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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
Can quite put my finger on what it is I don't like, but I just found it to be boring
This was sadly not for me. It sounded so good but mostly I was just bored.
We get to meet three main characters Lu, Nokhai and Min but Lu is the secret main main character who gets the most chapters. Sadly I did not connect to the characters at all, especially Lu who was so onedimensional in my opinion. The story centers on Noks and Lus journy through the country to get an army and let me tell you nothing really happens. Sadly I was just bored. I could not care less about the romance. The shining star of this book is Min (without her I would not have made it through). Her chapters (sadly not that many) were very interesting. This is a story I want to read about: girl gets pushed around by everyone, gets used for power, everyone thinks she is stupid and shy but girl gets tired of it (she reminded me a bit of Sansa Stark whom I love). Min gets the only character development I cared about in this book.
Sooo sadly not for me. But it was not badly written I think I just have to say it was not for me but for another person this could be a great book.
We get to meet three main characters Lu, Nokhai and Min but Lu is the secret main main character who gets the most chapters. Sadly I did not connect to the characters at all, especially Lu who was so onedimensional in my opinion. The story centers on Noks and Lus journy through the country to get an army and let me tell you nothing really happens. Sadly I was just bored. I could not care less about the romance. The shining star of this book is Min (without her I would not have made it through). Her chapters (sadly not that many) were very interesting. This is a story I want to read about: girl gets pushed around by everyone, gets used for power, everyone thinks she is stupid and shy but girl gets tired of it (she reminded me a bit of Sansa Stark whom I love). Min gets the only character development I cared about in this book.
Sooo sadly not for me. But it was not badly written I think I just have to say it was not for me but for another person this could be a great book.
2.5 stars because I still adore the cover and the title, even though it didn’t live up to my hopes
I wanted to love this more than I did, but I’m sadly just. Failing to find anything that made it stand out, and kept me voraciously reading. And I kind of hate that, a lot? The characters weren’t particularly memorable, and felt like they could easily have been switched out with any number of characters from YA fantasy (princess who needs to regain her throne, spurned “sister” left behind, token hot guy to ship with the princess), and the plot was a liiiiittle too much Journey Across Fantasy World for even me, an unashamedly loyal lover of fantasy books.
The stakes just...never felt that high, and it made it impossible for me to ever start caring enough about the characters.
It also probably didn’t help that I set this aside to read not one, but two of my most anticipated 2019 titles, but it was quite telling when I came back to this one and still had no problems setting aside to do other things. And I’m not sure if it was my general chronic fatigue, or the book, but I nodded off...several times whilst reading... Like, y’know when you’re not fully asleep but definitely not quite awake either? And you continue doing what you were doing whilst fully awake even though you are not awake? That’s how I read most of this book... and I don’t think I actually missed much.
Again, I wanted to love this more. But I just didn’t, and I’m not sure I’ll be inclined to pick up the sequel.
I wanted to love this more than I did, but I’m sadly just. Failing to find anything that made it stand out, and kept me voraciously reading. And I kind of hate that, a lot? The characters weren’t particularly memorable, and felt like they could easily have been switched out with any number of characters from YA fantasy (princess who needs to regain her throne, spurned “sister” left behind, token hot guy to ship with the princess), and the plot was a liiiiittle too much Journey Across Fantasy World for even me, an unashamedly loyal lover of fantasy books.
The stakes just...never felt that high, and it made it impossible for me to ever start caring enough about the characters.
It also probably didn’t help that I set this aside to read not one, but two of my most anticipated 2019 titles, but it was quite telling when I came back to this one and still had no problems setting aside to do other things. And I’m not sure if it was my general chronic fatigue, or the book, but I nodded off...several times whilst reading... Like, y’know when you’re not fully asleep but definitely not quite awake either? And you continue doing what you were doing whilst fully awake even though you are not awake? That’s how I read most of this book... and I don’t think I actually missed much.
Again, I wanted to love this more. But I just didn’t, and I’m not sure I’ll be inclined to pick up the sequel.
DNF page 293
I'm just not invested enough in this story to want to keep going. It's taken me almost a month to get this far in, and I don't think I can be arsed bothering with the rest.
I'm just not invested enough in this story to want to keep going. It's taken me almost a month to get this far in, and I don't think I can be arsed bothering with the rest.
Quick paced super fun fantasy series. Honestly cannot wait for the second book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 4 stars
The Girl King is a story about two sisters who become rivals in a war to claim the throne and become emperor.
The world-building was a little bit lacking in some ways. It is Asian-inspired, but not in a way that the culture really shines through and was added into the storyline. I also wasn’t a really big fan of how the slipskin/Kith were portrayed, as it bordered on being a bit racist. I would’ve loved if that part had been given a bit more attention and was treated more with the gravity it deserves. The same with the use of “pink people” for people who were white, felt derogatory. At the same time, there isn’t any explanation as to why people are being called out for using that word as it is apparently offensive.
I liked how there wasn’t one female heroine but two, and a pair of sisters as well. Both are very different from each other and it really shines through the pages. Lu is fierce, bold, daring and has a tomboy feel. She has been training her whole life to take the throne and title of emperor. Because of this, she is a bit naïve and selfish at times Min is the more calm, feminine and passive sister. She is portrayed as weak and cowardly.
