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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
Pretty good, I'll probably be reading the sequel soon. Full review to come :)
I might have given this book five stars but I can't forgive sloppy copyediting, especially when a book is marketed to young adults who already are losing their capacity for proper grammar.
To wit: you POUR syrup over pancakes; you PORE intently over books. FIVE TIMES our heroine was found pouring over this or that book or scripture. GAH!! And one time she was loathe to do something. *sigh*
Despite these grievances, I enjoyed this novel about a young woman who comes into her own while surviving a series of harrowing circumstances. I just hope they find a new editor for volume 2.
To wit: you POUR syrup over pancakes; you PORE intently over books. FIVE TIMES our heroine was found pouring over this or that book or scripture. GAH!! And one time she was loathe to do something. *sigh*
Despite these grievances, I enjoyed this novel about a young woman who comes into her own while surviving a series of harrowing circumstances. I just hope they find a new editor for volume 2.
Yet another book that caused me to burn the midnight oil. I swear, somewhere out there is a really bad book, and one of these days I’m going to read it. And I’ll finally be able to get some sleep.
This was an odd read for me, because there were some aspects of this book that I unequivocally adored. And yet there were some aspects that sort of didn’t work for me. Fortunately for me, the good parts outweighed the parts I had doubts about, leading to an epic and entertaining read.
I like Elisa. She’s a bit weak in the beginning, but only because she’s so insecure. This could be grating– I tend to get impatient with heroines like this– but she remains sympathetic. And she toughens up fast. I loved the person Elisa grew to be, how she strengthened. At the beginning she was coddled, overweight and lazy. She was an insecure girl who ate for comfort. But once she’s forced out on her own and shoved into difficult situations, she blossoms. She’s smart, and she uses her wits at opportune moments. She grows in courage and most of all confidence.
The plot almost threatens to lag at times, but just when I think it, it whirls forward. There is a lot of action and a lot of movement. The plotting is intricate, the political maneuvering is fascinating, and I was completely caught up in the world Rae Carson created. When they talk about good world-building in fantasy, they mean this. Every detail is fully realized. The almost-Spanish setting really works for me. It was like reading an alternate history of Isabel de Castilla or something, if Fernando had been useless and there was magic.
Those were all the things I liked. Those were the most important things, what kept me reading, what assured I will pick up the sequel (I want to know what happens! I want more Rosario! Hector! Cosmé! But like I said, I did have some problems. The romance, to me, seemed to come out of nowhere. I would have appreciated a bit more development there. But oh, my, does it certainly lead to something powerful.
Now, the truly sticky part. The Godstones, the central mythology of the book. I have conflicting feelings about them. Now, I’m not a religious person, so I can’t speak from that perspective. I do like books that deal with religion, as long as God’s power isn’t the crux of the plot or the solution to their problems (see: Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian). The Chosen One trope is a bit tired, but I’m not tired of it. This didn’t feel like a retread of anything I’d read. It was unique, and there are parts of the magic of this world that were really interesting. I didn’t like how she derives power in her Godstone by praying. I did like that in the end, God’s power wasn’t the ultimate savior– it was Elisa’s wits. Sort of.
I LOVE how brutal and brave Carson was regarding the fates of her characters. She has no mercy. People die. Important people. People you LOVE and IT HURTS MY GOD IT HURTS THE FEELS WHY GOD WHY. It’s strange. Some of the characters don’t feel so real to me, and others I love passionately. Hector is TREMENDOUS. I hardly have words to describe him. And Elisa proves to be a worthy heroine.
Like I said, some quibbles regarding the central Godstone mythology, but the quality of the lyrical prose and the plot overrode those. I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel sometime soon.
Originally posted at Writer of Wrongs
This was an odd read for me, because there were some aspects of this book that I unequivocally adored. And yet there were some aspects that sort of didn’t work for me. Fortunately for me, the good parts outweighed the parts I had doubts about, leading to an epic and entertaining read.
I like Elisa. She’s a bit weak in the beginning, but only because she’s so insecure. This could be grating– I tend to get impatient with heroines like this– but she remains sympathetic. And she toughens up fast. I loved the person Elisa grew to be, how she strengthened. At the beginning she was coddled, overweight and lazy. She was an insecure girl who ate for comfort. But once she’s forced out on her own and shoved into difficult situations, she blossoms. She’s smart, and she uses her wits at opportune moments. She grows in courage and most of all confidence.
