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2.9 AVERAGE
2.9 AVERAGE
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
Het verhaal begint in een trainingsschuur op een landgoed in Schotland waar ze vechten met een soort zwaarden (dus dan denk je dat het middeleeuwse vibes heeft), maar dan wordt verteld dat iemands moeder is gestorven in een auto-ongeluk en dan moet je effe omschakelen.
Verder is er nog een liefdesdriehoek, vreemde keuzes van personages, informatie die achtergehouden wordt gewoon voor het achterhouden, en een middeleeuwse meid genaamd Maud.
Oh, en twee mensen die achterachterachterneef en -nicht zijn (en dan ook nog half omdat er mensen zijn hertrouwd) hebben het er constant over dat hun relatie niet problematisch is omdat ze zover van elkaar afstaan in de stamboom (kan mij het boeien), en daar werd ik ook een beetje gek van.
Verder is er nog een liefdesdriehoek, vreemde keuzes van personages, informatie die achtergehouden wordt gewoon voor het achterhouden, en een middeleeuwse meid genaamd Maud.
Oh, en twee mensen die achterachterachterneef en -nicht zijn (en dan ook nog half omdat er mensen zijn hertrouwd) hebben het er constant over dat hun relatie niet problematisch is omdat ze zover van elkaar afstaan in de stamboom (kan mij het boeien), en daar werd ik ook een beetje gek van.
This book was so much more than I imagined. The characters were familiar in a way, but not predictable. The flow of the story was great. I am very excited that this book is being made into a movie because I would love to see in person the character dynamics of the story on the silver screen.
DNF.....didn't really interest me and was boring. Plus the world that was being described was starting to confuse me.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As you can tell from my rating, Seeker is a fantasy novel I did not get along with. I don't like leaving books unfinished, but after reading almost half of this (45% to be exact) I knew I had no desire to continue. This novel is said to be "for readers of A Game of Thrones and The Hunger Games", but let me assure you: it has nothing to do with either of those books. I really wish this book comparison as an marketing technique trend would stop.
At the beginning of the novel, we are introduced to three main characters: Quin, Shinobu, and John, who are in training to become Seekers. If you're wondering what a Seeker is, you'll be wondering that for a while. What we're told is that it's an old honorable tradition, and that a Seeker protects the weak and the wronged. That's as specific as the job description gets. However, there is a twist: apparently, the Seekers are not who they used to be, but once again nobody reveals what's wrong. Some of the adults know the truth, but they won't tell the trainees. Also, John knows what's wrong, but he won't warn anyone either—not even Quin, the girl he's in love with. Once the trainees take their oath, their lives are changed forever.
This sounds like a reasonably interesting premise, right? Here is the thing: there is so much withheld information, that you may start wondering if there is an explanation to begin with. The moment you think you will finally find out what's so terrible about Seekers, you don't—the chapter ends on a cliffhanger, and the next one begins after the "event". After reading almost half of Seeker, I still can barely explain what's going on. There is also this other group called Dreads, and I never understood what they were either, apart from being really fast and fighting really well.
The setting isn't any less confusing: it's future Scotland, the kind with aircars, sleek tall buildings, and advanced science, but somehow the Seekers seem like they're hundreds of years behind. They're still fighting with swords, and riding horses. They train with guns, but that's not a weapon they are meant to fight with. They talk about "choosing mates" at 16, and their parents' marriages were arranged. Why is this happening?
And then, of course, you will not forget that you're reading a Young Adult novel because you are immediately faced with a love triangle, that includes forbidden love. You will also be told how to pronounce words, and reminded on multiple occasions that alcohol is bad. As for the writing, I didn't think it was particularly special. The pacing was good, there was some decent action, and the characters weren't actually all that bad. But let's be honest: "not that bad" is not a rave review either.
Overall, Seeker lacked a lot of what I love about fantasy: complex and interesting world building, characters and circumstances I care about, anything that can be called "epic", or any kind of grit. I'm sorry, this just wasn't for me, and it's DEFINITELY not a blend of A Game of Thrones and The Hunger Games.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley from Random House Children's in exchange for an honest review.
At the beginning of the novel, we are introduced to three main characters: Quin, Shinobu, and John, who are in training to become Seekers. If you're wondering what a Seeker is, you'll be wondering that for a while. What we're told is that it's an old honorable tradition, and that a Seeker protects the weak and the wronged. That's as specific as the job description gets. However, there is a twist: apparently, the Seekers are not who they used to be, but once again nobody reveals what's wrong. Some of the adults know the truth, but they won't tell the trainees. Also, John knows what's wrong, but he won't warn anyone either—not even Quin, the girl he's in love with. Once the trainees take their oath, their lives are changed forever.
This sounds like a reasonably interesting premise, right? Here is the thing: there is so much withheld information, that you may start wondering if there is an explanation to begin with. The moment you think you will finally find out what's so terrible about Seekers, you don't—the chapter ends on a cliffhanger, and the next one begins after the "event". After reading almost half of Seeker, I still can barely explain what's going on. There is also this other group called Dreads, and I never understood what they were either, apart from being really fast and fighting really well.
The setting isn't any less confusing: it's future Scotland, the kind with aircars, sleek tall buildings, and advanced science, but somehow the Seekers seem like they're hundreds of years behind. They're still fighting with swords, and riding horses. They train with guns, but that's not a weapon they are meant to fight with. They talk about "choosing mates" at 16, and their parents' marriages were arranged. Why is this happening?
