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megatza's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
theaudioauditor's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
gummifrog's review
4.0
"Elite" was a satisfying and exciting sequel to "Hunter," and I found that there was some repetition in the continuous fighting scenes, but I still really enjoyed it. Lackey really shines when the political games and tensions come out, and the relations between characters are realistic and really pull at my heartstrings. I also especially love Joy as a character, because she is smart and responsible, but is able to break down and be weak when she feels overwhelmed, and feels her mistakes, however small, very harshly. She reminds me of myself - someone who is high-functioning depressed, with some anxiety, and is constantly in a battle with herself to be the Best. Her voice is so strong and not at all passive like a lot of YA protagonists' are, and I adore her as a character.
I will never understand the strange hate some people have for this series. It is written appropriately for the younger age range it is intended for, and the drama is fitting, as well. I don't normally take time to point out what I've read in other reviews and rebut those feelings, but I have to comment on the dislike of the treatment of the character Jessie - she was a super minor character, showed up on maybe 5 pages total, and didn't take up that much time. She was a minor subplot to create tension between Joy and Knight, and I never really saw a reason why someone would have an issue with this (unless they were offended about the "Christer" thing, which, let's be real, a dystopian setting an undetermined amount of time in the future might realistically have a rather warped or simplistic version of Christianity!!!).
My only other qualm, MAJOR spoiler warning:
I will never understand the strange hate some people have for this series. It is written appropriately for the younger age range it is intended for, and the drama is fitting, as well. I don't normally take time to point out what I've read in other reviews and rebut those feelings, but I have to comment on the dislike of the treatment of the character Jessie - she was a super minor character, showed up on maybe 5 pages total, and didn't take up that much time. She was a minor subplot to create tension between Joy and Knight, and I never really saw a reason why someone would have an issue with this (unless they were offended about the "Christer" thing, which, let's be real, a dystopian setting an undetermined amount of time in the future might realistically have a rather warped or simplistic version of Christianity!!!).
My only other qualm, MAJOR spoiler warning:
Spoiler
The death of Retro left me really upset because I felt his presence was a healthy influence on Joy, and his death meant she had lost a relationship that could have potentially been meaningful to her. Before his death it seemed as though they had settled into a flirtatious platonic friendship and I was actually all here for that. Not to mention, his death happened offscreen, so I worry that the author is going to go with a ~Josh is the only boy for mE, SOULMATES~ type route, when I never bought the Josh romance to begin with. We'll see how this is handled.saemiligr's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
moriaine's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
acadian_wanderlust's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
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? It's complicated
4.25
tazzbird's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
katetheardent's review
2.0
The author really should have just made this book and the first into one book, the separation of the two just detracts from the series - I know trilogies are the big thing in the YA world right now but that doesn't mean you should force your books into being one (a trilogy that is). I'm feeling kinda lazy right now so I'm just going to touch on my biggest complaint.
Show don't tell, no joke the narrator (first person, main character) says something along the lines of "I won't bore you with the details" at least three times per book (I didn't count but it was something I noticed frequently while reading it). The author wastes so many opportunities to draw her audience in with beautiful descriptions of the hounds and othersiders and the universe in general it's sad. A universe like this deserves beautifully elaborated descriptions, not lack luster attempts at saving pages.
She describes the main character's original hounds as being very unique, colorful, and rarely seen and yet devotes so little description to them that as a reader it's nearly impossible to imagine them (and this is coming from someone with a hyperactive imagination). It's like the author forgot that yes although her main character who narrates knows what they and the world look like that the audience does not know.
I honestly don't even know why I read all of this book, I LOVE the concept for this universe but it's so poorly executed and unless Lackey completely changes her writing style for the third book (which let's be honest, is highly unlikely) it too will be highly disappointing.
Show don't tell, no joke the narrator (first person, main character) says something along the lines of "I won't bore you with the details" at least three times per book (I didn't count but it was something I noticed frequently while reading it). The author wastes so many opportunities to draw her audience in with beautiful descriptions of the hounds and othersiders and the universe in general it's sad. A universe like this deserves beautifully elaborated descriptions, not lack luster attempts at saving pages.
She describes the main character's original hounds as being very unique, colorful, and rarely seen and yet devotes so little description to them that as a reader it's nearly impossible to imagine them (and this is coming from someone with a hyperactive imagination). It's like the author forgot that yes although her main character who narrates knows what they and the world look like that the audience does not know.
I honestly don't even know why I read all of this book, I LOVE the concept for this universe but it's so poorly executed and unless Lackey completely changes her writing style for the third book (which let's be honest, is highly unlikely) it too will be highly disappointing.
anam_ali's review
3.0
Spoilers, beware. This could've been an easy 4 star but Lackey's writing style leaves something to be desired, some of the plot points felt like a checklist being ticked off, and I could've done without the boring as cardboard romance. I skim-read every single portion where Josh appeared and believe you me I didn't miss a single thing.
The hunting bits were my favorite, especially the ones with Hammer and Steel, and god was I happy Steel survived. A hint of misogyny comes through sometimes when Joy talks about other females like Mark's wife or Psimon Drift (calling her ferret-faced? C'mon! Do better!). The series could also do with a healthy dose of introducing more female characters especially since it touched 'Bury Your Gays' trope in book 1 with Karly's death (which still rankles a lot, thanks for nothing Lackey!). At the moment there are zero female characters of significance in the series. Except for Joy.
Another thing I would like to touch is about people calling Joy a Mary Sue (which tf?) or calling her timid and mousy and yet able to do everything: Joy is a lot of things but that girl is neither timid nor mousy nor a Mary Sue. Did we even read the same book? She's confident but she knows her limits, she's quick on her feet, responds well in tight situations, kicks ass regularly, is respectful to elders and seniors but won't be bullied by anyone be it a Folk Mage or a Senior Psimon or a Ranker Hunter. This girl knows her end-goals, knows where she wants to go, what she wants to be, and is pretty unapologetic in doing all that. As a protagonist I really loved her.
Now if I never see the words Psimon Josh again that would be Ace (whoop, I punned xD).
Anyway, this is the first Lackey series I'm reading and the writing style is so different from contemporary, it takes a little while to get used to it, but I loved the worldbuilding and I'm totally not averse to reading more books set in this universe.
The hunting bits were my favorite, especially the ones with Hammer and Steel, and god was I happy Steel survived. A hint of misogyny comes through sometimes when Joy talks about other females like Mark's wife or Psimon Drift (calling her ferret-faced? C'mon! Do better!). The series could also do with a healthy dose of introducing more female characters especially since it touched 'Bury Your Gays' trope in book 1 with Karly's death (which still rankles a lot, thanks for nothing Lackey!). At the moment there are zero female characters of significance in the series. Except for Joy.
Another thing I would like to touch is about people calling Joy a Mary Sue (which tf?) or calling her timid and mousy and yet able to do everything: Joy is a lot of things but that girl is neither timid nor mousy nor a Mary Sue. Did we even read the same book? She's confident but she knows her limits, she's quick on her feet, responds well in tight situations, kicks ass regularly, is respectful to elders and seniors but won't be bullied by anyone be it a Folk Mage or a Senior Psimon or a Ranker Hunter. This girl knows her end-goals, knows where she wants to go, what she wants to be, and is pretty unapologetic in doing all that. As a protagonist I really loved her.
Now if I never see the words Psimon Josh again that would be Ace (whoop, I punned xD).
Anyway, this is the first Lackey series I'm reading and the writing style is so different from contemporary, it takes a little while to get used to it, but I loved the worldbuilding and I'm totally not averse to reading more books set in this universe.