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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
Here’s me thinking stuff appears on your skin as you talk 🙄
The concept of this book is so awesome! But it dragged! The last bit of the book was SO underwhelming..
I won’t be reading a sequel..
The concept of this book is so awesome! But it dragged! The last bit of the book was SO underwhelming..
I won’t be reading a sequel..
I feel like this book had so much potential - such an amazing premise for the book but the storyline was very narrow and not a lot actually happened.
I think it's because I spent 90% of the book being confused as hell and then there is a MASSIVE info dump at the end, which I don't love in books.
I think it's because I spent 90% of the book being confused as hell and then there is a MASSIVE info dump at the end, which I don't love in books.
3.5
TW:
I'm not sure about my feelings for this book.
On one hand it drew me in and I didn't want to put it down. It had some really good lines and scenes. There's no romance, which is a huge plus for me. YA is so full of forced romance, it feels amazing when there's a book that has very small hints at best.
On the other hand, the entire concept of skin books makes very little sense to me. The people clearly know books and writing. Why would preserving a person's tattoos be the only possible way to remember them? I get a certain spiritual aspect, but nothing more than that.
With that in mind, to me it was obvious from the start that
Also, near the climax, it feels like Leora is switching between sides way too fast with little logical reasons behind it.
I get that grief and shock and all those new informations can do this to someone, but it just happens in such a short time, maybe 20 pages/a couple hours, and it just doesn't come across as such.
Overall it was a good book. By no means a masterpiece of prose or an intricate story, and there are some more or less major holes in the logic. But I enjoyed it well enough and would recommend it if you're looking for an easy read.
TW:
Spoiler
cultish environment, mentions of flayingI'm not sure about my feelings for this book.
On one hand it drew me in and I didn't want to put it down. It had some really good lines and scenes. There's no romance, which is a huge plus for me. YA is so full of forced romance, it feels amazing when there's a book that has very small hints at best.
On the other hand, the entire concept of skin books makes very little sense to me. The people clearly know books and writing. Why would preserving a person's tattoos be the only possible way to remember them? I get a certain spiritual aspect, but nothing more than that.
With that in mind, to me it was obvious from the start that
Spoiler
the government isn't all good and perfect, and there's clearly some very shady business going on. Cover-ups, propaganda, manipulation of the population. Hence the cultish environment I mentioned in my trigger warning (I guess this could be triggering for some people)Also, near the climax, it feels like Leora is switching between sides way too fast with little logical reasons behind it.
Spoiler
She desperately wants to save her father's skin book, then hears she might be half blank, causing her to condemn her father and have his book burned. She hates her mother for a bit, goes talk to her boss, suddenly she's not so mad again. But she's still on the side of the government. Then she sleeps, talks some more with people, and now she's full rebel.I get that grief and shock and all those new informations can do this to someone, but it just happens in such a short time, maybe 20 pages/a couple hours, and it just doesn't come across as such.
Overall it was a good book. By no means a masterpiece of prose or an intricate story, and there are some more or less major holes in the logic. But I enjoyed it well enough and would recommend it if you're looking for an easy read.
First of all, the cover of this is absolutely beautiful - probably one of my favourite.
Right at the beginning I was put off by the idea of the skin books - when I picked this up I thought it would be more about how people got their marks etc. rather than their significance for the afterlife, but it was an interesting concept still. The twists were pretty predictable for the most part, but what annoyed me the most was how so much on this book is based on literally everyone around Leora knowing the truth and refusing to tell her. So much of the conflict in this book is just based around this big secret of her identity, and her reaction was always to run away but then she will return immediately? It seemed like this big reveal could have happened earlier in the book and have the story go from there, because to me it felt like nothing much really happened - like Three Dark Crowns it kind of seems like a prequel rather than the first book in the series.
That being said I did like some aspects of the world - like people being vilified for not wanting to wear their hearts on their sleeves - but I think the building up of the blanks to be enemies wasn't so effective for me. Though Leora certainly believed it, at no point was I convinced that the blanks were these evil people that they were made out to be, so the reveals about the governments plans etc. weren't super shocking. Also Leora is constantly made out to be pretty intelligent - she never really had to study for her exams - and yet she constantly misses very clear hints people give her about her identity (though I do see this could be like disbelief but she didn't even really entertain ideas until someone had completely laid it out for her already). I did still enjoy the book as a bit of fun though.
Right at the beginning I was put off by the idea of the skin books - when I picked this up I thought it would be more about how people got their marks etc. rather than their significance for the afterlife, but it was an interesting concept still. The twists were pretty predictable for the most part, but what annoyed me the most was how so much on this book is based on literally everyone around Leora knowing the truth and refusing to tell her. So much of the conflict in this book is just based around this big secret of her identity, and her reaction was always to run away but then she will return immediately? It seemed like this big reveal could have happened earlier in the book and have the story go from there, because to me it felt like nothing much really happened - like Three Dark Crowns it kind of seems like a prequel rather than the first book in the series.
That being said I did like some aspects of the world - like people being vilified for not wanting to wear their hearts on their sleeves - but I think the building up of the blanks to be enemies wasn't so effective for me. Though Leora certainly believed it, at no point was I convinced that the blanks were these evil people that they were made out to be, so the reveals about the governments plans etc. weren't super shocking. Also Leora is constantly made out to be pretty intelligent - she never really had to study for her exams - and yet she constantly misses very clear hints people give her about her identity (though I do see this could be like disbelief but she didn't even really entertain ideas until someone had completely laid it out for her already). I did still enjoy the book as a bit of fun though.
