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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
I read others reviews prior to reading, so I knew some complained of the odd metaphors. At first it was a little off-putting, but the more I read the more I realized we don't know who the narrator is. How reliable are they? Once I didn't quite trust who was telling the story I was able to get past some of the strange over the top descriptions.
By then I was engrossed in the characters and world building. Hogwarts for assassins? Pretty good idea of what it's like.
Mia was a pretty kickass character. Cigarillo addicted-driven by vengeance for her family, all made her interesting. Also a shadow cat? Pretty cool. We don't get all the answers at the end, leaving us wanting.
I enjoyed the ride and am looking forward to the next book in the series!
By then I was engrossed in the characters and world building. Hogwarts for assassins? Pretty good idea of what it's like.
Mia was a pretty kickass character. Cigarillo addicted-driven by vengeance for her family, all made her interesting. Also a shadow cat? Pretty cool. We don't get all the answers at the end, leaving us wanting.
I enjoyed the ride and am looking forward to the next book in the series!
I really enjoyed this book, which I found at random after a friend talked about the series. It's set on a world with 3 suns, in a setting a bit like ancient Rome. The protagonist, a girl named Mia has a privileged start in life but it all falls apart when she sees her father hanged for treason, and her mother and brother imprisoned and killed. There are supernatural elements and characters involved with Mia, who develops skills in manipulating darkness. She elects to train as an assassin with an academy of assassins called the Red Church, and the story develops a bit like Hogwarts with more explicit violence and sex. Her initial class of 30 is winnowed by death in training as well as murder. There are well developed plot and relationship shifts which keep the interest going, and the reader feels increasingly on Mia's team as she works her way through her training. There are footnotes throughout, which to me are entertaining, expanding the narrative and world background. Going to read Godsgrave next then wait for Darkdawn.
I still love this story. I can't wait to see how this story continues in Godsgrave!
But after all, this tale is only one of three. Birth and Life and Death
But after all, this tale is only one of three. Birth and Life and Death
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
4.5 Stars! I can't give the full 5 Stars even though the story (let the first 1 hour of listening // 50 pages aside) would be worth it. It's extremely hard to get into this book, especially as an audio book. A part of the story is written twice and I still haven't figured out what was going on. I've felt like I had a deja vu... but if you've passed this part of the story, you really have one of the best stories I've read in quite a while ahead of you.
Do yourself a favor and read this book (and just don't judge the book on its first 50 pages)! You'll love it, I swear!
And P.S.: Isn't it funny how all the review are the same - everyone hates the start and adores the following pages and the story...
Do yourself a favor and read this book (and just don't judge the book on its first 50 pages)! You'll love it, I swear!
And P.S.: Isn't it funny how all the review are the same - everyone hates the start and adores the following pages and the story...
I’m super intrigued by the premise of this book but after trying to read it twice, I have to stop. I can’t deal with this writing style, I just can’t. It gives me a headache, and I shouldn’t have to try this hard to read a fucking book. I’m sure I’m missing out, but I’ve had enough.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Okay so I loved this. I'm a sucker for any type of school setting and assassin school is one that's relatively fresh as compared to the more generic "magic school." Mia is a more nuanced character than I originally suspected and again, this book gets an extra star for a nonhuman sidekick bc we all love to see that.
Caveat: This book is overwritten af. I don't mind that, I can overlook purple prose (honestly I didn't even really notice until I read some other reviews). I feel like it was a deliberate choice by the author that lends a certain vibe to the story and setting. However, that choice does make this a bit dense to read.
Caveat: This book is overwritten af. I don't mind that, I can overlook purple prose (honestly I didn't even really notice until I read some other reviews). I feel like it was a deliberate choice by the author that lends a certain vibe to the story and setting. However, that choice does make this a bit dense to read.
I really had high hopes for this book because I love this author. But this book fell so short of my expectations that even though I finished it a couple of weeks ago, I'm still mad about it. The first two-thirds were fast paced and great set ups for the trilogy. The last third ruined everything. I know Kristoff hates happy endings and I'm fully prepared for that when I read anything by him. But the killing of Tric was completely unnecessary and made me so livid, I googled spoilers just to find out what happens in the other two books, since Kristoff also has a penchant for bringing characters back. He does, but not in any meaningful way except to position Tric as a third wheel to the Mia/Ash romance which makes absolutely zero sense. And letting Mia go murder Tric's grandfather because she vowed to Tric that she would...yawn. Tric should have gotten to see justice meted out. That was a really, really slim plot point. I'm glad I read spoilers so I don't have to waste my time on the rest of the series and I can move on.