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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
I guess this is the year I DNF more books than I ever have in my life. But when something isn't working, it's not working.
DNF @ 38%
I started off really enjoying this one. The idea that this girl was raised in secret to be Queen only to be returned to her palace even though people want to kill her. But soon after things started to fall apart and then kept crumbling.
First, I was confused as to how Kelsea stayed in secret for so long, considering her Uncle had been looking to kill her for years (more on that later) but had been unsuccessful whereas it took the Queen's Guard 8 days to find her and bring her back. So okay, they had a note, but are you telling me that these elite assassins (that her Uncle obviously only hired near when the Queen's Guard was leaving) couldn't find one girl in one cabin? Not plausible, sorry.
Second, the weird "break" in travelling back to the Keep where she meets and is kidnapped by the outlaw Fetch. I am sure it will make more sense in the future but ??? It was so random to break up the story this way when it was obviously for ~romantic~ purposes. And the fact that while he and his merry band of thieves told her some of the situation at hand in the land of Tear, they didn't tell her the most important part. Because, as I later found out, it wasn't ~dramatic enough~ to have her learn through stories -- she had to see for herself. Which, tbh, is bullshit (sorry kiddos). Are you telling me that Fetch would "test" Kelsea about how she would rule, but wouldn't tell her the truth to gauge her reaction? Nope. He would have MOST DEFINITELY told her. But instead, we had to see it in a more ~dramatic~ light. Not here for that.
I also really didn't like the ever changing perspectives, especially to random bystanders. It made it really hard to follow the progress of the story because I was never quite sure if we were at the same "time" or "location." Which is confusing as a reader. And the world building made me want to tear my hair out. It seemed like this unique world but there were parallels to present day places and yet not really and I had a very hard time figuring out where the story was taking place and why this story would be able to happen based on the limited information I was given.
The descriptions of ages and faces and how all her Queen's Guard were 40 and she was so much younger, being 19 was OVER THE TOP. And I swear if she had said she was "plain" and "not pretty" one more time, I was going to jump into the book and strangle her myself before her uncle could. Which leads me to...
Last but not least, the whole "My Uncle Wants To Kill Me, But I'm Chill With That" plot line was STUPID AF. Even if I had been raised knowing my Uncle wanted to kill me, I would not be like "okay well that's just how it is, guess I'll go visit him at the castle and hope he doesn't murder me in front of everyone." Like sorry it did not make sense. It felt super awkward and out of place in here.
Even if her Uncle wanted to kill her, it would be stupid to have him be so public about it -- especially since we learn that the actual public doesn't even think she is alive. He could have been way more secretive about it -- or just acted as though she was dead and no proof in the world could claim she was alive. That would have helped him 200% more than what he did. But the fact that Kelsea not only knew he wanted her dead, but still went directly to him makes no sense. NO SENSE.
And that's that. I also thought Kelsea made a lot of stupid and rash decisions even though she had very minimal knowledge of what actually took place in the Kingdom when her mother was Queen. She knew like 40% of the story (barely) and decided that meant she should just do as she pleased. And don't get me wrong, I think it was fine to free the slaves, but I also think it could have been done in a much better way. She jumped the gun on that one in my opinion, but I'm not sticking around to see the consequences of her actions.
Books and Ladders | Queen of the Bookshelves | Books Are My Fandom | Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'
DNF @ 38%
I started off really enjoying this one. The idea that this girl was raised in secret to be Queen only to be returned to her palace even though people want to kill her. But soon after things started to fall apart and then kept crumbling.
First, I was confused as to how Kelsea stayed in secret for so long, considering her Uncle had been looking to kill her for years (more on that later) but had been unsuccessful whereas it took the Queen's Guard 8 days to find her and bring her back. So okay, they had a note, but are you telling me that these elite assassins (that her Uncle obviously only hired near when the Queen's Guard was leaving) couldn't find one girl in one cabin? Not plausible, sorry.
Second, the weird "break" in travelling back to the Keep where she meets and is kidnapped by the outlaw Fetch. I am sure it will make more sense in the future but ??? It was so random to break up the story this way when it was obviously for ~romantic~ purposes. And the fact that while he and his merry band of thieves told her some of the situation at hand in the land of Tear, they didn't tell her the most important part. Because, as I later found out, it wasn't ~dramatic enough~ to have her learn through stories -- she had to see for herself. Which, tbh, is bullshit (sorry kiddos). Are you telling me that Fetch would "test" Kelsea about how she would rule, but wouldn't tell her the truth to gauge her reaction? Nope. He would have MOST DEFINITELY told her. But instead, we had to see it in a more ~dramatic~ light. Not here for that.
I also really didn't like the ever changing perspectives, especially to random bystanders. It made it really hard to follow the progress of the story because I was never quite sure if we were at the same "time" or "location." Which is confusing as a reader. And the world building made me want to tear my hair out. It seemed like this unique world but there were parallels to present day places and yet not really and I had a very hard time figuring out where the story was taking place and why this story would be able to happen based on the limited information I was given.
