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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
I totally understand why people like this but I also totally get why people hate it
Initially I was gripped, I could overlook the limited world building because the pacing was good and the characters were interesting enough to keep it going. And the first 150 pages I really felt like it was promising and shaping up to be not a new favourite romantasy but defiantly one I thought fondly of and would recommend. But the further I got into the book, the cracks started to show. And it was clear this book at is core was a weakly constructed attempt at an adult hunger games meets fourth wing. And I think if you had asked chatgpt to write a book mixed with hunger games and fourth wing you would get silver elite. You get all the bones of those books without the meat, no substance and little in all honestly soul put into it. The characters after a while just revealed themselves as those generic characters we have read a million times over but just not as good. There was no originality put into it, it just felt like
The world building is easy to follow because there was basically no world building. It is an accessible 'dystopian' because it barely feels like a dystopian. Just another "war college" but with some after thoughts of added dystopian vibes.
The characters are a mixed bag honestly. Most of them were replicas of generic basic characters that really have been more fleshed out but some of them were good.
Kaine - we love kaine
Wren - cough cough ... celeana is that you... yah.. Insert the chosen one trope. Insert hidden abilities trope. Insert every guy is obsessed with me trope....
She isn't the worst character but she definitely is kind of annoying at times particularly the further you get into the book.
Cross - can die. Like please. Who is falling for this guy? He is a controlling piece of shit, that "would burn down the world for her" yet is never actually there to help her or even comfort her. All he cares about is getting it on with her.... ugh yuck. After a while the banter needs to turn into chemistry and real development of the relationship but instead it was just "I'm obsessed with you" " I can't stop thinking about you" "I never feel this way for anyone" Then SHOW ME don't just tell me. He was like
I would choose Kaine or Jordan over Cross. Hate him.
The writing is basic and at times incredibly cringey. It gets the job done but I did see someone say it was AI writing and now I can't unsee it.
The plot itself is ok, original? No. But definitely readable. This is one of those books where it is just so binge-able because the pacing was so good. I wasn't ever bored just annoyed by the characters and how unoriginal the book was. And the twists.... what twists? Too predictable.
I didn't have a bad time reading it, I'm glad I read it, it does give you that nostalgic kick but it has a lot of issues and I think the more you sit on the book the more you see.
Initially I was gripped, I could overlook the limited world building because the pacing was good and the characters were interesting enough to keep it going. And the first 150 pages I really felt like it was promising and shaping up to be not a new favourite romantasy but defiantly one I thought fondly of and would recommend. But the further I got into the book, the cracks started to show. And it was clear this book at is core was a weakly constructed attempt at an adult hunger games meets fourth wing. And I think if you had asked chatgpt to write a book mixed with hunger games and fourth wing you would get silver elite. You get all the bones of those books without the meat, no substance and little in all honestly soul put into it. The characters after a while just revealed themselves as those generic characters we have read a million times over but just not as good. There was no originality put into it, it just felt like
The world building is easy to follow because there was basically no world building. It is an accessible 'dystopian' because it barely feels like a dystopian. Just another "war college" but with some after thoughts of added dystopian vibes.
The characters are a mixed bag honestly. Most of them were replicas of generic basic characters that really have been more fleshed out but some of them were good.
Kaine - we love kaine
Wren - cough cough ... celeana is that you... yah.. Insert the chosen one trope. Insert hidden abilities trope. Insert every guy is obsessed with me trope....
She isn't the worst character but she definitely is kind of annoying at times particularly the further you get into the book.
Cross - can die. Like please. Who is falling for this guy? He is a controlling piece of shit, that "would burn down the world for her" yet is never actually there to help her or even comfort her. All he cares about is getting it on with her.... ugh yuck. After a while the banter needs to turn into chemistry and real development of the relationship but instead it was just "I'm obsessed with you" " I can't stop thinking about you" "I never feel this way for anyone" Then SHOW ME don't just tell me. He was like
I would choose Kaine or Jordan over Cross. Hate him.
The writing is basic and at times incredibly cringey. It gets the job done but I did see someone say it was AI writing and now I can't unsee it.
The plot itself is ok, original? No. But definitely readable. This is one of those books where it is just so binge-able because the pacing was so good. I wasn't ever bored just annoyed by the characters and how unoriginal the book was. And the twists.... what twists? Too predictable.
I didn't have a bad time reading it, I'm glad I read it, it does give you that nostalgic kick but it has a lot of issues and I think the more you sit on the book the more you see.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Welp. That was disappointing. đ I loved the Hunger Games and Divergent when I was younger and was looking for another dystopian story to hook me, especially with so much going on in our current world to comment on. Sadly, I wasnât even slightly interested in the story until about 80% of the way in. Obviously, I am bad at DNFing books otherwise I wouldnât have slogged through the majority of the book.
Unfortunately, I felt no connection to any of the characters. Except one that got killed off before I could actually get to know them.
The FMC was not one for me. She felt too irresponsible and erratic for me to like her and the I wanted some character development in the 500 pages and sadly felt like there wasnât any. Also the romance element felt too forced and insta-lovey for me.
Will I read the next one? Probably. But I donât see myself making it through all three when theyâre out without asking someone on Reddit for them to spoil it for me instead of having to read it myself.
Unfortunately, I felt no connection to any of the characters. Except one that got killed off before I could actually get to know them.
The FMC was not one for me. She felt too irresponsible and erratic for me to like her and the I wanted some character development in the 500 pages and sadly felt like there wasnât any. Also the romance element felt too forced and insta-lovey for me.
Will I read the next one? Probably. But I donât see myself making it through all three when theyâre out without asking someone on Reddit for them to spoil it for me instead of having to read it myself.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
âIâm not supposed to be attracted to men like this. Possessive. Cocky. Ruthless. Yet the notion that Iâd succeeded in triggering his jealousy sends a thrill shooting through me.â
Ok⌠First 80% entertaining but nothing crazy, with extra details and more complex world building could have been really good⌠Last 20% I couldnât read fast enough! This was what I was hoping for! Did it get a little chaotic? Yes. Was there a convenient hole or two buttoned up probably a little too easily? Perhaps. Did I care in the slightest because I am a shameless Fourth Wing fan and Cross and Wren are Xaden and Violet coded? Nope.
Book two immediately added to my wish list đ
Ok⌠First 80% entertaining but nothing crazy, with extra details and more complex world building could have been really good⌠Last 20% I couldnât read fast enough! This was what I was hoping for! Did it get a little chaotic? Yes. Was there a convenient hole or two buttoned up probably a little too easily? Perhaps. Did I care in the slightest because I am a shameless Fourth Wing fan and Cross and Wren are Xaden and Violet coded? Nope.
Book two immediately added to my wish list đ
4.5âď¸ This gives me vibes of Dauntless military like setting with a supernatural layer. Dystopian setting of what seems like Earth, we have supernatural abilities in some that manifest at random. Two primes dont guarantee a prime and two mods dont guarantee a mod. Genetic mutations at an known level create the mods and there's more unknown than know. The FMC is a strong protagonist, cocky, and elite in her abilities. Maybe except in decision making... Overall I enjoyed this ride and will be tuning in for more. Color me curious, I'd like to see where it goes.
it gives Red Queen meets Divergent vibes at a more Adult level ( ages 20+)
it gives Red Queen meets Divergent vibes at a more Adult level ( ages 20+)
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War