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pantsreads's review
4.0
Not without some faults, but I loved the complexity of the world building and am looking forward to future adventures with Kyra.
Check out my full review at Forever Young Adult.
Check out my full review at Forever Young Adult.
gillianalice's review
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I picked this up from my library having never heard anything about it. But a book about a clan of lady assassins? Sign me up!
I almost wish we’d gotten more of an immersion in the Order of Kali. We get enough that we understand the gravity of the death of the Mahimata, but not much else. I feel like this could have been divided up into a couple of books just for the sake of world building. But that being said, I really enjoyed what little we got!
My only other complaint was the romance. It seemed to come out of nowhere, and while I’m not mad about it, I wanted more tension.
Overall, still a 4 star book. I’m mad that I don’t have the sequel checked out yet!
I almost wish we’d gotten more of an immersion in the Order of Kali. We get enough that we understand the gravity of the death of the Mahimata, but not much else. I feel like this could have been divided up into a couple of books just for the sake of world building. But that being said, I really enjoyed what little we got!
My only other complaint was the romance. It seemed to come out of nowhere, and while I’m not mad about it, I wanted more tension.
Overall, still a 4 star book. I’m mad that I don’t have the sequel checked out yet!
mllocy's review
2.0
I had no expectations for this book, when I picked it up. But, to start, it had promise and that promise is what pulled me all the way through. But, that promise was not achieved.
In a post-apocalyptic dark ages, in what seems to me to be the Indian sub-continent, society is divided into orders, and the two we really get to see are orders of warrior nuns and warrior monks. They have cool magic blades that can be summoned with the psychic powers the blades bestow. These warrior nuns and monks are the only people allowed to kill anyone, and their job is basically to be executioner for society. Their psychic powers allow them to see into people's minds so they don't get manipulated into murder, often.
This is pretty cool, except, that happens all of three times in the book. Kyra, the main character, is a newly minted markswoman and, yes, she does do her job, very very infrequently. She is also consumed by getting vengeance for her murdered family, but, she definitely does not get to do that this book. And, the main conflict is that her leader and mentor is suspiciously murdered (so suspiciously, there's not a single scrap of evidence) and the usurping replacement, Tamsyn, is mean (there is a lot of evidence for this). Kyra cannot abide this change of fortunes so she runs away and spends the majority of the book training to kill Tamsyn. In the least interesting way possible.
There is a typical YA love triangle, that, blessedly, doesn't take up too many pages. And, that's pretty much it. There's not a lot of character development; there's not a lot of action; there is entirely too little use of cool magic.
That's the end. The evil leader's plan is thwarted before it really got off the ground, the book obnoxiously ends on a cliffhanger and there is one cool fight.
In a post-apocalyptic dark ages, in what seems to me to be the Indian sub-continent, society is divided into orders, and the two we really get to see are orders of warrior nuns and warrior monks. They have cool magic blades that can be summoned with the psychic powers the blades bestow. These warrior nuns and monks are the only people allowed to kill anyone, and their job is basically to be executioner for society. Their psychic powers allow them to see into people's minds so they don't get manipulated into murder, often.
This is pretty cool, except, that happens all of three times in the book. Kyra, the main character, is a newly minted markswoman and, yes, she does do her job, very very infrequently. She is also consumed by getting vengeance for her murdered family, but, she definitely does not get to do that this book. And, the main conflict is that her leader and mentor is suspiciously murdered (so suspiciously, there's not a single scrap of evidence) and the usurping replacement, Tamsyn, is mean (there is a lot of evidence for this). Kyra cannot abide this change of fortunes so she runs away and spends the majority of the book training to kill Tamsyn. In the least interesting way possible.
There is a typical YA love triangle, that, blessedly, doesn't take up too many pages. And, that's pretty much it. There's not a lot of character development; there's not a lot of action; there is entirely too little use of cool magic.
That's the end. The evil leader's plan is thwarted before it really got off the ground, the book obnoxiously ends on a cliffhanger and there is one cool fight.
chelseanaylor's review
3.0
This book started out promising with some great elements of world building, but ultimately the plot felt both rushed and lacking conviction. The build up of the "villain" was pretty lacking, as was the romance...both seemed to come out of nowhere simply to drive the plot but without proper vetting. The plot points seemed random and not really coherent. Why did the khur take her in? Why does she think Tasmyn killed Shirin Mam? Where does the romantic tension come from between her and Rustan? The answer is from nowhere. They spend a few weeks training, which we barely see the interaction of, and suddenly they're in love with each other.
This felt like a first draft that needed an editor to point out plot holes and demand more character and plot development.
This felt like a first draft that needed an editor to point out plot holes and demand more character and plot development.
elizabethkg's review
3.0
I feel like bits of the story were left out, specifically the romance. I had a feeling there was going to be one, but not suddenly pining for the other and missed opportunities lamented. Kyra was not compelling to read about.
winterreader40's review
4.0
I really enjoyed the South-Asian setting and characters. The main character was annoying but willing to learn and improve herself. There is a sort of love triangle but it's not a focus of the story, which was nice.
_camk_'s review
3.0
I think the plot in Markswoman was a little lacking - there was just something missing. It is a slow book and nothing much truly happens and yet the story itself move quite quick as there isn't much detail.
Kyra is a great protagonist. She was a likable character who was not a special girl in a mans world but rather a girl in a world full of kickass girls and a few men.
Back to my previous point about detail, I think the romance is best evidence of this. There isn't much dialogue between the leads nor is there any chemistry but in the time they spent training together - which we see little of - they started to care for each other. The romance did feel a little forced.
Kyra is a great protagonist. She was a likable character who was not a special girl in a mans world but rather a girl in a world full of kickass girls and a few men.
Back to my previous point about detail, I think the romance is best evidence of this. There isn't much dialogue between the leads nor is there any chemistry but in the time they spent training together - which we see little of - they started to care for each other. The romance did feel a little forced.
mankan's review
3.0
Rati Mehrotra’s MARKSWOMAN is a great fun read with minimalistic worldbuilding. An action packed coming of age story set in a post-post apocalyptic Asia, starring an order of psychic assassins (of the original Kali worshipping variety) with alien tech swords. Recommended.