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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
Okay. So it turns out, I actually liked this quite a bit. I was worried at first, because I thought Lee was pretty judgmental and unfair (particularly about Taro). But she won me over.
Let's talk about how. I think the author used POV to wonderful effect here. Lee definitely doesn't always say the right things. But she's thinking them - we see that, with her internal dialogue. She's also witty, funny, and at times gut-bustingly hilarious. Definitely sarcastic. But the reason she didn't read as bitchy, to me anyway, was because she pointed that criticism at herself more than anyone else in the book. She called herself an idiot, for example, more times than everyone else put together. She's very self-effacing. I would go so far as to say that she doesn't think highly enough of herself.
And sure, in the beginning, she made mistakes with Taro. To some degree, that is justifiable - as his professor told him, that's the reputation that Taro has chosen to embrace, and so it is unfair to expect that he wouldn't be judged by it. But Lee's opinion of him changes as she gets to know him, through working together. You can see the shift vividly in her internal dialogue. Her relationship with him still struggles, because though she is thinking the right things, she doesn't know how to say them. I can forgive her that - given that from the age of 4 onwards, she was taught to control all emotions, be a calm, blank slate, she is pretty emotionally stunted. I see her coming around, though, and at the end, I think she and Karish have begun to form an understanding of each other (because yeah, he makes bad assumptions about her too...). I think altogether, it plays out pretty beautifully.
In terms of the overall story, I really enjoyed it. The world-building was fabulous, and I liked the system of magic. Also, I agree with the disgruntled Shields to a fair degree - they really do get a raw deal. No credit for anything, but they share the blame when they are bonded to douchebags. I agree that system needs to change. I obviously don't, however, agree with their methods. ;)
I am really looking forward to reading onward, and I will probably jump straight on book 2.
Let's talk about how. I think the author used POV to wonderful effect here. Lee definitely doesn't always say the right things. But she's thinking them - we see that, with her internal dialogue. She's also witty, funny, and at times gut-bustingly hilarious. Definitely sarcastic. But the reason she didn't read as bitchy, to me anyway, was because she pointed that criticism at herself more than anyone else in the book. She called herself an idiot, for example, more times than everyone else put together. She's very self-effacing. I would go so far as to say that she doesn't think highly enough of herself.
And sure, in the beginning, she made mistakes with Taro. To some degree, that is justifiable - as his professor told him, that's the reputation that Taro has chosen to embrace, and so it is unfair to expect that he wouldn't be judged by it. But Lee's opinion of him changes as she gets to know him, through working together. You can see the shift vividly in her internal dialogue. Her relationship with him still struggles, because though she is thinking the right things, she doesn't know how to say them. I can forgive her that - given that from the age of 4 onwards, she was taught to control all emotions, be a calm, blank slate, she is pretty emotionally stunted. I see her coming around, though, and at the end, I think she and Karish have begun to form an understanding of each other (because yeah, he makes bad assumptions about her too...
Spoiler
I can't believe he really thought that she was going to kill himIn terms of the overall story, I really enjoyed it. The world-building was fabulous, and I liked the system of magic. Also, I agree with the disgruntled Shields to a fair degree - they really do get a raw deal. No credit for anything, but they share the blame when they are bonded to douchebags. I agree that system needs to change. I obviously don't, however, agree with their methods. ;)
I am really looking forward to reading onward, and I will probably jump straight on book 2.
With magic, mystery and lots of adventures + great dialogue + a loveable and witty heroine, who could ask for me?
Well, I would love more romance actually. There's almost none, and that's a picty because the main characters are too cute for words! :)
Well, I would love more romance actually. There's almost none, and that's a picty because the main characters are too cute for words! :)
Light and fluffy romantic fantasy. The cover art is terrible! I'd be embarrassed to read it in public. Read it on my Kindle. I'll read the follow-up books when I'm in the mood for more light and fluffy.
okay as many reviewers have said, the book covers are sadly...not bad, but not representative of the book. Dunleavy does have the "done" expression on her face that she likely wears a lot, at least internally, but Karish is essentially not himself at all, but an image of what she imagines he'll be like. The cover also makes it look like a romance, and my guess is that the actual romance that is brewing won't happen until like...many books down the line.
But this book is so fun! It's also got one of the best first person narrators that I've read in ages. Dunleavy, aka Lee, is a very intelligent, well trained Shield, that's also rather naive and out of touch and judgmental. There are times when we, the reader, can tell Something is up, but she doesn't and it doesn't feel annoying that she can't see it, it just makes sense because of her upbringing. Her voice is also delightful -- she's very funny and dry and also seems like a real person.
"They made such emphatic sounds of astonishment that I wondered if I should duck."
"I didn’t know the act of holding onto one’s patience could be a visual spectacle. It was kind of interesting to watch.”
“Sometimes I was so funny I couldn’t stand myself.”
The book also takes place in a world where same-sex romances are perfectly normal, which is also a nice escape -- I'm pretty sure Karish is bisexual.
But this book is so fun! It's also got one of the best first person narrators that I've read in ages. Dunleavy, aka Lee, is a very intelligent, well trained Shield, that's also rather naive and out of touch and judgmental. There are times when we, the reader, can tell Something is up, but she doesn't and it doesn't feel annoying that she can't see it, it just makes sense because of her upbringing. Her voice is also delightful -- she's very funny and dry and also seems like a real person.
"They made such emphatic sounds of astonishment that I wondered if I should duck."
"I didn’t know the act of holding onto one’s patience could be a visual spectacle. It was kind of interesting to watch.”
“Sometimes I was so funny I couldn’t stand myself.”
The book also takes place in a world where same-sex romances are perfectly normal, which is also a nice escape -- I'm pretty sure Karish is bisexual.
Enjoyable light fantasy - in the Pern "this is a future colony turned magical" sense - although hampered by a TON of clunky as-you-know-Bob historical exposition at the beginning of the book, and the book-length mystery was solved more or less by accident - Lee took a very long time to catch on. That said, Lee and Taro were both fun characters, the world seems interesting enough and I'll definitely continue with the series.
Is 2 stars too harsh? I don't know. I enjoyed reading this book, but felt like there was something lacking in the logic of the fantasy world, though I couldn't put my finger on it. Also, it was pretty clear from about 10 pages in that the supposed jerk was not actually a jerk and was just misunderstood. So it was hard to empathize with the main character's complaints about him.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked the world and most of the characters, but the main character was self-centered and had a serious inferiority complex. Luckily, she seemed to have developed and matured. Can't wait to start the next book.