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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
“... as I’d hope was a sort of physical particle, like an electron, that he needed to send her way to help her get through.”
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I so wanted to love The Kingdoms. The premise is so interesting, much of it I can’t outline because it would spoil the story. Joe finds himself suffering from apparent amnesia which is starting to become more and more prevalent around London. When he begins to investigate what happened to him he is drawn to an old remote Scottish lighthouse. There things go a little haywire.
The first quarter of the book I was entirely drawn in by Joe and the world around him. But boy did the middle drag something awful. There was entirely too many meandering details in the middle, that were at times interesting but I felt like they added nothing of real value. Lots of tidbits of history that I didn’t know and some I was quite intrigued to see where they went and that kept me going. Although I probably should have DNF-ed but I saw it through. Still not sure whether that was the right decision or just my stubborn need for completion.
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this novel. All opinions above are my own.
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I so wanted to love The Kingdoms. The premise is so interesting, much of it I can’t outline because it would spoil the story. Joe finds himself suffering from apparent amnesia which is starting to become more and more prevalent around London. When he begins to investigate what happened to him he is drawn to an old remote Scottish lighthouse. There things go a little haywire.
The first quarter of the book I was entirely drawn in by Joe and the world around him. But boy did the middle drag something awful. There was entirely too many meandering details in the middle, that were at times interesting but I felt like they added nothing of real value. Lots of tidbits of history that I didn’t know and some I was quite intrigued to see where they went and that kept me going. Although I probably should have DNF-ed but I saw it through. Still not sure whether that was the right decision or just my stubborn need for completion.
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this novel. All opinions above are my own.
Time travel with so many time lines - really creatively done but did take some concentration to remember who was when. Dark and challenging at times, but I was happy with the ending.
This one was so interesting! The story was clever and I absolutely adore the way this author does time travel (usually there’s bits and bobs that don’t make sense to me, but I really could get behind this method). The writing felt a bit dry - I never got too attached to the characters - and I think I may have appreciated it a bit more if I knew a single naval term whatsoever. My favorite parts of this book was the author’s use of time; switching back in forth between different years and perspectives added a lot of depth to the story. I’d recommend this one to any history buffs or naval experts out there who are looking for a fascinating (and GAY) story about the intricacies of time travel!
When I picked up the Kingdoms, I thought it was going to be the book for me. The concept sounded really interesting, the time period was something I wanted to learn about, and the whispers of a gay romance I heard through the grape vine were definitely a bonus.
Unfortunately, I enjoyed almost nothing about the Kingdoms.
It is difficult to explain exactly what my problems were without spoiling it, but I will do my best
First, the good:
1. The concept still IS interesting. I would certainly read another book like this
2. The romance was great. I was invested enough to finish the book despite not liking almost anything else about it. And yes, I did end up crying in the end. If the rest of what I’m about to say doesn’t seem like it would bother you, I /would/ recommend the Kingdoms for what is essentially a very beautiful and tragic love story.
3. While the writing wasn’t my favorite, I recognize that’s a me problem. Objectively, if you enjoy flowery and long descriptions of scenes, feelings, etc then you will like Pulley’s writing. I will also say she did an excellent job establishing atmosphere
Now for the bad
1. The plot DRAGGED. Nothing happened for so many parts of this book, and it was infuriating especially considering how the romance was directly tied to the progress of the plot. I found myself constantly aware of how many pages I had left because I was just so freaking sick of waiting
2. The “twist” was not a twist. Around pages 100, you know what is going on. The characters do not fully realize it until page 3 freaking 50. It takes over two hundred and fifty pages for them to catch on, and it’s, god, the most frustrating thing I’ve ever read
3. I kept going back and forth as to whether or not this is a me problem, but finally settled on it being a general issue: I did not care about the naval warfare or the chapters spent on ships. At all. I admit that I really tend not to give a crap anyway about boats and ships and what not, but usually I can still enjoy a topic I’m otherwise not interested in IF the author writes it in an exciting way. This was not exciting. Maybe that’s the point. Maybe I was supposed to appreciate how boring long months on a ship in the 1800s was. But tbh it’s not something I want to read hundreds of pages about, and I can’t imagine many other people do… especially when every other setting for the book was honestly way more interesting and atmospheric
4. The side characters were interesting but otherwise pointless, especially considering how they were treated in the end. I don’t want to spoil anything so I won’t elaborate, but IMO they all deserved better
If the book had been arranged in a different way, perhaps if the “flash backs” were interspersed throughout instead of just being shoved towards the latter half, I think the story would have been substantially more engaging.
