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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
This type of plot line annoys me. Also, it was a bit messy overall. A lot of unrealized potential.
Really 3.5
This was fun! I thought it started slow, but that was probably more me. (I’m starting to realize that if the book is the first of a series or a standalone and it requires world building, I think it’s slow, when in reality I’m really just getting used to the rules of the world.) I enjoyed the unique plot and thought the scenes in the reveries were particularly strong. I would read a sequel! At times, I was confused or unconvinced of some plot twists, though, and that’s what’s earning it a 3.5.
This was fun! I thought it started slow, but that was probably more me. (I’m starting to realize that if the book is the first of a series or a standalone and it requires world building, I think it’s slow, when in reality I’m really just getting used to the rules of the world.) I enjoyed the unique plot and thought the scenes in the reveries were particularly strong. I would read a sequel! At times, I was confused or unconvinced of some plot twists, though, and that’s what’s earning it a 3.5.
One thing this book does not lack is imagination. Yet, it somehow left me cold.
Kane, as a concept, is a really cool character. A openly gay protagonist of a fantasy novel which for me is new and refreshing. I'm used to only seeing gay side-characters or coded-characters in genre fiction, so kudos to that! The whole idea of magic users that can explore these interesting dream realities is a really fresh and interesting concept. I loved all of the dream worlds and I applaud the author for his imagination.
However...I feel like this book could have been at least another 100 pages. Everything from the characters to the plot didn't feel explored enough. I couldn't get the full picture of our main character, Kane. It felt like his character would oscillate wildly from sympathetic to irritated and boorish. I wonder if it wasn't a good idea to have his memories erased in the beginning. I felt absolutely nothing for the other characters. They seemed like they could have been interesting but there was nothing. They mostly just whined at Kane while he berated them. I couldn't get a grasp on the antagonist either. Then I felt like I didn't really understand how the magic system really worked. Everything was explained in this rushed and haphazard fashion. I'm not saying it needed to be all exposition but it needed more of a balance.
Overall, it was a bit of a mixed bag. I'm sure with more experience under his belt Ryan La Sala will be an interesting author to watch and I look forward to more from him.
Kane, as a concept, is a really cool character. A openly gay protagonist of a fantasy novel which for me is new and refreshing. I'm used to only seeing gay side-characters or coded-characters in genre fiction, so kudos to that! The whole idea of magic users that can explore these interesting dream realities is a really fresh and interesting concept. I loved all of the dream worlds and I applaud the author for his imagination.
However...I feel like this book could have been at least another 100 pages. Everything from the characters to the plot didn't feel explored enough. I couldn't get the full picture of our main character, Kane. It felt like his character would oscillate wildly from sympathetic to irritated and boorish. I wonder if it wasn't a good idea to have his memories erased in the beginning. I felt absolutely nothing for the other characters. They seemed like they could have been interesting but there was nothing. They mostly just whined at Kane while he berated them. I couldn't get a grasp on the antagonist either. Then I felt like I didn't really understand how the magic system really worked. Everything was explained in this rushed and haphazard fashion. I'm not saying it needed to be all exposition but it needed more of a balance.
Overall, it was a bit of a mixed bag. I'm sure with more experience under his belt Ryan La Sala will be an interesting author to watch and I look forward to more from him.
I really enjoyed this world. Both the general storyline as well as all the miniature worlds created within the Reveries. While I appreciated the inclusion of queer characters I didn’t care for the amount of shame and secrecy that was emphasized in the characters assessment of themselves and that is where a star was lost for me. While I do understand that the shame was directly tied into the main plot line, it still seemed overdone to me.
Slightly slow in the beginning but then it got really good. It's a nice feel good teen fantasy with good queer representation. Finishing the book had me all smiles.
You know when you love a book so much that finishing it is both a joyous and an absolutely devastating experience all at once?
Cue me right now, crying into a tissue feeling full of inspiration but also grief because I can never experience this story for the first time again. And what a freaking experience. The imagination, the imagery, the characters who exist to tell their own stories but you can see fragments of yourself in. Reverie is a bittersweet ache in the chest and holy hell some of the plot twists knocked me off my ass.
I wish I could give this 500 stars.
Cue me right now, crying into a tissue feeling full of inspiration but also grief because I can never experience this story for the first time again. And what a freaking experience. The imagination, the imagery, the characters who exist to tell their own stories but you can see fragments of yourself in. Reverie is a bittersweet ache in the chest and holy hell some of the plot twists knocked me off my ass.
I wish I could give this 500 stars.
I received an arc copy of this from Sourcebooks via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Summary
I won't lie this book is hard to summarize....
Kane can't remember what happened the night of the crash. All he remembers is being found in the river while a town landmark burned.
Then Kane finds himself dragged into a magical dream world with 3 strangers who claim to be his best friends. They also claim it's their job to unravel this worlds. Kane must unravel the truth about what happened the night of the accident while the dream worlds threaten to become a new reality.
Overview
➸ POV - 3rd person from Kane's POV
➸ Kane Montgomery: High School Junior, Brother, Gay, Recently involved in a car accident that he can't remember
➸ Content Warnings: Talk of suicide, Homophobia, Bullying
My Thoughts
This was one of the most unique concepts and worlds I've ever read. But because of that, I was confused AF for a solid 70% of this book. And I think by the last 30% I didn't necessarily have a better grasp on the world so much as I'd come to terms with the confusion.
There were so many things this book did right - amazing representation and inclusion, an ambitious plot, unique world and magic. And I loved all of those things. But my favorite part of this was the villain! They was so layered and multidimensional to the point where I actually questioned if they were actually evil. As their motives were revealed, I began to sympathize and understand how and why they got to this point. Which is always the mark of an amazingly developed villain!
