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amandalyncreek's review against another edition
3.0
I found myself putting the book down quite a bit in the middle, which is largely why I’m rating it only 3 stars. I am curious, though, what will happen in the second book. Not sure if it will make me a bigger fan of this first book but one can hope.
phoenix2's review against another edition
2.0
Lakesedge has a strong start, where the gothic atmosphere of the story is built up, introducing the characters and their settings, with the two god figures, the magic system, and the politics of the village. And it is indeed pretty intriguing, with the old mansion, the monster lord, the horror scenes spread throughout the book.
However, after that first part, the book started bringing one letdown after another. It got repetitive, with not only the plot (that pretty much recycled the same outcome over and over again) but with the descriptions as well. It actually felt like it was forced to be fairytale-gothic-like.
In addition, the lord who was called again and again by everyone that is a monster, was not monstrous. He was like a kitten towards Leta after their first encounter and he was pretty much this emo kid who was over his head with the outcome of his actions.
Also, Leta, though she was an enjoyable character, somehow remembered the big change in her life that happened when she was a child, in the middle of the book and out of the blue. I mean, if you have experienced something like that, wouldn't it have been a part of you and being mentioned here and there right from the start?
Finally, the book felt half baked, like it needed a final brush-off before it was published.
But, overall, the characters were well written and the relationships nicely established.
However, after that first part, the book started bringing one letdown after another. It got repetitive, with not only the plot (that pretty much recycled the same outcome over and over again) but with the descriptions as well. It actually felt like it was forced to be fairytale-gothic-like.
In addition, the lord who was called again and again by everyone that is a monster, was not monstrous. He was like a kitten towards Leta after their first encounter and he was pretty much this emo kid who was over his head with the outcome of his actions.
Also, Leta, though she was an enjoyable character, somehow remembered the big change in her life that happened when she was a child, in the middle of the book and out of the blue. I mean, if you have experienced something like that, wouldn't it have been a part of you and being mentioned here and there right from the start?
Finally, the book felt half baked, like it needed a final brush-off before it was published.
But, overall, the characters were well written and the relationships nicely established.
ilsntx's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
These is so much I liked about this book that I wanted it to be longer. There's magic, darkness, debts, love, and so much more. You are wrapped up in a story that feels that I are in faerie, with awe of Alice in Wonderland.
My one complaint is that the author moves through time too fast. I felt I missed huge chunks of time that at times made it hard to understand what I was reading.
Yet, the concept of this book is fantastic.
My one complaint is that the author moves through time too fast. I felt I missed huge chunks of time that at times made it hard to understand what I was reading.
Yet, the concept of this book is fantastic.
racshael's review against another edition
I liked the beginning but then I thought I was at the end several times and I wasn't. And now there's almost no detail to anything so I'm very lost.
booksbydann's review against another edition
3.0
No matter how far I go, how dark it gets, I’ll always be tied to home.
Tengo sentimientos encontrados. La idea es buena, la ejecución deja bastante que desear. Lo disfruté pero como que pasó sin pena ni gloria. Voy a leer el siguiente porque me da curiosidad saber cómo sigue la historia después de ese final.
Tengo sentimientos encontrados. La idea es buena, la ejecución deja bastante que desear. Lo disfruté pero como que pasó sin pena ni gloria. Voy a leer el siguiente porque me da curiosidad saber cómo sigue la historia después de ese final.
crosswarrior7's review against another edition
3.0
Short Review: Pretty low 3 star. Decent story all around, but overall just pretty average. Set apart though by its combination of gothic atmosphere and young adult fantasy storytelling.
Long Review:
Violeta—Leta—Graceling and her brother Arien Graceling were taken in by a kind lady who found them on the side of a road near a village. But shadows keep closing in on Arien, causing their adopted mother to turn on them, and perhaps the entire village if they find out. Before things can get too out of control, though, Leta and Arien are whisked away by Rowan Sylvanan, the young lord of the village. A lord who rumors say murdered his entire family as a child. But there are many secrets around him, and a darkness around his manor. Unraveling the truths behind both will help Leta learn more about herself, and see that perhaps more than magical shadows have been chasing her and her brother.
Let’s start off with the good, shall we?
