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chamaeleontis's review against another edition
Stopped reading when I realized it was an awful excuse for queer representation. They have 3 moms of different genders/sexes (IDK which it was meant to be). Which is literally just heterosexuality except they all use she/her pronouns.
Next, the first few chapters heavily imply that the main character is aromantic and asexual, or somewhere on that spectrum. Instead, she's the one straight girl from a species which does not have men.
I can't tell if the author was going for homophobia, aspec erasure, queerbait, or was just bad at worldbuilding.
I have no idea why this book is marked as LGBTQIA+, but it should not be.
That's not even getting into the racism of the white people kindly helping save the people of color from their backwards ways.
Next, the first few chapters heavily imply that the main character is aromantic and asexual, or somewhere on that spectrum. Instead, she's the one straight girl from a species which does not have men.
I can't tell if the author was going for homophobia, aspec erasure, queerbait, or was just bad at worldbuilding.
I have no idea why this book is marked as LGBTQIA+, but it should not be.
That's not even getting into the racism of the white people kindly helping save the people of color from their backwards ways.
dreamliner_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
authorjlr's review against another edition
5.0
SPOILER WARNING!
*
*
*
Okay... I went into this book with ZERO expectation.
I saw the cover, and read the title.
I thought the cover was GORGEOUS, and cerulean is my favorite color! So, WIN, right?
I didn't know this was "an all-female sapphic society where each girl has three mothers," until I started reading it, but I thought, okay, that's a cool idea. Why not?
And now, I am reading all this hate in reviews from some people because... Sera, the MC, is from a world where there are no men, but she ends up on a planet with men, and ends up being attracted to men ...
We live in a world where people are told the "norm" is for women to like men/men to like women, but over the past few decades, this has changed drastically, thankfully!!, and people are finally free to be themselves (for the most part! I know it's not perfect, but it's better than 100 years ago!)
And now we're reading a book where a girl is supposed to be attracted to women but finds that she isn't? Isn't that a bit hypocritical?? Why can't Sera be free to like who she likes? WHY are people so angry that she found herself attracted to men??
Who the F knows? There are so many ___sexuals in our world, maybe it's because we haven't found another planet yet, with other sentient beings. Maybe we'll discover another race of beings and someone will be like, "DAMN THEY'RE HOT AF!" And I will SUPPORT THAT PERSON WHO IS ATTRACTED TO A BEING WHO IS NOT HUMAN. As long as that being is okay with it, too. (Think like, The Shape of Water, the fish guy was totally in love with the human, too, and that was cool.)
ANYWAY, I thought this book was beautiful science fiction with a nice 1800's theme, maybe a little bit steampunk in there. I listened to the audiobook and I think that helped. I think the narrator really brought the characters to life, but I do think the narrator went overboard with the voice of Errol. It was kind of a creepy weird voice, but other than that, it was great.
I think in the second book, there will be a lot more character development! With everyone. I feel like Leo and Agnes romanticize the Byrnes side of the family, and I'm afraid of what they have waiting for them in Pelago. I want their grandmother to be awesome, but ... I don't know, all the foreshadowing is making me nervous, but I'm super excited to read book 2!! GAH I hate that I have to wait! Maybe I'll sign up for an ARC!
Please, if you read this book, read it with an open mind, no expectations. And just HAVE FUN, BECAUSE IT'S FUN!
*
*
*
Okay... I went into this book with ZERO expectation.
I saw the cover, and read the title.
I thought the cover was GORGEOUS, and cerulean is my favorite color! So, WIN, right?
I didn't know this was "an all-female sapphic society where each girl has three mothers," until I started reading it, but I thought, okay, that's a cool idea. Why not?
And now, I am reading all this hate in reviews from some people because... Sera, the MC, is from a world where there are no men, but she ends up on a planet with men, and ends up being attracted to men ...
We live in a world where people are told the "norm" is for women to like men/men to like women, but over the past few decades, this has changed drastically, thankfully!!, and people are finally free to be themselves (for the most part! I know it's not perfect, but it's better than 100 years ago!)
