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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
It’s probably closer to a 3.5, honestly. I really did enjoy reading this one, but I think some of the issues were more pronounced than in the first book.
Why the sudden and unexplainable mood/personality switches in the last books of Veronica Roth’s series. The sudden, unexplainable moodiness of Akos reminded me a lot of Cyra. The timing of Akos’s depression on Ogra did not make sense to me. Why was he so distraught after killing Cas, but not after killing Jorek’s dad? I think it would have made more sense for his character to shift in that direction AFTER he found out about his true parentage. Akos pretty much felt like a shell of his former character in this book.
I also struggled with the Four-syndrome in Cyra in this book. Why was she all over Akos one minute and then out of nowhere like, “we have to break up because your fate?” Was it because of her dad? If so, I wish that would have been clarified in her point of view chapters. When it first happened, I thought her “dad” was mind controlling her through the screen! Once again, I feel like the qualities that I liked in her in Carve the Mark were stripped away in this one.
I don’t even want to get into Cisi, Isae, and AST because that whole situation just got on my nerves. There is such a thing as a morally grey character, but the only character who was willing to challenge Cisi on her blatant manipulation became a villain for it. This annoying storyline is a good segway into my real issue with this series: world building.
The Shotet vs. Thuvhe issue was solved well enough, but so much of the world outside of this one planet just apparently did not matter. I am so confused about what kind of control *The Assembly* actually has. It seems like the planets mostly do what they want. Are assembly members elected from each planet like a Congress? Why does everyone just mercilessly hate the Shotet? It just doesn’t make sense to me. None of the issues beyond Urek were solved AT ALL. The entire time characters were interacting in the greater world of this story, other than on Ogra, it was really just to develop character relationships. When the Shotet just moved planets, did everybody else just say, “ok, that’s fine!” It’s just a lot harder to suspend my disbelief about the greater word outside of these two planets.
There were things I really liked about this book though! I actually LOVED the reveal about Cyra and Akos’s biological parents. I’m not sure if this was the intention, but I liked the contrast between nurture and nature! I LOVE that this book shows how the characters are shaped by the people who raised them, but also that they can make their own impactful choices.
Another thing I really loved were the secondary Shotet characters! I was more interested in them by the end than any one else! Cyra who? Isae who? Eijeh who? Where is Teka and Jorek? I literally cried when Jorek died. I think the Shotet culture was so beautiful and interesting! I also loved that the people of Ogra supported them and could coexist! Good riddance Thuvhe! I never cared about you anyway!
So many more thoughts on this series, but I think this one essay is enough for now!
Why the sudden and unexplainable mood/personality switches in the last books of Veronica Roth’s series. The sudden, unexplainable moodiness of Akos reminded me a lot of Cyra. The timing of Akos’s depression on Ogra did not make sense to me. Why was he so distraught after killing Cas, but not after killing Jorek’s dad? I think it would have made more sense for his character to shift in that direction AFTER he found out about his true parentage. Akos pretty much felt like a shell of his former character in this book.
I also struggled with the Four-syndrome in Cyra in this book. Why was she all over Akos one minute and then out of nowhere like, “we have to break up because your fate?” Was it because of her dad? If so, I wish that would have been clarified in her point of view chapters. When it first happened, I thought her “dad” was mind controlling her through the screen! Once again, I feel like the qualities that I liked in her in Carve the Mark were stripped away in this one.
I don’t even want to get into Cisi, Isae, and AST because that whole situation just got on my nerves. There is such a thing as a morally grey character, but the only character who was willing to challenge Cisi on her blatant manipulation became a villain for it. This annoying storyline is a good segway into my real issue with this series: world building.
The Shotet vs. Thuvhe issue was solved well enough, but so much of the world outside of this one planet just apparently did not matter. I am so confused about what kind of control *The Assembly* actually has. It seems like the planets mostly do what they want. Are assembly members elected from each planet like a Congress? Why does everyone just mercilessly hate the Shotet? It just doesn’t make sense to me. None of the issues beyond Urek were solved AT ALL. The entire time characters were interacting in the greater world of this story, other than on Ogra, it was really just to develop character relationships. When the Shotet just moved planets, did everybody else just say, “ok, that’s fine!” It’s just a lot harder to suspend my disbelief about the greater word outside of these two planets.
There were things I really liked about this book though! I actually LOVED the reveal about Cyra and Akos’s biological parents. I’m not sure if this was the intention, but I liked the contrast between nurture and nature! I LOVE that this book shows how the characters are shaped by the people who raised them, but also that they can make their own impactful choices.
