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3.34 AVERAGE
3.34 AVERAGE
As an avid lover of 'Vampire Academy', I was intrigued to read another Richelle Mead series. This one did not disappoint. The book had a fast pace with twists and turns to keep you guessing. The fantasy setting is reminiscent of the gold era where your social class and nationality influenced what you could do.
adventurous
tense
medium-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
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Misogyny, Classism
Minor: Rape, Death of parent
I've read Richelle Mead's Bloodlines series and really enjoyed it. I also read the stand alone novel, Soundless, and thought it was okay. I went into this thinking it would be enjoyable, but not a favorite. In a lot of ways, I was right.
The Good:
-Richelle Mead has a writing style that is really easy to read. I finished this novel in roughly four hours. I actually really love the way Richelle Mead writes - it's flowy, breezy, easy to read, and always addicting.
- Most of the side characters (Mira, Tamsin, Nicholas, Tom, Aviel, Gideon, Aiana) were really enjoyable. I found myself wanting to know more and more about them, and was really sad that all of their stories felt very unfinished. I am aware that both Mira and Tamsin will be getting their own novels, but I still feel like it won't be enough of them.
- The friendship between the three girls, for the most part, was really lovely.
The Bad:
- It is really hard to love a story, when you can barely stand the main character. For the most part, Adelaide comes across as a very naive and selfish character. She seems to think that she has it the worse of any girl in the Court - and, I didn't feel like she ever really grew from her experiences.
- The "romance" between Adelaide and Cedric feel really flat for me. I didn't sense any chemistry between them. This wasn't helped by the fact that they barely spent any solid time together and that a lot of it felt like just a physical attraction. Adelaide even admits after their first kiss, that it might all just be built up lust. And, their common secrets binding them together. That's a way to start a relationship.
- The world building is terrible. Totally awful. I feel like this was supposed to be a historical fiction novel, but Richelle Mead didn't feel like doing research on the 1700s. So, instead she made up a bunch of countries and religions - that were all very much 1700s England, the pre-revolutionary colonies, northern Africa, etc - with names that are a bit confusing. No seriously, sometimes I would forget what group was supposed to be which group. Overall, the world building just felt a bit lazy.
The Random:
- This book is said to be fantasy, but there were no fantasy aspects in it.
- I really hope Mira is a spy. And, I'm 95% sure that Tamsin's story (about the cousin or friend and the man) was her story. I want to read their stories. If only because they came across as much more interesting and complex than Adelaide.
The Good:
-Richelle Mead has a writing style that is really easy to read. I finished this novel in roughly four hours. I actually really love the way Richelle Mead writes - it's flowy, breezy, easy to read, and always addicting.
- Most of the side characters (Mira, Tamsin, Nicholas, Tom, Aviel, Gideon, Aiana) were really enjoyable. I found myself wanting to know more and more about them, and was really sad that all of their stories felt very unfinished. I am aware that both Mira and Tamsin will be getting their own novels, but I still feel like it won't be enough of them.
- The friendship between the three girls, for the most part, was really lovely.
The Bad:
- It is really hard to love a story, when you can barely stand the main character. For the most part, Adelaide comes across as a very naive and selfish character. She seems to think that she has it the worse of any girl in the Court - and, I didn't feel like she ever really grew from her experiences.
- The "romance" between Adelaide and Cedric feel really flat for me. I didn't sense any chemistry between them. This wasn't helped by the fact that they barely spent any solid time together and that a lot of it felt like just a physical attraction. Adelaide even admits after their first kiss, that it might all just be built up lust. And, their common secrets binding them together. That's a way to start a relationship.
- The world building is terrible. Totally awful. I feel like this was supposed to be a historical fiction novel, but Richelle Mead didn't feel like doing research on the 1700s. So, instead she made up a bunch of countries and religions - that were all very much 1700s England, the pre-revolutionary colonies, northern Africa, etc - with names that are a bit confusing. No seriously, sometimes I would forget what group was supposed to be which group. Overall, the world building just felt a bit lazy.
The Random:
- This book is said to be fantasy, but there were no fantasy aspects in it.
- I really hope Mira is a spy. And, I'm 95% sure that Tamsin's story (about the cousin or friend and the man) was her story. I want to read their stories. If only because they came across as much more interesting and complex than Adelaide.
My thoughts while reading this book can be summed up as so:
What is this?
Why is this so boring?
Why am I even reading this?
Why was this book even published?
I can't read this anymore.
This is literally the most boring book I've ever read. As if The Selection wasn't boring enough, this book is its unbelievably bad retelling. Not only is every single character unlikable and flat, but the writing is meant to put you to sleep. Or in a coma. Where this could've been a well crafted fantasy with upstanding world building and beautiful writing, it was instead a shallow puddle of annoying narration and nauseating romance. Richelle Mead apparently decided to take a break from writing actual books and divulge in a fanfiction where her personal motto is "Tell, don't show."
Is this book really that bad?
Undoubtedly.
There is nothing redeeming or interesting about it at all. No intriguing plot, no complex world, no deep or heartfelt romance, no characters that are anything but painfully dreadful, nothing. Noth. Ing. There is 416 pages of nothing. My brain has literally gone numb from reading something that lacks so much substance.
What is this?
Why is this so boring?
Why am I even reading this?
Why was this book even published?
I can't read this anymore.
This is literally the most boring book I've ever read. As if The Selection wasn't boring enough, this book is its unbelievably bad retelling. Not only is every single character unlikable and flat, but the writing is meant to put you to sleep. Or in a coma. Where this could've been a well crafted fantasy with upstanding world building and beautiful writing, it was instead a shallow puddle of annoying narration and nauseating romance. Richelle Mead apparently decided to take a break from writing actual books and divulge in a fanfiction where her personal motto is "Tell, don't show."
Is this book really that bad?
Undoubtedly.
There is nothing redeeming or interesting about it at all. No intriguing plot, no complex world, no deep or heartfelt romance, no characters that are anything but painfully dreadful, nothing. Noth. Ing. There is 416 pages of nothing. My brain has literally gone numb from reading something that lacks so much substance.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A great start into the series, loved the characters, still remember it years later.
This was my least favorite of the trilogy but it contains all the ins and outs of how the Glittering Court works. I suppose maybe all that detail made it a bit more laborious. Or maybe Mead made it this way because the books get better and better with each one you complete.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated