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wockawockawocka's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
max341q132543253's review against another edition
2.0
This book is good in many ways except that it doesn't really have a plot.
It's got antagonists -- maybe a bit crudely drawn, but suitably evil.
It's got protagonists, suitably likeable.
It's got lots of conflict between the protagonists and the antagonists, and it's pretty well written. Lots of stuff happens.
What doesn't really happen is a plot. The protagonists are all too old for coming of age stories, but too young to be doing super-cool things researched from IRL battling/spying, so they just kind of muddle around, fighting and meeting people. It all feels more like real life's random, moderately incompetent bustle than I'd like. Think of dust motes drifting through a sunbeam. If a plotless violent meander through a new city sounds good, you'll love this.
Some books don't grab me because they adhere to some tired cookie-cutter paradigm too closely, but this book could have used *more* cliches, or at least more *specific* ones. I read about half but can't really say what the book's all about briefly except "Some youngish people fight an evil empire." I need more of a hook, something that would stand out in an elevator pitch, to stick with a hundred-dollar ten-volume series.
Granted, the worldbuilding is good, but it somehow sounds better in descriptions than it works in the book. It sounds awesome to have groups of insect-themed people who can't even use the technology in a lock, but in practice it's treated as just ... a problem that they have, for which they have other compensating benefits. I don't get the feeling there's gonna be a satisfying explanation for it, it's just something to add colour. I could be wrong, but I don't think I'll find out.
It's got antagonists -- maybe a bit crudely drawn, but suitably evil.
It's got protagonists, suitably likeable.
It's got lots of conflict between the protagonists and the antagonists, and it's pretty well written. Lots of stuff happens.
What doesn't really happen is a plot. The protagonists are all too old for coming of age stories, but too young to be doing super-cool things researched from IRL battling/spying, so they just kind of muddle around, fighting and meeting people. It all feels more like real life's random, moderately incompetent bustle than I'd like. Think of dust motes drifting through a sunbeam. If a plotless violent meander through a new city sounds good, you'll love this.
Some books don't grab me because they adhere to some tired cookie-cutter paradigm too closely, but this book could have used *more* cliches, or at least more *specific* ones. I read about half but can't really say what the book's all about briefly except "Some youngish people fight an evil empire." I need more of a hook, something that would stand out in an elevator pitch, to stick with a hundred-dollar ten-volume series.
Granted, the worldbuilding is good, but it somehow sounds better in descriptions than it works in the book. It sounds awesome to have groups of insect-themed people who can't even use the technology in a lock, but in practice it's treated as just ... a problem that they have, for which they have other compensating benefits. I don't get the feeling there's gonna be a satisfying explanation for it, it's just something to add colour. I could be wrong, but I don't think I'll find out.
vipersinapit's review against another edition
4.0
It is a nice change of pace. Usually it's always about elves, dragons, etc, etc. So, to me, this is a new concept and I like it
katpavlikova's review against another edition
4.0
Svět, v němž jsou rasy lidí odvozeny od hmyzu? To mi samo o sobě přišlo tak nelákavé, že mi první díl této série v TBR vězel dobrou dekádu, přestože mi byl opakovaně doporučován. Je paradoxní, že když jsem se konečně odhodlala, je to právě ten hmyzí prvek, který mě nutil otáčet stránku za stránkou rychlostí blesku.
Nikdy dřív bych neřekla, že budu sympatizovat s kudlankami, pavouky nebo můrami, ale hah, tady jsem. Úplně nadšená a naprosto připravená se postavit proti těm vosím šmejdům. Dny míru jsou totiž dávno pryč!
Nikdy dřív bych neřekla, že budu sympatizovat s kudlankami, pavouky nebo můrami, ale hah, tady jsem. Úplně nadšená a naprosto připravená se postavit proti těm vosím šmejdům. Dny míru jsou totiž dávno pryč!
jarrettspiker's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
gotossmycausticsalad's review against another edition
4.0
An absolutely fascinating world with a really interesting magic system. Despite being an absolute beast of a novel it didn't feel slow or drawn out at any point.
fkvdg's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
dboyd22's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
4.75
hecticpanda's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
5.0
calbowen's review against another edition
1.0
I tried to like this book - i forced myself to read page upon page - Let us skip the fact that in the eBook version there is no separation between point of view changes, which is annoying since there are about three a chapter - I read and re-read sections - there is just no excitement beyond the first few chapters - the hook brought me in and then there was 100 pages of people walking around trying to find someone with a ton of exposition - where did the pacing go - i know that books sometimes slow down to let you catch your breath, but catch it for too long and you yawn and go to sleep - which i did frequently because this book could not keep e interested - i love the concept, but almost 500 pages to tell a 300 page story is wa-a-a-ay to much exposition and not enough happening - but that is just my opinion.