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laelyn's review against another edition
3.0
This is such a hard book to review, to be honest. It's very different from Power's former novels, which is what intrigued me the most. The writing is exquisite once again, and there is so much creativity, so much potential in this first part of a new series that I just really really wanted to love it.
The setting is unique, high fantasy with lots of Greek culture and (which I ALWAYS adore) a good dash of political intrigue. The god-like magic system is fascinating and the characters want to be complex but don't quite manage. Honestly, there is a lot to like and a lot to be intrigued by, and the ending sets up a really exciting sequel. But there were just too many things that make it most likely that I won't pick said sequel up after all.
For one, the whole world building is very convoluted and, honestly, confusing. I don't think I really get all the magical powers, even after rereading part of the novel to understand them better. They just aren't explained very well, and that's a bit of a problem with most of the lore, really. Written beautifully, but in a very distracting kind of way that distances the reader from the world.
The characters are definitely interesting and fleshed out, but they are not as complex as they are obviously intended to be. Rhea, for example, changed certain convictions way too easily, and Lexos was, in the end, pretty one-dimensional. Nitsos is probably the most interesting one of the siblings (the fourth one is just there to be there, she has no bearing on the story at all) but his development is also very predictable. The relationships aren't as fleshed out as they need to be in order to get me to feel invested in them, especially the twin relationship between Rhea and Lexos - There is a whole lot of telling, but no real showing of just how close they are and I simply didn't feel it.
The plot itself is nothing new, the twists aren't really surprising, but it's still an enjoyable read. I think the book could have been improved by condensing the plotline a bit more, because the pacing is rather slow and invited me to skim-read through entire pages at times, especially in the beginning.
All in all this is an okay start to a new series and I know it'll have many fans, and it is written really beautifully. I can't give it more than 3 stars. it's probably closer to a 2,5 for me personally.
The setting is unique, high fantasy with lots of Greek culture and (which I ALWAYS adore) a good dash of political intrigue. The god-like magic system is fascinating and the characters want to be complex but don't quite manage. Honestly, there is a lot to like and a lot to be intrigued by, and the ending sets up a really exciting sequel. But there were just too many things that make it most likely that I won't pick said sequel up after all.
For one, the whole world building is very convoluted and, honestly, confusing. I don't think I really get all the magical powers, even after rereading part of the novel to understand them better. They just aren't explained very well, and that's a bit of a problem with most of the lore, really. Written beautifully, but in a very distracting kind of way that distances the reader from the world.
The characters are definitely interesting and fleshed out, but they are not as complex as they are obviously intended to be. Rhea, for example, changed certain convictions way too easily, and Lexos was, in the end, pretty one-dimensional. Nitsos is probably the most interesting one of the siblings (the fourth one is just there to be there, she has no bearing on the story at all) but his development is also very predictable. The relationships aren't as fleshed out as they need to be in order to get me to feel invested in them, especially the twin relationship between Rhea and Lexos - There is a whole lot of telling, but no real showing of just how close they are and I simply didn't feel it.
The plot itself is nothing new, the twists aren't really surprising, but it's still an enjoyable read. I think the book could have been improved by condensing the plotline a bit more, because the pacing is rather slow and invited me to skim-read through entire pages at times, especially in the beginning.
All in all this is an okay start to a new series and I know it'll have many fans, and it is written really beautifully. I can't give it more than 3 stars. it's probably closer to a 2,5 for me personally.
irenebxx's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
marieintheraw's review against another edition
3.0
This breaks the mold for Rory Power books in terms of genre. Honestly, I was not a fan of the pacing as a result, but the themes of her books stay keeping me hooked.
I received an ecopy of this through Netgalley; however, all opinions are my own.
I received an ecopy of this through Netgalley; however, all opinions are my own.
tannik03's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A very very good book! I enjoy the plays on all the regional myths :)
edkohen's review against another edition
1.0
DNF
Definitely YA. Ugh, not much bite to the story. Just a lot of words to not develop the narrative. For example: A mother not seen or known in 100 years is IDed by a picture and its an instant ID. And, all her daughter has to be believed is say "I'm sure its her." And then, she just puts on a veil and pretends to be her mother...
Definitely YA. Ugh, not much bite to the story. Just a lot of words to not develop the narrative. For example: A mother not seen or known in 100 years is IDed by a picture and its an instant ID. And, all her daughter has to be believed is say "I'm sure its her." And then, she just puts on a veil and pretends to be her mother...
regina_184's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
Where to even start with this book! When I first started reading it, I had a really hard time getting familiar with the world and the plot so it took me a good 75 pages to really understand what is going on.
