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westiemamajd's review against another edition
3.0
I Love Shea Ernshaw's other works, but this one just didn't do it for me. It starts out with Shea's masterful world building. Until we leave the valley. They characters had no depth. The plot dragged on with nothing big really happening. The relationship was rushed. The twist was good. It got me, but in the end I felt like I was given an incomplete manuscript. It felt more dystopian. I love dystopian, but it needed more of something to make it shine because the plot was good, it just never went anywhere.
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
5.0
I made a mistake today. This book has been on my wishlist ever since it was announced. I was incredibly happy when it arrived, but it never was the right moment to read it. And I actually thought that today was the right moment. I wanted to read this. I was ready to read this. I thought. I was wrong. I was currently not in the right emotional state to read this. But the moment I discovered that I was already way too invested.
This book is actually for most of the book, if not all of the book, quite depressive. That's not a negative thing. Especially because the author does an amazing job describing the emotions, setting the atmosphere and making us feel what the characters feel and making us understand why characters do what they do. It's just, when you're already not feeling too great this is not the kind of book you want to burden your heart with.
For a very long time it's a little unclear what is going on exactly. We get glimpses of an origin story and we of course have a heroine knowing that she needs to go find the architect so he can bring her to the sea, but that's actually all the information we get. I can imagine that for some readers finally being able to understand the world and what has happened takes a long time. I kinda liked that the author basically forced us to just enjoy the journey.
I also really loved the romance in this book. It was the kind of romance that develops time-wise very fast and yet we understand that there is this deep connection, that they've both been through things no one else can understand, that there is something bringing them together and that it's almost impossible for our characters to fight that. And yet throughout the book you feel that this romance might not get a happy end.
So, amazingly well written book, but a book I shouldn't have read right now.
This book is actually for most of the book, if not all of the book, quite depressive. That's not a negative thing. Especially because the author does an amazing job describing the emotions, setting the atmosphere and making us feel what the characters feel and making us understand why characters do what they do. It's just, when you're already not feeling too great this is not the kind of book you want to burden your heart with.
For a very long time it's a little unclear what is going on exactly. We get glimpses of an origin story and we of course have a heroine knowing that she needs to go find the architect so he can bring her to the sea, but that's actually all the information we get. I can imagine that for some readers finally being able to understand the world and what has happened takes a long time. I kinda liked that the author basically forced us to just enjoy the journey.
I also really loved the romance in this book. It was the kind of romance that develops time-wise very fast and yet we understand that there is this deep connection, that they've both been through things no one else can understand, that there is something bringing them together and that it's almost impossible for our characters to fight that. And yet throughout the book you feel that this romance might not get a happy end.
So, amazingly well written book, but a book I shouldn't have read right now.
mariellerie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Loved the slow, winding, atmospheric mood and pacing, which made the final twist all the more satisfying. The prose was gorgeous. I’ve read Shea Ernshaw’s Winterwood before, and AWOS is another wonderful display of her writing style. Although this doesn’t book doesn’t have magical elements, it feels like there could be.
My gripes are with characterization. Noah’s character felt a little thin; I think the book would’ve benefited from having some chapters in his POV instead of just Vega’s. Vega’s anxious thoughts and rumination were relatable, but repetitive. And the romance felt awkward and forced.
Really want to rate this higher bc the last third of the book was really enjoyable, if not gut-wrenching. I’d pick up the sequel if she ever writes one.
My gripes are with characterization. Noah’s character felt a little thin; I think the book would’ve benefited from having some chapters in his POV instead of just Vega’s. Vega’s anxious thoughts and rumination were relatable, but repetitive. And the romance felt awkward and forced.
