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ufcasey's review against another edition
3.0
The other two books in the series were a 3.5 star rating that I rounded down to a 3 due to how the book tends to slip in and out of 'diary entry' format. This book was more like a 2.5 rounded up to a 3. The explanation/event that tied everything together just didn't make 100% sense to me. However, I still enjoyed the book so I guess a 3 star rating is fair.
snazel's review against another edition
This series is a fascinating example of how self-publishing works, because I don't believe this would fly at ALL under traditional publishing. It's just such a strange setup for a book. A girl gets sucked into an alternate dimension, gets adopted by psychic space ninjas, and realizes she is the super special key to saving the world. You are reading her diary.
When I write it that way, this sounds like the Mary Sue-est of Mary Sue stories, doesn't it? And I think that's part of the victory of this series, because it takes a setup like that and then explores it realistically— language barriers, fitness levels and all. Cause like, Cass has a gift that is key to saving the world, but to use it she has to be brought into battle situations. And therefore she almost dies too many times to count. She doesn't know the language, so this super high tech society keeps treating her like a child because she can't pass the kindergarten tests which let you have your own interface. She has to be physically carried into battles— while she apologizes— because she can't keep up with the space ninjas who've been training their entire lives. I appreciate when a story sticks to its guns that way.
Part of the other victory of this story is Cass herself, sensible, loving, protective and fierce. Kick-a-monster-in-the-face Cass. Seduce-the-ice-king-totally-by-accident Cass. Get-adopted-by-four-orphans-who-decide-that-you're-the-best-for-them-whoops Cass. Accidentally-save-the-world Cass. Go-out-to-look-for-otters-and-develop-a-new-physic-power Cass. Summon-a-dragon Cass. Exercise-until-you-throw-up-whine-and-keep-doggedly-at-it Cass.
I love you Cass!
When I write it that way, this sounds like the Mary Sue-est of Mary Sue stories, doesn't it? And I think that's part of the victory of this series, because it takes a setup like that and then explores it realistically— language barriers, fitness levels and all. Cause like, Cass has a gift that is key to saving the world, but to use it she has to be brought into battle situations. And therefore she almost dies too many times to count. She doesn't know the language, so this super high tech society keeps treating her like a child because she can't pass the kindergarten tests which let you have your own interface. She has to be physically carried into battles— while she apologizes— because she can't keep up with the space ninjas who've been training their entire lives. I appreciate when a story sticks to its guns that way.
Part of the other victory of this story is Cass herself, sensible, loving, protective and fierce. Kick-a-monster-in-the-face Cass. Seduce-the-ice-king-totally-by-accident Cass. Get-adopted-by-four-orphans-who-decide-that-you're-the-best-for-them-whoops Cass. Accidentally-save-the-world Cass. Go-out-to-look-for-otters-and-develop-a-new-physic-power Cass. Summon-a-dragon Cass. Exercise-until-you-throw-up-whine-and-keep-doggedly-at-it Cass.
I love you Cass!
anonblueberry's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 because the last third left me cold. really could have done without all the kids.
annaswan's review against another edition
Getting a bit Mary Sue-ish maybe.
Reread July 2019: wow, a LOT happened in this book
Reread July 2019: wow, a LOT happened in this book
thestarman's review against another edition
3.0
Book 3 of 3.
Series review at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1747610043
Series review at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1747610043
mangomari's review against another edition
3.0
Edit: wow i need to proffread what i type on my phone.....
i loved book 1 and 2 so much they kept me up at night reading, but this one felt a bit draggy? I still finished it and I'm satisfied with the ending but i can't say i love the way the relationship seemed to progress in this book, and I did end up skipping through a lot of parts that felt needlessly detailed. This doesn't change the fact that i am incredibly impressed with these three books and have recommended it to my friends already. Book 2 really kept me up all night. But I think all 3 (especially 3) could be edited down into 1 long book.
i loved book 1 and 2 so much they kept me up at night reading, but this one felt a bit draggy? I still finished it and I'm satisfied with the ending but i can't say i love the way the relationship seemed to progress in this book, and I did end up skipping through a lot of parts that felt needlessly detailed. This doesn't change the fact that i am incredibly impressed with these three books and have recommended it to my friends already. Book 2 really kept me up all night. But I think all 3 (especially 3) could be edited down into 1 long book.
jillkt13's review against another edition
2.0
Some spoilers for the first two books below.
Part of what I adored about Stray and Lab Rat One, parts one and two of the Touchstone Trilogy, was the delightful self-awareness that this story could seem a bit far-fetched at times. As Cass herself said in Lab Rat One, “And me being some mysterious touchstone thing with bunches of incredibly hot people looking after me. It’s all a little wish-fulfillment.” But the thing is, it wasn’t. There was a ring of truth to Cass’s tale and struggles on a new planet, even if she did end up being this miraculous space ninja enhancer. That all disappears in this incredibly disappointing final book, Caszandra, where the plot devolves into a mushy, romantic mess and the looming bad things are solved without much hardship. Every one of Cass’s wishes comes true after finally attaining the love of Kaoren Ruuel, even wishes she didn’t know she had, like becoming a foster mother! I was so immensely frustrated by this book, mostly because I felt like this series was so promising and it didn’t come together in the end. As a result, my reading investment was wasted, my payoff nonexistent. In Caszandra, forgotten is the mythology of the Ena and the Lantarens, swept aside is the possibility of any relationship between Muina and Earth, left behind is any regard for Cass’s family of eighteen years, instead we get pages and pages of Cass loving Kaoren, ravishing Kaoren, planning her future with Kaoren. I think my dissatisfaction comes down to this: I began this series with the promise of interplanetary hijinks and epic battles in virtual reality spaces. What the final volume came down to was an impossibly perfect fiancé, adopted children, and Setari matchmaking.
Part of what I adored about Stray and Lab Rat One, parts one and two of the Touchstone Trilogy, was the delightful self-awareness that this story could seem a bit far-fetched at times. As Cass herself said in Lab Rat One, “And me being some mysterious touchstone thing with bunches of incredibly hot people looking after me. It’s all a little wish-fulfillment.” But the thing is, it wasn’t. There was a ring of truth to Cass’s tale and struggles on a new planet, even if she did end up being this miraculous space ninja enhancer. That all disappears in this incredibly disappointing final book, Caszandra, where the plot devolves into a mushy, romantic mess and the looming bad things are solved without much hardship. Every one of Cass’s wishes comes true after finally attaining the love of Kaoren Ruuel, even wishes she didn’t know she had, like becoming a foster mother! I was so immensely frustrated by this book, mostly because I felt like this series was so promising and it didn’t come together in the end. As a result, my reading investment was wasted, my payoff nonexistent. In Caszandra, forgotten is the mythology of the Ena and the Lantarens, swept aside is the possibility of any relationship between Muina and Earth, left behind is any regard for Cass’s family of eighteen years, instead we get pages and pages of Cass loving Kaoren, ravishing Kaoren, planning her future with Kaoren. I think my dissatisfaction comes down to this: I began this series with the promise of interplanetary hijinks and epic battles in virtual reality spaces. What the final volume came down to was an impossibly perfect fiancé, adopted children, and Setari matchmaking.
mandyh47's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5