The descriptions of ages and faces and how all her Queen's Guard were 40 and she was so much younger, being 19 was OVER THE TOP. And I swear if she had said she was "plain" and "not pretty" one more time, I was going to jump into the book and strangle her myself before her uncle could. Which leads me to...
Last but not least, the whole "My Uncle Wants To Kill Me, But I'm Chill With That" plot line was STUPID AF. Even if I had been raised knowing my Uncle wanted to kill me, I would not be like "okay well that's just how it is, guess I'll go visit him at the castle and hope he doesn't murder me in front of everyone." Like sorry it did not make sense. It felt super awkward and out of place in here.
Even if her Uncle wanted to kill her, it would be stupid to have him be so public about it -- especially since we learn that the actual public doesn't even think she is alive. He could have been way more secretive about it -- or just acted as though she was dead and no proof in the world could claim she was alive. That would have helped him 200% more than what he did. But the fact that Kelsea not only knew he wanted her dead, but still went directly to him makes no sense. NO SENSE.
And that's that. I also thought Kelsea made a lot of stupid and rash decisions even though she had very minimal knowledge of what actually took place in the Kingdom when her mother was Queen. She knew like 40% of the story (barely) and decided that meant she should just do as she pleased. And don't get me wrong, I think it was fine to free the slaves, but I also think it could have been done in a much better way. She jumped the gun on that one in my opinion, but I'm not sticking around to see the consequences of her actions.
Books and Ladders | Queen of the Bookshelves | Books Are My Fandom | Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'
Was very slow moving, needed something with a bit faster pace. Will probably come back to it because the story line was quite good
This is a solid open to a really interesting fantasy series. Lots of action, intrigue and doors left open to make me want to read the next book. A satisfying read as a stand-alone. Two thumbs up.
I so wanted to like this... but it falls prey to several factors that make it hard to wade through. As others have noted, it's painfully slow, to no real effect. The heroine, Kelsea, is prone to assessing the physical attractiveness of her guards again and again, to no real effect. In truth, they're so alike that makes it even harder to tell the difference between them. The swords and sorcery elements offer nothing new. I understand this is a post-apocalyptic scenario, but that hint again does nothing to advance the characters or the plot. Johansen is a capable writer, but this felt like a retread of a retread of a retread.
Joyful fantasy with great characters. Plot and world-building unfolded nicely though great prose.
This was honestly so great. Though the pace of the book is a little bit slow (especially at the beginning) and despite the fact that I almost dnf the book because of that, I'm so glad I didn't because I ended up enjoying this story so much. It's for sure not the typical fantasy "young adult" (though I wouldn't consider it young adult at all unless that we considered it mature young adult) I'm used to read; it's heavily political and there is no romance whatsoever, yet I liked it nevertheless.
Kelsea was such an amazing character, she was a bit sassy and so brave and I loved her determination to do so much good. The Queen's guards was also another favourite thing in the book; their interactions between each other and between Kelsea, and the growth in the relationship between Kelsea and them (how at the beginning they didn't think much of her and at the end they value and respect her) was such a fun part.
I really hope the rest of the book as just as good.
Kelsea was such an amazing character, she was a bit sassy and so brave and I loved her determination to do so much good. The Queen's guards was also another favourite thing in the book; their interactions between each other and between Kelsea, and the growth in the relationship between Kelsea and them (how at the beginning they didn't think much of her and at the end they value and respect her) was such a fun part.
I really hope the rest of the book as just as good.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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:
No
YA dystopian future that reads as fantasy. Superbly done. There are really only touches and hints that it is a dystopian future. And it's plenty. I didn't feel like I needed more about the past. I fell into the tale of a young, stubborn, fierce teenager who knows she's been raised to be a queen and isn't sure she's up for the task. Who can she trust, how does she make it through the minefield that is her future.
I really look forward to the next book, THE INVASION OF THE TEARLING. I need to know what's going to happen. I know the Red Queen is the evil that must be faced, but she intrigues me. I hope this book tells her story.
I can definitely recommend this book.
I really look forward to the next book, THE INVASION OF THE TEARLING. I need to know what's going to happen. I know the Red Queen is the evil that must be faced, but she intrigues me. I hope this book tells her story.
I can definitely recommend this book.
I went into this book with high expectations, but soon I found myself being dragged through a story that had me wondering what I was missing that everyone else loved.
I was bored with most of this story. I kept hoping as the story progressed, things would pick up. Maybe Kelsea would start to develop friendships with someone in the Keep. Maybe the Fetch would be back and liven things up. Unfortunately, those things never happened. It made it hard to get behind the heroine of a story when you don't feel a connection to them or care if they succeed.
I was bored with most of this story. I kept hoping as the story progressed, things would pick up. Maybe Kelsea would start to develop friendships with someone in the Keep. Maybe the Fetch would be back and liven things up. Unfortunately, those things never happened. It made it hard to get behind the heroine of a story when you don't feel a connection to them or care if they succeed.
the best book I've read in a while!! intriguing from the beginning to the end