The plot almost threatens to lag at times, but just when I think it, it whirls forward. There is a lot of action and a lot of movement. The plotting is intricate, the political maneuvering is fascinating, and I was completely caught up in the world Rae Carson created. When they talk about good world-building in fantasy, they mean this. Every detail is fully realized. The almost-Spanish setting really works for me. It was like reading an alternate history of Isabel de Castilla or something, if Fernando had been useless and there was magic.
Those were all the things I liked. Those were the most important things, what kept me reading, what assured I will pick up the sequel (I want to know what happens! I want more Rosario! Hector! Cosmé! But like I said, I did have some problems. The romance, to me, seemed to come out of nowhere. I would have appreciated a bit more development there. But oh, my, does it certainly lead to something powerful.
Now, the truly sticky part. The Godstones, the central mythology of the book. I have conflicting feelings about them. Now, I’m not a religious person, so I can’t speak from that perspective. I do like books that deal with religion, as long as God’s power isn’t the crux of the plot or the solution to their problems (see: Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian). The Chosen One trope is a bit tired, but I’m not tired of it. This didn’t feel like a retread of anything I’d read. It was unique, and there are parts of the magic of this world that were really interesting. I didn’t like how she derives power in her Godstone by praying. I did like that in the end, God’s power wasn’t the ultimate savior– it was Elisa’s wits. Sort of.
I LOVE how brutal and brave Carson was regarding the fates of her characters. She has no mercy. People die. Important people. People you LOVE and IT HURTS MY GOD IT HURTS THE FEELS WHY GOD WHY. It’s strange. Some of the characters don’t feel so real to me, and others I love passionately. Hector is TREMENDOUS. I hardly have words to describe him. And Elisa proves to be a worthy heroine.
Like I said, some quibbles regarding the central Godstone mythology, but the quality of the lyrical prose and the plot overrode those. I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel sometime soon.
Originally posted at Writer of Wrongs
This book left me feeling disappointed and reluctant to read the second book. I wasn't super fond of the main character or story in general. I generally like stronger characters but Elisa started off as weak and fat. I figured I'd give it a chance as I like to see characters grow. It's refreshing to see a weak character grow, however, while she did grow into a more confident young woman I can't help but feel that she could have done more in certain situations. It was appalling for me to see her just stand there and be useless having others sacrifice and do things for her even if she is a princess and the Godstone bearer. It seems like she didn't even try sometimes and when she did all she did was pray. I don't mind her prayers but very few times it seemed helpful.
I do like how she was a leader but that's only because she was a princess and bore the Godstone. Everyone else seemed to adore/worship/hate her because of it. She needed so much help from other people when she should have been well educated far beyond the others. I do give her credit a couple of times she's willing to sacrifice herself for her friends but it wasn't cleverly planned out. I found it ridiculous that Elisa's father and sister never showed up again. Especially towards the end when she was coronated as queen. I do like how her enemy, Cosme became a friend. I have a bit in common with Cosme in terms of personality and that Elisa was willing to set aside differences and both became friends. It was good to see her become more strong-willed and not let anyone stop her anymore. Her patience and understanding of Prince Rosario was touching as she knew what it was like when she was a young royal. It was nice to see her play a motherly role to him even if she is only 16.
I was confused about the location, I believe it's fantasy with Spanish influences. Not a bad thing but I think the location could have been established more clearly. The author just dove in talking about how Elisa wish her future husband would have a flaw which he did. Oh he did. He's superficial, lazy, indecisive, and a poor father. Unfortunately it was all personality flaws instead of his physical flaws. I would assume while he is handsome some of his awful personality would reflect that but instead, he's the most beautiful man Elisa has ever seen. They never established his age, so I was thinking late 20s, early 30s?
I couldn't help but feel there were a few pacing and grammar problems in the story. The story spanned several months, perhaps even almost a year. A couple of times I wasn't sure if a character had stayed or gone in a scene. It was a bit irritating having to go back to determine the course of action. Also Elisa is a larger girl, which I understand, it just seemed silly that she lost weight only to have everything work out for her later when she was skinny. I suppose this helped her gain more confidence and friends but it's a bit silly to overcome her securities that way. I do agree with many other reviewers that stated the author did more telling than showing the reader. I did get bored at times with the story telling and towards the end just skimmed to the important parts.
