Reviews

Listen to a complete breakdown of my thoughts on Novel Ideas

I honestly feel like the story itself has potential. However, Aster's writing felt empty, somewhat childish, and, at times, superficial. I honestly think that she would benefit greatly from the use of detailed outlining, beta readers, and better editors. Aster has a great imagination, but she struggles to truly take us there with her.

I did find Isla to be a very annoying main character to the point that I cheered during the scene where Cleo freezes her to the mountain side. I don't feel that Isla grew at all as a person and that she was so influenced by her personal dislike of Cleo that she seemed to actually want everyone to think that my favorite Moonling was the villain whether it was true or not. It was giving, "but she was mean to me!!!!1!!!111!" Vibes, and I was not here for it.

...Especially when it was so obvious the whole time that Cleo was not the big bad. It could not have been any more obvious that, despite being a little cold and bitchy, Cleo was only acting in the best interest of her people while also choosing not to get emotionally involved in a game where supposedly everyone is out for themselves. Nothing about that is villainous.

Also, can we talk about how underdeveloped the "love triangle" was? In what universe does it make sense for Oro and Isla to be anything other than allies in a common endeavor, mentor/student or, at most, a slowly forming mutual respect that potentially becomes a friendship? It doesn't make any sense to me.

Overall, my reading experience was miserable, and I'm genuinely saddened by this as the premise was very interesting to me. Despite my better judgment, I will be reading Nightbane with the hopes that I like it more than I did Lightlark.