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harleyrae's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to love this, unfortunately it just wasn’t for me. I wasn’t a big fan of either of the main characters, I honestly couldn’t have cared less of what happened to them.
I’m also not someone who is usually drawn to books with such a high religious theme. I don’t mind religion in books, but I typically won’t choose to read one where it is the main driving force of the book.
I also found the plot to be uninteresting. It had a very hard time keeping my attention after the first 25 percent.
Overall this one just wasn’t for me.
I’m also not someone who is usually drawn to books with such a high religious theme. I don’t mind religion in books, but I typically won’t choose to read one where it is the main driving force of the book.
I also found the plot to be uninteresting. It had a very hard time keeping my attention after the first 25 percent.
Overall this one just wasn’t for me.
thatonekellygirl's review
5.0
I really enjoyed the world, the characters, the characters' experiences grappling with their world, the twisty twists, and ultimately, I didn't guess the ending. Loved it.
sydney_arcuri's review
4.0
Please excuse me while I go pick up the scattered remains of my heart off the floor.
In all honesty I didn't think I was going to read this book let alone enjoy it as much as I did. I initially picked it up because I saw it sitting on the public library's shelf for weeks, and I also found out that no one had checked it out. Me being me, I felt sad for this inanimate bundle of pages, so I decided "whelp if no one wants to read it I guess I will, so this book doesn't feel left out". Little did I know that this book was going to wreck me.
The religion aspect of this book is very heavy, and I can definitely see where some people may disregard this book. However, I think it works for the overall story. The main issue I had with this book was the time skips throughout the book. There's a lot of time skips and at times it was jarring, especially when a chapter would end with the characters in one area, and the next chapter starts in a complete different location. After a bit you kinda get used to it.
Megan Bannen proves that happy endings aren't always good endings. And that sometimes readers need to have all the hope they have for characters- ripped right out of their hearts.
In all honesty I didn't think I was going to read this book let alone enjoy it as much as I did. I initially picked it up because I saw it sitting on the public library's shelf for weeks, and I also found out that no one had checked it out. Me being me, I felt sad for this inanimate bundle of pages, so I decided "whelp if no one wants to read it I guess I will, so this book doesn't feel left out". Little did I know that this book was going to wreck me.
The religion aspect of this book is very heavy, and I can definitely see where some people may disregard this book. However, I think it works for the overall story. The main issue I had with this book was the time skips throughout the book. There's a lot of time skips and at times it was jarring, especially when a chapter would end with the characters in one area, and the next chapter starts in a complete different location. After a bit you kinda get used to it.
Megan Bannen proves that happy endings aren't always good endings. And that sometimes readers need to have all the hope they have for characters- ripped right out of their hearts.
aurelyarose's review
Megan's debut The Bird and the Blade was tragic.
This one was just... Depressing, but not in a cathartic bawl your eyes out like The Bird and the Blade was.
Not to say I didn't enjoy it. I did.
Though the banter between the main characters was a bit hit or miss depending on the moment.
I'd recommend this to people who liked her other book and wanted another sad one, or I guess people interested in reading about fantasy religions and people questioning/exploring faith.
But otherwise I'd just recommend The Bird and the Blade, but only if you like pain
This one was just... Depressing, but not in a cathartic bawl your eyes out like The Bird and the Blade was.
Not to say I didn't enjoy it. I did.
Though the banter between the main characters was a bit hit or miss depending on the moment.
I'd recommend this to people who liked her other book and wanted another sad one, or I guess people interested in reading about fantasy religions and people questioning/exploring faith.
But otherwise I'd just recommend The Bird and the Blade, but only if you like pain
somebooksomewhere's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
devina_teotia's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
alongreader's review
3.0
I wish I had something better to say about this. It's a very clever idea: I'm always fascinated by created religions and the civilisations that form around them, and Megan has clearly put some thought into this one and the effects it would have on the world.
Unfortunately, as far as I'm concerned, it didn't come across very well in the writing. Exposition is dropped in clumsily and at random intervals, and some thing aren't explained at all until they're suddenly important to the story. The ending also really frustrated me, but maybe others will enjoy it better.
Like I said, it's a really clever idea, and the writing itself is clear and descriptive. I just wish the story as a whole had been better.
Unfortunately, as far as I'm concerned, it didn't come across very well in the writing. Exposition is dropped in clumsily and at random intervals, and some thing aren't explained at all until they're suddenly important to the story. The ending also really frustrated me, but maybe others will enjoy it better.
Like I said, it's a really clever idea, and the writing itself is clear and descriptive. I just wish the story as a whole had been better.
ambersmith1_2's review
5.0
**Spoilers**
The book was really well written. From start to end you were able to laugh with the characters when they made jokes together, cry with them when they grieved, and overall just feel the emotions the characters felt. There was a really nice way of understanding everything that was going on in the book even when it was about a religion that would make no sense to those who've never read the book. Even with there being the two sides to it with one believing in one thing while the other believed another thing it showed their differences well. Showing the two sides of what was believed and where she really started to change her belief was a nice touch. You could really see where she started to doubt in what she grew up being told. Even when there were new characters added when she'd gotten back home it was a natural way of adding characters and didn't seem forced like some books do to bring in family into it. The whole book just felt natural even for a fiction book, making things relatable in some areas enough to where it was enjoyable. I really loved the book even if the ending did make me cry.
The book was really well written. From start to end you were able to laugh with the characters when they made jokes together, cry with them when they grieved, and overall just feel the emotions the characters felt. There was a really nice way of understanding everything that was going on in the book even when it was about a religion that would make no sense to those who've never read the book. Even with there being the two sides to it with one believing in one thing while the other believed another thing it showed their differences well. Showing the two sides of what was believed and where she really started to change her belief was a nice touch. You could really see where she started to doubt in what she grew up being told. Even when there were new characters added when she'd gotten back home it was a natural way of adding characters and didn't seem forced like some books do to bring in family into it. The whole book just felt natural even for a fiction book, making things relatable in some areas enough to where it was enjoyable. I really loved the book even if the ending did make me cry.