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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
I think I kind of hate this book. I just want to get that out of the way first.
I once said - about a tv show, but the point stands - that if I like the characters enough, I'd be happy just watching them eat and listening to their conversations. These characters, I do not like. At all.
Kel, as our main character, has a dark and troubled past ™. She is, throughout the story, hugely pacifistic - even when her perpetrating violence would actually save lives in the long run. She constantly goes on about how if she acts in violence, it means she failed. (This is her second most common refrain. More on the first, later.) She is also in turns wracked by survivors guilt, suicide seeking and a lusty horn-dog. (More on that later, as well.) She come off as very holier-than-thou and as though her pacifism is the only decent way to be. She is somewhat judge-y.
What about our supporting cast, you ask?
Well, Dare had the potential to be an interesting character, despite his brooding AND his dark and troubled past ™ - unfortunately it became apparent very early on that his whole personality was designed as an 'object of lust' with his every interaction to attract the straight female readers. (And Kel, but more on that later.)
Lunna is…a naïve child. Really, they are a one note character and their whole character is 'naïve child that must be protected from reality'. (Which was a thought, distilled down, that Kel had at least once. Possibly more.)
Savvy is probably my favorite - not that that says much. She is, at least, willing to call people out when she disagrees with them, and because we don't actually learn her past, we can't discover how doubtlessly trite it is. (After all, Kel and Dare's backstories read like a trope-fest, so I'm sure hers would as well.)
The plot is…Oh dear. The plot is barebones, could have told the same exact story to at least as much affect if not more has it been cut down in size for bloat. And by bloat I mean… get rid of half to two-thirds.
The synopsis sounds rather…lacking, but I assumed that was because it was going to serve as a jumping off point in the story where it wasn't exactly a lie, but more was discovered as the story progresses and it would gradually build. … It isn't and it doesn't. This story is 100% confined to the synopsis. Nothing else happens or is discovered. There is no twist. There is no getting to know you period before the book takes off. The whole book is a getting to know you period that mostly feels like an overlong act 1. (More like half an act, really.)
Nothing happens. I have read mysteries and romances and even recently discovered cozy fantasy books, but this is the first book I've read in a very long time that nothing happens in. Not really. There's three minor skirmishes including the final 'big battle' that still felt like a minor skirmish. There is no forward momentum, we are constantly stuck in neutral. To play on the classic story structure, the entire book is exposition with no rising action nor climax nor anything else.
Well, that's a lie. There is one thing that this book does often. I mean besides the navel gazing. And that is the neigh constant lust that pours out of Kel whenever Dare is around - or when she merely thinks of him.
('He smells good, I wonder what I smell like.' 'Is he flirting with me?' 'Am I flirting with him? I've never been good at it.' 'Was that innuendo?' 'Oh, he makes me blush.' 'He's so handsome.' 'I've never seen eyes that color before, they remind me of an ocean that I loved.' 'None of this matters because he'll be leaving in a weak and one night stands have never been my thing.' 'Let me just stand here and admire him as he walks away.' 'I'm going to get all fluster/blushy, too, when I have to check his unconscious form for injuries.') Yes. All of these things actually happened, or were paraphrased, and all before the halfway point of this book.
Honestly, girl, go take a cold shower. This is like fem!shep coming to life - and just as appealing. (Which is not at all, just so you know.)
I think I maybe could have...not hated the book if it wasn't for Kel's constant lusting and obsession. As it was, though, this was just an exercise in frustration for me because every time I turned around, she was getting all - Look, if I remember rightly, she's supposed to be 34 years old, not a hormonal teen.
I was expecting a solid book, with how well liked it seems to be, even if it isn't exactly popular. What I got, though, was a total lack of anything really happening - but a whole lot of navel gazing and Kel gazing at Dare's navel and just generally lusting after him. And shoehorned pacifism and survivors guilt and, over all, this was a very, very not enjoyable book for me. (Even removed from any expectations, this book was just destined to be something I wouldn't enjoy.)
I once said - about a tv show, but the point stands - that if I like the characters enough, I'd be happy just watching them eat and listening to their conversations. These characters, I do not like. At all.
Kel, as our main character, has a dark and troubled past ™. She is, throughout the story, hugely pacifistic - even when her perpetrating violence would actually save lives in the long run. She constantly goes on about how if she acts in violence, it means she failed. (This is her second most common refrain. More on the first, later.) She is also in turns wracked by survivors guilt, suicide seeking and a lusty horn-dog. (More on that later, as well.) She come off as very holier-than-thou and as though her pacifism is the only decent way to be. She is somewhat judge-y.