I wasn't attached to many of the characters, perhaps Humberto the most and the author ends up killing him off as Elisa watches. It pissed me off that Elisa didn't do anything to prevent it. They should have been smarter but they all traveled together into enemy territory instead of splitting up in case their plans backfired. There were many flaws in this story and I really did want to like it but it hardly lived up to my expectations. I did finish it to the end but the main reason I kept pushing myself to the end was because I hoped that the characters would be redeemed and that the author is from the same state as me.
There wasn't much of a cliffhanger at the end but I know the story continues. The weakness in the story seemed to outshine the good in this book for me. I doubt I'll read the second book any time soon with so many other books TBR. If I'm bored with nothing else to read I suppose I'd pick this back up but there are so many other books that may interest me better than this.
2.5 out of 5 rating for me.
Find more at OriginiquEquanimity.blogspot.com
I do like how she was a leader but that's only because she was a princess and bore the Godstone. Everyone else seemed to adore/worship/hate her because of it. She needed so much help from other people when she should have been well educated far beyond the others. I do give her credit a couple of times she's willing to sacrifice herself for her friends but it wasn't cleverly planned out. I found it ridiculous that Elisa's father and sister never showed up again. Especially towards the end when she was coronated as queen. I do like how her enemy, Cosme became a friend. I have a bit in common with Cosme in terms of personality and that Elisa was willing to set aside differences and both became friends. It was good to see her become more strong-willed and not let anyone stop her anymore. Her patience and understanding of Prince Rosario was touching as she knew what it was like when she was a young royal. It was nice to see her play a motherly role to him even if she is only 16.
I was confused about the location, I believe it's fantasy with Spanish influences. Not a bad thing but I think the location could have been established more clearly. The author just dove in talking about how Elisa wish her future husband would have a flaw which he did. Oh he did. He's superficial, lazy, indecisive, and a poor father. Unfortunately it was all personality flaws instead of his physical flaws. I would assume while he is handsome some of his awful personality would reflect that but instead, he's the most beautiful man Elisa has ever seen. They never established his age, so I was thinking late 20s, early 30s?
I couldn't help but feel there were a few pacing and grammar problems in the story. The story spanned several months, perhaps even almost a year. A couple of times I wasn't sure if a character had stayed or gone in a scene. It was a bit irritating having to go back to determine the course of action. Also Elisa is a larger girl, which I understand, it just seemed silly that she lost weight only to have everything work out for her later when she was skinny. I suppose this helped her gain more confidence and friends but it's a bit silly to overcome her securities that way. I do agree with many other reviewers that stated the author did more telling than showing the reader. I did get bored at times with the story telling and towards the end just skimmed to the important parts.
I wasn't attached to many of the characters, perhaps Humberto the most and the author ends up killing him off as Elisa watches. It pissed me off that Elisa didn't do anything to prevent it. They should have been smarter but they all traveled together into enemy territory instead of splitting up in case their plans backfired. There were many flaws in this story and I really did want to like it but it hardly lived up to my expectations. I did finish it to the end but the main reason I kept pushing myself to the end was because I hoped that the characters would be redeemed and that the author is from the same state as me.
There wasn't much of a cliffhanger at the end but I know the story continues. The weakness in the story seemed to outshine the good in this book for me. I doubt I'll read the second book any time soon with so many other books TBR. If I'm bored with nothing else to read I suppose I'd pick this back up but there are so many other books that may interest me better than this.
2.5 out of 5 rating for me.
Find more at OriginiquEquanimity.blogspot.com
(I would actually give this 3.5 stars if I could)
I was interested in this book because I was looking for a new fantasy book to read, and I liked that this one had a female protagonist. I also liked that it was only $2.99 through the Kobo store! Here is the Kobo store’s summary:
Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness. Elisa is the chosen one.But she is also the younger of two princesses. The one who has never done anything remarkable, and can’t see how she ever will. Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king – a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs her to be the chosen one, not a failure of a princess. And he’s not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies, seething with dark magic, are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior, and he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake. Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young. Most of the chosen do.
