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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
I started this book several weeks ago and got to the 40% mark, which was around the part where I felt like oh no, insta-love, god no don't let it be so and hadn't at that point felt especially invested or grabbed by anything. I called it quits and went back to playing video games for a while.
Since I already own the whole trilogy as ebooks, I decided to give it one more go and start again from the beginning, rereading the first 40% just to have everything at the forefront of my mind.
I'm glad I went back because there are things in the story that surprised me (in a good way) and have me interested in continuing to read out an interested desire to see where the story goes.
If you start the book and start feeling like it's not working out, I encourage you to keep at it, at least past the 40% mark.
Of course, the romance angle still isn't quite my ideal.
I feel like Soren and Theo are ready to care about one another way too fast. They kiss fairly early on and Theo is quick to have conflicting feelings about him; being torn between the good parts of Soren she sees and the reality that he's participated in the oppression of her people no matter his personal feelings or sentiments.
While I like that Theo has complex feelings and a lot to contend with in regards to how she views Soren as both a girl and a queen, I just wish there had been more time spent to the build up. Like... I wish Theo had hated him deeply at first and then slowly started to change her feelings as she set out to enact her plans and then deals with the back and forth of "he's my enemy and yet he's not evil but still we're on different sides, it can never be" as she steps more into her role as someone who must take action to free their people.
Theo also kisses Blaise and there's moments where they have affection between them, but I don't have strong feelings about his chances of being a legitimate love interest. He feels more like he'll be a point of importance to Theo as the heroine because of their shared past and goals, not because she's legitimately torn romance wise. But, we shall see. There's still two more books and plenty of time for love triangle matters.
But, I do feel like it didn't become a trash fire like it often does (you can tell I've been badly burned before by YA literature), so I'm content at present.
The start also had Theo do some things that I found a little too cliche in their recklessness, like opting to stay at the palace to collect information and because "this is my home how can I abandon it?" instead of escaping to regroup and try to stage a coup or siege later on, but the latter 60% of the book made me feel more confident in Theo being a worthwhile heroine and believe it's possible to see her as a queen. I hope to see her character continue to surprise me and have worthwhile projection on her path to reclaiming her home and liberating her people.
The plot as well feels a bit more like a starting point--there are ample things that just speak of will be explored more later introduced here--but there's still a degree of accomplishment and the book feels like it wraps up an arc, albeit a somewhat simple one that accomplishes the goal of "get the ball rolling" in regards to Theo going from a girl waiting to be rescued to one who starts working towards saving herself and her people.
I leave the book with overall okay feelings. It's all right. Not amazing, but still good. I'll be reading Lady Smoke.
Since I already own the whole trilogy as ebooks, I decided to give it one more go and start again from the beginning, rereading the first 40% just to have everything at the forefront of my mind.
I'm glad I went back because there are things in the story that surprised me (in a good way) and have me interested in continuing to read out an interested desire to see where the story goes.
If you start the book and start feeling like it's not working out, I encourage you to keep at it, at least past the 40% mark.
Of course, the romance angle still isn't quite my ideal.
I feel like Soren and Theo are ready to care about one another way too fast. They kiss fairly early on and Theo is quick to have conflicting feelings about him; being torn between the good parts of Soren she sees and the reality that he's participated in the oppression of her people no matter his personal feelings or sentiments.
While I like that Theo has complex feelings and a lot to contend with in regards to how she views Soren as both a girl and a queen, I just wish there had been more time spent to the build up. Like... I wish Theo had hated him deeply at first and then slowly started to change her feelings as she set out to enact her plans and then deals with the back and forth of "he's my enemy and yet he's not evil but still we're on different sides, it can never be" as she steps more into her role as someone who must take action to free their people.
Theo also kisses Blaise and there's moments where they have affection between them, but I don't have strong feelings about his chances of being a legitimate love interest. He feels more like he'll be a point of importance to Theo as the heroine because of their shared past and goals, not because she's legitimately torn romance wise. But, we shall see. There's still two more books and plenty of time for love triangle matters.
But, I do feel like it didn't become a trash fire like it often does (you can tell I've been badly burned before by YA literature), so I'm content at present.
The start also had Theo do some things that I found a little too cliche in their recklessness, like opting to stay at the palace to collect information and because "this is my home how can I abandon it?" instead of escaping to regroup and try to stage a coup or siege later on, but the latter 60% of the book made me feel more confident in Theo being a worthwhile heroine and believe it's possible to see her as a queen. I hope to see her character continue to surprise me and have worthwhile projection on her path to reclaiming her home and liberating her people.
The plot as well feels a bit more like a starting point--there are ample things that just speak of will be explored more later introduced here--but there's still a degree of accomplishment and the book feels like it wraps up an arc, albeit a somewhat simple one that accomplishes the goal of "get the ball rolling" in regards to Theo going from a girl waiting to be rescued to one who starts working towards saving herself and her people.
I leave the book with overall okay feelings. It's all right. Not amazing, but still good. I'll be reading Lady Smoke.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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:
Complicated
I thought this would be the same line of damsel-in-distress as previous books (not that it's an issue, but similar ideas) but I was WRONG! I loved the political drama, the higher stakes of the society the characters live in, etc. Their lives weren't guaranteed, and with so many plot twists, you weren't really sure who was on what team. The ending was heartbreaking, but I'm glad this is book one of three and they're already published!! On to book two!
Book was okay, but let me tell you- it’s like a knock off Throne of Glass.
adventurous
medium-paced
Just like life is too short to not take the risk, life is too short to read books that make you feel depressed and terrible inside.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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:
Yes
I struggled a bit with the pacing book. After 10 years of passively standing by, she is suddenly spurred to life by the capture of a rebel. While she was good to note that the rebellion had been going on for some time behind the curtains, I felt like she was taking her role as queen too seriously, especially because she was 6 when the Kalovoxians attacked. The book sped up significant and I found myself a bit lost on the details.
All in all, this was a mild YA book and I appreciated the fact that she wasn't the "chosen" heroine destined to be the only person to save her people.
All in all, this was a mild YA book and I appreciated the fact that she wasn't the "chosen" heroine destined to be the only person to save her people.