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manoncremers's review
1.0
More reviews on my blog, Exploring Pages.
Thanks to Katharina Gerlach for providing me with a copy of this book!
Do you know that feeling, when you receive a book in the mail and have good expectations about it because you read an awesome synopsis? Maybe you didn't, but I certainly did. It sounded so awesome, something like I've never read before. Fantasy combined with a typical murder-mystery. Turns out, Swordplay does not even come close to being a fantasy, and even less to YA.
From characters to the actual plot, I didn't find anything that could hold my interest. There was depth missing in every character, and talking about them: sometimes it felt like some were just thrown in there for no particular reason. It made everything even more confusing. Just like the characters, several storylines seemed to be thrown in and didn't connect in any way, leaving me unsatisfied with the end. Nothing came across as realistic. At times I had to remind myself that Moira was actually nineteen, and that Druidus wasn't a five-year-old. This leads me to the romance, and it isn't something I'd ship. It feels way too forced, and Swordplay could have been a way better novel, if it hadn't been for the unbelievability of everything.
The writing style is in my opinion the best thing out of the entire book, only there has to be another issue. While reading, I constantly asked myself why in the world was this written in the third-person view, when some of her thoughts were written in first-person in Italic? This didn't make any sense, especially when her other thoughts were just in third-view again.
The pace usually does wonders to book, if there was a pace to be found. In the end, I had to put all of my effort in finishing this book. Despite its short length, Swordplay definitely wasn't a book I enjoyed, and I'm really sad to have written such a negative review on a book I thought I'd love.
"Here you've got it black on yellow. I am handicapped. I do not like to be favored, but I will get hired."
Madame de Frees held out her hands defensively. "I will make a copy and add it to my report."
"That's not enough. For all my life, I never wanted anything else but to join the Gendarmerie Magique."
- Katharina Gerlach, Swordplay
Thanks to Katharina Gerlach for providing me with a copy of this book!
Do you know that feeling, when you receive a book in the mail and have good expectations about it because you read an awesome synopsis? Maybe you didn't, but I certainly did. It sounded so awesome, something like I've never read before. Fantasy combined with a typical murder-mystery. Turns out, Swordplay does not even come close to being a fantasy, and even less to YA.
From characters to the actual plot, I didn't find anything that could hold my interest. There was depth missing in every character, and talking about them: sometimes it felt like some were just thrown in there for no particular reason. It made everything even more confusing. Just like the characters, several storylines seemed to be thrown in and didn't connect in any way, leaving me unsatisfied with the end. Nothing came across as realistic. At times I had to remind myself that Moira was actually nineteen, and that Druidus wasn't a five-year-old. This leads me to the romance, and it isn't something I'd ship. It feels way too forced, and Swordplay could have been a way better novel, if it hadn't been for the unbelievability of everything.
The writing style is in my opinion the best thing out of the entire book, only there has to be another issue. While reading, I constantly asked myself why in the world was this written in the third-person view, when some of her thoughts were written in first-person in Italic? This didn't make any sense, especially when her other thoughts were just in third-view again.
The pace usually does wonders to book, if there was a pace to be found. In the end, I had to put all of my effort in finishing this book. Despite its short length, Swordplay definitely wasn't a book I enjoyed, and I'm really sad to have written such a negative review on a book I thought I'd love.
petyayancheva9's review
3.0
* I was given a copy in exchange for an honest review*
I really enjoyed the last 50 pages of the book because I could finaly start enjoying the story. Since the begining there was this magic and nerls and stuff that I really didnt understant and it wasnt explained and it felt like this should have been like a second or third book in a series and you would have gotten used to the world and to all the stuff and the characters. But in this book we are thrown right in the middle and you're left wondering what is that, what does he mean and stuff like that. And I know there are some of the words explained on the back of the book but I didnt want to turn the pages every time I couldnt understand what that ment. I would have loved the book if things were more explained. Thats why I really liked the last pages. Because I got used to the stuff thats happening and finally understand what they were talking about.
I liked the characters but I didnt love them. I wanted to know them better but all they thought about was solving the case and work and stuff. I didnt like Druidus that much because I didnt get to know him and his releationship with Moira happend so quick. It was too sudden when he told her he loved her and wanted to marry her and stuff like that and it was just too quick and unrealistic.
I liked the plot and the whole thing with Moira having Wild Magic that was interesting.
There was this moment where Moira thought Druidus was cheating on her because she saw him kissing another girl and it was his mother. Like, What? They were kissing, not a peck on the cheek but kissing. ?
All in all, I enjoyed reading this book.
Actual rating 3.5
I really enjoyed the last 50 pages of the book because I could finaly start enjoying the story. Since the begining there was this magic and nerls and stuff that I really didnt understant and it wasnt explained and it felt like this should have been like a second or third book in a series and you would have gotten used to the world and to all the stuff and the characters. But in this book we are thrown right in the middle and you're left wondering what is that, what does he mean and stuff like that. And I know there are some of the words explained on the back of the book but I didnt want to turn the pages every time I couldnt understand what that ment. I would have loved the book if things were more explained. Thats why I really liked the last pages. Because I got used to the stuff thats happening and finally understand what they were talking about.
