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maplewrites's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
fast-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? It's complicated
3.75
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the ending. I did not like the ending
I liked everything else. i loved the characters. I loved the plot. I loved the story. I loved the conflict. I loved how emotions were a very important part of the story. I loved the pacing.
I did not like the ending.
Look, look. the ending was just. UGH. No. I get it, setting up the sequel. But no. That's just not how you destroy monopolies. The best thing to do at the meeting of the round table would be to look at the systems in place that the Mercer company was using and then break it up between the planets that they were taking resources from. Give it to the individual governments of those planets to do with as they see fit. To put them in charge of helping each other. Not just... trying to build everything new from the ground up. Invent the systems that prevent monopolies. One of those systems is how to break up monopolies if they ever should occur, break up Mercer based on those systems. I just.
the whole book, Ari complained about pageantry and how bullshit it was. And yet, she was playing their game. It is a bullshit chess game that the Mercer company is playing. And Ari was acting like anything they had to say had any meaning. Like, a lot of the power the Mercer company had after the figure head died was the power to lie. Ari's job in those moments should have been to go "no, that's not the game we're playing. Right now, what we're doing is using the resources that you have stolen and giving them to the people that need them. I have killed your guy in charge because that was the only way to gain footing, also he was genocidal." Because she does not need to play by their rules. I get it, she doesn't know how to run a government. But she does know how to use her resources. She has a lot of resources. She can use them!! She can use them to make sure that the planets can be reliant on each other and sustain each other.
the ending. I did not like the ending
I liked everything else. i loved the characters. I loved the plot. I loved the story. I loved the conflict. I loved how emotions were a very important part of the story. I loved the pacing.
I did not like the ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Classism, Violence, War, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Police brutality, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Pregnancy
longlost's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
this is the superior king arthur mythos adaptation
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Murder, Violence, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Genocide, and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief, Confinement, Kidnapping, Racism, Pregnancy, and Cursing
Minor: Sexual content and Rape
bookcaptivated's review
adventurous
emotional
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content, Genocide, Grief, Kidnapping, and Violence
confusedmuse's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, Grief, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Alcoholism, Blood, and Sexual content
caidyn's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
So, after going on an Arthurian kick, I decided to revisit this book. Still hate James Patterson no matter how irrationally, but I did enjoy this book when I decided to give it another go. I still wish there was a bit less banter and sex -- that's just not my jam at all. I still felt it was a bit contrived. But, I wanted to revisit it for the diversity and a unique Arthurian tale. I fully intend to give the sequel/final book a try to see how everything concludes!
ORIGINAL REVIEW
This review can also be found on my blog!
DNF @ 39%
As I said in a First Lines Friday I did about this book, I was very wary of this book. Mainly because James Patterson put his name on it. First, I know that this isn’t by James Patterson. I completely realize that. However, it has his mark on it.
And his mark, to me, says that everything’s going to be nearly the same with slight changes made so it’s not 100% the same. The characters are all going to fit a certain archetype. The main character is going to be bold and reckless. The rest of the team are going to fade into the background and barely be distinguishable from each other. The plot is going to be contrived. The series will never end and just go on and on and on for eternity.
That’s James Patterson’s brand and the brand of people he works with.
And, I can say, I wasn’t wrong.
The only thing that this book has going for it is the diversity. And, damn that diversity was great! Gender-bent, Arabic, female Arthur (aka Ari) who’s totally queer. Merlin’s gay. There are black siblings; one is genderfluid and missing a hand, and the other is queer. Gwen is a queer woman of Asian-European heritage. Then, there’s an ace character but I didn’t get to the point where she was actually called ace.
Like, I loved how naturally the diversity came and how it was on the page. It wasn’t mentioned once and forgotten. It came up again and again and again. I enjoyed that because it just shows that diversity can be done right.
However…
The story wasn’t anything special. In the almost 40% that I had read, nothing happened. Lots of banter and flirting and sex. When I decided to throw in the towel with this book, I had just gotten to meeting the bad guy in person. And the bad guy? Basically like any other James Patterson bad guy. Humorous, sarcastic, a part of a huge company.
Nothing to impress me.
So, this book isn’t by James Patterson. But it felt like it was. Which is exactly what I thought would happen when I saw he had a publishing company. I’m very glad that these diverse books are out there, but I don’t like it that James Patterson is pumping them out. I know that from this experience, I’ll be staying away from his publishing company.
ORIGINAL REVIEW
This review can also be found on my blog!
DNF @ 39%
As I said in a First Lines Friday I did about this book, I was very wary of this book. Mainly because James Patterson put his name on it. First, I know that this isn’t by James Patterson. I completely realize that. However, it has his mark on it.
And his mark, to me, says that everything’s going to be nearly the same with slight changes made so it’s not 100% the same. The characters are all going to fit a certain archetype. The main character is going to be bold and reckless. The rest of the team are going to fade into the background and barely be distinguishable from each other. The plot is going to be contrived. The series will never end and just go on and on and on for eternity.
That’s James Patterson’s brand and the brand of people he works with.
And, I can say, I wasn’t wrong.
The only thing that this book has going for it is the diversity. And, damn that diversity was great! Gender-bent, Arabic, female Arthur (aka Ari) who’s totally queer. Merlin’s gay. There are black siblings; one is genderfluid and missing a hand, and the other is queer. Gwen is a queer woman of Asian-European heritage. Then, there’s an ace character but I didn’t get to the point where she was actually called ace.
Like, I loved how naturally the diversity came and how it was on the page. It wasn’t mentioned once and forgotten. It came up again and again and again. I enjoyed that because it just shows that diversity can be done right.
However…
The story wasn’t anything special. In the almost 40% that I had read, nothing happened. Lots of banter and flirting and sex. When I decided to throw in the towel with this book, I had just gotten to meeting the bad guy in person. And the bad guy? Basically like any other James Patterson bad guy. Humorous, sarcastic, a part of a huge company.
Nothing to impress me.
So, this book isn’t by James Patterson. But it felt like it was. Which is exactly what I thought would happen when I saw he had a publishing company. I’m very glad that these diverse books are out there, but I don’t like it that James Patterson is pumping them out. I know that from this experience, I’ll be staying away from his publishing company.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Kidnapping, Death, and Infidelity
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