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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
DNF ~50%
I enjoyed the previous books but found this one completely boring. I've been putting it aside for over 2 months, it's time to mark it done.
I enjoyed the previous books but found this one completely boring. I've been putting it aside for over 2 months, it's time to mark it done.
adventurous
funny
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
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
Having read the other books in the chronicles of Ixia series aka the study books, and the glass series which interlinks with the characters from the study books, within a week, I was impatiently waiting for Synder to release another book with Valek and Yelena being the main characters again.
Finally, Synder released Shadow Study, and I was not disappointed.
Synder does not mess about; after reading the first chapter I was hooked. Unfortunately, and this is why it is only rated 4 out of 5, after a few chapters I seemed to be lost, as there was a character in there who they kept on talking about and I didn't have a clue. I checked online and on Synders official website there is actually a chapter which is to be read before this book in order to make sense of it. I thought this should have perhaps been the prologue as she may have had quite a few confused readers there.
As for the rest of the book, it is absolutely fantastic. My favourite character from the previous books, Janco, even has his own chapters in this and they are hilarious. the characters become your friends, and you laugh with them and feel sad with them. Each ending to a chapter makes you want to continue on and find out what happens, and you soon realise you are not going to be able to do anything else until you finish this book. Even then, it will consume your mind and all you will be thinking is "when's the next one out?! when's the next one out!?", just so you can connect with your friends who live inside the book.
Finally, Synder released Shadow Study, and I was not disappointed.
Synder does not mess about; after reading the first chapter I was hooked. Unfortunately, and this is why it is only rated 4 out of 5, after a few chapters I seemed to be lost, as there was a character in there who they kept on talking about and I didn't have a clue. I checked online and on Synders official website there is actually a chapter which is to be read before this book in order to make sense of it. I thought this should have perhaps been the prologue as she may have had quite a few confused readers there.
As for the rest of the book, it is absolutely fantastic. My favourite character from the previous books, Janco, even has his own chapters in this and they are hilarious. the characters become your friends, and you laugh with them and feel sad with them. Each ending to a chapter makes you want to continue on and find out what happens, and you soon realise you are not going to be able to do anything else until you finish this book. Even then, it will consume your mind and all you will be thinking is "when's the next one out?! when's the next one out!?", just so you can connect with your friends who live inside the book.
As usual, the beginning was slow but the end was good. But like, the first half/two-thirds was reallllly slow, and the climax was about two pages long and not nearly as fleshed out as it could have been.
I do want to stay positive though. I really enjoyed Valek's backstory, and it kept me reading through most of the boring, even when Valek himself was boring. Janco has a tendency to be too cheesy, but he definitely got funnier as the story went along. I also like the drama with the Commander (but we could have been clued in way way earlier). Also, my favorite part of these books is the slight mystery aspect like funny smells and new inventions (that exist in our world), where the reader can guess at what is happening. They're very expertly lain out (at least for me!).
One annoying thing: Can someone explain to me why Yelena verbally tells Kiki to send messages to other horses? Can't all horses understand English, but they can't talk back to humans? And if not, why can Kiki understand English? Has Yelena been spending all of this time teaching her English? Why would she bother if she can just think things at Kiki? Sometimes, the problems and their solutions make very little sense in this story, which is sad because I actually really like the rules of Yelena's magic and love the way she reacts to different scenarios. Also, the Yelena-gets-stabbed-with-poison-kidnapped-and-rescued sequences are getting kind of old, as much as I enjoy them.
As always with this series, I'm excited to keep reading! I'm totally addicted.
I do want to stay positive though. I really enjoyed Valek's backstory, and it kept me reading through most of the boring, even when Valek himself was boring. Janco has a tendency to be too cheesy, but he definitely got funnier as the story went along. I also like the drama with the Commander (but we could have been clued in way way earlier). Also, my favorite part of these books is the slight mystery aspect like funny smells and new inventions (that exist in our world), where the reader can guess at what is happening. They're very expertly lain out (at least for me!).
One annoying thing: Can someone explain to me why Yelena verbally tells Kiki to send messages to other horses? Can't all horses understand English, but they can't talk back to humans? And if not, why can Kiki understand English? Has Yelena been spending all of this time teaching her English? Why would she bother if she can just think things at Kiki? Sometimes, the problems and their solutions make very little sense in this story, which is sad because I actually really like the rules of Yelena's magic and love the way she reacts to different scenarios. Also, the Yelena-gets-stabbed-with-poison-kidnapped-and-rescued sequences are getting kind of old, as much as I enjoy them.
As always with this series, I'm excited to keep reading! I'm totally addicted.
I loved returning to Ixia and Sitia, especially with these characters! I didn't enjoy Opals story quite as much so I'm super excited to be back with Yelena and Valek, and I really liked learning more of Valek's backstory in this.
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
I think Snyder always does a really good job of raising the stakes in her books and I've always liked her complex (and sometimes infuriating) characters who are always both right and wrong. Saw the cliffhanger ending coming a mile away, which I think it actually a good thing.
My one complaint isn't her fault, but why on earth is Yelena whitewashed in the new covers? I guess her publishers made the decision so the books would sell which is such a fucking shame. I'll just indulge myself and forever imagine that she looks like Zoë Saldana in my head.
My one complaint isn't her fault, but why on earth is Yelena whitewashed in the new covers? I guess her publishers made the decision so the books would sell which is such a fucking shame. I'll just indulge myself and forever imagine that she looks like Zoë Saldana in my head.
Have really enjoyed revisiting these books over lockdown. Love yelena and valek and their action packed adventures. The chronicles of Ixia series offers the fast paced fanstasy escapism I need right now!
probably the weakest installment in this world that maria has written. i had to drag myself to finish it because i love the world but the plot was all over the place and didn't go where we thought it would (aka address the main conflict).