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2.9 AVERAGE
2.9 AVERAGE
I received a copy of this via Netgalley back in 2015 and since then I have tried to read this book two other times before finally finishing it. I guess the third time is the charm? However, I was thoroughly underwhelmed.
Quinn, John, and Shinobu are teens training to be Seekers. They all come from a long line of Seekers and hope to take the oaths that will continue the tradition. This is something they have trained all their lives for and when the time finally comes for the oaths, they realize that maybe being a Seeker isn't exactly what they thought it would be. Suddenly it's a race across the world as ancient artifacts are claimed and stolen while everyone wonders just what it "right".
If that summary feels a little vague it's honestly because I still don't really understand what this book was about. Let's take Seekers for example. What are they, you ask? I have no idea. We are constantly told that they are people who "do good in the world" but there is no other explanation. What is their point? What is their main goal? How were they founded? This was one of the worst world buildings that I have ever read. Nothing made sense, nothing was explained and everything was just vague.
And this makes me sad because when I finally got past the same first two chapters that I've read multiple times, I really started to enjoy it and thought 'this is going to be a great book!'. But alas, I was so wrong and by 50% I was bored and didn't care about any of the characters -they were all kind of horrible. And what was with the "Intermission" section where we went back in time to see them as kids? It felt really out of place and did not flow at all.
I'm giving this two stars because it had so much potential but it got weighed down by its needless wanderings and random history lessons that came at the worst time. I'm unsure if I'll finish this series (I honestly can't even remember how it ended and I finished it last night). For now, I'm just going to leave it at the first book.
Quinn, John, and Shinobu are teens training to be Seekers. They all come from a long line of Seekers and hope to take the oaths that will continue the tradition. This is something they have trained all their lives for and when the time finally comes for the oaths, they realize that maybe being a Seeker isn't exactly what they thought it would be. Suddenly it's a race across the world as ancient artifacts are claimed and stolen while everyone wonders just what it "right".
If that summary feels a little vague it's honestly because I still don't really understand what this book was about. Let's take Seekers for example. What are they, you ask? I have no idea. We are constantly told that they are people who "do good in the world" but there is no other explanation. What is their point? What is their main goal? How were they founded? This was one of the worst world buildings that I have ever read. Nothing made sense, nothing was explained and everything was just vague.
And this makes me sad because when I finally got past the same first two chapters that I've read multiple times, I really started to enjoy it and thought 'this is going to be a great book!'. But alas, I was so wrong and by 50% I was bored and didn't care about any of the characters -they were all kind of horrible. And what was with the "Intermission" section where we went back in time to see them as kids? It felt really out of place and did not flow at all.
I'm giving this two stars because it had so much potential but it got weighed down by its needless wanderings and random history lessons that came at the worst time. I'm unsure if I'll finish this series (I honestly can't even remember how it ended and I finished it last night). For now, I'm just going to leave it at the first book.
This book is set on a grand scope starting out in a setting that one would think was medieval then slides onto to a steampunk feel and then leaps into a futuristic Hong Kong. It is almost enough to make one dizzy. In fact, it did make me dizzy and once I would start to get back into the tale, there would be yet another change.
I also had an issue keeping track of the time as it passed and that is something that absolutely drives me nuts. Now I don't want you to think that SEEKER was poorly written. It wasn't and I absolutely loved some of the descriptive scenes but it all felt too disjointed for me to really enjoy the book. Of course, this is just my opinion and someone else is just as apt to adore this book.
I also had an issue keeping track of the time as it passed and that is something that absolutely drives me nuts. Now I don't want you to think that SEEKER was poorly written. It wasn't and I absolutely loved some of the descriptive scenes but it all felt too disjointed for me to really enjoy the book. Of course, this is just my opinion and someone else is just as apt to adore this book.
My first DNF of 2022!
It’s just too sparse. I get some books where you’re dropped immediately in some other world and have to pick up the context of what is going on. A good writer doing that gets you situated about a third of the way in.
I have no clue what is going on with this book. The writing style isn’t bad but there’s not enough information getting shared. What is the time period? Is this some AU? Are they time traveling? I get space traveling. What is everyone running from? What do these titles mean? Why are you sword and dagger training but when guns get involved everything breaks?
I’m not even invested enough to find answers for these questions and that’s why I’m stopping here.
It’s just too sparse. I get some books where you’re dropped immediately in some other world and have to pick up the context of what is going on. A good writer doing that gets you situated about a third of the way in.
I have no clue what is going on with this book. The writing style isn’t bad but there’s not enough information getting shared. What is the time period? Is this some AU? Are they time traveling? I get space traveling. What is everyone running from? What do these titles mean? Why are you sword and dagger training but when guns get involved everything breaks?
