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alisonraser's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
msbrit90's review
5.0
Another AMAZING book by Ms. Durst. I absolutely love the worlds and creatures she creates.
katastrophicallywong's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
An exhilarating read that explores corruption, family and the afterlife in the high stakes world of monster racing.
In this book Tamra, a veteran racer and trainer with a difficult past, and Raia, a young girl trying desperately to escape her family, are linked by their needs to forge a new future where they can leave their ties behind.
It’s heart-pumping and nerve wracking, and Durst manages to perfectly blend the high-octane thrill of watching with momentum and rhythm of an action film, and a touch of political intrigue.
Populated with characters that you can’t help but love, and driven by pacey writing, you won’t be able to put it down.
My only qualm is that it can feel a little juvenile at times. The ending wraps up a little too much like a Renaissance Disney movie and some of the “bad guys” are cartoonishly evil.
But happy to overlook it for a read that is simply a lot of fun.
In this book Tamra, a veteran racer and trainer with a difficult past, and Raia, a young girl trying desperately to escape her family, are linked by their needs to forge a new future where they can leave their ties behind.
It’s heart-pumping and nerve wracking, and Durst manages to perfectly blend the high-octane thrill of watching with momentum and rhythm of an action film, and a touch of political intrigue.
Populated with characters that you can’t help but love, and driven by pacey writing, you won’t be able to put it down.
My only qualm is that it can feel a little juvenile at times. The ending wraps up a little too much like a Renaissance Disney movie and some of the “bad guys” are cartoonishly evil.
But happy to overlook it for a read that is simply a lot of fun.
lkesler's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jessreadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
kzimm2024's review
5.0
Apparently I need to start a new shelf, one that describes this amazing story.
This fascinating, glorious story.
It reads kind of YA at the start, and it is clean, but the world and adventure, characters, make it a book I could not put down.
The concept is intriguing, mostly reincarnation based on how you lived your life (monsters if you are bad and other things if you aren't), and I could see the plot in advance (how the lion had been trapped into being a monster when it wasn't) and it is a kind of worn out villain scenario (people in power willing to do what it takes to stay there).
BUT- it was still amazing! I loved it and even though one of my favorite characters is cruelly killed by the author :) it was a truly enjoyable story. I felt the sand and the wind, pictured the creatures and loved the depth of the characters. Lady Evara- who would have thought how vital she would be.
And guess what! No series- a standalone. Whew!
Also, slight typo, when they line up the monsters for the racing I believe it should be chute instead of shoot- just a heads up.
This fascinating, glorious story.
It reads kind of YA at the start, and it is clean, but the world and adventure, characters, make it a book I could not put down.
The concept is intriguing, mostly reincarnation based on how you lived your life (monsters if you are bad and other things if you aren't), and I could see the plot in advance (how the lion had been trapped into being a monster when it wasn't) and it is a kind of worn out villain scenario (people in power willing to do what it takes to stay there).
BUT- it was still amazing! I loved it and even though one of my favorite characters is cruelly killed by the author :) it was a truly enjoyable story. I felt the sand and the wind, pictured the creatures and loved the depth of the characters. Lady Evara- who would have thought how vital she would be.
And guess what! No series- a standalone. Whew!
Also, slight typo, when they line up the monsters for the racing I believe it should be chute instead of shoot- just a heads up.
rebeccazh's review
Every time Sarah Beth Durst releases a book, I get excited and try my hardest to get into it, and then I just can't make my way past 20%... The premise of this book is really intriguing and it has a strong opening. But I think this writing style is just not my cup of tea.
karanextweek's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It took me a few chapters to settle into the book. The first chapter or two felt stilted and odd, but I warmed up to the story and characters. It’s an interesting concept although I really struggled with a black metal lion and how you could ride that in a desert without constantly having 3rd degree burns?
joylynn06's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I really enjoyed this standalone. The worldbuilding was unique and the story moved along at a nice pace. This had monster racing and political intrigue. I like that this author never wraps anything up neatly. The stakes are always high and that makes her novels unpredictable.