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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
DNF at 33%
I'm so sad that I didn't like this book. I just couldn't bring myself to finish, and I had already started to skim read before DNFing. The premise was super interesting (it's pitched as Orphan Black meets Avengers, and I loved Orphan Black). Everything about the world and plot seemed cool, but the execution was lacking. I couldn't tell any of the characters apart, and so little happened in that time. (Also, it was weird that the guy was turned on by Nina when he knew she could kill him, and that he had to betray her?) There was a lot of telling--saying how Nina was a bad ass and info-dumping the set up for the book--but not a lot of showing. And though it is marketed as like Orphan Black, that element is barely touched upon in what I read. Disappointed :/
I'm so sad that I didn't like this book. I just couldn't bring myself to finish, and I had already started to skim read before DNFing. The premise was super interesting (it's pitched as Orphan Black meets Avengers, and I loved Orphan Black). Everything about the world and plot seemed cool, but the execution was lacking. I couldn't tell any of the characters apart, and so little happened in that time. (Also, it was weird that the guy was turned on by Nina when he knew she could kill him, and that he had to betray her?) There was a lot of telling--saying how Nina was a bad ass and info-dumping the set up for the book--but not a lot of showing. And though it is marketed as like Orphan Black, that element is barely touched upon in what I read. Disappointed :/
I enjoyed this- good adventure series! (And I do love books without female main characters who sit around boo-hooing that everything is all their fault. Grow up, you self-centered whiners.) Great characters here! Interesting, dystopian world. Really looking forward to seeing where this goes!
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
For what this was described as, I feel like it didn’t really live up to what I thought it would be. I did like that both squads were very resourceful and skilled on their own unique ways and the body modifications were a great addition. On the other hand, I feel like there was way too much hope and positivity. I know that’s weird to say but this is somewhat a post apocalyptic story and it didn’t always feel like that. Or maybe even though the content was adult, the write style gave off a young adult feel? Honestly, I have no idea but I wish it was dark for the setting. Additionally, I feel like the librarian factor was definitely just a side thing they were doing rather than what defined them so the series title seemed a bit misleading. I did really like the women though. They were all crazy unique in their abilities and their personality quirks were great! The guys all got really muddled for me except for Conall. The epilogue was interesting enough. I’ll continue on because they’re fun in the moment but I don’t think I’ll really remember a lot of the storyline.
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
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:
No
Forty-five years before this book opens, the US couldn’t withstand the effects of taking a direct hit from a giant meteor. Our already-failing power grid collapsed leaving the survivors of the meteor to live a life of barely enduring unimaginable hardships. Among the survivors are three women in Atlanta. When Knox, a rogue soldier, approaches the three women with a proposition he knows Nina, an information broker, can’t resist, Nina and her team, agree to help Knox and his team to find a one of the Library of Congress’ servers, hidden before the power grid failed. Knox doesn’t tell Nina that his surgically implanted superhuman abilities are failing as are those of his team. Knox’s real goal is to rescue a biochem hacker who agreed to stabilize Knox and his team. Trust is one of those commodities in short supply.
This is the first in the Mercenary Librarians series and is a very well-written novel with well-developed characters, and a storyline that hasn’t been done to death by every other author of dystopian novels. The world-building in this novel is understated but well done.
Kit Rocha, the best-selling writing team of this dystopian romance, has written a jewel of a book that will appeal to a wide range of readers. Even if you have had no desire to read dystopian novels before, try this one and you will have found new writers to follow.
My thanks to Tor and Edelweiss for an eARC.
This is the first in the Mercenary Librarians series and is a very well-written novel with well-developed characters, and a storyline that hasn’t been done to death by every other author of dystopian novels. The world-building in this novel is understated but well done.
Kit Rocha, the best-selling writing team of this dystopian romance, has written a jewel of a book that will appeal to a wide range of readers. Even if you have had no desire to read dystopian novels before, try this one and you will have found new writers to follow.
My thanks to Tor and Edelweiss for an eARC.
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
The writing was surprisingly good and the plot was just the right amount of predictable. I loved the world destroyed by the climate crisis and the specific emphasis on how the inherent flaws of a class system such as capitalism are to blame. However, it is difficult to get over the very tired Mary Sue archetype. I am BEGGING authors everywhere to realize that a tragic backstory is NOT a character flaw!!
All the other characters were complex and dynamic and complicated and flawed so I know the authors are capable of writing that way which means that for some unfathomable reason they thought a Mary Sue character was a good idea. It's not. It never is. It is and will forever be annoying and unrelatable.
I think they might have realized this since the second book focuses on a different character. The rest of the novel was good enough I'm willing to keep reading this series.
All the other characters were complex and dynamic and complicated and flawed so I know the authors are capable of writing that way which means that for some unfathomable reason they thought a Mary Sue character was a good idea. It's not. It never is. It is and will forever be annoying and unrelatable.
I think they might have realized this since the second book focuses on a different character. The rest of the novel was good enough I'm willing to keep reading this series.
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Wow, I picked this up after seeing it on Tor.com's list of fiction for Pride Month. I'm not sure why it's listed there. While there is passing mention of past same sex partners and some secondary potentially gay characters there is a huge stereotypical hetero romance at the center of this book. All the men are stereotypical beefy merc bad boys with a heart of gold and the women kick ass while still being insanely beautiful and hot.
These wouldn't be problems if I went into it thinking it was a super soldier romance. But I was promised bisexual mercenary librarians. There was no librarianing. Based on the description I thought there would be more of a story and maybe the unravelling of a conspiracy (it said Orphan Black meets Avengers). Usually Tor doesn't steer me wrong, but this is a hard pass if you aren't looking for a romance. The sex scene was an entire chapter. It was basically reading it in real time. I couldn't finish it even after the reveal of the "mysterious employer".
These wouldn't be problems if I went into it thinking it was a super soldier romance. But I was promised bisexual mercenary librarians. There was no librarianing. Based on the description I thought there would be more of a story and maybe the unravelling of a conspiracy (it said Orphan Black meets Avengers). Usually Tor doesn't steer me wrong, but this is a hard pass if you aren't looking for a romance. The sex scene was an entire chapter. It was basically reading it in real time. I couldn't finish it even after the reveal of the "mysterious employer".