And now we're reading a book where a girl is supposed to be attracted to women but finds that she isn't? Isn't that a bit hypocritical?? Why can't Sera be free to like who she likes? WHY are people so angry that she found herself attracted to men??
Who the F knows? There are so many ___sexuals in our world, maybe it's because we haven't found another planet yet, with other sentient beings. Maybe we'll discover another race of beings and someone will be like, "DAMN THEY'RE HOT AF!" And I will SUPPORT THAT PERSON WHO IS ATTRACTED TO A BEING WHO IS NOT HUMAN. As long as that being is okay with it, too. (Think like, The Shape of Water, the fish guy was totally in love with the human, too, and that was cool.)
ANYWAY, I thought this book was beautiful science fiction with a nice 1800's theme, maybe a little bit steampunk in there. I listened to the audiobook and I think that helped. I think the narrator really brought the characters to life, but I do think the narrator went overboard with the voice of Errol. It was kind of a creepy weird voice, but other than that, it was great.
I think in the second book, there will be a lot more character development! With everyone. I feel like Leo and Agnes romanticize the Byrnes side of the family, and I'm afraid of what they have waiting for them in Pelago. I want their grandmother to be awesome, but ... I don't know, all the foreshadowing is making me nervous, but I'm super excited to read book 2!! GAH I hate that I have to wait! Maybe I'll sign up for an ARC!
Please, if you read this book, read it with an open mind, no expectations. And just HAVE FUN, BECAUSE IT'S FUN!
jtalvi's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
mojordan's review against another edition
3.0
I ended up really liking this book. I went back and forth in the beginning but it really caught on for me in the 2nd half. I would probably give this book a 3.5 rating.
I like to read other reviews before writing mine because I love to love books. I'm not a critic or someone who deeply analyzes a book. I will almost always forget all the bad things about a book as long as there are a few things to love. So, reading other reviews helps bring me down to earth before I give every book in the world a 5 star rating!
*minor spoilers ahead*
The biggest critiques I saw were centered around sexual orientation. Sera turns out to be straight and Agnes turns out to be a lesbian. I thought having both of them being different than they "should be" was a little bit cheesy. But, I can say I really like Agnes and I hope she is even more involved in the 2nd book. I did find the concept of Sera being attracted to men to be a little cheesy, as well. I would have preferred her to just not be interested in love in that way than to be attracted to men. It wasn't until I read the reviews that I realized it's not only cheesy but quite a stretch - there are no men in Sera's race at all so the idea of her being attracted to men is pretty ridiculous.
If someone picked up this book looking for good representation, I can see how they would be very disappointed. I didn't know anything about this story going in and didn't read it for a specific purpose, so I can't say that it totally threw me off or upset me the way it might others. But, it certainly is an element that I don't love. I am glad that romance wasn't a big part of this book. Attraction was discussed but it wasn't in the spotlight so I think that is another reason I was able to get past those things.
Although there are some flaws, I did get really into the story and I like the characters. I'm very intrigued by mystery of everything and I am eager to start the second book
*Note after reading 2nd book - I think the romance makes a lot more sense now after some reveals in book 2. I understand a lot of information was kept hidden for a more grand realization later in the story but I think the romance area was a mistake in how it all went about. I think it is something that's not too hard to get past, though.
I like to read other reviews before writing mine because I love to love books. I'm not a critic or someone who deeply analyzes a book. I will almost always forget all the bad things about a book as long as there are a few things to love. So, reading other reviews helps bring me down to earth before I give every book in the world a 5 star rating!
*minor spoilers ahead*
The biggest critiques I saw were centered around sexual orientation. Sera turns out to be straight and Agnes turns out to be a lesbian. I thought having both of them being different than they "should be" was a little bit cheesy. But, I can say I really like Agnes and I hope she is even more involved in the 2nd book. I did find the concept of Sera being attracted to men to be a little cheesy, as well. I would have preferred her to just not be interested in love in that way than to be attracted to men. It wasn't until I read the reviews that I realized it's not only cheesy but quite a stretch - there are no men in Sera's race at all so the idea of her being attracted to men is pretty ridiculous.
