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2.9 AVERAGE
2.9 AVERAGE
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review. This in no way influences my opinions.
This review originally appeared on my blog: The Literarium
To train in the hopes of being a seeker is a noble cause, at least this is what Quin is led to believe, and so she trains. However, what she thinks is a long-respected tradition is actually something more. She is training to be an assassin, a killer. In her quest, Quin will trek across the world, from the West to the East, in a journey she hopes will take her as far away from where her current path is leading her.
While the plot and concept of the novel are intriguing and new, enough to entice long-time fans of YA fantasy and action-adventure stories, the bits of the novel that matter most, especially the world-building, character development, and plotting leave much to be desired–much. I felt the author could have developed these elements more. They were good, but could have been better. I was left with too many unanswered questions about the world, the back-story of it and its people. I had a hard time suspending belief because there wasn’t any depth to anything for me to chew on.
I’ve got qualms with the use of the term “seeker.” While the seeker in this book is an assassin–a hitman–its other elements draw from other areas of fantasy. Terry Goodkind’s Richard Cipher comes to mind. He rights wrongs committed by bad people; this is part of what Quin does, rights wrongs. But my problem here is that this wasn’t something new and original. Perhaps the author should have used a different term, because fans of fantasy know this already.
I wasn’t thrilled with the time-period, the this-our-world-but-at-a-different-time-and-I’m-not-going-to-give-you-a-clue-when element. When does this book take place? I also wasn’t crazy about the genre mixing. Is it fantasy or sci-fi. Is it action adventure or thriller? I don’t think the mixing works; at least, it can work but it wasn’t executed well. The writing quality was also poor. Poor. I’ve read better.
In a nutshell, I am left with more questions about the characters, world, plot, and so on than the book provides answers for. I wanted so much to like this book, but I don’t like being left in the dark about information that is so critical to believability and the whole “show and don’t tell” element of fiction.
I may read this again to give it another try, but I don’t think I can recommend purchasing it. Instead, rent it from the library and give it a whirl and wait for the sequel. Hopefully it’s better.
This review originally appeared on my blog: The Literarium
To train in the hopes of being a seeker is a noble cause, at least this is what Quin is led to believe, and so she trains. However, what she thinks is a long-respected tradition is actually something more. She is training to be an assassin, a killer. In her quest, Quin will trek across the world, from the West to the East, in a journey she hopes will take her as far away from where her current path is leading her.
While the plot and concept of the novel are intriguing and new, enough to entice long-time fans of YA fantasy and action-adventure stories, the bits of the novel that matter most, especially the world-building, character development, and plotting leave much to be desired–much. I felt the author could have developed these elements more. They were good, but could have been better. I was left with too many unanswered questions about the world, the back-story of it and its people. I had a hard time suspending belief because there wasn’t any depth to anything for me to chew on.
I’ve got qualms with the use of the term “seeker.” While the seeker in this book is an assassin–a hitman–its other elements draw from other areas of fantasy. Terry Goodkind’s Richard Cipher comes to mind. He rights wrongs committed by bad people; this is part of what Quin does, rights wrongs. But my problem here is that this wasn’t something new and original. Perhaps the author should have used a different term, because fans of fantasy know this already.
I wasn’t thrilled with the time-period, the this-our-world-but-at-a-different-time-and-I’m-not-going-to-give-you-a-clue-when element. When does this book take place? I also wasn’t crazy about the genre mixing. Is it fantasy or sci-fi. Is it action adventure or thriller? I don’t think the mixing works; at least, it can work but it wasn’t executed well. The writing quality was also poor. Poor. I’ve read better.
In a nutshell, I am left with more questions about the characters, world, plot, and so on than the book provides answers for. I wanted so much to like this book, but I don’t like being left in the dark about information that is so critical to believability and the whole “show and don’t tell” element of fiction.
I may read this again to give it another try, but I don’t think I can recommend purchasing it. Instead, rent it from the library and give it a whirl and wait for the sequel. Hopefully it’s better.
You have been raised to be special, brought up on stories and tales of what it means to be different. You've trained your entire life, seen your father as an example of what you want to be, and pitied your mother for what she is. You finally take that final step to become what you've dreamed about...only to find out that it was all wrong. Everything you thought you knew, is no longer what it was. Your love, your friendships, your family...all changed irreparably in the time that it takes to be bound as a Seeker. All of us have choices, and many are made for specific reasons. At what point do those choices, in the name of what's good, turn us into what we swore we would never become?
Seeker is an interesting young adult fantasy with a strong female character. She is not flawless, but her faults are human and make her real. The writing flows well and the pace is fairly quick-moving. Once things really kick into gear (and it doesn't take long), everything just flies. There were a few times when a phrase as written seemed a bit jarring and unnatural for what the story was, but it was brief and did not affect the overall story at all.