However, once things started moving I got hooked and finished this book in 2 days. I love it! I loved the slow and steady way that both siblings started changing their values and I loved how both view points make sense. Although I enjoyed the chapters from Rhea's perspective more, the author did a good job balancing out the plots between the two characters.
The last 100 pages has a insane amount of plot twist, and some left me feeling physically sick, due to a charater's unforgivable actions. I know that's a weird sentence to write when describing how good this book was, but I truly enjoyed the plot twists and can't wait to read the next book!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book so I will be keeping the five stars, however there was some aspects of the book that I didn't love. I didn't like how Rhea acted a little childish considering that she's hundreds of years old. I know some people think that Rhea's and Lexos's behavior was a little underwhelming on purpose to show how some people overestimated them, however I don't think that comes across well. It just strikes the reader as odd behavior since the characters should be more knowledgeable than they are.
However, once things started moving I got hooked and finished this book in 2 days. I love it! I loved the slow and steady way that both siblings started changing their values and I loved how both view points make sense. Although I enjoyed the chapters from Rhea's perspective more, the author did a good job balancing out the plots between the two characters.
The last 100 pages has a insane amount of plot twist, and some left me feeling physically sick, due to a charater's unforgivable actions. I know that's a weird sentence to write when describing how good this book was, but I truly enjoyed the plot twists and can't wait to read the next book!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book so I will be keeping the five stars, however there was some aspects of the book that I didn't love. I didn't like how Rhea acted a little childish considering that she's hundreds of years old. I know some people think that Rhea's and Lexos's behavior was a little underwhelming on purpose to show how some people overestimated them, however I don't think that comes across well. It just strikes the reader as odd behavior since the characters should be more knowledgeable than they are.
noranne's review against another edition
3.0
I found this book a little hard to get into. Eventually the story ended up picking up a little, but then it kind of went all over the place at the end. The idea of the characters and how they deal with their abusive father and their magical responsibilities was interesting, but they did not feel very real to me. I wasn't very sympathetic to them, running around acting like teenagers despite being ~100 years old. Obviously this is only the first book, so it couldn't end yet, but IMO the only satisfying ending would be . Also there was a significant death that actually surprised me and started what I saw as a bit of a derailment of the book's momentum that was
All in all, the worldbuilding felt a bit thin to me. I don't really see how these families would stay in power, when they don't actually have any power. Their magic is not skills so much as it is caretaking, and if they stop doing it (ie die) then it just goes back to being done automatically. Lots of people are said to have authority who I don't think actually would have any real authority. There were some comically see-through plot points
I might pick up the sequel if I see it around (from the library, like this one), but I don't think I'll be waiting for it.
Spoiler
this whole damn family realizing they've already had more life than anyone else and accepting they should all just dieSpoiler
then completely and casually undone in the epilogue? In fact that whole epilogue was a big no from me. A huge exposition dump to end the book does not make me excited for the next book, it makes me wonder why the f I spent so much time reading about other crap when actual important things could have been shown on the page.All in all, the worldbuilding felt a bit thin to me. I don't really see how these families would stay in power, when they don't actually have any power. Their magic is not skills so much as it is caretaking, and if they stop doing it (ie die) then it just goes back to being done automatically. Lots of people are said to have authority who I don't think actually would have any real authority. There were some comically see-through plot points
Spoiler
the eternally overlooked second son was the real villain! dun dun dun! the random proposition by the weakest member of the group to destroy the most powerful member of the group was in fact immediately told to that person, shock!I might pick up the sequel if I see it around (from the library, like this one), but I don't think I'll be waiting for it.
kleebo's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-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
5.0
bluedaisygirl's review against another edition
3.0
This is really a 3.5.
I ended up liking this book a lot more than I thought I would. I wasn't a big fan of Wilder Girls, but I liked the description of this one and wanted to give it a chance.
While it started out slow and didn't really keep my interest at first, it kept getting more and more interesting and at about 40% of the way in I was hooked.
The names of everyone in the beginning was unnecessary because they made it seem like keeping track of everyone's name and where they were from was more important than it was.
Sometimes I had questions about the magic and how it worked and why.
But I did like the sibling dynamics and the themes of family and sacrifice.
I ended up liking this book a lot more than I thought I would. I wasn't a big fan of Wilder Girls, but I liked the description of this one and wanted to give it a chance.
While it started out slow and didn't really keep my interest at first, it kept getting more and more interesting and at about 40% of the way in I was hooked.
The names of everyone in the beginning was unnecessary because they made it seem like keeping track of everyone's name and where they were from was more important than it was.
Sometimes I had questions about the magic and how it worked and why.
But I did like the sibling dynamics and the themes of family and sacrifice.