Elisa is a 16 year old princess of Orovalle, passing her time eating pastries from the kitchen and studying the Belleza Guerra, a book on the history and strategies of war. Her older sister, Alodia, is the one who will inherit her father’s throne, the one that the people of Orovalle know and love. Elisa is happy to stay out of the spotlight. However, she bears the Godstone, a mysterious gem in her belly button signifying that she has been chosen by God for an important act of service – if only she knew what that act would be.
Elisa learns that she is to marry Alejandro, the king of Joya d’Arena. After they are wed, she is to travel with him to his kingdom. Things take a bad turn, though, when their caravan is attacked, and this sets off a chain of events in which Elisa is caught up in political games, war, danger, and the mystery and power of the Godstone – including what others would do to get their hands on it and her.
First of all, I loved Elisa. She was somewhat self-deprecating and self-conscious, and I liked seeing her grow from someone who was uncertain and not very confident to someone who was sure of herself and of what needed to be done, even if it meant taking risks. I also liked that she liked to eat and that she was not skinny - it made her much more relatable than some heroines I’ve read about who are constantly being described as tiny and skinny and fragile. Elisa becomes proud and strong throughout the book.
All of the characters in this book were well-written and developed, even secondary characters. There is also some political intrigue and romance that Elisa is caught up in, and so it certainly felt that there was a lot going on in this book. It all worked for me though. There was a nice balance between the romance, the mystery of the Godstone, and the action. The book was also unpredictable. I was definitely taken by surprise more than once at the turn of events, and it always makes me happy to read a book where I don’t predict the outcome of events or fates of major characters.
Another part of what made this book work for me was the writing and world-building. The author’s descriptions were vivid and helped bring the story to life. I could easily picture all of the places Elisa travelled to.
I have read that this is the first in a series, with the next book coming out sometime this fall. I will definitely be looking to read that, but this book could stand on its own. I thought there was a definite resolution to the main plot points of this book, which I appreciate. It’s frustrating to read a book that ends on a cliffhanger simply because it’s part of a series. I like each book having its own ending, and so I’m looking forward to another story with these characters in the next book.
This is a great YA novel combining elements of historical fiction with a good mix of fantasy and romance thrown in. If that appeals to you, I highly recommend this book! (From http://pingwings.ca)
I was interested in this book because I was looking for a new fantasy book to read, and I liked that this one had a female protagonist. I also liked that it was only $2.99 through the Kobo store! Here is the Kobo store’s summary:
Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness. Elisa is the chosen one.But she is also the younger of two princesses. The one who has never done anything remarkable, and can’t see how she ever will. Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king – a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs her to be the chosen one, not a failure of a princess. And he’s not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies, seething with dark magic, are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior, and he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake. Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young. Most of the chosen do.
Elisa is a 16 year old princess of Orovalle, passing her time eating pastries from the kitchen and studying the Belleza Guerra, a book on the history and strategies of war. Her older sister, Alodia, is the one who will inherit her father’s throne, the one that the people of Orovalle know and love. Elisa is happy to stay out of the spotlight. However, she bears the Godstone, a mysterious gem in her belly button signifying that she has been chosen by God for an important act of service – if only she knew what that act would be.
Elisa learns that she is to marry Alejandro, the king of Joya d’Arena. After they are wed, she is to travel with him to his kingdom. Things take a bad turn, though, when their caravan is attacked, and this sets off a chain of events in which Elisa is caught up in political games, war, danger, and the mystery and power of the Godstone – including what others would do to get their hands on it and her.
First of all, I loved Elisa. She was somewhat self-deprecating and self-conscious, and I liked seeing her grow from someone who was uncertain and not very confident to someone who was sure of herself and of what needed to be done, even if it meant taking risks. I also liked that she liked to eat and that she was not skinny - it made her much more relatable than some heroines I’ve read about who are constantly being described as tiny and skinny and fragile. Elisa becomes proud and strong throughout the book.
All of the characters in this book were well-written and developed, even secondary characters. There is also some political intrigue and romance that Elisa is caught up in, and so it certainly felt that there was a lot going on in this book. It all worked for me though. There was a nice balance between the romance, the mystery of the Godstone, and the action. The book was also unpredictable. I was definitely taken by surprise more than once at the turn of events, and it always makes me happy to read a book where I don’t predict the outcome of events or fates of major characters.
Another part of what made this book work for me was the writing and world-building. The author’s descriptions were vivid and helped bring the story to life. I could easily picture all of the places Elisa travelled to.