Really want to rate this higher bc the last third of the book was really enjoyable, if not gut-wrenching. I’d pick up the sequel if she ever writes one.
arielleb148's review against another edition
5.0
i could’ve made a list of a million ways i thought this book would end, but the actuality wouldn’t have been on it.
holy fucking shit. holy fucking shit??? i think this tops addie larue as the best book ending i’ve ever read. and by best, i do mean the most heartbreakingly beautiful, gut wrenching, and soul-destroying. will i ever be happy again? no ❤️
this was amazing. oh my god. oh my god oh my god oh my god. i loved it. but i hated it. ouch
vega…noah…my sweet angels…
how does this book not have higher ratings??? how did this not win every single award?????
i loved how you didn’t Realize until the very end of the book. and then it hits you, and then you sob
i genuinely just need to stare at my wall and Process what the fuck i just read
read this book rn or you’re ugly
holy fucking shit. holy fucking shit??? i think this tops addie larue as the best book ending i’ve ever read. and by best, i do mean the most heartbreakingly beautiful, gut wrenching, and soul-destroying. will i ever be happy again? no ❤️
this was amazing. oh my god. oh my god oh my god oh my god. i loved it. but i hated it. ouch
vega…noah…my sweet angels…
how does this book not have higher ratings??? how did this not win every single award?????
i loved how you didn’t Realize until the very end of the book. and then it hits you, and then you sob
i genuinely just need to stare at my wall and Process what the fuck i just read
read this book rn or you’re ugly
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review against another edition
5.0
5/5
Had this book on my TBR since it came out and bought it. I loved this book so much! The world building was unique and I enjoyed the characters. My only concern is if there will be a sequel or not to this book.
Had this book on my TBR since it came out and bought it. I loved this book so much! The world building was unique and I enjoyed the characters. My only concern is if there will be a sequel or not to this book.
lpcoolgirl's review against another edition
5.0
This was such a fantastic read, I had such a great time reading it!
moobubu's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
The plot, was decent. But Oh My God make a more insufferable main character please. Who edited this book? AND WHAT WAS THAT ENDING? IS THERE A SEQUAL BC IM FEELING LIKE I NEED SOME ANSWERS????
vandavknihach's review against another edition
4.0
Na začátku jsem si myslela, že budu mít s knihou velký problém (nebo minimálně do poloviny). Já osobně nemám moc ráda knížky, ve kterých se prakticky celou dobu hlavní postavy snaží dostat z bodu A do bodu B, zatímco nevím proč vůbec a nikdo nám nechce za celou dobu nic říct, protože je to děsně tajný! A přesně takový pocit jsem z tohohle měla. Na druhou stranu se mi to ale četlo celkem dobře, a tak nějak to odsýpalo, protože se po cestě vždycky někde něco stalo. Druhá věc, která mi vadila, byla hlavní hrdinka, která jak kdyby občas nedomýšlela. Jakože její jedinej úkol (kromě toho, že někam dojde) je zakrýt si znamení na krku, který nikdo NESMÍ vidět, a ve výsledku ho vidí každý, koho potká! Jenže, druhá polovina knihy mi to plně vynahradila. Najednou mi nevadilo to pomalejší tempo, které občas přeruší nějaká akce. Protože autorka do toho nacpala tolik emocí, a tolik emočních breakdownů, že jsem byla na konci rozcupovaná na kousíčky. Emočně, úplně vyřízená. Tam se totiž stane tolik věcí, které nehledí na to, že by to mohlo být moc špatné, moc smutné, prostě to do nás napřed, a teď se s tím zatraceně vyrovnejte. Jak asiiii! Fakt jsem na konci nějakou dobu čuměla na ty poslední řádky, a říkala si, co teď mám jako sakra zatraceně co dělat. Příběh má spoustu skvělých myšlenek, a sice až ke konci, ale přece jen se tam ty puzzlíky nějakým způsobem pospojovaly. Dávalo to smysl, a je to nakonec velmi dobře a velmi pěkně vybudovaný svět. Líbily se mi vmezeřené příběhy z minulosti, které byly kraťounké a vyprávěné přesně tak, aby nás to na konci rozbilo ještě víc, alespoň takový jsem z toho měla pocit.
jsmith625's review
Too slow, story made no sense, characters were not interesting, main character kept repeating herself. Chapters way too long.