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coffeepensandpaper's review against another edition
DMF page 160
So… Ever since this book was put on my radar, I was intrigued by it and after the first few chapters it seems like I would enjoy it quite a lot.
I mean, the premise lets us to believe that we‘ll follow this badass empress who ventures out to seek revenge on a god. What‘s not to be excited about?
Full disclosure: I was not aware that this is a second book in a companion novel series, but it can absolutely be read as a stand-alone. I only found out when I added it to GR after already having read about 25% without any problems.
So comprehension was definitely not a factor when DNFing it.
Sadly, my biggest issue was our main character. I have no problems with unlikeable characters, but as much as Eda is narcissistic and short tempered, she is also extremely dumb and flimsy. She is literally told what to do multiple times (although the reader is made to believe it‘s some big riddle… it ain’t) and she is still whining „I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO“
Not to mention, I don’t even know WHY she wanted to be empress so badly in the first place. It‘s never explained or mentioned. As a character, she feels almost 2 dimensional, with no depth, like the writer didn’t think past „make her the bad guy somehow“
When we then get a plot twist that I could see from miles away, I was done. And we haven’t even gotten to the revenge part yet.
PS: The flowery writing did not help, either.
So… Ever since this book was put on my radar, I was intrigued by it and after the first few chapters it seems like I would enjoy it quite a lot.
I mean, the premise lets us to believe that we‘ll follow this badass empress who ventures out to seek revenge on a god. What‘s not to be excited about?
Full disclosure: I was not aware that this is a second book in a companion novel series, but it can absolutely be read as a stand-alone. I only found out when I added it to GR after already having read about 25% without any problems.
So comprehension was definitely not a factor when DNFing it.
Sadly, my biggest issue was our main character. I have no problems with unlikeable characters, but as much as Eda is narcissistic and short tempered, she is also extremely dumb and flimsy. She is literally told what to do multiple times (although the reader is made to believe it‘s some big riddle… it ain’t) and she is still whining „I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO“
Not to mention, I don’t even know WHY she wanted to be empress so badly in the first place. It‘s never explained or mentioned. As a character, she feels almost 2 dimensional, with no depth, like the writer didn’t think past „make her the bad guy somehow“
When we then get a plot twist that I could see from miles away, I was done. And we haven’t even gotten to the revenge part yet.
PS: The flowery writing did not help, either.
paisleypikachu's review against another edition
2.0
Check out the original review and more on NovelKnight!
This book was provided by the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I've come to accept the fact that not every book can be great, or even good for that matter. But it's still such a let down every time I go into a book, so excited and ready to love it, and then... I don't Which is exactly what happened with Beyond the Shadowed Earth.
Now, this one wasn't all bad, and I actually made myself push through to the end, but I like to save the good bits for last. End on a high note and what not. So let's get down to exactly what I didn't love.
First off, I feel that the summary for this book gave me a very wrong idea of what to expect. I thought I'd be reading about some grand adventure. Traveling across the empire to the dangerous mountain, fighting bad guys, freeing gods. But uh... nope. The adventuring doesn't even start until over half way through the book. The whole first half is filled with politics and religion stuff. Which is fine, except that it's not the book I was expecting and definitely not the book I wanted.
Despite the whole first half feeling like it was the beginning, I never felt that it used all that time to build anything up. The world-building was patchy, with some things presented vividly, other left vague. The result was what to me felt like a cookie cutter YA fantasy setting.
The characters fell equally flat for me. No one really stood out and grabbed my attention. The main character had her moments, and I thought her motivations were actually pretty cool and presented well. But honestly? I can't even remember her name now. And the other characters were at about that same level of interesting for me.
Now, like I said, not all was bad! When the adventure did finally kick in it was really well done in part. Exciting and fun, more along the lines of what I'd been expecting from the book's synopsis. The ending stretched things a bit in parts, which felt unnecessary, but the second half of the book was much more fun than the first. But it was just too little too late for me. I think that others could actually really enjoy this one, if they know what it is going to be going into it. Less adventure and more... other stuff. Unfortunately, I was really just expecting a different book than the one I got, which ultimately left me disappointed and wishing I'd picked something else to read.
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I've come to accept the fact that not every book can be great, or even good for that matter. But it's still such a let down every time I go into a book, so excited and ready to love it, and then... I don't Which is exactly what happened with Beyond the Shadowed Earth.
Now, this one wasn't all bad, and I actually made myself push through to the end, but I like to save the good bits for last. End on a high note and what not. So let's get down to exactly what I didn't love.
