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3.45 AVERAGE
3.45 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
3.5 stars
I'm a little conflicted with this book, but I do have to say that the cover is absolutely gorgeous.
I have never read the story of Chang'e and Houyi so I loved reading this reimagined, modern version of that myth. I loved the writing in this book. For me, it improved upon from "An Astonishing Color of After". I found the prose much more enjoyable and the story was beautiful.
What I wasn't a fan of was how little I felt I actually knew the main characters. I liked their romance and stories, yes, but I didn't leave the book knowing a lot about their personalities and such; they were sort of one-dimensional. The book was quite long too and the plot didn't seem to do much in those pages. I'm fine with a slow-building plot, but this didn't build. Couple that with the characters who barely developed and had little to no personalities, and you find yourself missing where the story is even going. If it wasn't for the lovely writing, I think I might have had a much worse experience with this book. The additional POVs didn't seem all that necessary either, and took away from the main characters. I didn't dislike them per-say, but again they were not developed very well. They were thrown in to explain little tidbits of the story and that was it. Also, I expected the big reveal of why the families were feuding to be WAY more extreme than what it was. That was just... anti-climatic.
The book accomplished what it said out to do; re-tell ancient Chinese mythology. It would've been five stars if the plot and characters felt more flushed out. Worth the read? Yes, but bear in mind where it is lacking (for me anyway).
I'm a little conflicted with this book, but I do have to say that the cover is absolutely gorgeous.
I have never read the story of Chang'e and Houyi so I loved reading this reimagined, modern version of that myth. I loved the writing in this book. For me, it improved upon from "An Astonishing Color of After". I found the prose much more enjoyable and the story was beautiful.
What I wasn't a fan of was how little I felt I actually knew the main characters. I liked their romance and stories, yes, but I didn't leave the book knowing a lot about their personalities and such; they were sort of one-dimensional. The book was quite long too and the plot didn't seem to do much in those pages. I'm fine with a slow-building plot, but this didn't build. Couple that with the characters who barely developed and had little to no personalities, and you find yourself missing where the story is even going. If it wasn't for the lovely writing, I think I might have had a much worse experience with this book. The additional POVs didn't seem all that necessary either, and took away from the main characters. I didn't dislike them per-say, but again they were not developed very well. They were thrown in to explain little tidbits of the story and that was it. Also, I expected the big reveal of why the families were feuding to be WAY more extreme than what it was. That was just... anti-climatic.
The book accomplished what it said out to do; re-tell ancient Chinese mythology. It would've been five stars if the plot and characters felt more flushed out. Worth the read? Yes, but bear in mind where it is lacking (for me anyway).
Honestly the book was mid, and very annoying. All their names of the important characters were way to on the nose. The families feuded over the dumbest things such as a job being taken. Both families for some random reason were connected to some not completely defined illegal business. While the Yee family was running away for theft which didn't seem to have an explanation why they stole the stone. The Chang family seemed to radiate the same hatred maybe even worse going to hate the children probably even more fiercely the. The other family. Luna and Hunter seemed to be magically perfect and have strange abilities. Like I get they're supposed to be off of a myth but just having the characters have random blooms of color on their skin with kisses are also weird. Their relationship in all honesty seemed like friends more than lovers. Their relationship seemed a bit forced beyond that point even though it was made very clear that the author would put them in a relationship from their first interaction. There's also the unexplainedness of the cracks in the town. I'm not sure if they ever stopped or the real reason why they started they just were.
2.5/5
This is such a disappointment because I absolutely adored The Astonishing Color of After. I just didn't feel like this one was anywhere near as emotionally impactful (which was what I was expecting after TACoA) and felt so plain. I didn't care at all about the romance and it felt really one dimensional to me. I also just stand by the fact that just because two families are rivals and the kids date, that's not enough for it to be called a Romeo & Juliet retelling. I don't even need any more R&J but I spent too much time searching for those connections (honestly to have something to do, since I found this kind of boring) only to come up short.