I liked the characters but I didnt love them. I wanted to know them better but all they thought about was solving the case and work and stuff. I didnt like Druidus that much because I didnt get to know him and his releationship with Moira happend so quick. It was too sudden when he told her he loved her and wanted to marry her and stuff like that and it was just too quick and unrealistic.
I liked the plot and the whole thing with Moira having Wild Magic that was interesting.
There was this moment where Moira thought Druidus was cheating on her because she saw him kissing another girl and it was his mother. Like, What? They were kissing, not a peck on the cheek but kissing. ?
All in all, I enjoyed reading this book.
Actual rating 3.5
bookish_satty's review
3.0
I got this book from the author, free of cost, in exchange of an honest review from my side.
Firstly I would like to thank the author for giving me this opportunity of reading and reviewing this book.
Well, coming to the characters, I liked them very much. They have personality and are interesting to read about. I liked the plot too but I would have loved a little bit more development of the plot, it felt as if the author didn't harness the full potential of the plot and not to mention there are some editing mistakes too.
The pace was slow but the author managed to keep a hold on my interest. I loved the ending very much though the events that unfolded seemed a little disoriented as if they weren't connected and that nagged me a little.
There is action and adventure no doubt but the thrill was missing and I also missed the feel of reality which made this read a little disappointed.Over all a good read which is worth a shot so I would like you guys to try it, who knows you can fall in love with it.
Firstly I would like to thank the author for giving me this opportunity of reading and reviewing this book.
Well, coming to the characters, I liked them very much. They have personality and are interesting to read about. I liked the plot too but I would have loved a little bit more development of the plot, it felt as if the author didn't harness the full potential of the plot and not to mention there are some editing mistakes too.
The pace was slow but the author managed to keep a hold on my interest. I loved the ending very much though the events that unfolded seemed a little disoriented as if they weren't connected and that nagged me a little.
There is action and adventure no doubt but the thrill was missing and I also missed the feel of reality which made this read a little disappointed.Over all a good read which is worth a shot so I would like you guys to try it, who knows you can fall in love with it.
sagauthor's review
5.0
Fun story. Like CSI with magic. I enjoyed the world, that is like ours, but there are magical explanations for everything. The story is told in 3rd person limited in past tense.
mochim's review
3.0
* I was given a copy in exchange for an honest review*
I really enjoyed the last 50 pages of the book because I could finaly start enjoying the story. Since the begining there was this magic and nerls and stuff that I really didnt understant and it wasnt explained and it felt like this should have been like a second or third book in a series and you would have gotten used to the world and to all the stuff and the characters. But in this book we are thrown right in the middle and you're left wondering what is that, what does he mean and stuff like that. And I know there are some of the words explained on the back of the book but I didnt want to turn the pages every time I couldnt understand what that ment. I would have loved the book if things were more explained. Thats why I really liked the last pages. Because I got used to the stuff thats happening and finally understand what they were talking about.
I liked the characters but I didnt love them. I wanted to know them better but all they thought about was solving the case and work and stuff. I didnt like Druidus that much because I didnt get to know him and his releationship with Moira happend so quick. It was too sudden when he told her he loved her and wanted to marry her and stuff like that and it was just too quick and unrealistic.
I liked the plot and the whole thing with Moira having Wild Magic that was interesting.
There was this moment where Moira thought Druidus was cheating on her because she saw him kissing another girl and it was his mother. Like, What? They were kissing, not a peck on the cheek but kissing. ?
All in all, I enjoyed reading this book.
Actual rating 3.5
I really enjoyed the last 50 pages of the book because I could finaly start enjoying the story. Since the begining there was this magic and nerls and stuff that I really didnt understant and it wasnt explained and it felt like this should have been like a second or third book in a series and you would have gotten used to the world and to all the stuff and the characters. But in this book we are thrown right in the middle and you're left wondering what is that, what does he mean and stuff like that. And I know there are some of the words explained on the back of the book but I didnt want to turn the pages every time I couldnt understand what that ment. I would have loved the book if things were more explained. Thats why I really liked the last pages. Because I got used to the stuff thats happening and finally understand what they were talking about.
I liked the characters but I didnt love them. I wanted to know them better but all they thought about was solving the case and work and stuff. I didnt like Druidus that much because I didnt get to know him and his releationship with Moira happend so quick. It was too sudden when he told her he loved her and wanted to marry her and stuff like that and it was just too quick and unrealistic.
I liked the plot and the whole thing with Moira having Wild Magic that was interesting.
There was this moment where Moira thought Druidus was cheating on her because she saw him kissing another girl and it was his mother. Like, What? They were kissing, not a peck on the cheek but kissing. ?
All in all, I enjoyed reading this book.
Actual rating 3.5
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