Leta and Arien’s relationship is *chefs kiss*. I love me some good, healthy sibling dynamics. That isn’t to say that both the interactions between them are always right. Leta definitely has some issues with how she treats Arien, but they’re actually addressed during the narrative.
The aesthetic of the magic was very intriguing. Think of Alina and the Darkling from the Grishaverse, but make it more Gothic and more murky for the shadows.
I enjoyed the past of the main characters. They were deliciously angsty without being too over-the-top. Their current situations also had real consequences for what was done in the past, and once more, led to enjoyable angst >:3 Yes, hurt those characters!... Is my inner writer showing too much?
Lore of the world? Solid. Felt at times like it could be expanded upon, especially with the way magic worked, but it was overall enjoyable, and there’s the chance of it getting more come book 2. The gods had lots of intrigue around them, and it did a nice mixing of black and white to form grey, yet also leaving the feeling that there was good and evil. The Lord Under had solid motivations that made him helpful to the plot, yet still had characteristics that made his involvement tricky and dangerous. Definitely hoping to see more development on the goddess next book, though.
Now with these things that I seem to like, why the lower rating? Well, quite simply... Lots of elements with potential, but also so much just... blah/average execution? Like, I could definitely see why someone would enjoy this book, but for me, I just felt like I was slogging through the darky murk that appears in this story.
Honestly, this story was just... average for me? Like, I wasn’t super enthralled, and at times I had to struggle to read it, but I didn’t hate the book. It was just super basic?
Yes, the potential to be more was there. But Leta was just the average “must protect everyone I love, I’m a strong female mc!” sorta character, Rowan had a lot of potential angst and character but had so many just weird moments where the bad boy angle was played too hard and the meat of his character not explored enough. Then there’s the whole romance between them which didn’t really have an organic growth. They just felt like any other character I could find in a typical YA, you know?
I have said I loved the sibling dynamic, but there was definitely some not-so-good behavior that Leta showed, which got touched upon, but I did wish it got touched upon more.
Also as I’ve said, interesting world, just not really enough development behind it.
The focus of the plot was interesting, like what the characters had to accomplish and overcome and all of that. But I’ve seen a few people say this and I agree: it felt kind of repetitive. There was interesting bits with the most intriguing character (the Lord Under), but it was mostly the same plot devices over and over again. The outcome and what was learned was nice, but I wish more meat had been there on the way rather than feeling like pad time? So I think a good way of putting it is I liked the overall idea of the plot, but I think the characterization and plot progression would have been much better if there had been more to the story than repetitive attempts to do a thing.
The magic system was vague and underdeveloped. I know there are different levels of magic systems, but when the plot relies heavily on magic, it would just be nice to get a better understanding of it. There was a speck of expansion from one character who had grown up learning magic, but it felt like seeing more of her lessons into magic would have been pretty beneficial to the system as a whole.
So overall, it’s an okay book. I struggled through it a bit because of my issues, but I was invested enough that when things would get going and spice up, I’d be there for it. I do plan on checking out the sequel when it comes out, but my fingers are crossed that it gives the world time to breathe now that characters and relations have been established. And I just really, really hope it doesn’t go the love triangle route personally... But we shall see.
Long Review:
Violeta—Leta—Graceling and her brother Arien Graceling were taken in by a kind lady who found them on the side of a road near a village. But shadows keep closing in on Arien, causing their adopted mother to turn on them, and perhaps the entire village if they find out. Before things can get too out of control, though, Leta and Arien are whisked away by Rowan Sylvanan, the young lord of the village. A lord who rumors say murdered his entire family as a child. But there are many secrets around him, and a darkness around his manor. Unraveling the truths behind both will help Leta learn more about herself, and see that perhaps more than magical shadows have been chasing her and her brother.
Let’s start off with the good, shall we?
Leta and Arien’s relationship is *chefs kiss*. I love me some good, healthy sibling dynamics. That isn’t to say that both the interactions between them are always right. Leta definitely has some issues with how she treats Arien, but they’re actually addressed during the narrative.
The aesthetic of the magic was very intriguing. Think of Alina and the Darkling from the Grishaverse, but make it more Gothic and more murky for the shadows.
