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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
Ok, let me just say one thing. If you want something fast-paced then you need to read this.
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The universe and the idea was really good, but having read that this as an anti-hero book, I got a wee bit disappointed. I had hoped this was like Cersie Lannister's chapters in GOT, where she would imagine heads rolling when someone talked to her in a curtain way. I wished for a main character with an understandable characterarc with twisted determination, motivation, and passion other than trauma (this scenario can be really interesting, but here it was bleak) But the protagonist was more "go with the flow" and angsty (all the daddy issues). This is definitely just my expectations which was mislead. Neat she's missing an eye through.
The story was pretty good and the "magic" system was believable, only, all my questions was answered 1/4 into the book, and the rest was just following the plan with little surprises on the way.
Not my cup of tea
The story was pretty good and the "magic" system was believable, only, all my questions was answered 1/4 into the book, and the rest was just following the plan with little surprises on the way.
Not my cup of tea
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Read: June 23rd - July 1st
Format: Physical Book
Rating: 3.5 Stars (rounded up to 4)
This book follows Adelina, a sixteen-year-old girl who has been changed by the blood fever that swept the entire world. Those like her are seen as curses, but there are some considered even worse: the Young Elite, the ones who survived the blood fever and awakened magical powers. When the awakening of her own ability seals her fate, she must turn to the Dagger Society, a group of Young Elites with plans for where the kingdom should go in the future. But as Adelina falls deeper into their world, she has to wonder not only if she can trust them, but if she can even trust herself and this power awakening in her.
(Apparently Beanie is back to trying summaries because she realizes that sometimes people in the feed just read the review without going to the book, so, uh, there? XD)
Is the plot of "girl discovers she has powers that are hunted by the government and must join a rebel group" extremely common? Yes. Just like a dystopian society series was very common when Lu wrote the Legend series. She impressed me then by taking a 'typical' set up and twisting it in a way that made it really fresh. Here, she is fully willing to embrace the darker character within Adelina and really exploring what it would do to a kid to live the life she lived.
The main side characters were all great and interesting. Teren as an antagonist is interesting and disturbing, while Enzo with his dangerous, ambitious self while being really charismatic had me both loving him but also wary. Then there's Rafaele (may have misspelled). I loved him so much ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ So yeah, I loved reading about all of them and what they added to the overall story!
I genuinely enjoyed this book, and it had me invested and nervous, especially the further along in the book I went.
However! There's a star (and a half) missing. Now, why is that? For one, this book is aimed at YA and the writing itself fits that perfectly. It's not the type that transcends age ranges, so the writing felt a bit less punchy to me in parts, but that's not a flaw of the book. That's me being an adult reading a book that's very much written in a style meant for 15 year olds. Entirely personal.
And really? That's my main complaint and why I docked that 1.5 star. Maybe seems much, but it's about my personal enjoyment, and I think I personally would have enjoyed this with a bit older of a voice. Still great, still think people should read it, but think it may hit harder writing wise for the audience it's directed toward.
There's also another issue here. This book has a direction it looks like it's going, and I don't know yet whether or not I want to hop on that ride. While I appreciate what it's doing, it's a personal taste thing. I'll definitely read on eventually, because I'm really curious to see where Lu goes, but... I'll just put it this way.I'm much more of a redemption arc person than a corruption arc person, and it definitely feels like it's leaning the latter direction 🤣
Format: Physical Book
Rating: 3.5 Stars (rounded up to 4)
This book follows Adelina, a sixteen-year-old girl who has been changed by the blood fever that swept the entire world. Those like her are seen as curses, but there are some considered even worse: the Young Elite, the ones who survived the blood fever and awakened magical powers. When the awakening of her own ability seals her fate, she must turn to the Dagger Society, a group of Young Elites with plans for where the kingdom should go in the future. But as Adelina falls deeper into their world, she has to wonder not only if she can trust them, but if she can even trust herself and this power awakening in her.
(Apparently Beanie is back to trying summaries because she realizes that sometimes people in the feed just read the review without going to the book, so, uh, there? XD)
Is the plot of "girl discovers she has powers that are hunted by the government and must join a rebel group" extremely common? Yes. Just like a dystopian society series was very common when Lu wrote the Legend series. She impressed me then by taking a 'typical' set up and twisting it in a way that made it really fresh. Here, she is fully willing to embrace the darker character within Adelina and really exploring what it would do to a kid to live the life she lived.
The main side characters were all great and interesting. Teren as an antagonist is interesting and disturbing, while Enzo with his dangerous, ambitious self while being really charismatic had me both loving him but also wary. Then there's Rafaele (may have misspelled). I loved him so much ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ So yeah, I loved reading about all of them and what they added to the overall story!
I genuinely enjoyed this book, and it had me invested and nervous, especially the further along in the book I went.
However! There's a star (and a half) missing. Now, why is that? For one, this book is aimed at YA and the writing itself fits that perfectly. It's not the type that transcends age ranges, so the writing felt a bit less punchy to me in parts, but that's not a flaw of the book. That's me being an adult reading a book that's very much written in a style meant for 15 year olds. Entirely personal.
And really? That's my main complaint and why I docked that 1.5 star. Maybe seems much, but it's about my personal enjoyment, and I think I personally would have enjoyed this with a bit older of a voice. Still great, still think people should read it, but think it may hit harder writing wise for the audience it's directed toward.
There's also another issue here. This book has a direction it looks like it's going, and I don't know yet whether or not I want to hop on that ride. While I appreciate what it's doing, it's a personal taste thing. I'll definitely read on eventually, because I'm really curious to see where Lu goes, but... I'll just put it this way.
I really wanted to like this book, especially since I’ve enjoyed other books by Marie Lu, but this one just didn’t work for me. I didn’t really like the main character, and none of the other characters stood out or made me care about them either. The plot didn’t pull me in. I found myself bored more often than not, which is a bummer because the concept had potential.
Honestly, I just felt kind of nothing the whole time I was reading. It’s rare for me to feel this detached from a story, especially from an author I usually enjoy. I haven’t decided yet if I’m going to try to continue the series or not.
Honestly, I just felt kind of nothing the whole time I was reading. It’s rare for me to feel this detached from a story, especially from an author I usually enjoy. I haven’t decided yet if I’m going to try to continue the series or not.
It is with a heavy heart that I must share the sad reality that I have finished this book. I have grown fond of the evilness of everyone that I wanted to live in this world and just be evil. Killing another person is just another Tuesday for them! And not one person is genuinely nice which is why I love this book! And that one person who I thought came in little gentle, misdirected from the goal, who I thought was changing my mind that this is a cutesy fairy tale ended dead! WHAT AN AWESOME TWIST! I love how devastated I was and shocked that this person will not come back! Even the hope of resurgence is frail and I love it! No one can ever be happy in this story because, fuck it! Marie Lu wants every character miserable, angry and wretched! Anger is the key! Fear is the motivation!!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
Strong character development:
Complicated
Ok. Next one not available at library yet
Ends with the prince her love interest dies because she couldn't control her powers. Her and her sister are thrown out of young elected and she will start her own retaliation against the queens men. Another society will b introduced in next book to b her alli
Ends with the prince her love interest dies because she couldn't control her powers. Her and her sister are thrown out of young elected and she will start her own retaliation against the queens men. Another society will b introduced in next book to b her alli
This was sooo damn good holy crap. I was not prepared for it. I guess I'm marathoning the whole series now