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lielos99's review
3.0
While this isn’t my ultimate favorite, i did enjoy the premise of the book. (3.7 stars probably). The idea of Effigies was really cool, and I’m curious as to how the antongist(s) will play out.
Content wise there’s some cussing and an offhand remark to angirl asking if she has any boy/girlfriends.
christie_esau's review
3.0
100% on board with the concept, which is loosely a combination of general magic stuff + Pacific Rim + Sailor Moon. The plot/story arc was also creative and enjoyable, although a bit more romance-oriented (in a teenage way) than I'd like. MORE FIRE SWORDS, please. Great concept and sufficiently okay in terms of writing for me to read the next one.
talya_'s review
2.0
I wasn't expecting much out of this book and was still disappointed. All of the characters are flat in a way that makes it seem like the author was simply too lazy to give them actual depth so she didn't bother. There are little bits and pieces of the characters' pasts that could probably give them depth if expounded on, but the author never went anywhere with it. We know Maia's family was killed but that's just from hearing about it. Way too much telling and hardly any showing. I never felt like I could feel Maia's emotion and heartbreak or anything. It sounds like this event was supposed to shape her in some way, but the author was either too lazy to execute it right, or she tried and it just didn't work out.
It's implied that Belle was abused while in foster care, but that's never elaborated on either. It's like the author threw random bits of tragedy into their lives so she could make them seem complex, but never actually did anything with the tragedy. I just wasn't feelin this at all.
And can we talk about how PATHETIC Maia is. At first, it didn't bother me because I thought she was supposed to be pathetic and weak but assumed she would grow by the end of the book.
SHE DIDN'T.
She does NOTHING except cry. I'm not even exaggerating. Talk about damsel in distress. And the thing is, she has powers! She can do stuff but all she does is wait to be saved. She has no problem calling the other Effigies cowards and judging them for not doing their "duty" to save people's lives, BUT SHE HERSELF DOESN'T DO SHIT. I know she's new to all of this but she didn't even try. And that's what makes her pathetic. She doesn't know how to use her power but she never once tried to learn or practice. She thinks about trying to save people but cries instead of actually doing anything. Oh but Lake is pathetic because she doesn't want to fight and other girl (I forget her name already, I think it begins with a C) is selfish and cowardly because she decided to put everything behind her.
AT LEAST THE TWO DON'T SIT THERE AND SOB HELPLESSLY.
GODDAMN.
It infuriated me and ensures that I won't want to read any of the next books because of her.
OH. Before I end this review I just have to talk a little more shit about Maia. She knows Natalya was murdered and tries to find out who the killer is and she DOES but lies to Belle (who Maia originally went to about her hunch that Natalya was murdered) and then covers for Rhys. Why?
I DON'T EVEN KNOW. She has some stupid shit crush on him but she doesn't even know him-- something both of them pointed out. But yet he's not capable of being a murder? BITCH HOW DA HELL DO U KNOW WHAT HE'S CAPABLE OF, U DON'T KNOW HIM.
I can't talk about this anymore. It infuriates me too much.
It's implied that Belle was abused while in foster care, but that's never elaborated on either. It's like the author threw random bits of tragedy into their lives so she could make them seem complex, but never actually did anything with the tragedy. I just wasn't feelin this at all.
And can we talk about how PATHETIC Maia is. At first, it didn't bother me because I thought she was supposed to be pathetic and weak but assumed she would grow by the end of the book.
SHE DIDN'T.
She does NOTHING except cry. I'm not even exaggerating. Talk about damsel in distress. And the thing is, she has powers! She can do stuff but all she does is wait to be saved. She has no problem calling the other Effigies cowards and judging them for not doing their "duty" to save people's lives, BUT SHE HERSELF DOESN'T DO SHIT. I know she's new to all of this but she didn't even try. And that's what makes her pathetic. She doesn't know how to use her power but she never once tried to learn or practice. She thinks about trying to save people but cries instead of actually doing anything. Oh but Lake is pathetic because she doesn't want to fight and other girl (I forget her name already, I think it begins with a C) is selfish and cowardly because she decided to put everything behind her.