I enjoyed the past of the main characters. They were deliciously angsty without being too over-the-top. Their current situations also had real consequences for what was done in the past, and once more, led to enjoyable angst >:3 Yes, hurt those characters!... Is my inner writer showing too much?
Lore of the world? Solid. Felt at times like it could be expanded upon, especially with the way magic worked, but it was overall enjoyable, and there’s the chance of it getting more come book 2. The gods had lots of intrigue around them, and it did a nice mixing of black and white to form grey, yet also leaving the feeling that there was good and evil. The Lord Under had solid motivations that made him helpful to the plot, yet still had characteristics that made his involvement tricky and dangerous. Definitely hoping to see more development on the goddess next book, though.
Now with these things that I seem to like, why the lower rating? Well, quite simply... Lots of elements with potential, but also so much just... blah/average execution? Like, I could definitely see why someone would enjoy this book, but for me, I just felt like I was slogging through the darky murk that appears in this story.
Honestly, this story was just... average for me? Like, I wasn’t super enthralled, and at times I had to struggle to read it, but I didn’t hate the book. It was just super basic?
Yes, the potential to be more was there. But Leta was just the average “must protect everyone I love, I’m a strong female mc!” sorta character, Rowan had a lot of potential angst and character but had so many just weird moments where the bad boy angle was played too hard and the meat of his character not explored enough. Then there’s the whole romance between them which didn’t really have an organic growth. They just felt like any other character I could find in a typical YA, you know?
I have said I loved the sibling dynamic, but there was definitely some not-so-good behavior that Leta showed, which got touched upon, but I did wish it got touched upon more.
Also as I’ve said, interesting world, just not really enough development behind it.
The focus of the plot was interesting, like what the characters had to accomplish and overcome and all of that. But I’ve seen a few people say this and I agree: it felt kind of repetitive. There was interesting bits with the most intriguing character (the Lord Under), but it was mostly the same plot devices over and over again. The outcome and what was learned was nice, but I wish more meat had been there on the way rather than feeling like pad time? So I think a good way of putting it is I liked the overall idea of the plot, but I think the characterization and plot progression would have been much better if there had been more to the story than repetitive attempts to do a thing.
The magic system was vague and underdeveloped. I know there are different levels of magic systems, but when the plot relies heavily on magic, it would just be nice to get a better understanding of it. There was a speck of expansion from one character who had grown up learning magic, but it felt like seeing more of her lessons into magic would have been pretty beneficial to the system as a whole.
So overall, it’s an okay book. I struggled through it a bit because of my issues, but I was invested enough that when things would get going and spice up, I’d be there for it. I do plan on checking out the sequel when it comes out, but my fingers are crossed that it gives the world time to breathe now that characters and relations have been established. And I just really, really hope it doesn’t go the love triangle route personally... But we shall see.
maimona's review against another edition
4.0
This may be the first gothic fantasy book I have read AND finished.
honestly, I don't think this is the kind of book I get engrossed in. I do Love the Gothic Style. my FAV actually. but in books, I find it more boring and not satisfying.
So how this is relevant to this book:
I think the story is really good, the world Above and Under are built and connected in a brilliant way.
I do love the characters and applaud the use of relatively fewer characters that were able to make the whole book.
the characters were, in the beginning, a little undeveloped as they should be. they seemed annoying and boring, but by the half of the book, they are already much more detailed and groomed.
The development of the events is what made me give it Three stars, it is a slow book for me things get over detailed where they could be less described and more action.
but it is a good book - it leaves an impact and memory on the reader.
honestly, I don't think this is the kind of book I get engrossed in. I do Love the Gothic Style. my FAV actually. but in books, I find it more boring and not satisfying.
So how this is relevant to this book:
I think the story is really good, the world Above and Under are built and connected in a brilliant way.
I do love the characters and applaud the use of relatively fewer characters that were able to make the whole book.
the characters were, in the beginning, a little undeveloped as they should be. they seemed annoying and boring, but by the half of the book, they are already much more detailed and groomed.
The development of the events is what made me give it Three stars, it is a slow book for me things get over detailed where they could be less described and more action.
but it is a good book - it leaves an impact and memory on the reader.
reading_through_the_pages's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0