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lermonysnickers's review
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
This book look cool and the design was gorgeous, but if the prologue to your story is an entire book long, you're doing something wrong. Nothing happens, nothing is pronouncable even with the pronunciation guide, and the characters are just flat out annoying. It was a neat idea, it just doesn't work.
loafreads's review
2.0
I was sucked into the online hype at the time I preordered this book.
It’s absolutely beautiful to look at…
However, it’s unbearably slow, no real plot (which yes, it’s a prologue, but if I’m going to read 500 odd pages I expect something!).
I just couldn’t get into it. First book I’ve ever DNF’d and the most I’ve ever paid too! So disappointed.
I will say the website/online presence was really cool, I got my own Octunnumi name, you got different bits of merch with each edition of the book. Very clever marketing. I really wish the content lived up to the magic of the rest of it!
It’s absolutely beautiful to look at…
However, it’s unbearably slow, no real plot (which yes, it’s a prologue, but if I’m going to read 500 odd pages I expect something!).
I just couldn’t get into it. First book I’ve ever DNF’d and the most I’ve ever paid too! So disappointed.
I will say the website/online presence was really cool, I got my own Octunnumi name, you got different bits of merch with each edition of the book. Very clever marketing. I really wish the content lived up to the magic of the rest of it!
jinxei's review
4.0
UPDATE #1:
Definitely a 4-4.25 at the least.
Let's be honest, this book deserves more than one read through. After I had time to think on it, do not go into this as if it is a standalone novel. This is a prologue, an introduction to a world unlike ours and succeeds in the tremendous amount of world building that is needed to set up the future novels. Meeting all the different characters, seeing how the different Innesomids (worlds/planes) are, and the history of the Octunnumi is done incredibly. I hope the two main characters stay throughout the series as the banter between them is wonderful.
Original:
Tentative 3.5, will need to do a proper review after a second read-through.
The book and the contents of the packaging that came with it are gorgeous. The added dictionary is not only beautiful and well done, but necessary as the book itself seems as if it were written by someone not from our planet.
However, I found the plot a bit confusing and hard to follow and needed to reference that dictionary often (my memory is not good enough to just remember those things), so I think it might benefit from another read-through at a later date.
Definitely a 4-4.25 at the least.
Let's be honest, this book deserves more than one read through. After I had time to think on it, do not go into this as if it is a standalone novel. This is a prologue, an introduction to a world unlike ours and succeeds in the tremendous amount of world building that is needed to set up the future novels. Meeting all the different characters, seeing how the different Innesomids (worlds/planes) are, and the history of the Octunnumi is done incredibly. I hope the two main characters stay throughout the series as the banter between them is wonderful.
Original:
Tentative 3.5, will need to do a proper review after a second read-through.
The book and the contents of the packaging that came with it are gorgeous. The added dictionary is not only beautiful and well done, but necessary as the book itself seems as if it were written by someone not from our planet.
However, I found the plot a bit confusing and hard to follow and needed to reference that dictionary often (my memory is not good enough to just remember those things), so I think it might benefit from another read-through at a later date.
davidcottington's review
4.0
I had to keep checking that this was the first book in the series. No idea what was going on for most of the story - which is a shame because I really enjoyed what I did understand and thought a lot of the characters and concepts had great potential.
I'm looking forward to the rest of the series - I just hope they're not all as confusing as this.
It's definitely one of the most beautiful books I own.
I'm looking forward to the rest of the series - I just hope they're not all as confusing as this.
It's definitely one of the most beautiful books I own.
linzthebookworm's review
3.0
I enjoyed the story, but I think I enjoyed not knowing more. I thought the marketing and mystery to this were brilliant. For most of the story, I felt like I didn't fully understand what was going on and couldn't get a good grasp on the world or magic. That may have been intentional. Getting the book, unwrapping the book, and then reading the book was an experience like no other.
For my full review check out: https://linzthebookworm.blogspot.com/2022/04/book-review-octunnumi-fosbit-files.html
For my full review check out: https://linzthebookworm.blogspot.com/2022/04/book-review-octunnumi-fosbit-files.html
flourished1's review
I felt that the book was unnecessarily complex and convoluted, to the point where it took too much energy to figure out what was happening.
legallyde's review
3.0
I really wanted to like this book.
On one hand, the author paints a beautiful picture of the various worlds & inhabitants that make up the setting. On the other hand, the plot is often ignored for pages and pages of these descriptions.
The best analogy I can think of is this: It’s like if J.K. Rowling had included all the background info from Pottermore, Fantastic Beasts, Quidditch Through the Ages, etc, into the original Harry Potter books, but had to leave the OG books the same length and no longer had room for anything but a simple plot.
Even then though, I’ve read the whole thing now & I still couldn’t explain what is actually going on. Between the confusing, made up names that everything has, forcing you to constantly look them up in the included dictionary; to the astonishing lack of logical connections & flow between the activities of the main characters… one ends up with a jumbled impression of a deeply intricate world & second thought, shapeless story.
On one hand, the author paints a beautiful picture of the various worlds & inhabitants that make up the setting. On the other hand, the plot is often ignored for pages and pages of these descriptions.
The best analogy I can think of is this: It’s like if J.K. Rowling had included all the background info from Pottermore, Fantastic Beasts, Quidditch Through the Ages, etc, into the original Harry Potter books, but had to leave the OG books the same length and no longer had room for anything but a simple plot.
Even then though, I’ve read the whole thing now & I still couldn’t explain what is actually going on. Between the confusing, made up names that everything has, forcing you to constantly look them up in the included dictionary; to the astonishing lack of logical connections & flow between the activities of the main characters… one ends up with a jumbled impression of a deeply intricate world & second thought, shapeless story.
lookatjimmy's review
4.0
Gun to my head I would not be able to give any sort of comprehensive synopsis BUT I know I enjoyed it and can’t wait for the rest of the series!
theportsmouth_pageturner's review
4.0
One star for the book and the experience, it’s just so beautiful! Three stars for the sort of plot. I’m intrigued, but won’t be rushing to buy the next one.