I have read that this is the first in a series, with the next book coming out sometime this fall. I will definitely be looking to read that, but this book could stand on its own. I thought there was a definite resolution to the main plot points of this book, which I appreciate. It’s frustrating to read a book that ends on a cliffhanger simply because it’s part of a series. I like each book having its own ending, and so I’m looking forward to another story with these characters in the next book.
This is a great YA novel combining elements of historical fiction with a good mix of fantasy and romance thrown in. If that appeals to you, I highly recommend this book! (From http://pingwings.ca)
I highly recommend this book especially if you're a fan of Throne of Glass! This is an amazing YA high fantasy novel, the first of a completed trilogy. Elisa is an amazing protagonist. The action is intense and exciting. OH MY GOD. I FREAKING LOVE THIS BOOK. OH MAN OH MAN. Read this now!
What an amazing, realistic heroine in an amazing, lush world.
“God's will. How many times have I heard someone declare their understanding of this thing I find so indefinable?”
There have been mixed reviews about this book, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think the idea of the Godstone was a unique one and I thought it developed really well throughout the book with good pace. One thing that possibly wasn't as good as I had hoped for was the world development. Although it was a fantasy world that Carson created, I believe it lacked development and depth.
As for the characters, I really enjoyed Elisa as a heroine. She lacked confidence in herself and her ability and questioned herself as the chosen one, yet when needed she worked through this and become the hero and brave. I believed there was really good character development for Elisa. I also really enjoyed some of the other characters such as Humbertoand I was really really sad to see him go, but less so to see Alejandro go .
A really good book for fantasy lovers.
There have been mixed reviews about this book, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think the idea of the Godstone was a unique one and I thought it developed really well throughout the book with good pace. One thing that possibly wasn't as good as I had hoped for was the world development. Although it was a fantasy world that Carson created, I believe it lacked development and depth.
As for the characters, I really enjoyed Elisa as a heroine. She lacked confidence in herself and her ability and questioned herself as the chosen one, yet when needed she worked through this and become the hero and brave. I believed there was really good character development for Elisa. I also really enjoyed some of the other characters such as Humberto
A really good book for fantasy lovers.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Elisa may be one of my favorite main characters. While she does have this gift, she doesn't know how to use it so it's not as important in the first half or so of the book. That first half is about Elisa and her changing and growing, physically, mentally, emotionally. Once she'd gotten a better sense of herself and the strength she had, then she started exploring the powers she had and I really liked how that was handled.
The setting in this world was rich and descriptive and vibrant. I could see it all in my head. Rae Carson just crafts a fantastic world that I want to frolic in and explore more. I also wish there was a map just to enhance it a little more (maybe there is and I'm just forgetting, care to enlighten me?). It's a world I hope can be explored in future books.
Rae's writing is just so lush and beautiful I wanted to drown in it. This is no short book, and yet I still read it within a 48 hour period. I wandered with Elisa and loved who Elisa loved and felt heartbreak when she felt heartbreak. This book manipulated my emotions and played with my heart. I wasn't just reading this book; I was experience the story. I was Elisa. The ability to do that is rare and wonderful.
Even the one complaint I have with this book that I can't tell you because it's a spoiler...I understand why it had to happen. I've come to terms with it. Someday, I'll move on.
Just, please, get this book for someone this holiday season. Whether it's you or a friend or your dog, more people need to pick up this fantastic book.
The setting in this world was rich and descriptive and vibrant. I could see it all in my head. Rae Carson just crafts a fantastic world that I want to frolic in and explore more. I also wish there was a map just to enhance it a little more (maybe there is and I'm just forgetting, care to enlighten me?). It's a world I hope can be explored in future books.
Rae's writing is just so lush and beautiful I wanted to drown in it. This is no short book, and yet I still read it within a 48 hour period. I wandered with Elisa and loved who Elisa loved and felt heartbreak when she felt heartbreak. This book manipulated my emotions and played with my heart. I wasn't just reading this book; I was experience the story. I was Elisa. The ability to do that is rare and wonderful.
Even the one complaint I have with this book that I can't tell you because it's a spoiler...I understand why it had to happen. I've come to terms with it. Someday, I'll move on.
Just, please, get this book for someone this holiday season. Whether it's you or a friend or your dog, more people need to pick up this fantastic book.