The thing I loved most about this story, which isn’t that different from many other YA fantasy books out there, is how the characters change over the course of the book. Lu isn’t rewarded for her impulsive behaviour, but learns how her actions impact others and how she shouldn’t always do what she wants to. It’s a very realistic way in which this was portrayed. Min on the other hand learns to not be as passive and learns to speak up and become more assertive. It was really satisfying to see these changes.
Overall, it is an interesting book that deals with many topics. It pushes edges and is daring and takes risks which made me like it and exciting to read the next book.
The Girl King is a story about two sisters who become rivals in a war to claim the throne and become emperor.
The world-building was a little bit lacking in some ways. It is Asian-inspired, but not in a way that the culture really shines through and was added into the storyline. I also wasn’t a really big fan of how the slipskin/Kith were portrayed, as it bordered on being a bit racist. I would’ve loved if that part had been given a bit more attention and was treated more with the gravity it deserves. The same with the use of “pink people” for people who were white, felt derogatory. At the same time, there isn’t any explanation as to why people are being called out for using that word as it is apparently offensive.
I liked how there wasn’t one female heroine but two, and a pair of sisters as well. Both are very different from each other and it really shines through the pages. Lu is fierce, bold, daring and has a tomboy feel. She has been training her whole life to take the throne and title of emperor. Because of this, she is a bit naïve and selfish at times Min is the more calm, feminine and passive sister. She is portrayed as weak and cowardly.
The thing I loved most about this story, which isn’t that different from many other YA fantasy books out there, is how the characters change over the course of the book. Lu isn’t rewarded for her impulsive behaviour, but learns how her actions impact others and how she shouldn’t always do what she wants to. It’s a very realistic way in which this was portrayed. Min on the other hand learns to not be as passive and learns to speak up and become more assertive. It was really satisfying to see these changes.
Overall, it is an interesting book that deals with many topics. It pushes edges and is daring and takes risks which made me like it and exciting to read the next book.
"People rarely want the things they get," Vrea said, her voice never losing its evasive, lilting quality, borne between cheer and melancholy. "But nevertheless, that gift is yours, and you must choose what to do with it."
I have been looking forward to reading this for a while, and I finally gave in. The result was... a little disappointing, to be honest. It wasn't like it was bad because it really wasn't. It was good. It just could've been so much better. Sometimes that somehow feels like worse. But that said, I did enjoy it.
The world itself was rather interesting; I was really into the magic and the lore of it all. But it often left me confused; Yu could've done a better job explaining it even in "casual passing". Sometimes I only figured it out after a random comment made me understand what a description had been trying to say. I'm guessing Yu had already decided on a sequel because of the plot in this one so I'm not entirely sure why she didn't spend more time building the world the book is set in. She mostly focused on the court and politics, I would've liked more about the world too.
Sadly, the characters fell a little flat for me. There was potential but there was nothing to really distinguish them as memorable or particularly interesting. I didn't care for them as much as I had assumed I would. If given more depth, they would have been really interesting. And the depth they were given should've been explored more. But maybe that's just me.
All in all, I'll read the sequel when it's available at my local library but I feel no rush to do so.
I have been looking forward to reading this for a while, and I finally gave in. The result was... a little disappointing, to be honest. It wasn't like it was bad because it really wasn't. It was good. It just could've been so much better. Sometimes that somehow feels like worse. But that said, I did enjoy it.
The world itself was rather interesting; I was really into the magic and the lore of it all. But it often left me confused; Yu could've done a better job explaining it even in "casual passing". Sometimes I only figured it out after a random comment made me understand what a description had been trying to say. I'm guessing Yu had already decided on a sequel because of the plot in this one so I'm not entirely sure why she didn't spend more time building the world the book is set in. She mostly focused on the court and politics, I would've liked more about the world too.
Sadly, the characters fell a little flat for me. There was potential but there was nothing to really distinguish them as memorable or particularly interesting. I didn't care for them as much as I had assumed I would. If given more depth, they would have been really interesting. And the depth they were given should've been explored more. But maybe that's just me.
All in all, I'll read the sequel when it's available at my local library but I feel no rush to do so.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Blood, War
Moderate: Addiction, Death of parent
Minor: Incest, Sexism
The cover art was gorgeous. Yu has a very beautiful and piercing quality to their writing that wowed and unnerved me equally. I wanted to love this book but I didn't.
Here are a few of my thoughts:
-I wish the relationship had been developed more between the sisters.
-I was not a fan of the romance.
-I really wish Min had grown up at some point.
-I did actually enjoy most of Lu's storyline and almost wish it could have been only about her.
Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me but I’m interested in seeing where the second book takes us.
Overall I woud still recommend this book to fantasy lovers.
Thank you to NetGalley, Mimi Yu and Orion Publishing Groupfor providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Here are a few of my thoughts:
-I wish the relationship had been developed more between the sisters.
-I was not a fan of the romance.
-I really wish Min had grown up at some point.
-I did actually enjoy most of Lu's storyline and almost wish it could have been only about her.
Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me but I’m interested in seeing where the second book takes us.
Overall I woud still recommend this book to fantasy lovers.
Thank you to NetGalley, Mimi Yu and Orion Publishing Groupfor providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.