**2.5 stars
I could go really in detail about the book but I’m just gonna leave it at this:
I like the story, but I feel like it could’ve been told in a better way.
I could go really in detail about the book but I’m just gonna leave it at this:
I like the story, but I feel like it could’ve been told in a better way.
adventurous
mysterious
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:
Yes
3.5**
After Absorbing
I have been looking forward to reading this book for some time now and while I'm not incredibly disappointed by it, I thought it was going to be better.
In Saintstone nothing about you is secret, or at least thats what society is taught to believe. From the second you're born every achievement, significant moment, job prospect, and failure are immortalized on your skin. Honorable marks let people know that you are trustworthy and that you should be remembered. Shameful marks announce that you are a traitor and should not be remembered once you die. After Leora's father dies she finds comfort in the fact that his skin tells a wonderful story. Until she witnesses a public marking, which hasn't happened for many centuries and a crow is marked on a man. The crow signifies to those who decide your fate after you die that you under no circumstances should be remembered. This incident brings memories flooding back to Leora who remembers a brief moment in her childhood where her father was marked with the same exact crow. But she never saw it again after that incident. And it wasn't there when she visited his skin book in the museum before it was to be judged. Leora knows it must be a mistake but before she can do anything about it, the horrifying secret gets out, jeopardizing her fathers legacy and the rest of Leora's life.
It's really hard for me to say what I liked and disliked without writing a spoiler filled review (which I don't like doing) but I will still continue to try to convey my thoughts.
Everything about this book could've been incredible. The plot concept is amazing and I've never seen anything like it before and it was written decently well, but there were some things I didn't like about it too. For one, I didn't like the incredible build up to an extremely predictable moment. I knew from the beginning of the story what was going to happen with that story arc. However, there was a plot twist that did make this predictable thing more enjoyable for me, but the build up was unnecessary. Another thing that I didn't particularly like were some of the choices made my the main character. I feel like she handled multiple situations wrong and it made her seem shallow, even thought I don't think her character was meant to be written in such a way.
The ending of this book intrigued me and I will definitely read the next book in the series (it might be a duology but I think it's a series, if someone knows let me know) to see what happens.
Before Absorbing
The beginning of the book was mostly character building which isn't my most favorite thing (because it makes the plot seem very slow, which I've complained about countless time already) but around the halfway point things started to pick up.
I really enjoyed the concept for this story, it was unique and there was something admirable about it. It shows that just by living your life you end up telling a story.
Overall, I did enjoy this book but there were some things I found fault with and disliked.
After Absorbing
I have been looking forward to reading this book for some time now and while I'm not incredibly disappointed by it, I thought it was going to be better.
In Saintstone nothing about you is secret, or at least thats what society is taught to believe. From the second you're born every achievement, significant moment, job prospect, and failure are immortalized on your skin. Honorable marks let people know that you are trustworthy and that you should be remembered. Shameful marks announce that you are a traitor and should not be remembered once you die. After Leora's father dies she finds comfort in the fact that his skin tells a wonderful story. Until she witnesses a public marking, which hasn't happened for many centuries and a crow is marked on a man. The crow signifies to those who decide your fate after you die that you under no circumstances should be remembered. This incident brings memories flooding back to Leora who remembers a brief moment in her childhood where her father was marked with the same exact crow. But she never saw it again after that incident. And it wasn't there when she visited his skin book in the museum before it was to be judged. Leora knows it must be a mistake but before she can do anything about it, the horrifying secret gets out, jeopardizing her fathers legacy and the rest of Leora's life.
It's really hard for me to say what I liked and disliked without writing a spoiler filled review (which I don't like doing) but I will still continue to try to convey my thoughts.
Everything about this book could've been incredible. The plot concept is amazing and I've never seen anything like it before and it was written decently well, but there were some things I didn't like about it too. For one, I didn't like the incredible build up to an extremely predictable moment. I knew from the beginning of the story what was going to happen with that story arc. However, there was a plot twist that did make this predictable thing more enjoyable for me, but the build up was unnecessary. Another thing that I didn't particularly like were some of the choices made my the main character. I feel like she handled multiple situations wrong and it made her seem shallow, even thought I don't think her character was meant to be written in such a way.
The ending of this book intrigued me and I will definitely read the next book in the series (it might be a duology but I think it's a series, if someone knows let me know) to see what happens.
Before Absorbing
The beginning of the book was mostly character building which isn't my most favorite thing (because it makes the plot seem very slow, which I've complained about countless time already) but around the halfway point things started to pick up.
I really enjoyed the concept for this story, it was unique and there was something admirable about it. It shows that just by living your life you end up telling a story.
Overall, I did enjoy this book but there were some things I found fault with and disliked.
Įdomi ir, regis, originali idėja, tačiau papasakota ji prastai. Veikėjai nebuvo įtraukiantys, galėjau bet kurią akimirką atidėti knygą į šalį ir nei kiek jos "nepasiilgti". Nepadėjo ir šis konkretus leidimas: leidykla paliko kalną klaidų, kartais jos taip smarkiai išblaškydavo mintis, kad norėjosi perskaitytą sakinį skaityti dar kartą. Manau, ši knyga tiktų nebent tada, kai norite lengvo skaitalo ir nieko smarkiai geresnio po ranka neturite.
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes