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jessica_mcdermitt's review against another edition
4.0
Full disclosure (I've become quite a fan of this phrase, haven't I): I received a free e-book copy of Azaei's Riders in exchange for an honest review. So here it is :)
First of all, I sense a theme with Miranda and the living weapons thing. I mean, every writer has a Favorite Thing, right? ;)
Ok. Time to be serious.
Basically, Azalei's Riders borrows from How to Train Your Dragon (one of my Favorite Things) and uses it in a sci-fi, futuristic, dystopian setting. Um, yes. Please. Gimme. Genius hackers riding dragons? I'll take ten.
If you've read Echoes, you'll notice that this book is in a completely different style. I actually like the style of this one better, because it's more straightforward. Also, Miranda does a fantastic job of leaving me with so many questions--I need to see how this all plays out in the next book! What's up with the characters who can empathetically communicate with their dragons? (I want a dragonnnnn!)
As usual, Miranda keeps her prose squeaky clean. Books in this genre usually have a nasty, steamy love triangle (*barf*) or something like that. I hate that. I appreciate more than I can even describe that I can pick up one of Miranda's books and just read it without turning on my Kissy Radar. Anyone can read this book! And everyone should! Big-name authors, take notes.
The only real problem I had with my copy of this book was that it had a significant number of typos. They didn't interfere with the story or anything, but I definitely noticed them, and it definitely bothered me. Good news, though! Miranda is getting ready to release these books in print, and they're going through a whole other edit and proofread, so by the time YOU read them in print, the typos will all be fixed! I also had a bit of a hard time keeping track of all the characters (especially among the group of riders) BUT I'm guessing this was my problem, because this book was my before-bed read...don't imitate my bad habits, kids.
Tl;dr: Azalei's Riders is a fantastic and clean book for the entire family that takes all the fun parts of sci-fi and dystopian books and removes all the bad parts! Hooray!
Now go read it!
First of all, I sense a theme with Miranda and the living weapons thing. I mean, every writer has a Favorite Thing, right? ;)
Ok. Time to be serious.
Basically, Azalei's Riders borrows from How to Train Your Dragon (one of my Favorite Things) and uses it in a sci-fi, futuristic, dystopian setting. Um, yes. Please. Gimme. Genius hackers riding dragons? I'll take ten.
If you've read Echoes, you'll notice that this book is in a completely different style. I actually like the style of this one better, because it's more straightforward. Also, Miranda does a fantastic job of leaving me with so many questions--I need to see how this all plays out in the next book! What's up with the characters who can empathetically communicate with their dragons? (I want a dragonnnnn!)
As usual, Miranda keeps her prose squeaky clean. Books in this genre usually have a nasty, steamy love triangle (*barf*) or something like that. I hate that. I appreciate more than I can even describe that I can pick up one of Miranda's books and just read it without turning on my Kissy Radar. Anyone can read this book! And everyone should! Big-name authors, take notes.
The only real problem I had with my copy of this book was that it had a significant number of typos. They didn't interfere with the story or anything, but I definitely noticed them, and it definitely bothered me. Good news, though! Miranda is getting ready to release these books in print, and they're going through a whole other edit and proofread, so by the time YOU read them in print, the typos will all be fixed! I also had a bit of a hard time keeping track of all the characters (especially among the group of riders) BUT I'm guessing this was my problem, because this book was my before-bed read...don't imitate my bad habits, kids.
Tl;dr: Azalei's Riders is a fantastic and clean book for the entire family that takes all the fun parts of sci-fi and dystopian books and removes all the bad parts! Hooray!
Now go read it!
bibliophilicjester's review against another edition
4.0
FIRST!! I need to say how much I adored this story!! I have a few critical things I need to say, so I'll get those out of the way early on. But I also want to note that my nitpicky grammar issues did NOT fully count toward my rating. I understand books by small publishers or independently/self-published books likely aren't edited and proofread the same (amount? Way? I'm not sure) as a larger publisher would do. I don't pretend to know much about publishing or editing, although I'd very much like to learn more! A book would have to completely blow my fucking mind in order to rate it 5 stars with a ton of errors. I'm also massively critical with ratings, so 4 stars is pretty high praise coming from me!!
I've followed this author on Instagram for a while, and interacted with her and she's absolutely lovely. Which, of course, made it terrifying to read her work 😂 I'm not sure where it was said, but I saw something along the lines of her books not being for everyone, and how she's proud to be the author of “odd” books. Those statements might seem slightly apologetic to others, but to me, it's the best endorsement ever and almost guarantees I'll like the book!! Sometimes I think we must all be tired of reading the same ya fantasy books over and over with heavily emphasized romance and the same plot with all the proper names switched out. But no. It seems many people like that sort of repetition. *shrug* Not I, said the pig. This book IS very different, and I loved that about it.
This next bit will not be kind, but I need to say it. And if the author's editors read this, I'm very sorry for including my honesty in an offensive way (I hardly ever apologize for honesty but I think it's needed here). So. The errors. Judging by the ebook cover, I read the revised edition, although it's possible the cover was swapped and this was the first edition. Still, it was published like this. The amount of errors was so high I found it took away from the story. In the end acknowledgements, the author thanks her two editors by their first names, which I took as either a desire to remain a but anonymous or they're personal friends and not people paid to check for errors. Once I noticed it, I kept a tally of times “passed” was used when it should've been “past” (10). I also noted “compliment” which should've been “complement,” “to who” instead of “to whom,” and other things I'm guessing most people wouldn't notice as much as I did. There were also some agreement issues like, “there was more pros than cons,” or things like “it has since began.” Then random ones such as: “He'd would like,” “the 20 and 21st centuries,” and some awkward phrasing like, “all she didn't need was to let her guard down.”
SO. I don't claim to be any sort of grammar genius; most of the time, I know what sounds wrong but I don't know what the error is called, if that makes sense. I'm the type of person who reads things like “3:00 o’clock” as “three o'clock o'clock,” because that's how my brain processes the repetition. I'm mentioning it as something of which to be aware before starting the book (in case that sort of thing distracts you too) as opposed to just saying it to be an asshole. Which might be how it comes across anyway...sigh. Idk. I'm not a professional reviewer or anything, and I don't adhere to any strict grammar rules in my reviews. I like that the author’s note at the beginning mentioned how she also doesn't adhere to strict rules in her writing and is a bit of a rebel. I actually wasn't distracted at all by the use of numbers (4 instead of four), and I think it's wild people would latch onto that but would be fine with a missing period at the end of a sentence/paragraph. More on the use of numbers later!!
OKAY, JESS. ENOUGH.
Some awesome things about this story:
There is a Jessica...AND SHE IS AMAZING!! I don't think I will ever read a book with a Jess/Jessica who felt like a real human. Most of the time, they're the generic mean girl characters or the stupid friend. Just because we have a common name doesn't mean we're all basic bitches. It makes me so damn mad, and so I was fucking overjoyed to read about badass Jessica Samuels. THANK YOU!!
What genre rules?! I think the best books are a blend of genres, and this is a lovely blend. It's a bit dystopian, but it's not just a corrupt government to fight against. It's fantasy because DRAGONS!!, but not a typical, predictable fantasy. It's a bit of a thrilling, adventurous sort of ride, but it's so much more than that. The characters are also really well written, which I guess you could label a contemporary thing. I like how much it feels like she had this story in her head, this world she dreamed up, and she just wrote it down as is instead of trying to squish and edit it into one neat little genre.
This is going to be confusing, but I'll try to explain 🙈 it had a sort of space opera feel, even though it wasn't in space. Maybe because it was multiple perspectives, or there was so much mystery surrounding everyone and everything? Idk how to describe it, but I felt it. So. 😂
Third person past tense is my favorite. I have no idea why so many authors write in first person or (gasp) present tense...but I don't like it. This...I like this. Third person past is my comfort zone. I can just sit back and enjoy a story, free of whiny teenagers.
Not everyone was 16! Hooray. I thought it'd be ya, and I guess 25(ish) year olds fit into young adult as well? But I liked that there was an age range.
The characters!!!! So good. I love them all...even the shady/bad ones. Of course, I adore Jessica. Walter, Azalei, and Autumn are amazing as well! But even secretively shady yet somehow kind Thatcher was lovable. I never knew exactly what To was up to, but I admire her preparation and confidence and effectiveness. Even Nathan grew on me somehow(?!?!!!) I really liked seeing what Carson, Ray, and Evian were up to as well. It makes me want to know what's going on even more!! It's like we're let into the mystery but given the lowest possible clearance level.