AT LEAST THE TWO DON'T SIT THERE AND SOB HELPLESSLY.
GODDAMN.
It infuriated me and ensures that I won't want to read any of the next books because of her.
OH. Before I end this review I just have to talk a little more shit about Maia. She knows Natalya was murdered and tries to find out who the killer is and she DOES but lies to Belle (who Maia originally went to about her hunch that Natalya was murdered) and then covers for Rhys. Why?
I DON'T EVEN KNOW. She has some stupid shit crush on him but she doesn't even know him-- something both of them pointed out. But yet he's not capable of being a murder? BITCH HOW DA HELL DO U KNOW WHAT HE'S CAPABLE OF, U DON'T KNOW HIM.
I can't talk about this anymore. It infuriates me too much.
malreynolds111's review
3.0
I received this book from net gallery for an honest review.
While I enjoyed this book, it didn't really stand out as must have reading.
While I enjoyed this book, it didn't really stand out as must have reading.
ameliag_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
noolna's review
3.0
I'm generally a fan of what I like to call "lite YA fantasy", as long as I'm enjoying myself and the characters and the plot, I will forgive glaring errors. It started out promising - it was fast paced, the plot was unique and the writing was simple enough for me to be entertained.
One of the issues that I have with the book is that the characters are so one dimensional, and Maia's "voice" was childish. I understand she's sixteen but there were so many instances where I seriously questioned her reaction. I also didn't realize that she was a PoC until more than halfway through the book, and did a double take when Maia mentioned her Jamaican grandmother! It felt like this throughout the book, where the author would give details like this, which are important, as sort of like an afterthought. The other girls weren't much better either. And the romance lacked any kind of spark or chemistry, it was seriously just boring.
I really liked the vibe of this book, though. I liked that it felt like I was back in my childhood days of watching Sailor Moon. The world building was well-done, as well, all things considering.
I'll probably read the next one because I'm curious to see where the author is going to take it, since I have a feeling the next one will answer some lingering questions.
One of the issues that I have with the book is that the characters are so one dimensional, and Maia's "voice" was childish. I understand she's sixteen but there were so many instances where I seriously questioned her reaction. I also didn't realize that she was a PoC until more than halfway through the book, and did a double take when Maia mentioned her Jamaican grandmother! It felt like this throughout the book, where the author would give details like this, which are important, as sort of like an afterthought. The other girls weren't much better either. And the romance lacked any kind of spark or chemistry, it was seriously just boring.
I really liked the vibe of this book, though. I liked that it felt like I was back in my childhood days of watching Sailor Moon. The world building was well-done, as well, all things considering.
I'll probably read the next one because I'm curious to see where the author is going to take it, since I have a feeling the next one will answer some lingering questions.
readsbylou's review
5.0
I loved this book. I’ve read all 3 twice now, and each one still leaves me breathless with the twists. I hated Belle all throughout and I was extremely mad when Maia forgave her for KILLING HER!
aprilalwayswithabook's review
2.0
I waffled on 2 and 3 stars. The idea of this book was great and the plot points, but it was so messy and so hard to follow and a really strict and good editor could have really made a difference.
alibrareads's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
I held out hope for most of this book that it would eventually give me the Sailor Moon vibes that the author promised, but it did not. Yes the girls can manipulate elements, but even that wasn’t shown off in a reliably engaging way, and the dynamic between them is certainly not like the Sailor Senshi. It did give a “depressed Avengers” vibe though, which was not really fun to read about but at least that comparison felt accurate.