Another thing I really loved were the secondary Shotet characters! I was more interested in them by the end than any one else! Cyra who? Isae who? Eijeh who? Where is Teka and Jorek? I literally cried when Jorek died. I think the Shotet culture was so beautiful and interesting! I also loved that the people of Ogra supported them and could coexist! Good riddance Thuvhe! I never cared about you anyway!
So many more thoughts on this series, but I think this one essay is enough for now!
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-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:
Yes
I read this a few years ago so I'll review based on memory. I loved both books and am a fanatic of world building, something Roth is very good at in this duology.
And also the twist was incredible, audible gasps and I had to put the book down and reflect on the entire story and everything clicked into place. Though if you haven't read this yet, please don't go looking for the twist because it might ruin that realization.
And also the twist was incredible, audible gasps and I had to put the book down and reflect on the entire story and everything clicked into place. Though if you haven't read this yet, please don't go looking for the twist because it might ruin that realization.
So I really think Veronica Roth is a master. Her character dynamics are so. darn. compelling. that wanting to find out what happened to Cyra and Akos was the only reason I hung on until the end.
My chief complaint about sci-fi as a genre is that authors frequently lose the thread of their plot (and point) in favor of concept. This definitely happens in this sequel, and I was sorry to be fatigued of the plot/conflict by its end.
Roth is a brilliant sci-fi writer, but I'd love to see what she can do with contemporary realistic fiction someday.
My chief complaint about sci-fi as a genre is that authors frequently lose the thread of their plot (and point) in favor of concept. This definitely happens in this sequel, and I was sorry to be fatigued of the plot/conflict by its end.
Roth is a brilliant sci-fi writer, but I'd love to see what she can do with contemporary realistic fiction someday.
2.5 Stars
Pros:
- After how much I disliked the lack of story in the first book, this book definitely had more story elements to it and I felt like there was a true purpose to what was going on with the characters.
- We got to see more of the world beyond were Cyra and Akos grew up which was a great way to expand on what was happening and showing how the "war" was affecting more than just their planet.
Cons:
- Veronica Roth did it again in terms of ruining characters. In Carve the Mark, I actually enjoyed the relationship between Cyra and Akos but in this book they both felt so flat to me. It was like they did a complete 180 and were not at all the same people.
- This is supposedly just a duology but she definitely left it open for more. But I think it is safe to say I do not need or want more.
I've decided that I do not think I am a fan of Veronica Roth's works. I've now read her two series and they have both disappointed me in the end. Divergent started off great but quickly became a struggle to finish and this duology was a struggle from the beginning. I'm not sure I will be continuing to read other books by her in the future.
Pros:
- After how much I disliked the lack of story in the first book, this book definitely had more story elements to it and I felt like there was a true purpose to what was going on with the characters.
- We got to see more of the world beyond were Cyra and Akos grew up which was a great way to expand on what was happening and showing how the "war" was affecting more than just their planet.
Cons:
- Veronica Roth did it again in terms of ruining characters. In Carve the Mark, I actually enjoyed the relationship between Cyra and Akos but in this book they both felt so flat to me. It was like they did a complete 180 and were not at all the same people.
- This is supposedly just a duology but she definitely left it open for more. But I think it is safe to say I do not need or want more.
I've decided that I do not think I am a fan of Veronica Roth's works. I've now read her two series and they have both disappointed me in the end. Divergent started off great but quickly became a struggle to finish and this duology was a struggle from the beginning. I'm not sure I will be continuing to read other books by her in the future.
I enjoyed this sequel. Some revelations were predictable but others were surprises. Cisi was added as a viewpoint character, which I didn't think added anything particularly to the narrative except an LGBTQ viewpoint, which is beneficial in and of itself in a YA novel, I suppose. My only real quibble was with the naming conventions, which left us with too-similar character names like Yssa and Yma, Ara and Aza. I couldn't really keep track of who was who sometimes, but I'm not sure it mattered overall, as they were all side characters. Still surprised that made it past Roth's editor though. In the end, this duology is a meditation on war, the long-standing ethnic and cultural causes of wars between different groups, and the toll such conflicts take on everyone involved, even those close to power. Roth pulls off the metaphor, and I'm looking forward to her next effort. She does science fiction well (as long as you don't look too closely at the seams) so I hope she'll continue to write it.
I liked this one better than the first but it was just okay for me. I didn’t love the characters and the world didn’t draw me in.
God I love these books so much. I love Cyra. I love how the friendships in this book develop. I love the world building. I maybe didn't notice the first time around how much I relate to Cisi. I'm so glad I read these again!
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Narrated by Austin Butler, surprisingly enjoyed this duology despite being YA.