If someone picked up this book looking for good representation, I can see how they would be very disappointed. I didn't know anything about this story going in and didn't read it for a specific purpose, so I can't say that it totally threw me off or upset me the way it might others. But, it certainly is an element that I don't love. I am glad that romance wasn't a big part of this book. Attraction was discussed but it wasn't in the spotlight so I think that is another reason I was able to get past those things.
Although there are some flaws, I did get really into the story and I like the characters. I'm very intrigued by mystery of everything and I am eager to start the second book
*Note after reading 2nd book - I think the romance makes a lot more sense now after some reveals in book 2. I understand a lot of information was kept hidden for a more grand realization later in the story but I think the romance area was a mistake in how it all went about. I think it is something that's not too hard to get past, though.
electrosailor's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
lynsiedaniels's review against another edition
4.0
"You are alive," Sera said. "You are here. You have free will. There is nothing that is keeping you from choosing to be the right kind of person."
Sera Lighthaven comes from the City Above the Sky, inhabited by a non-human species known as the Cerulean. In order to save her city, Sera sacrifices herself by falling to the planet below and spilling her blood. But, it doesn't quite work out. Instead of dying, Sera survives the fall and must navigate this new world with the help of two humans, trying to make her way back to the City Above the Sky.
She wanted to feel like herself, to remember who she was. She was Sera Lighthaven and she was not meant to be chained.
This was a really fun read! I want to start out by saying that I think people are judging this book way too harshly. Upon reading some reviews and seeing the ratings before reading the book, I really expected to dislike this book based on what people were saying. But I think people are wrong about this one.
First, I'll address why I think people got this book wrong and then I'll go into my actual thoughts on the book as a whole. So, the race of people that Sera comes from, the Cerulean, are a polyamorous Sapphic society. Each girl is born to a throuple (a group of three women who are all married to each other) through parthenogenesis, a gift given by the Mother Sun, the goddess the Cerulean worship. However, it is essential that we note that while this society is all women, the Cerulean still know and understand that men exist. Sera has never seen a man before, but she understands the concepts of genders and the fact that in other species of people, men do exist. She comes off as asexual because she's not attracted to women. I don't see why her living in an all-female society means that her loving men is off-limits. This is literally like the main complaint that people are bringing up about this book, that it makes no sense for Sera to be straight because she's from an all-female world. But she still knows that genders and men are a thing, and I think it makes absolute sense for the reason she's not attracted to women to be because she's straight.
The second thing, going along with that, that annoys me about people's reviews is that the Sera-being-straight part of the book is maybe 2%, and the discussing sexuality part of the book overall, with any characters, is probably 5%. Romance and sex is so so so little of the book. There aren't even any sex scenes or pairings, just potential pairings for future books, and Sera isn't even in one of the potential pairings. She finds out she's attracted to men because of one random guy, and then they drop the romantic/sexual thing with her. The only romance that is slightly there happens between Agnes and another minor character, and it's really just hinting at attraction and a possible future relationship. And honestly, I ship it. The main plot of the book is about escaping captivity, forming friendships, finding a way back to the City, and the mystery going on in the City itself.
So yes, I'm a little annoyed that everyone is hating all over this book because of Sera's sexuality because a) it can make sense because of her comprehensive education and b) it's barely a part of the plot. I will point out that the book never gets close to reverse homophobia/heterophobia, and I appreciate that most reviewers also pointed this out in their rants.
Now onto my actual opinions on the book. I liked the plot, although at first it was a bit slow. I understand why all the backstory and events in the first Kaolin part are necessary, but I was bored during them. I much more enjoyed the parts that happened in the City Above the Sky, and I started to get especially intrigued when Kandra and Leela started to realize something wonky was going on with the High Priestess. I really hope the author continues with this series because there are so many questions I need answered about the events from the City Above the Sky, not to mention how the Kaolin storyline left off without a real ending (presumably because there were plans for a second book). Because honestly, man, that cliffhanger in the last Leela chapter!! Wow!