I’m not even invested enough to find answers for these questions and that’s why I’m stopping here.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder
This was such an infuriating book: there were wonderful parts, and "hot mess" parts and they were so entangled it was difficult at times to read. The wonderful: the mystery of the Seekers and the Dreads, their past and their mission. The "hot mess": too many POVs (note to authors - first person doesn't work all the time. stop it. now.), a love triangle, and flashbacks. Oh, and weak worldbuilding. This is set in (I think) Modern-Medieval Scotland, Modern Hong Kong and Steampunk London. See what I mean? Quin is a great character and I can see so much change and growth in her. Maud could be a strong character if she's allowed to be, while John and Shinobu don't register as more than token good/bad boys.
ARC provided by publisher.
ARC provided by publisher.
The best part of Seeker was turning the last page of this god-forsaken story and feeling the headache that had begun to form slightly dissipate. This book was not fun to read.
It seemed that this book had some promise but with all the undeveloped characters, the weird love triangle, the abandoned worldbuilding, the random switching of settings, and the fact that this book LITERALLY TELLS YOU HOW TO PRONOUNCE THE MADE UP WORDS WHILE YOU ARE READING DO YOU KNOW HOW ANNOYING THAT IS, I didn't care for it.
-Undeveloped Characters
Quin: The blurb made Quin seem like a real kickbutt character. She wasn't. I'd be fine with that, if it didn't mean that half the time she's crying or acting borderline psychotic or making excuses for her dousche of a boyfriend John. I get that she's been through a tramautic experience...but we really didn't get anything beyond that from her for a lot of the book. And it gets tedious if the portrayal isn't written well...which, in this case it is not.
John:
No matter how the book tried to redeem John's character, I HATED him. From the very beginning, I could tell he'd be a suckish character. I was right. Usually I like the messed up misunderstood characters, but John is such a dousche and so freaking stupid I couldn't even sympathize with him. He's downright awful to Quin, despite proclaiming to love her, and quite selfish besides.
Shinobu:
Where, oh where, did Shinobu go wrong? He had the ability to be such a loveable person, and yet, what he became was a drug addicted I-don't-even-know-how-to-explain-what-happened type of character. And I'm sorry, but I'm not shipping him and Quin. He can stay in the extremely distant cousin zone.
-Weird Love Triangle
Well, I already kind of touched on this, but bottom line, it's blegh. And none of the relationships feel like actual love to me; John and Quin seem really dysfunctional, and Shinobu and Quin is just plain weird...I'm not feeling any chemistry from them.
-The Abandoned Worldbuilding
I still cannot explain what the heck an athame or a seeker is...I know seekers are supposed to be good, but apparently they're actually bad, and I guess they're like some kind of futuristic fantasy hitmen? Which brings up the question, where the heck does this story take place? Futuristic Earth which has somehow become fantastical? Or what? Even the most basic elements of the world didn't get fully answered, and it annoyed me to no end.
-Setting Change
This went from taking place in Scotland to going to Hong Kong with little warning and no transition. Not only was it drastically different from Scotland...it takes place like a year(?? I've forgotten how much time had passed, but it was long enough that Quin and Shinobu have like COMPLETELY changed personalities and that was just another layer of confusion) later and it was really hard to get used to.
-IT LITERALLY TELLS YOU HOW TO PRONOUNCE THE MADE UP WORDS WHILE YOU ARE READING DO YOU KNOW HOW ANNOYING THAT IS
Well, I mean...^^^. Read above basically. Please, if you are a fantasy writer making up words in your stories (though honestly usually it turns out better if you don't) USE A GLOSSARY if you need to tell readers how your words sound. Don't tell us in the actual text.
So. In the words of Simon Cowell....it's a no from me.
It seemed that this book had some promise but with all the undeveloped characters, the weird love triangle, the abandoned worldbuilding, the random switching of settings, and the fact that this book LITERALLY TELLS YOU HOW TO PRONOUNCE THE MADE UP WORDS WHILE YOU ARE READING DO YOU KNOW HOW ANNOYING THAT IS, I didn't care for it.
-Undeveloped Characters
Quin: The blurb made Quin seem like a real kickbutt character. She wasn't. I'd be fine with that, if it didn't mean that half the time she's crying or acting borderline psychotic or making excuses for her dousche of a boyfriend John. I get that she's been through a tramautic experience...but we really didn't get anything beyond that from her for a lot of the book. And it gets tedious if the portrayal isn't written well...which, in this case it is not.
John:
No matter how the book tried to redeem John's character, I HATED him. From the very beginning, I could tell he'd be a suckish character. I was right. Usually I like the messed up misunderstood characters, but John is such a dousche and so freaking stupid I couldn't even sympathize with him. He's downright awful to Quin, despite proclaiming to love her, and quite selfish besides.