First off, I feel that the summary for this book gave me a very wrong idea of what to expect. I thought I'd be reading about some grand adventure. Traveling across the empire to the dangerous mountain, fighting bad guys, freeing gods. But uh... nope. The adventuring doesn't even start until over half way through the book. The whole first half is filled with politics and religion stuff. Which is fine, except that it's not the book I was expecting and definitely not the book I wanted.
Despite the whole first half feeling like it was the beginning, I never felt that it used all that time to build anything up. The world-building was patchy, with some things presented vividly, other left vague. The result was what to me felt like a cookie cutter YA fantasy setting.
The characters fell equally flat for me. No one really stood out and grabbed my attention. The main character had her moments, and I thought her motivations were actually pretty cool and presented well. But honestly? I can't even remember her name now. And the other characters were at about that same level of interesting for me.
Now, like I said, not all was bad! When the adventure did finally kick in it was really well done in part. Exciting and fun, more along the lines of what I'd been expecting from the book's synopsis. The ending stretched things a bit in parts, which felt unnecessary, but the second half of the book was much more fun than the first. But it was just too little too late for me. I think that others could actually really enjoy this one, if they know what it is going to be going into it. Less adventure and more... other stuff. Unfortunately, I was really just expecting a different book than the one I got, which ultimately left me disappointed and wishing I'd picked something else to read.
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careezy43's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
livthebooknerd's review against another edition
3.0
This ARC was sent to me for an honest review. All thoughts, feelings, and opinions are my own. No monetary compensation was provided for this review.
Hey guys,
If you've been following me for a while, you'd likely know of my deep love for all things Norse mythology and Norse-inspired. In 2019, I had the pleasure of reading Joanna Ruth Meyer's Echo North, a retelling of the Norse tale of "East o' the Sun, West o' the Moon." I enjoyed it so much and I instantly started to follow Joanna's writing journey through her Twitter and Instagram. I love her style and she's such a kind human with an adorable family.
In June, I had commented on one of her photos of her ARCs for Earth and she DM'd me and asked for my info so that she could have her publisher send me a copy. I yelled. However, I was so excited that I decided to wait until closer to the publishing date so that I didn't have to wait even longer for her next book. Like a buffoon, I waited too long. School became intense, life was happening, and I had to finish other books for scheduled reviews. Long story short, I didn't finish the book until the beginning of February. What a journey.
Beyond the Shadowed Earth is a beautifully crafted story. It reminds me of my favorite stories from my childhood mixed with the badass women that I encountered as I started reading YA. The story follows Eda, an ambitious and selfish girl who just wants to be the empress of her country. In order to do that, she has to barter everything she loves to the gods. She makes risky deals with the god, Tuer, and begins to lose everything she loves. To reclaim her empire and to recover all that she loses, she has to adventure to the mountain that Tuer is trapped in and kill him.
Joanna has a way of crafting worlds that I could get lost in for the rest of my life. The world that she's created in this novel is just so fantastic and I want to dive deeper into the mythology and the intricacies that follow a large pantheon. She did such a great job when creating spiritual and religious characters. I was completely captivated. However, in this book, I felt like I didn't know as much about the magic system or the processes of conjuring or calling the gods. Maybe that's because I haven't read the companion novel, Beneath the Haunting Sea, but I wish I had been given a bit more to grasp.
Additionally, Joanna creates a fantastic cast of characters. I really loved to be irritated with Eda. She was so completely selfish and made the worst decisions, but it was so fun to yell at her whenever she did something dumb. She was really terrible at being politically savvy. She really didn't know what to do other than bully her way into power. I felt like she didn't really care at all about her country by the middle of the book. She was so focused on fixing her mistakes that she would just up and leave via horse and go to the temple. I really didn't enjoy the political aspects of this book because I felt like they weren't particularly believable. The parts of the novel where Eda was in the palace was where it fell flat for me. It just was a stretch to me. However, once she left to go on her quest, that's when I felt like the book picked up. The first hundred pages were excellent, the second hundred fifty were slow because we were trying to get to the quest and it just got slower and slower for me, and the last 250 were excellent because we were on the quest. I just wish that some of the filler stuff would have been cut down. It just slowed down the pacing. It was an excellent story, but the middle's pacing was just slow.
I really loved the overall vibe of the story; however, I just wish that there had been more of an emphasis on the magic and the gods' influence on the worlds. It was a very character-driven novel, but I would have liked even more of the world. Eda was on my nerves enough that I wanted another perspective or something.
Overall, this book was so much fun. I can't wait to read Joanna's next novel, Of Leaves and Stars. It hits all of the buzz-tropes and buzz-words that I adore in the books I read. I hope that I can get my hands on an ARC or something.