As for the characters, I didn't love or hate them. I really loved how Sera contrasted so deeply from the humans because she is literally a different species. I thought it was a lot of fun to see her interact with the humans, like with the blood bonding. I also really liked Sera's interactions with the other creatures in captivity, like Boris/Tree and Errol. I was, like many other readers, annoyed by Agnes's use of the phrase "no I'm not like other girls", but I didn't actually hate her as a character. I liked that we got to see her as a queer girl in a heteronormative society, and again it just hightlighted the differences between the humans and the Cerulean. I appreciated how Leo's redemption arc was carried out, and I look forward to see it continuing in the next book.
World building: interesting concept but not the best execution. I liked that there was like an earth, but it clearly wasn't earth as we know it because the geography is completely different and it's conducive to magical life. I just wanted to know more about how this world functioned and came about. I'm confused because the characters mention a lot of things that specific references to earth life, like driving and the use of the calendar year (they mention September in chapter 29). So I'm wondering if maybe this planet is the remnants of an earth after some cataclysmic geographical shifting, and the characters in the book would have ancestors from earth as we know it. Maybe I'm stretching it, I just want to know why there are so many earth-like activities and terms but it seems to take place on a different planet.
Another small detail: I did cringe a bit at the names of some of the mystical elements. Mainly, "the Great Sadness" and "Seek Me If You Dare." The names seemed like afterthoughts and they just weren't very creative, like the author just thought, "hmm what would be another way to say the Great Depression and Hide and Seek?". Still, I thought a lot of things about these aspects (i.e. the Great Sadness) were intriguing, even if the names themselves were not.
I thought the third person POV worked much better in this book than I've seen in recent YA fantasy series. I felt like I got enough of everyone's different perspectives, but the chapters still remained mostly focused on whichever character it was supposed to, as it was a shifting spotlight third person perspective. At first I didn't think we needed a Leo POV, like it would've been fine with just Sera, Agnes, and Leela, but towards the end I understood why Leo was included and I started to like him more. Still, I could have done with only female perspectives. I think it would have been fitting, but still I understand why, with the topics in this book, a male perspective could've been beneficial from a storytelling viewpoint.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I didn't want to put it down and I am now anxiously awaiting the second book. I hope the second book will bring character development, relationship development, self-discovery, and more enlightenment on the world, both with the City Above the Sky and the planet below.
Sera Lighthaven comes from the City Above the Sky, inhabited by a non-human species known as the Cerulean. In order to save her city, Sera sacrifices herself by falling to the planet below and spilling her blood. But, it doesn't quite work out. Instead of dying, Sera survives the fall and must navigate this new world with the help of two humans, trying to make her way back to the City Above the Sky.
She wanted to feel like herself, to remember who she was. She was Sera Lighthaven and she was not meant to be chained.
This was a really fun read! I want to start out by saying that I think people are judging this book way too harshly. Upon reading some reviews and seeing the ratings before reading the book, I really expected to dislike this book based on what people were saying. But I think people are wrong about this one.
First, I'll address why I think people got this book wrong and then I'll go into my actual thoughts on the book as a whole. So, the race of people that Sera comes from, the Cerulean, are a polyamorous Sapphic society. Each girl is born to a throuple (a group of three women who are all married to each other) through parthenogenesis, a gift given by the Mother Sun, the goddess the Cerulean worship. However, it is essential that we note that while this society is all women, the Cerulean still know and understand that men exist. Sera has never seen a man before, but she understands the concepts of genders and the fact that in other species of people, men do exist. She comes off as asexual because she's not attracted to women. I don't see why her living in an all-female society means that her loving men is off-limits. This is literally like the main complaint that people are bringing up about this book, that it makes no sense for Sera to be straight because she's from an all-female world. But she still knows that genders and men are a thing, and I think it makes absolute sense for the reason she's not attracted to women to be because she's straight.
