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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley as an ARC. This review contains no paid promotion for receiving this ARC and my review is given truthfully with no influence outside of my own opinion.
My immediate impression was not a good one. Opening your story with angry banter between an adult and a 13-year-old isn’t a surefire way to get people to care about your characters. I get that was supposed to set the stage between the old crank who bought this child slave, but it just felt like I was reading a childish book. And so it continues- a plethora of bodily functions in the first few pages.
When we moved from Tash’s perspective I thought we would get a break from the writing from a 13 year old perspective. Unfortunately, Catherine didn’t prove to be much better. Sentences are sloppy and we get a whole lot of tell your reader, not show. “Jane, the new maid, looked and sounded terrified.” I’m not an author, but I do read. A lot. Seems to me saying something like “Jane’s voice shook as she spoke, matching the tremor in her hands” is a lot more engaging than describing her feelings to a reader. As the book progresses, this does seem to happen less and less. Or maybe I just became desensitized to it. The plot could be so good with a different author. This just falls flat.
I’ll admit I did continue reading, despite believing the author must think her readers are idiots or exclusively children. There are too many main characters who you just don’t care about. The inclusion of all of the swearing feels … you know when you hear teenagers using swear word for the first time, when they know it’s wrong and they’re gauging your reaction to how cool they think they are? That’s what every single profane word felt like; unnecessary.
I read this digitally, and I’m not certain what the weird photos were meant to be about? They threw me at the end/beginning of every chapter.
My immediate impression was not a good one. Opening your story with angry banter between an adult and a 13-year-old isn’t a surefire way to get people to care about your characters. I get that was supposed to set the stage between the old crank who bought this child slave, but it just felt like I was reading a childish book. And so it continues- a plethora of bodily functions in the first few pages.
When we moved from Tash’s perspective I thought we would get a break from the writing from a 13 year old perspective. Unfortunately, Catherine didn’t prove to be much better. Sentences are sloppy and we get a whole lot of tell your reader, not show. “Jane, the new maid, looked and sounded terrified.” I’m not an author, but I do read. A lot. Seems to me saying something like “Jane’s voice shook as she spoke, matching the tremor in her hands” is a lot more engaging than describing her feelings to a reader. As the book progresses, this does seem to happen less and less. Or maybe I just became desensitized to it. The plot could be so good with a different author. This just falls flat.
I’ll admit I did continue reading, despite believing the author must think her readers are idiots or exclusively children. There are too many main characters who you just don’t care about. The inclusion of all of the swearing feels … you know when you hear teenagers using swear word for the first time, when they know it’s wrong and they’re gauging your reaction to how cool they think they are? That’s what every single profane word felt like; unnecessary.
I read this digitally, and I’m not certain what the weird photos were meant to be about? They threw me at the end/beginning of every chapter.
SALLY GREEN HAS DONE IT AGAIN; oh, how I wish I could have read this in one sitting! I loved The Smoke Thieves almost as much as I loved The Half Bad series; it was original (at least in my world), exciting, funny & so hard to put down. I tend to avoid books with kings & queens, but I'm so glad I broke that rule for this book. Plus, I think this is the first time I've experienced demons & I loved them. I am overflowing with excitement for the next instalment.
⚠️ This book contains violence, ableist slurs, a homophobic character & bloodshed throughout ⚠️
Extended Review: https://wp.me/p8MbIo-2yj
⚠️ This book contains violence, ableist slurs, a homophobic character & bloodshed throughout ⚠️
Extended Review: https://wp.me/p8MbIo-2yj
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I wasn’t expecting to like this one so much. I’d seen the mixed reviews, and was apprehensive, to say the least. I’ve been scouring Goodreads and the Litverse for a worthy YA Fantasy that had all the elements I sought: I craved a book that didn’t shy away from violence (there are a LOT of grisly deaths in this first installment) and properly coarse language, as well as one that employed queer elements... and The Smoke Thieves delivered beautifully. It made me take another look at the slew of (unjustified, in my opinion) one star reviews. I don’t think this book deserves the overall low-ish score it has on Goodreads, when there are more undeserving YA Fantasy that skate by on hype and little substance.
Some may be put off by the five POV’s here, but I wasn’t one of them. For once, I actually think they all worked well with one another. My one complaint about the POV’s: It took 126 pages, and four separate MC narratives, until we were finally introduced to the fifth main character. I don’t think the delay was entirely necessary, but the characters all shone in their own right come the conclusion.
The story is engaging—and only dragged a few times—, keeping my interest throughout. We have demons and war and thieves and death and palace intrigue and burgeoning romance (and THANK ALL THE HIGHER BEINGS that the romance wasn’t all-consuming and cloyingly-sweet as in most YA). It’s written well, and the pace just right; We’re given enough time with each character to be invested in all their separate goals /wants. Some have compared this book to a YA GoT, and I agree with that. I can’t wait to dive on in to the next installment!