And then, of course, you will not forget that you're reading a Young Adult novel because you are immediately faced with a love triangle, that includes forbidden love. You will also be told how to pronounce words, and reminded on multiple occasions that alcohol is bad. As for the writing, I didn't think it was particularly special. The pacing was good, there was some decent action, and the characters weren't actually all that bad. But let's be honest: "not that bad" is not a rave review either.
Overall, Seeker lacked a lot of what I love about fantasy: complex and interesting world building, characters and circumstances I care about, anything that can be called "epic", or any kind of grit. I'm sorry, this just wasn't for me, and it's DEFINITELY not a blend of A Game of Thrones and The Hunger Games.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley from Random House Children's in exchange for an honest review.
Okładka mnie zmyliła. Oczekiwałam zupełnie innego klimatu.
Niestety się wynudziłam. Tu nie dzieje się dużo. Romans jest zbędny i okropny. A motyw z utratą pamięci, gdzie dziewczyna wcześniej była taka dobra w walce, a teraz nic nie umie... Denerwujące. Bardzo mi się to nie spodobało.
Niestety się wynudziłam. Tu nie dzieje się dużo. Romans jest zbędny i okropny. A motyw z utratą pamięci, gdzie dziewczyna wcześniej była taka dobra w walce, a teraz nic nie umie... Denerwujące. Bardzo mi się to nie spodobało.
First I need to say that I DNF'd (did not finish) this book. I read till page 125 and had to put it down!
Synopsis: Quin Kincaid has been put through years of brutal training for what she thinks is the noble purpose of becoming a revered ‘Seeker’.
Only when it’s too late does she discover she will be using her new-found knowledge and training to become an assassin. Quin's new role will take her around the globe, from a remote estate in Scotland to a bustling, futuristic Hong Kong where the past she thought she had escaped will finally catch up with her.
What I did like: Te plot sounded intriguing and the fact that on the back of my ARC copy it said that it was going to be made in to movie soon! Here are the latest detail on that!
What I didn't like:
The writing style was just plain off especially in the first couple of chapters. Speaking of chapters they are written in third person omniscient but the focus is on a specific character, which you would think would make it easier to stay on track with what was going on but it didn't. The dialogue between characters and inner dialogue just didn't flow and did not seem natural at all. Most of the characters in the book are close family members but they speak to each other like strangers. All of these negative things about the writing style and dialogue is very apparent in the first 5-10 chapters of the book and just made it to where I could not get into the storyline or attached to the characters. I wanted to like this book really bad, but I just couldn't. I think the movie is going to be much much better!! I gave it that 1.5 star only because I think the plot was intriguing jut not intriguing enough for me to keep reading.
Would I recommend it?
Sure, to people who can get past the writing style and anyone who likes a book with science fiction and fantasy mixed together! I think this is one of those books that people are either going to hate or they are going to absolutely love it!
Synopsis: Quin Kincaid has been put through years of brutal training for what she thinks is the noble purpose of becoming a revered ‘Seeker’.
Only when it’s too late does she discover she will be using her new-found knowledge and training to become an assassin. Quin's new role will take her around the globe, from a remote estate in Scotland to a bustling, futuristic Hong Kong where the past she thought she had escaped will finally catch up with her.
What I did like: Te plot sounded intriguing and the fact that on the back of my ARC copy it said that it was going to be made in to movie soon! Here are the latest detail on that!
What I didn't like:
The writing style was just plain off especially in the first couple of chapters. Speaking of chapters they are written in third person omniscient but the focus is on a specific character, which you would think would make it easier to stay on track with what was going on but it didn't. The dialogue between characters and inner dialogue just didn't flow and did not seem natural at all. Most of the characters in the book are close family members but they speak to each other like strangers. All of these negative things about the writing style and dialogue is very apparent in the first 5-10 chapters of the book and just made it to where I could not get into the storyline or attached to the characters. I wanted to like this book really bad, but I just couldn't. I think the movie is going to be much much better!! I gave it that 1.5 star only because I think the plot was intriguing jut not intriguing enough for me to keep reading.
Would I recommend it?
Sure, to people who can get past the writing style and anyone who likes a book with science fiction and fantasy mixed together! I think this is one of those books that people are either going to hate or they are going to absolutely love it!
I couldn't finish the book because I got so frustrated at all the times people acted inconsistently or knowledge appeared and vanished randomly to serve a plot.
POTENTIAL SPOILER:
A major villain has steadily tortured and killed members of powerful families. They have no problem finding him to order murder, but cannot find him for revenge. One family he reduced to a few members and follows the woman to finish the job. Instead of torturing her to find a book, he pauses strikes a deal to teach her son in the future. This is witnessed by an apparently upstanding man he brought along. Then he finishes murdering her.
This was one of many instances of inconsistencies in characters, motivation, and knowledge that I just couldn't go along with.
POTENTIAL SPOILER:
A major villain has steadily tortured and killed members of powerful families. They have no problem finding him to order murder, but cannot find him for revenge. One family he reduced to a few members and follows the woman to finish the job. Instead of torturing her to find a book, he pauses strikes a deal to teach her son in the future. This is witnessed by an apparently upstanding man he brought along. Then he finishes murdering her.
This was one of many instances of inconsistencies in characters, motivation, and knowledge that I just couldn't go along with.
adventurous
tense
slow-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:
Complicated
someone make this an action movie and i'll be sitted.