DRAGONS!!!! ALL THE DRAGONS!!!! I love them all. I love how they flock to Walter. I love how human and readable their gestures and expressions can be sometimes. I love how important they are - if the dragons were removed, this book couldn't exist. They're crucial to the plot and the missions and everything. I love that they're loyal and obedient but also stubborn and prickly sometimes. These are the kind of dragons I didn't realize I desperately wanted to read. And yes, I've purchased the whole trilogy directly from the author!! Bring on the dragons.
This is definitely a page-turner. I NEED to know what's going on. What will happen next. I was desperate for the line about 75% in when Azalei acknowledged the plan wasn't the real plan and it never had been. YES. I like how it's not really two sides fighting a large battle. It's everyone out for themselves, some people acting as allies when their motives line up. It's everyone fighting for what they think is right. It's so interesting!! Once you realize how many plans are in place, overlapping and contradicting each other, with all the important players def NOT on the same page...it makes the plot so much trickier. So Carson wants to be king of all the land ever, but Azalei broke from him bc she supported uniting everyone in peace, but not everyone questions Carson. Most of our characters are from the country Azalei ran to, and they want to prevent Carson's country (countries?) from taking over. But is anything that black and white? Not really. It's all gray. And I am HERE for gray areas. Hell yes.
Not all the action happened at the very end!! It was dispersed throughout. There's always something happening, which I appreciate as a more plot-driven reader. I like learning about characters! I do! It's just hard to care when they don't DO anything.
The decision to write the numbers instead of words...was tricky at first. I'm not entirely sure I understand her reasoning. Once I got used to it, I noticed how much it added to the fast pace especially in the really frantic moments. It reminded me a bit of the cross-outs and rebellious bits of shatter me, which I really liked (but most others hated 😂). I like when books feel like art the author HAD to create. Because writing is an art form. I like being reminded.
I think that's all I have to say?! I really loved this book. I felt completely immersed in this world and often thought about the characters and the plot when I wasn't reading!! It's also one of those worlds that feel like anything is possible, so it was very hard to guess where things were going or who was on what side or how many sides there are?! I'm a wild theorizing sort of reader, and I LOVE being surprised - I love being wrong even more. I cannot WAIT to read the next two books!!!!
I've followed this author on Instagram for a while, and interacted with her and she's absolutely lovely. Which, of course, made it terrifying to read her work 😂 I'm not sure where it was said, but I saw something along the lines of her books not being for everyone, and how she's proud to be the author of “odd” books. Those statements might seem slightly apologetic to others, but to me, it's the best endorsement ever and almost guarantees I'll like the book!! Sometimes I think we must all be tired of reading the same ya fantasy books over and over with heavily emphasized romance and the same plot with all the proper names switched out. But no. It seems many people like that sort of repetition. *shrug* Not I, said the pig. This book IS very different, and I loved that about it.
This next bit will not be kind, but I need to say it. And if the author's editors read this, I'm very sorry for including my honesty in an offensive way (I hardly ever apologize for honesty but I think it's needed here). So. The errors. Judging by the ebook cover, I read the revised edition, although it's possible the cover was swapped and this was the first edition. Still, it was published like this. The amount of errors was so high I found it took away from the story. In the end acknowledgements, the author thanks her two editors by their first names, which I took as either a desire to remain a but anonymous or they're personal friends and not people paid to check for errors. Once I noticed it, I kept a tally of times “passed” was used when it should've been “past” (10). I also noted “compliment” which should've been “complement,” “to who” instead of “to whom,” and other things I'm guessing most people wouldn't notice as much as I did. There were also some agreement issues like, “there was more pros than cons,” or things like “it has since began.” Then random ones such as: “He'd would like,” “the 20 and 21st centuries,” and some awkward phrasing like, “all she didn't need was to let her guard down.”
SO. I don't claim to be any sort of grammar genius; most of the time, I know what sounds wrong but I don't know what the error is called, if that makes sense. I'm the type of person who reads things like “3:00 o’clock” as “three o'clock o'clock,” because that's how my brain processes the repetition. I'm mentioning it as something of which to be aware before starting the book (in case that sort of thing distracts you too) as opposed to just saying it to be an asshole. Which might be how it comes across anyway...sigh. Idk. I'm not a professional reviewer or anything, and I don't adhere to any strict grammar rules in my reviews. I like that the author’s note at the beginning mentioned how she also doesn't adhere to strict rules in her writing and is a bit of a rebel. I actually wasn't distracted at all by the use of numbers (4 instead of four), and I think it's wild people would latch onto that but would be fine with a missing period at the end of a sentence/paragraph. More on the use of numbers later!!
OKAY, JESS. ENOUGH.
Some awesome things about this story:
There is a Jessica...AND SHE IS AMAZING!! I don't think I will ever read a book with a Jess/Jessica who felt like a real human. Most of the time, they're the generic mean girl characters or the stupid friend. Just because we have a common name doesn't mean we're all basic bitches. It makes me so damn mad, and so I was fucking overjoyed to read about badass Jessica Samuels. THANK YOU!!
What genre rules?! I think the best books are a blend of genres, and this is a lovely blend. It's a bit dystopian, but it's not just a corrupt government to fight against. It's fantasy because DRAGONS!!, but not a typical, predictable fantasy. It's a bit of a thrilling, adventurous sort of ride, but it's so much more than that. The characters are also really well written, which I guess you could label a contemporary thing. I like how much it feels like she had this story in her head, this world she dreamed up, and she just wrote it down as is instead of trying to squish and edit it into one neat little genre.
This is going to be confusing, but I'll try to explain 🙈 it had a sort of space opera feel, even though it wasn't in space. Maybe because it was multiple perspectives, or there was so much mystery surrounding everyone and everything? Idk how to describe it, but I felt it. So. 😂
Third person past tense is my favorite. I have no idea why so many authors write in first person or (gasp) present tense...but I don't like it. This...I like this. Third person past is my comfort zone. I can just sit back and enjoy a story, free of whiny teenagers.
Not everyone was 16! Hooray. I thought it'd be ya, and I guess 25(ish) year olds fit into young adult as well? But I liked that there was an age range.
The characters!!!! So good. I love them all...even the shady/bad ones. Of course, I adore Jessica. Walter, Azalei, and Autumn are amazing as well! But even secretively shady yet somehow kind Thatcher was lovable. I never knew exactly what To was up to, but I admire her preparation and confidence and effectiveness. Even Nathan grew on me somehow(?!?!!!) I really liked seeing what Carson, Ray, and Evian were up to as well. It makes me want to know what's going on even more!! It's like we're let into the mystery but given the lowest possible clearance level.
DRAGONS!!!! ALL THE DRAGONS!!!! I love them all. I love how they flock to Walter. I love how human and readable their gestures and expressions can be sometimes. I love how important they are - if the dragons were removed, this book couldn't exist. They're crucial to the plot and the missions and everything. I love that they're loyal and obedient but also stubborn and prickly sometimes. These are the kind of dragons I didn't realize I desperately wanted to read. And yes, I've purchased the whole trilogy directly from the author!! Bring on the dragons.
This is definitely a page-turner. I NEED to know what's going on. What will happen next. I was desperate for the line about 75% in when Azalei acknowledged the plan wasn't the real plan and it never had been. YES. I like how it's not really two sides fighting a large battle. It's everyone out for themselves, some people acting as allies when their motives line up. It's everyone fighting for what they think is right. It's so interesting!! Once you realize how many plans are in place, overlapping and contradicting each other, with all the important players def NOT on the same page...it makes the plot so much trickier. So Carson wants to be king of all the land ever, but Azalei broke from him bc she supported uniting everyone in peace, but not everyone questions Carson. Most of our characters are from the country Azalei ran to, and they want to prevent Carson's country (countries?) from taking over. But is anything that black and white? Not really. It's all gray. And I am HERE for gray areas. Hell yes.
Not all the action happened at the very end!! It was dispersed throughout. There's always something happening, which I appreciate as a more plot-driven reader. I like learning about characters! I do! It's just hard to care when they don't DO anything.