The second thing, going along with that, that annoys me about people's reviews is that the Sera-being-straight part of the book is maybe 2%, and the discussing sexuality part of the book overall, with any characters, is probably 5%. Romance and sex is so so so little of the book. There aren't even any sex scenes or pairings, just potential pairings for future books, and Sera isn't even in one of the potential pairings. She finds out she's attracted to men because of one random guy, and then they drop the romantic/sexual thing with her. The only romance that is slightly there happens between Agnes and another minor character, and it's really just hinting at attraction and a possible future relationship. And honestly, I ship it. The main plot of the book is about escaping captivity, forming friendships, finding a way back to the City, and the mystery going on in the City itself.
So yes, I'm a little annoyed that everyone is hating all over this book because of Sera's sexuality because a) it can make sense because of her comprehensive education and b) it's barely a part of the plot. I will point out that the book never gets close to reverse homophobia/heterophobia, and I appreciate that most reviewers also pointed this out in their rants.
Now onto my actual opinions on the book. I liked the plot, although at first it was a bit slow. I understand why all the backstory and events in the first Kaolin part are necessary, but I was bored during them. I much more enjoyed the parts that happened in the City Above the Sky, and I started to get especially intrigued when Kandra and Leela started to realize something wonky was going on with the High Priestess. I really hope the author continues with this series because there are so many questions I need answered about the events from the City Above the Sky, not to mention how the Kaolin storyline left off without a real ending (presumably because there were plans for a second book). Because honestly, man, that cliffhanger in the last Leela chapter!! Wow!
As for the characters, I didn't love or hate them. I really loved how Sera contrasted so deeply from the humans because she is literally a different species. I thought it was a lot of fun to see her interact with the humans, like with the blood bonding. I also really liked Sera's interactions with the other creatures in captivity, like Boris/Tree and Errol. I was, like many other readers, annoyed by Agnes's use of the phrase "no I'm not like other girls", but I didn't actually hate her as a character. I liked that we got to see her as a queer girl in a heteronormative society, and again it just hightlighted the differences between the humans and the Cerulean. I appreciated how Leo's redemption arc was carried out, and I look forward to see it continuing in the next book.
World building: interesting concept but not the best execution. I liked that there was like an earth, but it clearly wasn't earth as we know it because the geography is completely different and it's conducive to magical life. I just wanted to know more about how this world functioned and came about. I'm confused because the characters mention a lot of things that specific references to earth life, like driving and the use of the calendar year (they mention September in chapter 29). So I'm wondering if maybe this planet is the remnants of an earth after some cataclysmic geographical shifting, and the characters in the book would have ancestors from earth as we know it. Maybe I'm stretching it, I just want to know why there are so many earth-like activities and terms but it seems to take place on a different planet.
Another small detail: I did cringe a bit at the names of some of the mystical elements. Mainly, "the Great Sadness" and "Seek Me If You Dare." The names seemed like afterthoughts and they just weren't very creative, like the author just thought, "hmm what would be another way to say the Great Depression and Hide and Seek?". Still, I thought a lot of things about these aspects (i.e. the Great Sadness) were intriguing, even if the names themselves were not.
I thought the third person POV worked much better in this book than I've seen in recent YA fantasy series. I felt like I got enough of everyone's different perspectives, but the chapters still remained mostly focused on whichever character it was supposed to, as it was a shifting spotlight third person perspective. At first I didn't think we needed a Leo POV, like it would've been fine with just Sera, Agnes, and Leela, but towards the end I understood why Leo was included and I started to like him more. Still, I could have done with only female perspectives. I think it would have been fitting, but still I understand why, with the topics in this book, a male perspective could've been beneficial from a storytelling viewpoint.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I didn't want to put it down and I am now anxiously awaiting the second book. I hope the second book will bring character development, relationship development, self-discovery, and more enlightenment on the world, both with the City Above the Sky and the planet below.
crystaloona's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5