komarov's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I'm so glad it's over.
If you actually enjoy reading and you are not desperate for any representation (bad ones included) then avoid this book, it's 400 pages of nothing.
If you actually enjoy reading and you are not desperate for any representation (bad ones included) then avoid this book, it's 400 pages of nothing.
sarful's review
4.0
3.5
An enjoyable sci-fi action book, with some nice sexual tension between the two women. Too long, but I never got bored.
An enjoyable sci-fi action book, with some nice sexual tension between the two women. Too long, but I never got bored.
lfancher's review
adventurous
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? Yes
4.0
thesebookdelights's review
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and North Star Editions for sending me an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.
Actual rating: 3.75
City of Shattered Light is a Ya fantasy sci-fi following outlaw Riven Hawthorne ad Heiress Asana Almeida. Whilst I didn't like this book as much as I thought I would, I still enjoyed it and it was quite good.
I loved the world building and the world. It was a tiny bit confusing, but not too confusing to the point where I had to stop and think or re-read certain points.
The actual story focused on Asa and Riven. This meant that their characters were well developed. However, because of this, the side characters suffered. They felt very flat and like we didn't know much about them bar the odd info dump. There are most definitely queer characters in this book - the book's synopsis makes it seem like a Sapphic sci-fi romance. However, upon reading I found a love triangle (m/f/f) with very little development of the f/f relationship until about 90% in and more action than romance. That being said, I loved both relationships and the bi-rep. A character I would have loved to see more was Morphett. I feel it would have made the story more exciting as it seemed like she had been forgotten by most of the characters. Maybe if there's another book, Morphett will be in it more alongside more development of the f/f relationship.
One of the characters has a terminal illness and sadly, this felt like it was forgotten about most of the book. It was only really bought up to follow the story. I would have loved to see it addressed more. Maybe it will be addressed in any future books, but for this one, it just wasn't done well.
Structure wise, there were a few inconsistences. It's supposed to be told from the perspectives of Asa and Riven but it was hard to tell when it switched. It's told in third person but I personally think it would have been better if it was told in first person.
All in all, it was a really good book, I just hoped I liked it more. That being said, I will definitely read a sequel
Actual rating: 3.75
City of Shattered Light is a Ya fantasy sci-fi following outlaw Riven Hawthorne ad Heiress Asana Almeida. Whilst I didn't like this book as much as I thought I would, I still enjoyed it and it was quite good.
I loved the world building and the world. It was a tiny bit confusing, but not too confusing to the point where I had to stop and think or re-read certain points.
The actual story focused on Asa and Riven. This meant that their characters were well developed. However, because of this, the side characters suffered. They felt very flat and like we didn't know much about them bar the odd info dump. There are most definitely queer characters in this book - the book's synopsis makes it seem like a Sapphic sci-fi romance. However, upon reading I found a love triangle (m/f/f) with very little development of the f/f relationship until about 90% in and more action than romance. That being said, I loved both relationships and the bi-rep. A character I would have loved to see more was Morphett. I feel it would have made the story more exciting as it seemed like she had been forgotten by most of the characters. Maybe if there's another book, Morphett will be in it more alongside more development of the f/f relationship.
One of the characters has a terminal illness and sadly, this felt like it was forgotten about most of the book. It was only really bought up to follow the story. I would have loved to see it addressed more. Maybe it will be addressed in any future books, but for this one, it just wasn't done well.
Structure wise, there were a few inconsistences. It's supposed to be told from the perspectives of Asa and Riven but it was hard to tell when it switched. It's told in third person but I personally think it would have been better if it was told in first person.
All in all, it was a really good book, I just hoped I liked it more. That being said, I will definitely read a sequel
bellabells977's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ancsanna's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
jewishpadme's review
adventurous
tense
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? Yes
3.0
this was fun and the ending really pogged off tbh so i will be picking up the sequel
badwolff's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
nclcaitlin's review
3.5
Thank you to the author for providing me an arc in exchange for a review!
Riv is amazing with a gun, brashly arrogant, and a thief determined to make a place for herself and her crew.
Asa is the heir official to a prominent tech company, wishing to prove her worth and protect her sister from being a lab rat.
The two collide when Asa becomes cargo - a bounty on her head for her return - either back to her father, or to a safe haven on Earth.
I love the carefree queer representation in this! Bisexuality, homosexuality… and it just fitted in so perfectly with the futuristic techno culture and society.
This was fast-paced, fun, action-packed, high-stakes, and easy to binge!
I would recommend this if you like Aurora Rising or the Illuminae Files!
Riv is amazing with a gun, brashly arrogant, and a thief determined to make a place for herself and her crew.
Asa is the heir official to a prominent tech company, wishing to prove her worth and protect her sister from being a lab rat.
The two collide when Asa becomes cargo - a bounty on her head for her return - either back to her father, or to a safe haven on Earth.
I love the carefree queer representation in this! Bisexuality, homosexuality… and it just fitted in so perfectly with the futuristic techno culture and society.
This was fast-paced, fun, action-packed, high-stakes, and easy to binge!
I would recommend this if you like Aurora Rising or the Illuminae Files!
venkarinas's review
adventurous
challenging
tense
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? Yes
3.5