This is such a disappointment because I absolutely adored The Astonishing Color of After. I just didn't feel like this one was anywhere near as emotionally impactful (which was what I was expecting after TACoA) and felt so plain. I didn't care at all about the romance and it felt really one dimensional to me. I also just stand by the fact that just because two families are rivals and the kids date, that's not enough for it to be called a Romeo & Juliet retelling. I don't even need any more R&J but I spent too much time searching for those connections (honestly to have something to do, since I found this kind of boring) only to come up short.
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
medium-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:
No
- It was really interesting seeing so many different pov's in this book, starting from Luna Chang and Hunter Lee (our main characters) to Hunter's younger brother Cody and the parents of both...to our secret POV named Rodney Wong.
- The book starts quite interestingly with the moon falling and the birth of two children (reminded me of when Tinkerbell was born "from a newborn's first laugh"). The insertion of all of the mythological sections of the book may seem confusing at first but once the story progressed I was able to see their correlation to Luna and Hunter.
- There was a mix of old Chinese mythology, some aspects of danger, young love, and of course MAGIC. Although the storyline was quite simple, it did tie in a lot of different stories and perspectives.
- I really loved Hunter and his younger brother Cody's bond. Hunter has the "power" of air guiding him (such as him having PERFECT AIM - hence why he is a wonderful archer but the wind also brings him A LOT OF TROUBLE) and seeing his older courageous brother we can see Cody come out of his shell. I also like how later on Jamey (the rabbit) comes into the picture bringing magic for Cody as well which helps him develop as an individual.
- I also liked how whenever Luna and Hunter interacted something else of equal detriment occurred (like when their hands slightly touched during their first meeting, the earth sunk like an "earthquake" leaving a trail of broken ground all over their town.) This makes sense later on once we develop an understanding of whom these two actually represent
- It was my first time reading about a story that's sort of a spinoff of Houyi and Chang'e and the jade rabbit so it was an intriguing aspect of Chinese mythology I was able to learn about.
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really wanted to like this book, but it was so slow and meandering. It was hard to get a grasp for the characters, and the ending was super sudden and very vague. Lots of magical realism.
A lot of the relationship building between the two was glossed over. There were a couple scenes but their romance definitely didn't shake the earth or however it was described in the end.
I did like the blunt talk about periods. That was refreshing to see.
A lot of the relationship building between the two was glossed over. There were a couple scenes but their romance definitely didn't shake the earth or however it was described in the end.
I did like the blunt talk about periods. That was refreshing to see.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Minor: Animal cruelty
I enjoyed everything about this book!!
I love how the author described Luna and Hunter's families.If the boy's family was a mess from the beginning of the book,the Changs became one throughout it.(1 stars for this)
I aprecciate that we got information from the past of Hunter and Luna's parents,their point of views.Another thing that i appreciated was that the author combined Chinese mythology with Juliet and Romeo's love,even though i hoped while reading the book that there was a different ending(2 stars)
And the last reason why i gave 5 stars to this book is,of course,Hunter and Luna's love story,but also because of Cody and Jadey.
Hunter and Luna were always there for eachother.Even if their love was forbidden and they hid it from their parents, they built a truly devastating yet beautiful story with a really tragic ending that will be stuck with me for a while.
Now,Cody has to live with grief,missing his big brother that tried his best to keep him safe,apart from their familly secrets and pain,but also missing his friend,Jadey.
I love how the author described Luna and Hunter's families.If the boy's family was a mess from the beginning of the book,the Changs became one throughout it.(1 stars for this)
I aprecciate that we got information from the past of Hunter and Luna's parents,their point of views.Another thing that i appreciated was that the author combined Chinese mythology with Juliet and Romeo's love,even though i hoped while reading the book that there was a different ending(2 stars)
And the last reason why i gave 5 stars to this book is,of course,Hunter and Luna's love story,but also because of Cody and Jadey.
Hunter and Luna were always there for eachother.Even if their love was forbidden and they hid it from their parents, they built a truly devastating yet beautiful story with a really tragic ending that will be stuck with me for a while.
Now,Cody has to live with grief,missing his big brother that tried his best to keep him safe,apart from their familly secrets and pain,but also missing his friend,Jadey.
Fairly enjoyable until the ending. Makes the story/journey feel completely meaningless. Also, what does the stone have to do with this?