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onlyongracexm's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book was hard to read. I was fooled by the cute dude on the cover once again.
Simply put, I had no idea what was going on.
It’s interesting to be put in media res, but only if it’s done right. Obviously, this book didn't make it for me. As I was reading, it was only “why, why, why, what, what, what, how,” going through my head. There was quite a sprinkling of info dumping going on to make up for it, but there’s still so many questions left unanswered. Why does Wulf like Saeunn? Why does Ravenelle like Rainer? What it up with their religions? Seriously, these guys are throwing like three different faiths around like it’s nothing, but I have no idea who believes in what. Is it Norse? Is it a fictional one?
I have to give credit for the ending, however, because there was a really good buildup of suspense and dramatic irony with the help of the rotation of perspectives. It was a good ending, but it wasn’t enough to get me to read the sequel.
Simply put, I had no idea what was going on.
It’s interesting to be put in media res, but only if it’s done right. Obviously, this book didn't make it for me. As I was reading, it was only “why, why, why, what, what, what, how,” going through my head. There was quite a sprinkling of info dumping going on to make up for it, but there’s still so many questions left unanswered. Why does Wulf like Saeunn? Why does Ravenelle like Rainer? What it up with their religions? Seriously, these guys are throwing like three different faiths around like it’s nothing, but I have no idea who believes in what. Is it Norse? Is it a fictional one?
I have to give credit for the ending, however, because there was a really good buildup of suspense and dramatic irony with the help of the rotation of perspectives. It was a good ending, but it wasn’t enough to get me to read the sequel.
jadesofiee's review
2.0
I had higher hopes for this. The story was fairly predictable, which made it a lot less exciting. There was some really cool world-building elements (the whole elves/star/drauger/dragon stuff) but it fell a little flat to me? I would have rather'd the story from Ravenelle (or Ursel's or Grer's) pov, because they were much more dynamic and interesting characters. Wulf was not a particularly interesting protagonist for a genre that already has a lot of young hetero males being given power that they didn't think was theirs and so they're just like "why am I in charge? Okay army, follow me into battle!" Like, cool that he reads and likes mythology/sagas, but also, I kept forgetting that because it only came up when people were like "what do we do?!" and he would pull out a fun fact from a saga of something seemingly "impossible" but that they could take to make their decision. Hahaha, I don't think my disappointment is at all obvious in this review....
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