition
DNF 50%
Halfway through the book and I felt the world was still being explained and the plot had yet to develop. I found the characters (all of them) unlikeable and I was frankly bored with the whole darned thing...and confused.
Plus, I was continuously annoyed that the author used words that were almost the same thing to the real world to describe what was supposed to be made up. They lived in 'Orien,' which was very clearly Japan (words like Okane, Kaibutsu, bakemono), so the Orient. They drank a drink called 'Cocoal,' which was a brick brown, fizzy, "dark, froth-covered," sweet drink, typically loved by children and drunk with a straw. Can we say Coca-cola? Either commit to the real-world word or make up something truly original. The half-way, half-assed attempt irked me to no end!
Halfway through the book and I felt the world was still being explained and the plot had yet to develop. I found the characters (all of them) unlikeable and I was frankly bored with the whole darned thing...and confused.
Plus, I was continuously annoyed that the author used words that were almost the same thing to the real world to describe what was supposed to be made up. They lived in 'Orien,' which was very clearly Japan (words like Okane, Kaibutsu, bakemono), so the Orient. They drank a drink called 'Cocoal,' which was a brick brown, fizzy, "dark, froth-covered," sweet drink, typically loved by children and drunk with a straw. Can we say Coca-cola? Either commit to the real-world word or make up something truly original. The half-way, half-assed attempt irked me to no end!
celestelee's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting read, well paced with decent character development. Marked my calendar for #2 in the series due out later this year. Considered this one Fantasy/Sci Fi with maybe a little YA thrown in there.
taciturn_sprocket's review against another edition
5.0
I don't usually leave reviews because my memory is terrible and beyond the basic "I like it, you should totally read it" which my 4 stars and above ratings imply, I tend to not have much time or energy to delve into why. if you know me, you know why.
however, I need to yell a lot about this book, because it was really a great debut novel. I've been reading sf/f for nigh unto 35 years and when a new idea pops up in the genre and immediately engages me with its novelty, I'm surprised and delighted.
There are many things to unpack about this book and I don't want there to be spoilers, but let me just say, the premise is fresh, the characters are very relateable, the relationships are very natural, the worldbuilding is pretty comprehensive, the magic internally consistent, and you can definitely see that the author watches anime from her "ero, guro, nansensu" descriptions of the infestations.
Another friend and I decided it would make an excellent Ghibli film.
Are there aspects that need work? of course, it's a first novel. but I'm excited to see the next story, and to see what Laura -- and the writer -- do next.
however, I need to yell a lot about this book, because it was really a great debut novel. I've been reading sf/f for nigh unto 35 years and when a new idea pops up in the genre and immediately engages me with its novelty, I'm surprised and delighted.
There are many things to unpack about this book and I don't want there to be spoilers, but let me just say, the premise is fresh, the characters are very relateable, the relationships are very natural, the worldbuilding is pretty comprehensive, the magic internally consistent, and you can definitely see that the author watches anime from her "ero, guro, nansensu" descriptions of the infestations.
Another friend and I decided it would make an excellent Ghibli film.
Are there aspects that need work? of course, it's a first novel. but I'm excited to see the next story, and to see what Laura -- and the writer -- do next.
ravenwood1984's review against another edition
5.0
So, I very rarely give reviews because I usually either like or don't like a book and I'm not big of writing basically, "good book, read it if you want to, or don't, your loss." I nearly didn't read this book because of all the bad reviews and decided I should try to add my voice to the good ones so people are less likely to miss out.
What I can tell you is it LOOKS like most of the bad reviews came from people who read the ARCs. I'm not seeing the problems that they complained about in the ARCs, so either:
A. It was rewritten/edited after the ARC (sort of the point of ARCs to get opinions and fix loop holes or plot difficulties, etc),
B. The difficulties aren't really all that difficult,
C. Some other reason.
Please, at least give this one a chance, don't let the bad reviews scare you off.
