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cobaltbookshelf's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars
Talk about disappointing. World building is mess and for a book that is driven by characters they are so annoying, although I liked found family scenes. Hopefully sequel is better.
Talk about disappointing. World building is mess and for a book that is driven by characters they are so annoying, although I liked found family scenes. Hopefully sequel is better.
eric_k's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mo_likesto_read's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
thanthorn007's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
fast-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? Yes
4.0
thesegildedpages's review against another edition
I just couldn’t get into it. I think it just wasn’t my kind of book.
cecibaspe's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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? Yes
4.25
melstinylibrary's review
adventurous
dark
medium-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? Yes
3.0
I love the idea of this book. I liked it when the mecha’s were described and I thought the worldbuilding was pretty cool. Every time there was a mecha fight I was excited, but somehow I wasn’t really able to envision those fights in my head? And I end up just forgetting about them. If you asked me to tell about you the events of this book, I wouldn’t be able to either, except for the beginning and ending.
I also think there wasn’t that much distinguish between the characters. They were all violent and it felt like they all had almost the same personalities. That was something I disliked. It felt like this book was trying too hard to be cool.
I might reread this book later because I really want to like this book, and I feel like I would if the vibe is right! But for now; 3/5 stars.
I also think there wasn’t that much distinguish between the characters. They were all violent and it felt like they all had almost the same personalities. That was something I disliked. It felt like this book was trying too hard to be cool.
I might reread this book later because I really want to like this book, and I feel like I would if the vibe is right! But for now; 3/5 stars.
bernmetoacrisp's review against another edition
distracted by other books. it felt a bit young
emmaguzt's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.0
dembury's review against another edition
3.0
"Gearbreakers" biggest strength is delivering on the "Pacific Rim"-style mechas and mecha fights that it promises; reading about these giant robot weapons provides a very cinematic reading experience. The cast of characters is a little too quickly introduced and somewhat too one-dimensional to really get attached to, except Eris and Sona, especially Sona. She really steals the show and feels like the most fully-realized of them all. She was interesting to read whether she was alone or in a group or being seen through another character's POV.
The main aspect that was lacking in this book was worldbuilding. We get a lot of names, vague explanations of past wars, skirmishes between countries, but nothing concrete that explains how Godolia came to be, or really how it operates. There's just this plot of "bad Academy/Godolia VS the rebels" that feels like the framework of a story rather than a fully fleshed-out book. The physical world felt empty too: all I could picture was a big blank map with the Academy at one end and the Hollows at the other. Because of the lack of worldbuilding things ended up feeling fairly low stakes, even through the climactic fight.
All in all a pretty fun read, and I'm tempted to read the sequel when it comes out. With just a little polishing on the writing and more worldbuilding I think the next book could really be a blast!
The main aspect that was lacking in this book was worldbuilding. We get a lot of names, vague explanations of past wars, skirmishes between countries, but nothing concrete that explains how Godolia came to be, or really how it operates. There's just this plot of "bad Academy/Godolia VS the rebels" that feels like the framework of a story rather than a fully fleshed-out book. The physical world felt empty too: all I could picture was a big blank map with the Academy at one end and the Hollows at the other. Because of the lack of worldbuilding things ended up feeling fairly low stakes, even through the climactic fight.
All in all a pretty fun read, and I'm tempted to read the sequel when it comes out. With just a little polishing on the writing and more worldbuilding I think the next book could really be a blast!