However, I don't think this ambitious story was perfectly executed. So much was left un- or under- explained. How do Reveries come into existence? Why? How does Kane unravel them? And more often than not, the explanation for these was simply - and it happened! Which was frustrating and underwhelming as a reader.
But I think the awkward pacing of this story was it's biggest downfall. Not only did this have way too many unexplained plot lines, but the character arcs were clumsy. Since this is told from Kane's POV and for most of the story he doesn't remember or like anyone, the side characters are significantly underdeveloped. And any relationships that bloomed felt out of no where. I didn't become attached to anyone because I didn't know who they were.
Overall I thought this book tackled some really important themes and had one of the most unique plots I've read. But it fell a little short in the execution for me.
Review also shared on my blog!
Summary
I won't lie this book is hard to summarize....
Kane can't remember what happened the night of the crash. All he remembers is being found in the river while a town landmark burned.
Then Kane finds himself dragged into a magical dream world with 3 strangers who claim to be his best friends. They also claim it's their job to unravel this worlds. Kane must unravel the truth about what happened the night of the accident while the dream worlds threaten to become a new reality.
Overview
➸ POV - 3rd person from Kane's POV
➸ Kane Montgomery: High School Junior, Brother, Gay, Recently involved in a car accident that he can't remember
➸ Content Warnings: Talk of suicide, Homophobia, Bullying
My Thoughts
This was one of the most unique concepts and worlds I've ever read. But because of that, I was confused AF for a solid 70% of this book. And I think by the last 30% I didn't necessarily have a better grasp on the world so much as I'd come to terms with the confusion.
There were so many things this book did right - amazing representation and inclusion, an ambitious plot, unique world and magic. And I loved all of those things. But my favorite part of this was the villain! They was so layered and multidimensional to the point where I actually questioned if they were actually evil. As their motives were revealed, I began to sympathize and understand how and why they got to this point. Which is always the mark of an amazingly developed villain!
However, I don't think this ambitious story was perfectly executed. So much was left un- or under- explained. How do Reveries come into existence? Why? How does Kane unravel them? And more often than not, the explanation for these was simply - and it happened! Which was frustrating and underwhelming as a reader.
But I think the awkward pacing of this story was it's biggest downfall. Not only did this have way too many unexplained plot lines, but the character arcs were clumsy. Since this is told from Kane's POV and for most of the story he doesn't remember or like anyone, the side characters are significantly underdeveloped. And any relationships that bloomed felt out of no where. I didn't become attached to anyone because I didn't know who they were.
Overall I thought this book tackled some really important themes and had one of the most unique plots I've read. But it fell a little short in the execution for me.
Review also shared on my blog!
very messy and all-over-the-place, but fun to read and with a wonderful ending!
absolutely loved this. the world was amazing and I would die of happiness if a new novel would turn up. it was so interesting I didnt want to stop
Reverie by Ryan La Sala
Rating: 2 / 5
Summary: Okay so normally my summaries are all in my own words. I don't do the summaries given to you from the publishers/authors. However for this book i will….. because i honestly cannot recall any of the plot.
All Kane Montgomery knows for certain is that the police found him half-dead in the river. He can’t remember how he got there, what happened after, and why his life seems so different now. And it’s not just Kane who’s different, the world feels off, reality itself seems different. As Kane pieces together clues, three almost-strangers claim to be his friends and the only people who can truly tell him what’s going on. Kane slowly realizes that nothing in his life is an accident. And when a sinister force threatens to alter reality for good, they will have to do everything they can to stop it before it unravels everything they know.
Rating: You ever read a book that leaves you wondering whether you're dumb? This is that books for me. I just finished it and i genuinely cannot comprehend what happened. I got to the end and i just stared at it for a good 20 minutes trying to make myself understand. It's sad because i actually really wanted to enjoy this book.
The characters were really hard to get attached to and honestly by the end of the story and still didn't really care for them. The romance felt nonexistent and then once it started feeling like it was there, it felt so rushed that i couldn't comprehend it. The plot of this book…...i still don't understand it. I have no idea what i read and cannot make sense of it.
The only reason I didn't give this book 1 out if 5 stars is because i didn't hate it. I just didn't understand it.
Rating: 2 / 5
Summary: Okay so normally my summaries are all in my own words. I don't do the summaries given to you from the publishers/authors. However for this book i will….. because i honestly cannot recall any of the plot.
All Kane Montgomery knows for certain is that the police found him half-dead in the river. He can’t remember how he got there, what happened after, and why his life seems so different now. And it’s not just Kane who’s different, the world feels off, reality itself seems different. As Kane pieces together clues, three almost-strangers claim to be his friends and the only people who can truly tell him what’s going on. Kane slowly realizes that nothing in his life is an accident. And when a sinister force threatens to alter reality for good, they will have to do everything they can to stop it before it unravels everything they know.
Rating: You ever read a book that leaves you wondering whether you're dumb? This is that books for me. I just finished it and i genuinely cannot comprehend what happened. I got to the end and i just stared at it for a good 20 minutes trying to make myself understand. It's sad because i actually really wanted to enjoy this book.
The characters were really hard to get attached to and honestly by the end of the story and still didn't really care for them. The romance felt nonexistent and then once it started feeling like it was there, it felt so rushed that i couldn't comprehend it. The plot of this book…...i still don't understand it. I have no idea what i read and cannot make sense of it.
The only reason I didn't give this book 1 out if 5 stars is because i didn't hate it. I just didn't understand it.