What about our supporting cast, you ask?
Well, Dare had the potential to be an interesting character, despite his brooding AND his dark and troubled past ™ - unfortunately it became apparent very early on that his whole personality was designed as an 'object of lust' with his every interaction to attract the straight female readers. (And Kel, but more on that later.)
Lunna is…a naïve child. Really, they are a one note character and their whole character is 'naïve child that must be protected from reality'. (Which was a thought, distilled down, that Kel had at least once. Possibly more.)
Savvy is probably my favorite - not that that says much. She is, at least, willing to call people out when she disagrees with them, and because we don't actually learn her past, we can't discover how doubtlessly trite it is. (After all, Kel and Dare's backstories read like a trope-fest, so I'm sure hers would as well.)
The plot is…Oh dear. The plot is barebones, could have told the same exact story to at least as much affect if not more has it been cut down in size for bloat. And by bloat I mean… get rid of half to two-thirds.
The synopsis sounds rather…lacking, but I assumed that was because it was going to serve as a jumping off point in the story where it wasn't exactly a lie, but more was discovered as the story progresses and it would gradually build. … It isn't and it doesn't. This story is 100% confined to the synopsis. Nothing else happens or is discovered. There is no twist. There is no getting to know you period before the book takes off. The whole book is a getting to know you period that mostly feels like an overlong act 1. (More like half an act, really.)
Nothing happens. I have read mysteries and romances and even recently discovered cozy fantasy books, but this is the first book I've read in a very long time that nothing happens in. Not really. There's three minor skirmishes including the final 'big battle' that still felt like a minor skirmish. There is no forward momentum, we are constantly stuck in neutral. To play on the classic story structure, the entire book is exposition with no rising action nor climax nor anything else.
Well, that's a lie. There is one thing that this book does often. I mean besides the navel gazing. And that is the neigh constant lust that pours out of Kel whenever Dare is around - or when she merely thinks of him.
('He smells good, I wonder what I smell like.' 'Is he flirting with me?' 'Am I flirting with him? I've never been good at it.' 'Was that innuendo?' 'Oh, he makes me blush.' 'He's so handsome.' 'I've never seen eyes that color before, they remind me of an ocean that I loved.' 'None of this matters because he'll be leaving in a weak and one night stands have never been my thing.' 'Let me just stand here and admire him as he walks away.' 'I'm going to get all fluster/blushy, too, when I have to check his unconscious form for injuries.') Yes. All of these things actually happened, or were paraphrased, and all before the halfway point of this book.
Honestly, girl, go take a cold shower. This is like fem!shep coming to life - and just as appealing. (Which is not at all, just so you know.)
I think I maybe could have...not hated the book if it wasn't for Kel's constant lusting and obsession. As it was, though, this was just an exercise in frustration for me because every time I turned around, she was getting all - Look, if I remember rightly, she's supposed to be 34 years old, not a hormonal teen.
I was expecting a solid book, with how well liked it seems to be, even if it isn't exactly popular. What I got, though, was a total lack of anything really happening - but a whole lot of navel gazing and Kel gazing at Dare's navel and just generally lusting after him. And shoehorned pacifism and survivors guilt and, over all, this was a very, very not enjoyable book for me. (Even removed from any expectations, this book was just destined to be something I wouldn't enjoy.)
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not catching my interest very well - has some Nausicaa vibes
This beautiful story has stuck with me since I finished it 2 weeks ago. Where Peace is Lost is one of the best books I’ve read in the last year. The feel of the book is a mixture between Cibola Burn by James SA Corey and Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse. You should stop reading reviews and start reading this book!
In this space adventure with a fantasy twist, Kel Garda, is a refugee of the Pale war (Pale = very nasty, bad aliens). Kel is hiding a huge secret about her past and intends to quietly live out her life on an isolated planet in the middle of nowhere. Until her past comes back in the deadliest way: a war machine of the Pale has suddenly come back online, threatening the entire planet. Kel is reluctantly drawn into the journey to deactivate it by a young friend eager for adventure. Danger and secrets collide as Kel finds keeping her secrets may destroy them all.
I enjoyed this book very much. It is a quest type of plot with bandits and weird alien critters just waiting to pounce on our intrepid team. The slow burn terror of the war machine inching ever closer adds another level to the tension of the plot. A touch of romance (very light and well done) and world building that is, as usual with Valerie Valdes, excellent. I was given a pre-publication copy and this is my own opinion. 4 big fat stars-you 'otter' be reading this book!
