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shadow77's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jcaesara's review against another edition
5.0
ARC received from the author.
I must confess that this was the first book I read from Kay Moody. And I loved it.
I liked the first part with young Talise and almost cried at the thought of she would not be able to prove what she can.
The process of shaping was well described and you can almost see cherry blossom tress, the fire ribbons or the ice crown.
After finishing the book my only thought is that both the teacher and Aaden want her to win. I think they manipulated her about Marnie's funeral for some reason and I can't wait to find out the reason why
I must confess that this was the first book I read from Kay Moody. And I loved it.
I liked the first part with young Talise and almost cried at the thought of she would not be able to prove what she can.
The process of shaping was well described and you can almost see cherry blossom tress, the fire ribbons or the ice crown.
After finishing the book my only thought is that both the teacher and Aaden want her to win. I think they manipulated her about Marnie's funeral for some reason and I can't wait to find out the reason why
millennialbookreview's review against another edition
2.0
I was given an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book was way too short. That made it feel very rushed.
It tells the story of Talise, a girl who can bend the elements to her will. Being a citizen of the Storm, the crime-laden area of her civilization, the only way she can escape her life there is by becoming a Master Shaper. From a young age, she's placed at a school to learn how to bend the elements and prepare for the competition that could earn her the role of Master Shaper.
The premise itself reminded me a lot of Avatar the Last Airbender, but if all of the nation trained together and not apart. There's also the distinction of people not being mostly confined to shaping just one element.
So, at a young age, Talise earns a spot at a school for shapers. When she graduates, if she doesn't become a Master Shaper, she has to return to the Storm, which no one thinks she'll survive, including her.
As I said earlier, the story is short and feels rushed. Ten years of time is pretty much glossed over in like three sentences and we're never told much about Talise's backstory. She's from the Storm because some earlier ancestor of hers broke the law and saw exiled there. This society has an unjust law that basically says if you mess up, you and everyone descended from you, will be punished for it. So, we have no idea why Talise needs to win the competition in the first place.
There isn't much info given about the world as a whole other than the Storm is bad, the Crown is good, people can shape elements and the law I mentioned earlier. I think some effort should've been put a little more into how the world works.
My biggest issue though, is the climax. Instead of the competition itself being the climax of the story, the actual climax is the prep for this big competiton? And the story ends on the way heading to the competition with Talise getting another, more well-connected student, who is her biggest threat, disqualified for breaking a very minor rule This didn't feel like a good conclusion or well-executed one at all. It feels unfinished.
This book was way too short. That made it feel very rushed.
It tells the story of Talise, a girl who can bend the elements to her will. Being a citizen of the Storm, the crime-laden area of her civilization, the only way she can escape her life there is by becoming a Master Shaper. From a young age, she's placed at a school to learn how to bend the elements and prepare for the competition that could earn her the role of Master Shaper.
The premise itself reminded me a lot of Avatar the Last Airbender, but if all of the nation trained together and not apart. There's also the distinction of people not being mostly confined to shaping just one element.
So, at a young age, Talise earns a spot at a school for shapers. When she graduates, if she doesn't become a Master Shaper, she has to return to the Storm, which no one thinks she'll survive, including her.
As I said earlier, the story is short and feels rushed. Ten years of time is pretty much glossed over in like three sentences and we're never told much about Talise's backstory. She's from the Storm because some earlier ancestor of hers broke the law and saw exiled there. This society has an unjust law that basically says if you mess up, you and everyone descended from you, will be punished for it. So, we have no idea why Talise needs to win the competition in the first place.
There isn't much info given about the world as a whole other than the Storm is bad, the Crown is good, people can shape elements and the law I mentioned earlier. I think some effort should've been put a little more into how the world works.
My biggest issue though, is the climax. Instead of the competition itself being the climax of the story, the actual climax is the prep for this big competiton? And the story ends on the way heading to the competition with Talise getting another, more well-connected student, who is her biggest threat, disqualified for breaking a very minor rule This didn't feel like a good conclusion or well-executed one at all. It feels unfinished.
_camk_'s review against another edition
2.0
The book is obviously a novella which makes it very difficult for any real character development or connection with the characters.
The premise is interesting.
The premise is interesting.
lienata's review
5.0
Ice Crown
A nice novella. I was instantly drawn into this fantasy world and found myself wanting to know what happened next. There's a lot of strong emotions and interesting use of magic. It's hard to please my high standard reading tastes but this book passed my criteria so I'm happy to continue reading and discover more about Talise and the world of Kamdaria! Just note that the ending is a little abrupt and a bit of a cliffhanger.
A nice novella. I was instantly drawn into this fantasy world and found myself wanting to know what happened next. There's a lot of strong emotions and interesting use of magic. It's hard to please my high standard reading tastes but this book passed my criteria so I'm happy to continue reading and discover more about Talise and the world of Kamdaria! Just note that the ending is a little abrupt and a bit of a cliffhanger.
simoneclark's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you Kay L. Moody and Booksprout for a complementary copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
I really enjoyed this sweet short first book in the series. I like the characters....even grumpy Aaden. I want to know what happened to Marmie. I want to find out how the competition ends. Soooo many questions!!! There was one thing in this first book that didn't make sense - don't they know the other students' last name at the academy? - but that didn't make me like the book less.
Great book!
I really enjoyed this sweet short first book in the series. I like the characters....even grumpy Aaden. I want to know what happened to Marmie. I want to find out how the competition ends. Soooo many questions!!! There was one thing in this first book that didn't make sense - don't they know the other students' last name at the academy? - but that didn't make me like the book less.
Great book!
micolreads's review against another edition
3.0
EBook provided by the author in exchange of an honest review.
Let’s start saying that this book had potential, it would have been an amazing book had it been a bit longer and with more descriptions. I found it to be a little essential in descriptions. The thing that kept me reading and actually made me like the book overall was the plot and the world building. I wish I‘d seen more interactions between characters.
I loved the 7 year old Talise, I loved Aaden and I liked their relationship.
Final vote: 3.5/5
Let’s start saying that this book had potential, it would have been an amazing book had it been a bit longer and with more descriptions. I found it to be a little essential in descriptions. The thing that kept me reading and actually made me like the book overall was the plot and the world building. I wish I‘d seen more interactions between characters.
I loved the 7 year old Talise, I loved Aaden and I liked their relationship.
Final vote: 3.5/5
nnn77's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
marci_travels's review
5.0
I finished this yesterday. It's a quick read and a good one. Taliese is a Storm child, banished to an area of the Kingdome because of past family transgressions. The first few chapters are a subtle commentary of the politics of poverty and the aftereffects. Taliese and her mother are malnourished because they are poor, they are ill-educated because they are poor, people commit other crimes which resentences them to remain in the Storm. And the cycle of poverty not only continues but the victims are blamed for their inability to change.
Until Taliese. She is a seven-year-old girl who can shape the elements. She enters the prestigious academy, a twin to another in the city, where she trains and over the next ten years becomes the head of her class. She is excited to try for the Master Shaper title which she thinks will end all of her problems.
Meet Aaden. He is the top of the class at the OTHER academy. He has his own past to overcome and everyone who hears his family name "SATO" seems to know all about his family and to have an opinion on them.
In classic fantasy fiction, there can be only one winner. Ever more dangerous feats of magic are performed in trying to win.
For fans of The Night Circus, classic fantasy, dark academia, and twisty plots.
Until Taliese. She is a seven-year-old girl who can shape the elements. She enters the prestigious academy, a twin to another in the city, where she trains and over the next ten years becomes the head of her class. She is excited to try for the Master Shaper title which she thinks will end all of her problems.
Meet Aaden. He is the top of the class at the OTHER academy. He has his own past to overcome and everyone who hears his family name "SATO" seems to know all about his family and to have an opinion on them.
In classic fantasy fiction, there can be only one winner. Ever more dangerous feats of magic are performed in trying to win.
For fans of The Night Circus, classic fantasy, dark academia, and twisty plots.