What I can tell you is it LOOKS like most of the bad reviews came from people who read the ARCs. I'm not seeing the problems that they complained about in the ARCs, so either:
A. It was rewritten/edited after the ARC (sort of the point of ARCs to get opinions and fix loop holes or plot difficulties, etc),
B. The difficulties aren't really all that difficult,
C. Some other reason.
Please, at least give this one a chance, don't let the bad reviews scare you off.
chaotic_cowboy's review against another edition
5.0
It isn't the ending, but the journey that matters.
catsluvcoffee's review against another edition
4.0
Set in 1233 in the city of Amicae, the city is broken up into Quarters," like a massive tiered cake". Job and status determine which quarter a person lives in, with First being the richest, and Fifth being the poorest. There's a Sixth Quarter which is where the army lives. Each city is isolated from the others and travel is dangerous between them. Technology is equal to the modern day. Magic is real and used for various purposed in amulets. Amulets are made by artisans in many shapes and sizes and occasionally need to have their magic refreshed.
Our heroine, Laura, is apprenticed as a Sweeper. We aren't talking literal broom sweeping. Laura is learning to clean up monsters created by broken magic. Created as an anti-magic defense system against the other kingdoms, the creators lost control of the system, were killed by the monsters, and the malicious magic has spread. The only problem is the city has hidden the existence of the infestations creating these monsters and blames the destruction on the mob. Now you have a career that precious few know about and even fewer that choose to do it. It's a dangerous trade and none of the past apprentices have made it. Suddenly, the monsters are becoming sentient and more. They are learning as part of a hive mind. Enter Laura.
Read more at Cats Luv Coffee
Our heroine, Laura, is apprenticed as a Sweeper. We aren't talking literal broom sweeping. Laura is learning to clean up monsters created by broken magic. Created as an anti-magic defense system against the other kingdoms, the creators lost control of the system, were killed by the monsters, and the malicious magic has spread. The only problem is the city has hidden the existence of the infestations creating these monsters and blames the destruction on the mob. Now you have a career that precious few know about and even fewer that choose to do it. It's a dangerous trade and none of the past apprentices have made it. Suddenly, the monsters are becoming sentient and more. They are learning as part of a hive mind. Enter Laura.
Read more at Cats Luv Coffee
tinkygirl's review against another edition
2.0
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of the book. Laura is an apprentice "sweeper" to stoic Clae. As they try to clean up magical infestations of monsters from the city, they also have to deal with a government trying to cover up that these infestations actually exist.
The cover of this book had me thinking this was going to be a noir fantasy, but this was definitely not noir. It was set in some sort of Victorian, Tolkienesque world that could have been Steampunk but wasn't. Laura was constantly stating what an independent woman she was, stifled by the times. With the next breath she was trying to win approval of her mentor Clae, who was telling her who he would disapprove of her dating. Ew. The story had some interesting aspects to it, but was too drawn out for my liking.
The cover of this book had me thinking this was going to be a noir fantasy, but this was definitely not noir. It was set in some sort of Victorian, Tolkienesque world that could have been Steampunk but wasn't. Laura was constantly stating what an independent woman she was, stifled by the times. With the next breath she was trying to win approval of her mentor Clae, who was telling her who he would disapprove of her dating. Ew. The story had some interesting aspects to it, but was too drawn out for my liking.
readingrobin's review
Managed to get nearly halfway through the book and it felt like nothing really happened except a significant lore drop that happened may 40% in and the intro of a character that I hope would liven things up but did nothing to make things more exciting or interesting. It's a shame because these characters do seem interesting, I just wish they were part of a more captivating plot.
nazad1th's review against another edition
3.0
I think it's interesting, with an intriguing cast of characters. My issue is, I'm about halfway through the book (185pgs) and still have no idea what the plot is meant to be. There's still exposition and characters still being themselves, but we're getting a lot of history and nothing current to relate to. It may just not be the book for me. It dipped its toe into many categories, being a detective noir steampunky fantasy book, but didn't really commit. It feels like it tried to fit too much into one book without very much to tie it together. Lots of things were unexplored, and just touched upon