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readbyashleyd's review against another edition
3.0
I’m right in the middle with this book. There were parts I loved and there were parts that I just wanted to skip over. The idea is absolutely fascinating and I could have read about it for days. Egyptian mythology and WWII mixed together is a sure fire way to grab my attention! The parts that focused on those two aspects were absolutely stellar and I adored them. What I enjoyed less was the characters and the love story. The characters just seemed flat and didn’t really make me feel anything and the insta-love was a bit of stretch. All in all there was both good and bad to this book and I still do think it’s worth a read because the subject matter is very captivating!
libreva's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
tessa_talks_books's review against another edition
4.0
Wardens of Eternity is a fun, action-packed story that takes the reader on an international journey of magic and mayhem.
Favorite character: Ziva Mereniset
I debated this choice for a while because she is a very complex character but ultimately decided that she is indeed my favorite in this story. She goes from being a poor orphan girl with no idea about who and where she came from to being someone willing to fight to protect the identity that she discovers throughout the novel. She is open to questionable decisions as well as decisions based on emotional reactions to events going on around her, but that makes her more dynamic and genuine.
What I Liked
The story started out reminding me of some of my favorite series: Percy Jackson, Shadowhunters, and even Harry Potter. I am always on the lookout for new and unique tales, but I also enjoy the expectations that go along with what I already know and love. Wardens of Eternity does have some of those anticipated elements, but it also has many unexpected ones as the story unfolds. It took me from a place of contentment to gradually show me a new story that is unique in many ways.
I loved the Egyptian mythology aspect of the novel. It is a nice departure from Greek and Roman mythology, to which I often am attracted. Wardens of Eternity does a great job breathing life into the gods and other mythological creatures of legend. Set, Anubis and others become just as complex and relatable as their human counterparts without losing their omnipotence.
The setting is historical and international, which reminded me of another favorite – Indiana Jones. Set in a time of Nazi dominance, this added another dimension to the novel by providing another enemy- a human enemy outside the scope of mythology. The setting also adds to the fun by delivering little nuances such as travel by airship and being scandalous by having women who dressed in pants.
I also loved the ending, even after reading it more than once. I can’t say much for fear of giving away spoilers, but it is shocking while at the same time being relatable and, in my opinion, takes the book to the next level in terms of my review and rating.
What I Wish
My only wish is that the story had a slower build. The quickness is jarring and makes suspending disbelief temporarily tricky. This quickness did not detract from my enjoyment of the novel, ultimately, but I can’t help but wonder how much different the story would have been if I had been given time to learn about Ziva’s powers as she learned about them.
To Read or Not to Read
If you enjoy YA Fantasy, this book is a must-read, especially if you enjoy any of the other stories I referred to throughout my review.
I was provided with an advanced copy of the book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Favorite character: Ziva Mereniset
I debated this choice for a while because she is a very complex character but ultimately decided that she is indeed my favorite in this story. She goes from being a poor orphan girl with no idea about who and where she came from to being someone willing to fight to protect the identity that she discovers throughout the novel. She is open to questionable decisions as well as decisions based on emotional reactions to events going on around her, but that makes her more dynamic and genuine.
What I Liked
The story started out reminding me of some of my favorite series: Percy Jackson, Shadowhunters, and even Harry Potter. I am always on the lookout for new and unique tales, but I also enjoy the expectations that go along with what I already know and love. Wardens of Eternity does have some of those anticipated elements, but it also has many unexpected ones as the story unfolds. It took me from a place of contentment to gradually show me a new story that is unique in many ways.
I loved the Egyptian mythology aspect of the novel. It is a nice departure from Greek and Roman mythology, to which I often am attracted. Wardens of Eternity does a great job breathing life into the gods and other mythological creatures of legend. Set, Anubis and others become just as complex and relatable as their human counterparts without losing their omnipotence.
The setting is historical and international, which reminded me of another favorite – Indiana Jones. Set in a time of Nazi dominance, this added another dimension to the novel by providing another enemy- a human enemy outside the scope of mythology. The setting also adds to the fun by delivering little nuances such as travel by airship and being scandalous by having women who dressed in pants.
I also loved the ending, even after reading it more than once. I can’t say much for fear of giving away spoilers, but it is shocking while at the same time being relatable and, in my opinion, takes the book to the next level in terms of my review and rating.
What I Wish
My only wish is that the story had a slower build. The quickness is jarring and makes suspending disbelief temporarily tricky. This quickness did not detract from my enjoyment of the novel, ultimately, but I can’t help but wonder how much different the story would have been if I had been given time to learn about Ziva’s powers as she learned about them.
To Read or Not to Read
If you enjoy YA Fantasy, this book is a must-read, especially if you enjoy any of the other stories I referred to throughout my review.
I was provided with an advanced copy of the book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
nicolemm_author's review against another edition
3.0
I wish I could rate the first half of the book and the second half of the book, because they’d have very different ratings. The first half was slow and choppy and not at all what I was expecting from one of my favorite authors; I’d rate it one star, which I almost never do! But the second half of this book was full of adventure and action and loss, and I sped right through it; I’d rate the second half as 3.5/4 stars! I’m not sure what changed, but suddenly I was falling in love with story and the characters and the romance. I really hope that the second book keeps at the same pace as the second half of this one!!
gjj274's review
3.0
Loved the mythology aspects, one of my favourite things mixed with the historical setting was nice.
Liked the commentary on the way people were treated in this time period.
Characters were okay, some felt a bit flat but I enjoyed reading about them.
I didn't like the romance!
Full review to come
Liked the commentary on the way people were treated in this time period.
Characters were okay, some felt a bit flat but I enjoyed reading about them.
I didn't like the romance!
Full review to come
tannik03's review against another edition
5.0
The author definitely did her research for this book. It was really good and energy filled throughout the whole book, and dealt with many heavy issues in easy to understand terms. I can hardly wait for the sequel and what will happen next :)
purdytrue's review against another edition
2.0
I really, really wanted to love this book. But unfortunately, it just fell flat and I think the main reason is the writing style and pacing. All in all, it was a lot of show don't tell, and the ending was incredibly rushed and felt a bit contrived.
I did really love the mythology and history elements, especially with the commentary on how the west came into Egypt and the harm they did to the people, culture and history. But, unfortunately, it just wasn't enough to make up for the issues I had with the book as a whole.
I did really love the mythology and history elements, especially with the commentary on how the west came into Egypt and the harm they did to the people, culture and history. But, unfortunately, it just wasn't enough to make up for the issues I had with the book as a whole.
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