For example, if we were constantly going from a chapter in the “past”, then a chapter in the “present,” I doubt I would have hated the middle 250 pages of the book as much as I did. If I didn’t like what was happening in one chapter, I would still be looking forward to the next chapter set in a different time.
As it was, the Kingdoms was just a slog. I’m honestly really upset that I hated reading it so much, because the concept is one I will think about for quite some time.
I can say that if someone decides to make this into a movie, I would probably love it
Unfortunately, I enjoyed almost nothing about the Kingdoms.
It is difficult to explain exactly what my problems were without spoiling it, but I will do my best
First, the good:
1. The concept still IS interesting. I would certainly read another book like this
2. The romance was great. I was invested enough to finish the book despite not liking almost anything else about it. And yes, I did end up crying in the end. If the rest of what I’m about to say doesn’t seem like it would bother you, I /would/ recommend the Kingdoms for what is essentially a very beautiful and tragic love story.
3. While the writing wasn’t my favorite, I recognize that’s a me problem. Objectively, if you enjoy flowery and long descriptions of scenes, feelings, etc then you will like Pulley’s writing. I will also say she did an excellent job establishing atmosphere
Now for the bad
1. The plot DRAGGED. Nothing happened for so many parts of this book, and it was infuriating especially considering how the romance was directly tied to the progress of the plot. I found myself constantly aware of how many pages I had left because I was just so freaking sick of waiting
2. The “twist” was not a twist. Around pages 100, you know what is going on. The characters do not fully realize it until page 3 freaking 50. It takes over two hundred and fifty pages for them to catch on, and it’s, god, the most frustrating thing I’ve ever read
3. I kept going back and forth as to whether or not this is a me problem, but finally settled on it being a general issue: I did not care about the naval warfare or the chapters spent on ships. At all. I admit that I really tend not to give a crap anyway about boats and ships and what not, but usually I can still enjoy a topic I’m otherwise not interested in IF the author writes it in an exciting way. This was not exciting. Maybe that’s the point. Maybe I was supposed to appreciate how boring long months on a ship in the 1800s was. But tbh it’s not something I want to read hundreds of pages about, and I can’t imagine many other people do… especially when every other setting for the book was honestly way more interesting and atmospheric
4. The side characters were interesting but otherwise pointless, especially considering how they were treated in the end. I don’t want to spoil anything so I won’t elaborate, but IMO they all deserved better
If the book had been arranged in a different way, perhaps if the “flash backs” were interspersed throughout instead of just being shoved towards the latter half, I think the story would have been substantially more engaging.
For example, if we were constantly going from a chapter in the “past”, then a chapter in the “present,” I doubt I would have hated the middle 250 pages of the book as much as I did. If I didn’t like what was happening in one chapter, I would still be looking forward to the next chapter set in a different time.
As it was, the Kingdoms was just a slog. I’m honestly really upset that I hated reading it so much, because the concept is one I will think about for quite some time.
I can say that if someone decides to make this into a movie, I would probably love it
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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:
Yes
3.5 stars
sometimes I feel like a 3.5 stars book has failed me yet this time I feel like I’ve failed the book for reading in such unstable conditions that didn’t allow me to fully enjoy the arc of the story which was in fact very moving and beautiful ignoring the beginning I’ll probably reread some day, in physical, quietly and in just a couple days
sometimes I feel like a 3.5 stars book has failed me yet this time I feel like I’ve failed the book for reading in such unstable conditions that didn’t allow me to fully enjoy the arc of the story which was in fact very moving and beautiful ignoring the beginning I’ll probably reread some day, in physical, quietly and in just a couple days
This is a book to take in slowly and savour.
The Kingdoms opens with an amnesiac man in an alternative London where the French have won the Napoleonic wars. Searching for answers our main character, Joe, ends up on a remote lighthouse in Scotland where he is kidnapped and taken back in time. There’s a lot to unpack there but Pulley does a fantastic job of introducing you gently while setting down plot clues and establishing characters.
Despite some misdirection, I think most readers will pretty quickly realise the truth behind Joe’s identity. From that moment onwards the wait is on for Joe to catch up. Knowing Joe’s identity doesn’t hamper the readers experience, in fact it adds to it. There’s a double meaning behind every event and interaction between characters.
Pulley excels at writing characters that attempt to keep themselves emotionally distant whilst also allowing the reader to connect and feel deeply for them. By the end you are so invested in them that the decisions and choices they have to make are truly heartbreaking. It really made me wonder if I would choose the same in that situation.
