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lucyselim's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I am so confused. The premise of historians and time travel sounded right up my street, which is why I gave this a go. However, I spent the first half of the book in literal agony about how bad the writing was and that the plot was not being executed fully. Ironically, I could not keep up with the jumping of time. One moment she had been at the institute a week and the next it had been years.
One of my biggest problems was the terrible writing, but also the treatment of female characters. The main character is a classic Mary Sue who has all the men at her feet despite being average at best. She immediately clashes with the other female character who also has red hair for no real reason. One of her 'friends' leaves the institute during their training and she is really upset about it, despite having never been seen speaking to her before. In short, I was ready to give up on this book.
But sometime happened just after halfway through.I believe it was when Leon reveals he is from the future Suddenly the plot became interesting enough for me to want to continue. I actually even enjoyed the last 50 pages or so.
Overall, this book definitely needs some work, but having realised it is the authors first published novel, I can understand where the writing may fall down. I will be giving the next book a go, but only because my boyfriend already bought it for me. Otherwise, perhaps I would be giving this lengthy series a miss.
One of my biggest problems was the terrible writing, but also the treatment of female characters. The main character is a classic Mary Sue who has all the men at her feet despite being average at best. She immediately clashes with the other female character who also has red hair for no real reason. One of her 'friends' leaves the institute during their training and she is really upset about it, despite having never been seen speaking to her before. In short, I was ready to give up on this book.
But sometime happened just after halfway through.
Overall, this book definitely needs some work, but having realised it is the authors first published novel, I can understand where the writing may fall down. I will be giving the next book a go, but only because my boyfriend already bought it for me. Otherwise, perhaps I would be giving this lengthy series a miss.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Grief, Medical content, Alcohol, Miscarriage, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Blood, Body horror, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Violence
welkinvault's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Reminded me of the Oxford Historians time travelling novels of Connie Willis, except this one was fast paced and fairly cracked along in an entertaining way. Unlike Connie Willis where I feel I have live the period along with the protagonists, in this novel the plot is more important than the sense of time and place.
I will definitely be checking out more of this series.
I will definitely be checking out more of this series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment and Gore
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