Shinobu:
Where, oh where, did Shinobu go wrong? He had the ability to be such a loveable person, and yet, what he became was a drug addicted I-don't-even-know-how-to-explain-what-happened type of character. And I'm sorry, but I'm not shipping him and Quin. He can stay in the extremely distant cousin zone.
-Weird Love Triangle
Well, I already kind of touched on this, but bottom line, it's blegh. And none of the relationships feel like actual love to me; John and Quin seem really dysfunctional, and Shinobu and Quin is just plain weird...I'm not feeling any chemistry from them.
-The Abandoned Worldbuilding
I still cannot explain what the heck an athame or a seeker is...I know seekers are supposed to be good, but apparently they're actually bad, and I guess they're like some kind of futuristic fantasy hitmen? Which brings up the question, where the heck does this story take place? Futuristic Earth which has somehow become fantastical? Or what? Even the most basic elements of the world didn't get fully answered, and it annoyed me to no end.
-Setting Change
This went from taking place in Scotland to going to Hong Kong with little warning and no transition. Not only was it drastically different from Scotland...it takes place like a year(?? I've forgotten how much time had passed, but it was long enough that Quin and Shinobu have like COMPLETELY changed personalities and that was just another layer of confusion) later and it was really hard to get used to.
-IT LITERALLY TELLS YOU HOW TO PRONOUNCE THE MADE UP WORDS WHILE YOU ARE READING DO YOU KNOW HOW ANNOYING THAT IS
Well, I mean...^^^. Read above basically. Please, if you are a fantasy writer making up words in your stories (though honestly usually it turns out better if you don't) USE A GLOSSARY if you need to tell readers how your words sound. Don't tell us in the actual text.
So. In the words of Simon Cowell....it's a no from me.
Also an und für sich hat mir die Story schon gefallen ich hatte nur Schwierigkeiten mich einzufinden aber war auf jeden Fall spannend und für mich auch mal etwas neues :)
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Decently written. Probably Wouldn't wread again. Teenage love triangle with revenge, a floating ship, utensils for space, and corruption. bleh
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest
Moderate: Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence
Minor: Sexual harassment
I really enjoyed this book, however it was slow at times and I found myself wanting to skip ahead a couple pages just to get through it.
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Ho letto questo libro nel giro di qualche giorno e se sotto alcuni aspetti mi è piaciuto un sacco sotto altri mi ha lasciato perplessa.
Per prima cosa l’ho trovato piuttosto difficile e ingarbugliato, non adatto a tutti, perchè è molto cerebrale e ingegnoso… che poi è il motivo per cui mi è anche piaciuto, in realtà! 😅 Tutto il meccanismo degli athame, per esempio, mi ha affascinato proprio perché l’ho trovato scientificamente corretto: è stata la cosa che mi è piaciuta di più, non avevo mai letto un fantasy scientificamente possibile.
Tra i personaggi ho adorato i Dread, mentre Quin, John e Shinobu non mi sono piaciuti per nulla. Tra l’altro il prevedibilissimo triangolo amoroso tra loro, che mi ha lasciata perplessa per tutto il romanzo, nelle ultime cinquanta pagine è arrivato addirittura a infastidirmi: l’epilogo è costellato da scelte e sentimenti affrettati e assurdi, robe piazzate lì senza nessuna preparazione o giustificazione.
Le mille questioni aperte e l’assenza di una qualunque risposta, l’improbabile (e a mio parere insopportabile) epilogo amoroso, il notevole ingarbugliamento della trama e la difficoltà di seguire lo stile narrativo mi trattengono dal proseguire con il seguito.
Per prima cosa l’ho trovato piuttosto difficile e ingarbugliato, non adatto a tutti, perchè è molto cerebrale e ingegnoso… che poi è il motivo per cui mi è anche piaciuto, in realtà! 😅 Tutto il meccanismo degli athame, per esempio, mi ha affascinato proprio perché l’ho trovato scientificamente corretto: è stata la cosa che mi è piaciuta di più, non avevo mai letto un fantasy scientificamente possibile.
Tra i personaggi ho adorato i Dread, mentre Quin, John e Shinobu non mi sono piaciuti per nulla. Tra l’altro il prevedibilissimo triangolo amoroso tra loro, che mi ha lasciata perplessa per tutto il romanzo, nelle ultime cinquanta pagine è arrivato addirittura a infastidirmi: l’epilogo è costellato da scelte e sentimenti affrettati e assurdi, robe piazzate lì senza nessuna preparazione o giustificazione.
Le mille questioni aperte e l’assenza di una qualunque risposta, l’improbabile (e a mio parere insopportabile) epilogo amoroso, il notevole ingarbugliamento della trama e la difficoltà di seguire lo stile narrativo mi trattengono dal proseguire con il seguito.