The decision to write the numbers instead of words...was tricky at first. I'm not entirely sure I understand her reasoning. Once I got used to it, I noticed how much it added to the fast pace especially in the really frantic moments. It reminded me a bit of the cross-outs and rebellious bits of shatter me, which I really liked (but most others hated 😂). I like when books feel like art the author HAD to create. Because writing is an art form. I like being reminded.
I think that's all I have to say?! I really loved this book. I felt completely immersed in this world and often thought about the characters and the plot when I wasn't reading!! It's also one of those worlds that feel like anything is possible, so it was very hard to guess where things were going or who was on what side or how many sides there are?! I'm a wild theorizing sort of reader, and I LOVE being surprised - I love being wrong even more. I cannot WAIT to read the next two books!!!!
ashesbrooke's review against another edition
4.0
Actual rating 4.5.
Let's get something straight - I'm sick of the dystopian genre. Aren't you? The faceless, corrupt governments; the ridiculous, "who do I choose?" female characters; the boneheaded, excessively angry male ones; the trite, horrendously predictable plot lines; and goodness, don't even get me started on the "I thought there was hope but there never was and never will be" vibe that hangs over them like an old, wet, smelly blanket. Ugh.
Hallelujah for Azalei's Riders.
Enter with me into a world where quirky, sarcastic politicians replace faceless governments; where the women are strong and independent as well as kind and good humored; where the men are powerful and protective, as well as humble, shy, and caring; where the myriad of characters, hidden agendas, known and unknown secrets take the plot in twists you'll never see coming; where humor, hope, pain, and determination combine to give color to the otherwise drab future we're so often presented with.
Why did such an interesting genre, with so many opportunities, have to become so hackneyed and predictable? Why does every young-adult novel that so much as mentioned the words "future" have to fall into these pitfalls?
Why does every sci-fi reader have to settle for less?
With compounds and forests, missions and adventures, soldiers and heroes, Azalei's Rider's combines the best of sci-fi and fantasy to bring you fun, engaging characters and a gripping, constantly evolving plot. So tell me, why are you settling for less?
I suggest you saddle your dragon, recruit. The Fire Rain is only beginning.
Let's get something straight - I'm sick of the dystopian genre. Aren't you? The faceless, corrupt governments; the ridiculous, "who do I choose?" female characters; the boneheaded, excessively angry male ones; the trite, horrendously predictable plot lines; and goodness, don't even get me started on the "I thought there was hope but there never was and never will be" vibe that hangs over them like an old, wet, smelly blanket. Ugh.
Hallelujah for Azalei's Riders.
Enter with me into a world where quirky, sarcastic politicians replace faceless governments; where the women are strong and independent as well as kind and good humored; where the men are powerful and protective, as well as humble, shy, and caring; where the myriad of characters, hidden agendas, known and unknown secrets take the plot in twists you'll never see coming; where humor, hope, pain, and determination combine to give color to the otherwise drab future we're so often presented with.
Why did such an interesting genre, with so many opportunities, have to become so hackneyed and predictable? Why does every young-adult novel that so much as mentioned the words "future" have to fall into these pitfalls?
Why does every sci-fi reader have to settle for less?
With compounds and forests, missions and adventures, soldiers and heroes, Azalei's Rider's combines the best of sci-fi and fantasy to bring you fun, engaging characters and a gripping, constantly evolving plot. So tell me, why are you settling for less?
I suggest you saddle your dragon, recruit. The Fire Rain is only beginning.
rmarcher's review against another edition
5.0
I think the different aspects in this book didn't stand out to me as much since this was a reread, so this review might be less in-depth than it might otherwise be, but I'll preface by saying that this is an awesome book.
My absolute favorite thing about this book is the characters. (Do I ever not say that when I'm talking about a book I love?) More specifically, I love the dynamics between them. This is something I did remember from my prior reads of this book. I'm particularly partial to the relationship between Nathan and Jessica; they're so much fun to read. We don't get to see a whole lot of some of the characters in this book, since there are several of them and they can't all have the screen time they perhaps deserve (this is something I'm struggling with in the book I'm writing, as well), but since this is the first of a series I trust that we'll get to know them more and more as the series progresses (and I remember we do, with at least a few of them). All of the characters are really distinct, each one having one or two features or traits that particularly set them apart. Thatcher with his accent and blue eyes (unfortunately he kept ending up English in my head rather than Scottish because my brain has a harder time formulating a Scottish accent), Autumn with her red hair, Azalei with her almost-silent authority, etc. The characters in this book were just really well-done.