Some may be put off by the five POV’s here, but I wasn’t one of them. For once, I actually think they all worked well with one another. My one complaint about the POV’s: It took 126 pages, and four separate MC narratives, until we were finally introduced to the fifth main character. I don’t think the delay was entirely necessary, but the characters all shone in their own right come the conclusion.
The story is engaging—and only dragged a few times—, keeping my interest throughout. We have demons and war and thieves and death and palace intrigue and burgeoning romance (and THANK ALL THE HIGHER BEINGS that the romance wasn’t all-consuming and cloyingly-sweet as in most YA). It’s written well, and the pace just right; We’re given enough time with each character to be invested in all their separate goals /wants. Some have compared this book to a YA GoT, and I agree with that. I can’t wait to dive on in to the next installment!
"La lealtad no está solo en las palabras y en los hechos, también es de espíritu".
3.7
Bueno, antes que nada, si fuiste de los que leyó la saga de "Una vida oculta" de Sally Green, no esperes encontrar algo parecido en "Ladrones de Humo, creo que Green se emocionó mucho con este libro y metió demasiada información, por lo que se convierte en una historia totalmente introductoria, no hay mucha acción, sólo la travesía de los 5 personajes que cuentan la historia.
Personalmente todos los personajes me gustaron mucho, tuvieron un gran progreso desde su primer aparición, hasta la última, sobre todo noté esto en Catherine y Edyon, cómo se volvieron más fuertes y vencieron, de cierta forma, sus miedos; pero sin duda alguna, Tash fue mi favorita, la más joven de los 5, pero la más audaz, valiente y fuerte, en ningún momento mostró debilidad, era consiente de lo que hacía y sobre todo tenía un instinto sobre en quién confiar y en quién no sin dar vueltas al asunto.
Respecto a cómo se desarrolló la historia, fue lo que me decepcionó más, pero creo que la idea es muy buena y con forme los personajes avancen el camino, todo será mucho más interesante, como mencioné antes, este es más que nada una introducción, conocer a los personajes, el mundo donde viven, el propósito de la historia, y a pesar de que me pareció demasiado lenta, tengo esperanza de que va a haber más acción en las secuelas, por lo que no la abandonaré en este primer libro. A pesar de que me pareció una lectura lenta y algo pesada, no me aburrió a tal grado de dejarlo botado.
No me gusta comparar obras, pero creo que este libro se podría considerar un "Game of Thrones" censurado, el desarrollo es del mismo tipo, la historia es totalmente distinta pero si te gustan los libros de George R.R. Martin, tal vez te guste esta historia.
3.7
Bueno, antes que nada, si fuiste de los que leyó la saga de "Una vida oculta" de Sally Green, no esperes encontrar algo parecido en "Ladrones de Humo, creo que Green se emocionó mucho con este libro y metió demasiada información, por lo que se convierte en una historia totalmente introductoria, no hay mucha acción, sólo la travesía de los 5 personajes que cuentan la historia.
Personalmente todos los personajes me gustaron mucho, tuvieron un gran progreso desde su primer aparición, hasta la última, sobre todo noté esto en Catherine y Edyon, cómo se volvieron más fuertes y vencieron, de cierta forma, sus miedos; pero sin duda alguna, Tash fue mi favorita, la más joven de los 5, pero la más audaz, valiente y fuerte, en ningún momento mostró debilidad, era consiente de lo que hacía y sobre todo tenía un instinto sobre en quién confiar y en quién no sin dar vueltas al asunto.
Respecto a cómo se desarrolló la historia, fue lo que me decepcionó más, pero creo que la idea es muy buena y con forme los personajes avancen el camino, todo será mucho más interesante, como mencioné antes, este es más que nada una introducción, conocer a los personajes, el mundo donde viven, el propósito de la historia, y a pesar de que me pareció demasiado lenta, tengo esperanza de que va a haber más acción en las secuelas, por lo que no la abandonaré en este primer libro. A pesar de que me pareció una lectura lenta y algo pesada, no me aburrió a tal grado de dejarlo botado.
No me gusta comparar obras, pero creo que este libro se podría considerar un "Game of Thrones" censurado, el desarrollo es del mismo tipo, la historia es totalmente distinta pero si te gustan los libros de George R.R. Martin, tal vez te guste esta historia.
I thought this was a good fantasy read. It started out slow but I think it was a lot of character development. The ending broke my heart though
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexism, Violence, Blood, War
Moderate: Physical abuse, Torture
Minor: Addiction, Homophobia, Vomit
Additional TW: death of a sibling, death of a parent
adventurous
medium-paced
At first, it took me a little while to get into the story. We have multiple narrators, 5 actually, and it was hard, at first, to figure out who was who and why I should care about them. But as the story went on, it really started to click for me but then I was wondering how they will all relate in the end. They do finally all meet up and it all makes sense. It becomes action packed and then......it ends. Imagine my surprise when I reached the end and now I have to wait for the next book. :(
BUT, it's very good and you should read it! :)
I was given a copy of this galley for free in exchange for my honest review.
BUT, it's very good and you should read it! :)
I was given a copy of this galley for free in exchange for my honest review.