This is a beautiful story and the perfect blend of magic, history, complex characters and love.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Kingdoms opens with an amnesiac man in an alternative London where the French have won the Napoleonic wars. Searching for answers our main character, Joe, ends up on a remote lighthouse in Scotland where he is kidnapped and taken back in time. There’s a lot to unpack there but Pulley does a fantastic job of introducing you gently while setting down plot clues and establishing characters.
Despite some misdirection, I think most readers will pretty quickly realise the truth behind Joe’s identity. From that moment onwards the wait is on for Joe to catch up. Knowing Joe’s identity doesn’t hamper the readers experience, in fact it adds to it. There’s a double meaning behind every event and interaction between characters.
Pulley excels at writing characters that attempt to keep themselves emotionally distant whilst also allowing the reader to connect and feel deeply for them. By the end you are so invested in them that the decisions and choices they have to make are truly heartbreaking. It really made me wonder if I would choose the same in that situation.
This is a beautiful story and the perfect blend of magic, history, complex characters and love.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars. Good god. How can any of these characters justify loving an unapologetic violent psychopath who recently murdered a child? Thoroughly disappointed by this book, especially as I usually love anything Natasha Pulley writes.
For the first 1/3 of this book, I was enchanted and could not put it down. I read it in all of my downtime, including for an hour lying in the shade to recover during an all day music festival. It's fair to say I was obsessed. The story starts with a character, Joe, who has just disembarked from a train in Edwardian London and realizes he has no memory at all. Gradually you find the setting to be an alternate history where France triumphed over England during the Napoleonic war. Joe finds his place in society and spends 2+ years living, blind to his own history save for the ghosts of memories. Then, prompted by a postcard addressed to him a hundred years earlier, he embarks on a journey to figure out who he was.
About the 35% mark I started to fade and had to drag myself through. I'd say it was a mix of 1) starting to grasp the time travel element without particularly liking it, 2) the storyline jumping around in time in a way that was difficult for me to keep up with, and 3) a large roster of characters whom I didn't remember from one scene to the next. The characters are alternately called by first or last name depending, apparently, on whose perspective you're reading - so it was easy to lose track of which names went together at times. Agatha being Mrs Castlereagh, Kite being Missouri being Miz, etc.
However, it was worth sticking with. The final 1/3 picked right back up and had a delightful ending. The time travel element panned out favorably, despite my initial distaste.
Pulley's writing style is undeniably beautiful and soothing to read. It does not lead you to each conclusion, but leaves a lot of gaps for intuition to fill in. At times I felt the characters were too in tune with what each other meant to say, though the words were unspoken. There was a lot of room for misunderstanding that didn't often occur. But that could be more a "me" problem, as I am not blessed with the social graces I would like to be.
The characters are well developed individuals with their own motives and downfalls. I prefer morally gray characters and wow was this replete with them. They rarely apologize for the things they acknowledge to be fucked up. The author pulls no punches here. War is brutal.
Overall I'd give this story a 4.5/5, and will definitely read more Pulley.
About the 35% mark I started to fade and had to drag myself through. I'd say it was a mix of 1) starting to grasp the time travel element without particularly liking it, 2) the storyline jumping around in time in a way that was difficult for me to keep up with, and 3) a large roster of characters whom I didn't remember from one scene to the next. The characters are alternately called by first or last name depending, apparently, on whose perspective you're reading - so it was easy to lose track of which names went together at times. Agatha being Mrs Castlereagh, Kite being Missouri being Miz, etc.
However, it was worth sticking with. The final 1/3 picked right back up and had a delightful ending. The time travel element panned out favorably, despite my initial distaste.
Pulley's writing style is undeniably beautiful and soothing to read. It does not lead you to each conclusion, but leaves a lot of gaps for intuition to fill in. At times I felt the characters were too in tune with what each other meant to say, though the words were unspoken. There was a lot of room for misunderstanding that didn't often occur. But that could be more a "me" problem, as I am not blessed with the social graces I would like to be.
The characters are well developed individuals with their own motives and downfalls. I prefer morally gray characters and wow was this replete with them. They rarely apologize for the things they acknowledge to be fucked up. The author pulls no punches here. War is brutal.
Overall I'd give this story a 4.5/5, and will definitely read more Pulley.
3.5 stars I will read anything by Natasha Pulley, and I thoroughly enjoyed The Kingdoms. But I found bits of it confusing (understandable with time travel-esque plots) and bits of it simultaneously too obvious such that I was waiting for the plot to catch up. Still an eminently enjoyable read, though!