It's obvious with the ending that this is the first in a series, though I'm not sure how many will be coming. I would guess a trilogy, but I'm not certain. There is a sense of closure for this book, but there is also a knowledge that the world is, as yet, incomplete. It's been a while since I had to force myself to put down a book so I could go to bed, as was the case here. I look forward to the sequel, due Spring of 2016.
Seeker is an interesting young adult fantasy with a strong female character. She is not flawless, but her faults are human and make her real. The writing flows well and the pace is fairly quick-moving. Once things really kick into gear (and it doesn't take long), everything just flies. There were a few times when a phrase as written seemed a bit jarring and unnatural for what the story was, but it was brief and did not affect the overall story at all.
It's obvious with the ending that this is the first in a series, though I'm not sure how many will be coming. I would guess a trilogy, but I'm not certain. There is a sense of closure for this book, but there is also a knowledge that the world is, as yet, incomplete. It's been a while since I had to force myself to put down a book so I could go to bed, as was the case here. I look forward to the sequel, due Spring of 2016.
I've put off reviewing this for so long because I still don't know what I think. The writing and general story are both very engaging, but I never felt like the premise/world building is actually explained. By the end of the story, I still wasn't sure exactly what was happening, but I did enjoy reading it. I liked the romance, even with the triangle, and I got attached to the main characters as I read.
I liked this enough to read the next book and hope for more explanations about the world. There is something about the story that completely pulls you in, and I want to know what happens to the characters, even if I don't entirely understand the setting.
*3.5/5 stars
I liked this enough to read the next book and hope for more explanations about the world. There is something about the story that completely pulls you in, and I want to know what happens to the characters, even if I don't entirely understand the setting.
*3.5/5 stars
Let me put it this way.
This Book was So Bad that I gifted (or rather forced it) to a friend and told her she could burn it for all I cared.
It was that bad.
Nonsensical, confusing, utterly contrived, AN NO SENSE OF DIRECTION.
When I read stuff like this I wonder if copy editors are extinct
This Book was So Bad that I gifted (or rather forced it) to a friend and told her she could burn it for all I cared.
It was that bad.
Nonsensical, confusing, utterly contrived, AN NO SENSE OF DIRECTION.
When I read stuff like this I wonder if copy editors are extinct
4.5 I had very low expectations going into Seeker, about 100 pages in I was thoroughly enjoying myself Quin is awesome as is the rest of the set of characters, I was engaged and very involved the world Arwen built is easy to get lost in I didn't get confused or lost at any time, I thought the pacing was awesome and the action and plot were great and I can't wait for its sequel
Paper book review.
Interesting story set in a mostly normal human world, not a made up fairy world like in most fantasy books. Is this book fantasy? I would say it's almost a mashup of action/adventure, fantasy, and science fiction.
Our main characters are part of a shrinking family responsible for keeping an ancient artifact safe, an artifact that can open a door and allow Seekers to travel through space and time. I love Quin and Shinobu as characters. Neither really falls into a stereotype, so that is refreshing. I also appropriately hate Briac and the Middle Dread and eventually John. Such awful characters!! But because of their personalities and actions, not because of the writing or plot.
I enjoy how the story jumps around between character points of view and between settings. Never thought I'd thoroughly enjoy a book that jumped so often between Scotland and Hong Kong. At times the action almost happened too quickly. I really had to slow down to understand everything that was happening and who was involved. Believable characters, both likeable and incredibly unlikable. Also a unique story. I can't really think of a comparison to any other stories I've read. I really enjoyed it! I might pick up the second book, but since I don't currently own it, it could be a while.
Interesting story set in a mostly normal human world, not a made up fairy world like in most fantasy books. Is this book fantasy? I would say it's almost a mashup of action/adventure, fantasy, and science fiction.
Our main characters are part of a shrinking family responsible for keeping an ancient artifact safe, an artifact that can open a door and allow Seekers to travel through space and time. I love Quin and Shinobu as characters. Neither really falls into a stereotype, so that is refreshing. I also appropriately hate Briac and the Middle Dread and eventually John. Such awful characters!! But because of their personalities and actions, not because of the writing or plot.
I enjoy how the story jumps around between character points of view and between settings. Never thought I'd thoroughly enjoy a book that jumped so often between Scotland and Hong Kong. At times the action almost happened too quickly. I really had to slow down to understand everything that was happening and who was involved. Believable characters, both likeable and incredibly unlikable. Also a unique story. I can't really think of a comparison to any other stories I've read. I really enjoyed it! I might pick up the second book, but since I don't currently own it, it could be a while.
Got halfway through and I couldn't even finish it because it was that bad in my opinion. . . I read the last chapter in the book and it ended exactly how I thought it would