I enjoyed this book very much. It is a quest type of plot with bandits and weird alien critters just waiting to pounce on our intrepid team. The slow burn terror of the war machine inching ever closer adds another level to the tension of the plot. A touch of romance (very light and well done) and world building that is, as usual with Valerie Valdes, excellent. I was given a pre-publication copy and this is my own opinion. 4 big fat stars-you 'otter' be reading this book!
On a peaceful planet, one of the Pale’s huge, automated and near unstoppable death machines left behind after the war between them and everyone else, begins advancing for no apparent reason towards human settlements. A small group made up of an elite warrior in hiding on the planet with a huge price on her head from the Pale, a naïve young person eager for adventure, and a captain and a warrior with secrets. They must learn to trust one another to find a way to stop the machine. They encounter difficult terrain, bandits, and their own fears and preconceptions before they can truly come together to save the planet.
Thus was weightier and much more thoughtful than I expected, especially as the only other book I’ve read by this author is the one with the spaceship captain transporting space cats and having a difficult relationship with her sister. And despite its more serious aspects, this is also a fun, fast-paced adventure story with some humour and a little romance.
Thus was weightier and much more thoughtful than I expected, especially as the only other book I’ve read by this author is the one with the spaceship captain transporting space cats and having a difficult relationship with her sister. And despite its more serious aspects, this is also a fun, fast-paced adventure story with some humour and a little romance.
Really enjoyed this book overall, I will admit that I was frustrated for the first quarter of the book. There didn’t seem to be a lot of world building - just plopped right in- so much so I actually checked to see if I was accidentally reading a sequel. But eventually information about the characters and the world they live in are supplied and the book picks up the pace.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-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:
No
A big thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Yes! Yes! Yes! I love Valerie Valdes Chilling Effect series, and I'm over the moon to have gotten her newest sci-fy as an ARC.
Where Peace is Lost by Valerie Valdes is a science fiction novel about a refugee with a secret, a dangerous foe, and a road trip that could either save a planet or start a war. Five years ago, Kelana Gardavros lost everything in the war against the Pale empire. Now Kel Garda is just another refugee living on the edge of an isolated star system. No one knows she was once a member of an Order whose military arm was disbanded and scattered across the galaxy. And no one knows that if her enemies found her, they might destroy the entire world to get rid of her. Kel’s past intrudes in the form of a long-dormant Pale war machine, suddenly reactivated. If the massive automaton isn’t stopped, at best it will carve a swath of devastation that displaces thousands of people. At worst, it will kill every sentient creature on the planet.When two strangers offer to deactivate the machine for a price, Kel and a young friend agree to serve as their guides. The journey through swamps infested with predators and bandits is bad enough, but can they survive more nefarious dangers along the way? And will Kel’s fear of revealing her secrets doom the very people she’s trying to protect?
I JUST REALLY LOVE THIS BOOK! AND I NEED EVERYONE TO READ IT IMMEDIATELY. Trust me! You won't regret it!
Yes! Yes! Yes! I love Valerie Valdes Chilling Effect series, and I'm over the moon to have gotten her newest sci-fy as an ARC.
Where Peace is Lost by Valerie Valdes is a science fiction novel about a refugee with a secret, a dangerous foe, and a road trip that could either save a planet or start a war. Five years ago, Kelana Gardavros lost everything in the war against the Pale empire. Now Kel Garda is just another refugee living on the edge of an isolated star system. No one knows she was once a member of an Order whose military arm was disbanded and scattered across the galaxy. And no one knows that if her enemies found her, they might destroy the entire world to get rid of her. Kel’s past intrudes in the form of a long-dormant Pale war machine, suddenly reactivated. If the massive automaton isn’t stopped, at best it will carve a swath of devastation that displaces thousands of people. At worst, it will kill every sentient creature on the planet.When two strangers offer to deactivate the machine for a price, Kel and a young friend agree to serve as their guides. The journey through swamps infested with predators and bandits is bad enough, but can they survive more nefarious dangers along the way? And will Kel’s fear of revealing her secrets doom the very people she’s trying to protect?
I JUST REALLY LOVE THIS BOOK! AND I NEED EVERYONE TO READ IT IMMEDIATELY. Trust me! You won't regret it!
4.5 cool world building and good adventures.
Romance was obvious but still felt rushed. I would be interested in reading more of the adventures.
Romance was obvious but still felt rushed. I would be interested in reading more of the adventures.