I did think that some of the flashbacks were a bit forced. Several of them seemed kind of tossed in there for the sake of plot convenience, to either give us a piece of backstory or tell us more about the plot or to tie the present to the past and I think they could have been executed a little better. I think I would have preferred the memories to be part of the characters' thoughts rather than their own flashback in most instances.
The world is really cool, because while this is a dystopian world and it's clearly a dystopian world, it's incredibly unique and it doesn't really seem all that awful. You know it is, under the surface, but on the surface you have highly advanced tech, people living above the ground so the ground can be lush and green again, vehicles built to look like dragons (how many of you would not love to have a car that looks like a dragon?), and ground-level streets that almost no one uses. (I don't know why, but for some reason that's really fascinating to me. It's super cool to imagine old abandoned roads with greenery growing through cracks in the asphalt and vines wrapping around old shells of cars...)
One thing to note: If you don't like a lot of points-of-view, this book isn't for you. The point-of-view breaks are clear and it's established very early in a scene whose head we're in, but there are a lot of points-of-view in this book. I can think of ten off the top of my head. In most cases it was helpful for giving a deeper sense of the characters and the plot, but in a couple of places it didn't seem incredibly beneficial. It still wasn't particularly off-putting for me, but if multiple points-of-view aren't your thing then this probably isn't the book for you.
Overall this is definitely a five-star book and I highly recommend it. :)
My absolute favorite thing about this book is the characters. (Do I ever not say that when I'm talking about a book I love?) More specifically, I love the dynamics between them. This is something I did remember from my prior reads of this book. I'm particularly partial to the relationship between Nathan and Jessica; they're so much fun to read. We don't get to see a whole lot of some of the characters in this book, since there are several of them and they can't all have the screen time they perhaps deserve (this is something I'm struggling with in the book I'm writing, as well), but since this is the first of a series I trust that we'll get to know them more and more as the series progresses (and I remember we do, with at least a few of them). All of the characters are really distinct, each one having one or two features or traits that particularly set them apart. Thatcher with his accent and blue eyes (unfortunately he kept ending up English in my head rather than Scottish because my brain has a harder time formulating a Scottish accent), Autumn with her red hair, Azalei with her almost-silent authority, etc. The characters in this book were just really well-done.
I did think that some of the flashbacks were a bit forced. Several of them seemed kind of tossed in there for the sake of plot convenience, to either give us a piece of backstory or tell us more about the plot or to tie the present to the past and I think they could have been executed a little better. I think I would have preferred the memories to be part of the characters' thoughts rather than their own flashback in most instances.
The world is really cool, because while this is a dystopian world and it's clearly a dystopian world, it's incredibly unique and it doesn't really seem all that awful. You know it is, under the surface, but on the surface you have highly advanced tech, people living above the ground so the ground can be lush and green again, vehicles built to look like dragons (how many of you would not love to have a car that looks like a dragon?), and ground-level streets that almost no one uses. (I don't know why, but for some reason that's really fascinating to me. It's super cool to imagine old abandoned roads with greenery growing through cracks in the asphalt and vines wrapping around old shells of cars...)
One thing to note: If you don't like a lot of points-of-view, this book isn't for you. The point-of-view breaks are clear and it's established very early in a scene whose head we're in, but there are a lot of points-of-view in this book. I can think of ten off the top of my head. In most cases it was helpful for giving a deeper sense of the characters and the plot, but in a couple of places it didn't seem incredibly beneficial. It still wasn't particularly off-putting for me, but if multiple points-of-view aren't your thing then this probably isn't the book for you.
Overall this is definitely a five-star book and I highly recommend it. :)
booksandprosecco's review against another edition
4.0
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*Note: As a rep, I received a free copy of this e-book from the author, but the review below is my honest opinion.
Azalei's Riders is quite the adventure! First and foremost, DRAGONS!!! But also, it had some really great character development, an insanely exciting plot, and the story flowed well from each point-of-view.
This book is set well into the future where cities are small because technological advancements means less space is required for growing crops. Thus much of the country is natural forest - a fact that is celebrated up until people start disappearing when traveling between cities. The government is working on an operation to figure out why people are disappearing, and enlists the help of five young adults and a genius hacker.
"They were on a catwalk that went all the way around the giant room, and it was so big that she couldn't see the other end, like it just kept going forever. But it was what was down below that took her breath away. 'They're alive?' she finally gasped, to no one in particular."
I was a little worried at first that the story had too many main characters, and that they would feel under-developed by the end. However, that did not turn out to be the case. Each character was well thought out and essential to the story. Some of the connections between characters shocked me (in a good way), and I never saw the twists coming!
A round of applause as well for the diversity of the characters! There is a shy young man, an authoritative woman, a fierce young woman, a bold young man, a sarcastically charming politician, a genius hacker woman, and many more!! It was refreshing to not just have the young female protagonist who struggles to be a leader and somehow always ends up in a love triangle. Don't get me wrong, I love those books too, but it was delightful to see different types of characters that all struggled with something, yet who all developed amazingly by the end of the book. There was witty banter, annoying characters (in the best way possible), and realistic relationships.
"He knew she wasn't the heroic type. She was, by all definitions, a book worm..."
I really enjoyed the plot of this story as well. I've read many dystopian books, as it's one of my favourite genres, but it can either go really right or really wrong. Miranda Marie got this right. The story is captivating and intense, but not so much that you forget what is happening. The writing is detailed enough to make you see the story in your head, but not so much that you feel bogged down by it.
Last, but definitely not least, the dragons! I really liked Marie's take on dragons in this story. It's not really a spoiler, but it's super interesting, so I still won't share specifics - but she comes up with some creative ideas about dragons and how they grow, live, and survive. I was pleasantly surprised by the new ideas and fully believe in them now! Some of the ideas I had heard before, but Marie still managed to make them her own in this book. A testament to her writing!
"I have accomplished great things - things far greater than anything you could have imagined. The only reason you do not call them Great is because they were not in your favor."
*Note: As a rep, I received a free copy of this e-book from the author, but the review below is my honest opinion.
Azalei's Riders is quite the adventure! First and foremost, DRAGONS!!! But also, it had some really great character development, an insanely exciting plot, and the story flowed well from each point-of-view.
This book is set well into the future where cities are small because technological advancements means less space is required for growing crops. Thus much of the country is natural forest - a fact that is celebrated up until people start disappearing when traveling between cities. The government is working on an operation to figure out why people are disappearing, and enlists the help of five young adults and a genius hacker.
"They were on a catwalk that went all the way around the giant room, and it was so big that she couldn't see the other end, like it just kept going forever. But it was what was down below that took her breath away. 'They're alive?' she finally gasped, to no one in particular."
I was a little worried at first that the story had too many main characters, and that they would feel under-developed by the end. However, that did not turn out to be the case. Each character was well thought out and essential to the story. Some of the connections between characters shocked me (in a good way), and I never saw the twists coming!
A round of applause as well for the diversity of the characters! There is a shy young man, an authoritative woman, a fierce young woman, a bold young man, a sarcastically charming politician, a genius hacker woman, and many more!! It was refreshing to not just have the young female protagonist who struggles to be a leader and somehow always ends up in a love triangle. Don't get me wrong, I love those books too, but it was delightful to see different types of characters that all struggled with something, yet who all developed amazingly by the end of the book. There was witty banter, annoying characters (in the best way possible), and realistic relationships.
"He knew she wasn't the heroic type. She was, by all definitions, a book worm..."
I really enjoyed the plot of this story as well. I've read many dystopian books, as it's one of my favourite genres, but it can either go really right or really wrong. Miranda Marie got this right. The story is captivating and intense, but not so much that you forget what is happening. The writing is detailed enough to make you see the story in your head, but not so much that you feel bogged down by it.
Last, but definitely not least, the dragons! I really liked Marie's take on dragons in this story. It's not really a spoiler, but it's super interesting, so I still won't share specifics - but she comes up with some creative ideas about dragons and how they grow, live, and survive. I was pleasantly surprised by the new ideas and fully believe in them now! Some of the ideas I had heard before, but Marie still managed to make them her own in this book. A testament to her writing!
"I have accomplished great things - things far greater than anything you could have imagined. The only reason you do not call them Great is because they were not in your favor."
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