Maia was… Useless. Obviously there’s an appeal to reading about a heroine who is struggling to master their powers/their fears, and who isn’t just super powerful right out the gate. But she spent the entire book being terrified and not even trying to use her fire abilities at all. It wasn’t like she was trying and just didn’t have control, she literally didn’t use it except SORT OF accidentally in two brief instances that weren’t battles (one to arrest a fall early in the book, and another after she just wakes up from being unconscious and suddenly a house is on fire). She manages to actively use her fire powers ONCE, 14 pages from the end of the book, and it lasts for SINGLE page. Really disappointing. She also has the gall to judge and lecture the other Effigies about their work ethic and how they deal with their responsibility when, again, she spent the whole book being afraid, or literally running away, or cowering, etc.
Almost nothing gets resolved or revealed by the end, honestly. And I just felt my confusion growing during the final confrontation with the bad guy Saul. The worldbuilding felt haphazard and things felt half-explained. The Effigies aren’t likable… The main character isn’t likable… Half of this book was spent trying to wrangle all the Effigies together and then the other half was trying to follow these clues that Natalya, the previous fire Effigy, left behind and wondering who killed her but not feeling like any significant progress is made. The girls don’t feel like a team whatsoever and they’re all moody and difficult and obtuse and this was just not what I was hoping for.
I like that the Effigies are each from different parts of the world and not just America. I love the cover of this book. Theoretically I like the idea of this book: I love Sailor Moon, I like Marvel films. My hypothesis before reading this was that it would objectively not be the most well-written, but that I personally would have a good time reading it. The first part was true, the second part was not, sadly. I was blue-balled the whole time waiting to fall in love with cool element-slinging girl-bosses, and it never happened. And I’m bummed about it!
My YouTube review: https://youtu.be/w0L-m_Rxk7M
Maia was… Useless. Obviously there’s an appeal to reading about a heroine who is struggling to master their powers/their fears, and who isn’t just super powerful right out the gate. But she spent the entire book being terrified and not even trying to use her fire abilities at all. It wasn’t like she was trying and just didn’t have control, she literally didn’t use it except SORT OF accidentally in two brief instances that weren’t battles (one to arrest a fall early in the book, and another after she just wakes up from being unconscious and suddenly a house is on fire). She manages to actively use her fire powers ONCE, 14 pages from the end of the book, and it lasts for SINGLE page. Really disappointing. She also has the gall to judge and lecture the other Effigies about their work ethic and how they deal with their responsibility when, again, she spent the whole book being afraid, or literally running away, or cowering, etc.
Almost nothing gets resolved or revealed by the end, honestly. And I just felt my confusion growing during the final confrontation with the bad guy Saul. The worldbuilding felt haphazard and things felt half-explained. The Effigies aren’t likable… The main character isn’t likable… Half of this book was spent trying to wrangle all the Effigies together and then the other half was trying to follow these clues that Natalya, the previous fire Effigy, left behind and wondering who killed her but not feeling like any significant progress is made. The girls don’t feel like a team whatsoever and they’re all moody and difficult and obtuse and this was just not what I was hoping for.
I like that the Effigies are each from different parts of the world and not just America. I love the cover of this book. Theoretically I like the idea of this book: I love Sailor Moon, I like Marvel films. My hypothesis before reading this was that it would objectively not be the most well-written, but that I personally would have a good time reading it. The first part was true, the second part was not, sadly. I was blue-balled the whole time waiting to fall in love with cool element-slinging girl-bosses, and it never happened. And I’m bummed about it!
My YouTube review: https://youtu.be/w0L-m_Rxk7M
christinawegner's review
1.0
Whining, fangirling, whining, fangirling, whining, Reddit, whining, oh it turns out 35% of the way into the book that the main character is a POC!, a possible romance??, whining, Reddit, fangirling, whining, someone else whining, again with the weird maybe romance, whining, whining, teen vogue!, someone else whining again, reference to fangirling but not actually doing it this time, romance, whining.
There, now I've saved you reading this awful book. You're welcome.
There, now I've saved you reading this awful book. You're welcome.