Hey guys,
If you've been following me for a while, you'd likely know of my deep love for all things Norse mythology and Norse-inspired. In 2019, I had the pleasure of reading Joanna Ruth Meyer's Echo North, a retelling of the Norse tale of "East o' the Sun, West o' the Moon." I enjoyed it so much and I instantly started to follow Joanna's writing journey through her Twitter and Instagram. I love her style and she's such a kind human with an adorable family.
In June, I had commented on one of her photos of her ARCs for Earth and she DM'd me and asked for my info so that she could have her publisher send me a copy. I yelled. However, I was so excited that I decided to wait until closer to the publishing date so that I didn't have to wait even longer for her next book. Like a buffoon, I waited too long. School became intense, life was happening, and I had to finish other books for scheduled reviews. Long story short, I didn't finish the book until the beginning of February. What a journey.
Beyond the Shadowed Earth is a beautifully crafted story. It reminds me of my favorite stories from my childhood mixed with the badass women that I encountered as I started reading YA. The story follows Eda, an ambitious and selfish girl who just wants to be the empress of her country. In order to do that, she has to barter everything she loves to the gods. She makes risky deals with the god, Tuer, and begins to lose everything she loves. To reclaim her empire and to recover all that she loses, she has to adventure to the mountain that Tuer is trapped in and kill him.
Joanna has a way of crafting worlds that I could get lost in for the rest of my life. The world that she's created in this novel is just so fantastic and I want to dive deeper into the mythology and the intricacies that follow a large pantheon. She did such a great job when creating spiritual and religious characters. I was completely captivated. However, in this book, I felt like I didn't know as much about the magic system or the processes of conjuring or calling the gods. Maybe that's because I haven't read the companion novel, Beneath the Haunting Sea, but I wish I had been given a bit more to grasp.
Additionally, Joanna creates a fantastic cast of characters. I really loved to be irritated with Eda. She was so completely selfish and made the worst decisions, but it was so fun to yell at her whenever she did something dumb. She was really terrible at being politically savvy. She really didn't know what to do other than bully her way into power. I felt like she didn't really care at all about her country by the middle of the book. She was so focused on fixing her mistakes that she would just up and leave via horse and go to the temple. I really didn't enjoy the political aspects of this book because I felt like they weren't particularly believable. The parts of the novel where Eda was in the palace was where it fell flat for me. It just was a stretch to me. However, once she left to go on her quest, that's when I felt like the book picked up. The first hundred pages were excellent, the second hundred fifty were slow because we were trying to get to the quest and it just got slower and slower for me, and the last 250 were excellent because we were on the quest. I just wish that some of the filler stuff would have been cut down. It just slowed down the pacing. It was an excellent story, but the middle's pacing was just slow.
I really loved the overall vibe of the story; however, I just wish that there had been more of an emphasis on the magic and the gods' influence on the worlds. It was a very character-driven novel, but I would have liked even more of the world. Eda was on my nerves enough that I wanted another perspective or something.
Overall, this book was so much fun. I can't wait to read Joanna's next novel, Of Leaves and Stars. It hits all of the buzz-tropes and buzz-words that I adore in the books I read. I hope that I can get my hands on an ARC or something.
hayleydxrling's review
4.0
It’s no secret that I LOVE Joanna and all of her work, and Beyond the Shadowed Earth was no different. There was A LOT that happened in this book, so much so that I almost felt like it should have been two because parts of it felt rushed and not explained enough. There was a lot of character development of Eda in the context of her actions/choices within the story, but I wanted to see more out-of-context development, maybe that would have helped me sympathize with her a little more than I did. Overall, such a good story, I loved the drastic difference from Beneath the Haunting Sea. Both books are so different and yet go together perfectly.
allthebooksandchocolate's review
2.0
This book is a slow read. I don’t necessarily mean that in a bad way, just that it is by no means fast-paced. Eda grew on me as a character, but I never really liked her, which was probably my issue with the whole book. Honestly, I didn’t really care about any of the characters, which was kept me from really getting into the book. In general, this book lacked emotion.
I also think, and I don’t know that I have ever said this before, that this would have been better as two separate books. This book was long and there was a lot happening, and I think that perhaps too much was crammed into one book.
The world-building was great! I understood about the different gods, which was important given what a large part of the story they were. The government was fairly clear as was the actual layout of the world. While I admire all of this world-building I do think the book focused too much on it and not enough on the story.
I also think, and I don’t know that I have ever said this before, that this would have been better as two separate books. This book was long and there was a lot happening, and I think that perhaps too much was crammed into one book.
The world-building was great! I understood about the different gods, which was important given what a large part of the story they were. The government was fairly clear as was the actual layout of the world. While I admire all of this world-building I do think the book focused too much on it and not enough on the story.
bethanyhendrix's review
3.0
Overall, an interesting fantasy read.
However, I felt like I was reading a new book during each new section (there were three). I have to say, the middle is probably my favorite part, and I read that rather quickly. I think I would have with er liked if the first half was interspersed inside the second as flashbacks or something, or if it had been a different book. The third part left me mostly confused and wanting answers. Perhaps if it were multiple books, the author could have dug into the story more and really made the world and its characters come more to life.
I know there is a separate book and this is set in the same world, so perhaps reading the other book might help ease my confusion.
Overall, I didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to. It took me a long time to get through it.
However, I felt like I was reading a new book during each new section (there were three). I have to say, the middle is probably my favorite part, and I read that rather quickly. I think I would have with er liked if the first half was interspersed inside the second as flashbacks or something, or if it had been a different book. The third part left me mostly confused and wanting answers. Perhaps if it were multiple books, the author could have dug into the story more and really made the world and its characters come more to life.
I know there is a separate book and this is set in the same world, so perhaps reading the other book might help ease my confusion.
Overall, I didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to. It took me a long time to get through it.
clodiaslibrary's review
4.0
You can find a more in-depth review on my blog.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Page Street Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I was lucky enough to be granted an early digital copy and I'm so glad I did, because it ended up being one of the best reads of the year! It isn't perfect and it isn't one of those books that will have a place in my heart forever - like ACOMAF for example - but it was a solid 4 and I truly enjoyed it.
Betrayal, death, sorrow, revenge. These are the main themes of this story.
Eda is one of those MCs that aren't meant to be likable. She's mean, arrogant, self-absorbed, greedy for power, sometimes cruel. I never truly connected with her, never resonated with her, but I understood what she was going through and why she reacted that way, and that made me curious to witness her journey. So, if you like morally-grey characters, Eda is definitely the one for you! Another thing I much enjoyed was the world-building. It felt complex, detailed and well thought, with lots of interesting traits, cultures, countries. The religious system was also very interesting, even though a bit confusing at times - I wish it was explained a little bit better. The writing style was on point - it flowed easily, but didn't feel shallow.
Generally speaking, the story was very good and it glued me to the pages, always yearning to read the next page and find out what was gonna happen next.
But to be honest, I feel like this book it's a bit too short. There was room to stretch the story out, to add more detail to the characters, to their stories and their adventures, to their feelings and personalities. If the author did that, I think I would've grown so much more attached to them, which unfortunately didn't happen. This is why this book didn't get 5 stars: some things were rushed, things that could've been so much more deep and complex.
So, to wrap up my thoughts: Beyond The Shadowed Earth is a very good book, perfect if you're feeling like reading a quick YA Fantasy that will glue you to the pages without being too intense. But if you're looking for a story where you will grow attached to the characters, this isn't the one for you. It's one of those standalone you enjoy, but quickly move on from, if that makes sense.
Still, a very enjoyable and interesting read, which made me curious to pick up Beneath The Hunting Sea - another book set in the same world.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Page Street Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I was lucky enough to be granted an early digital copy and I'm so glad I did, because it ended up being one of the best reads of the year! It isn't perfect and it isn't one of those books that will have a place in my heart forever - like ACOMAF for example - but it was a solid 4 and I truly enjoyed it.
Betrayal, death, sorrow, revenge. These are the main themes of this story.
Eda is one of those MCs that aren't meant to be likable. She's mean, arrogant, self-absorbed, greedy for power, sometimes cruel. I never truly connected with her, never resonated with her, but I understood what she was going through and why she reacted that way, and that made me curious to witness her journey. So, if you like morally-grey characters, Eda is definitely the one for you! Another thing I much enjoyed was the world-building. It felt complex, detailed and well thought, with lots of interesting traits, cultures, countries. The religious system was also very interesting, even though a bit confusing at times - I wish it was explained a little bit better. The writing style was on point - it flowed easily, but didn't feel shallow.
Generally speaking, the story was very good and it glued me to the pages, always yearning to read the next page and find out what was gonna happen next.
But to be honest, I feel like this book it's a bit too short. There was room to stretch the story out, to add more detail to the characters, to their stories and their adventures, to their feelings and personalities. If the author did that, I think I would've grown so much more attached to them, which unfortunately didn't happen. This is why this book didn't get 5 stars: some things were rushed, things that could've been so much more deep and complex.
So, to wrap up my thoughts: Beyond The Shadowed Earth is a very good book, perfect if you're feeling like reading a quick YA Fantasy that will glue you to the pages without being too intense. But if you're looking for a story where you will grow attached to the characters, this isn't the one for you. It's one of those standalone you enjoy, but quickly move on from, if that makes sense.
Still, a very enjoyable and interesting read, which made me curious to pick up Beneath The Hunting Sea - another book set in the same world.