Scan barcode
kiarainthestacks's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
plotsandreviews's review
4.0
Dear Readers, Aliens and Creatures, what a delicious tropical rainforest fantasy - The Beholden - is. I have never read anything quite like it! A tale of mortals, gods, demi-gods and unholy creatures.
gg_reads's review
2.0
Thank you Netgalley for the free copy of this book that I got in exchange for an honest review!
Honestly, I only even looked at this book because the cover is STUNNING. The makings of a great, really atmospheric book. But then I read the synopsis and the plot seemed pretty basic and totally done before.
Not to say I'm an oracle or anything, but I was bang on the mark.
The plot just really wasn't it for me. And for me, the plot is everything. I want the action, the suspense, but that just isn't what I got enough of for a fantasy. And the magic system was totally lacking.
But here is a (short) list of good qualities this book has, that I'm sure made this book for some people, but just weren't enough to bring it back for me.
1)The jungle made for such an amazing setting. And with that sprinkle of disease and war and all that good stuff, it really was the thing that kept going. Anyone else get major Pandora vibes?
2) The sister relationship. It wasn't all hugs and kisses, but it was real AF. And had that underlying comitment to each other-even when screaming.I always appreciate sibling/platonic relationships in books more than romantic ones, so this one totally delivered on that front.
Wow, that really was a short list.
Honestly, I only even looked at this book because the cover is STUNNING. The makings of a great, really atmospheric book. But then I read the synopsis and the plot seemed pretty basic and totally done before.
Not to say I'm an oracle or anything, but I was bang on the mark.
The plot just really wasn't it for me. And for me, the plot is everything. I want the action, the suspense, but that just isn't what I got enough of for a fantasy. And the magic system was totally lacking.
But here is a (short) list of good qualities this book has, that I'm sure made this book for some people, but just weren't enough to bring it back for me.
1)The jungle made for such an amazing setting. And with that sprinkle of disease and war and all that good stuff, it really was the thing that kept going. Anyone else get major Pandora vibes?
2) The sister relationship. It wasn't all hugs and kisses, but it was real AF. And had that underlying comitment to each other-even when screaming.I always appreciate sibling/platonic relationships in books more than romantic ones, so this one totally delivered on that front.
Wow, that really was a short list.
ywanderingreads's review
2.0
I requested for this book because the cover is just stunning! Alas, the story pales in comparison. I found myself bored and detached halfway through the story.
This story starts off with the De Malena sisters, Celestia and Izara, making a bargain with a River Goddess, the Lady of the Seraphine, in exchange for Celestia gaining a husband who could help her with her land. In exchange, Seraphina wants the sisters to find the source of sickness that is spreading through their land which is causing an imbalance to the world and they are tasked to restore it. Ico, the pirate, who wants nothing to do with this ends up being entangled in the sisters’ affairs.
The world building is very interesting but unfortunately, the plot fell flat for me. I wished more was explored on the dark magic element and around Seraphine cause they seemed so interesting but nothing much was mentioned about it. This story does have its potential but it lacked tension and character growth for me. The plot was also fairly straightforward and there were little twists and obstacles and that made me feel disconnected from the story.
What I did love was the relationship between Celestia and Izara. Their relationship isn’t fluffy but their support for each other is very heart-warming. Like all siblings, they have their arguments but it all revolves around how protective they are of each other.
Thank you Netgalley and Erewhon Books for the arc.
This story starts off with the De Malena sisters, Celestia and Izara, making a bargain with a River Goddess, the Lady of the Seraphine, in exchange for Celestia gaining a husband who could help her with her land. In exchange, Seraphina wants the sisters to find the source of sickness that is spreading through their land which is causing an imbalance to the world and they are tasked to restore it. Ico, the pirate, who wants nothing to do with this ends up being entangled in the sisters’ affairs.
The world building is very interesting but unfortunately, the plot fell flat for me. I wished more was explored on the dark magic element and around Seraphine cause they seemed so interesting but nothing much was mentioned about it. This story does have its potential but it lacked tension and character growth for me. The plot was also fairly straightforward and there were little twists and obstacles and that made me feel disconnected from the story.
What I did love was the relationship between Celestia and Izara. Their relationship isn’t fluffy but their support for each other is very heart-warming. Like all siblings, they have their arguments but it all revolves around how protective they are of each other.
Thank you Netgalley and Erewhon Books for the arc.
acuppabooks18's review
2.0
Arc received from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
In The Beholden we follow two sisters and a reformed Pirate as they fulfill the tenets of a bargain they made with a River Goddess 5 years prior. They are tasked with finding the source of a sickness that is spreading through their land. A sickness that means people, animals, and plants are not dying. The world is out of balance and it is their task to restore it.
There were some interesting things in this novel. I thought that the world the author created was cool, there was an intriguing magic system and we were given a pantheon of gods that I had never truly seen before.
Honestly, though, this book ended up missing the mark for me. It had quite a bit of potential but there were quite a few missed opportunities as overall the story lacked tension and character growth for me. The magic system was never truly explained despite us being presented with a counter system and the lush jungle that was presented was underutilized.
We were given three potentially awesome characters between a powerful mage, a former pirate, and a noble woman who was traveling on this quest despite being pregnant. These three and how they approached the conflict, each other, and the obstacles thrown in their way could've been wonderful! Despite this and the events that they faced (when they happened) we barely saw any character growth through the novel except at the very end when it was necessary to the plot progression. It also was a little aggrevating to see the fact that one of the characters was pregnant and not experiencing pregnancy as she should've referenced every other paragraph. Its understandable on some level and I am not a parent but, women have been pregnant and giving birth in far worse circumstances for centuries. Outside of traveling and one attack, this character had it pretty good.
I can often forgive two dimensional characters if you give me an active plot with tension. This book mostly revolved around the three characters traveling somewhere, speaking with some folks and then moving onto the next desination. But, even when they traveled they were mostly just talking to each other or bemoaning their situation. When we did get an action scene it didn't feel important. Because, there didn't really seem to be any threat. Even one of the characters referencing people that would've been hunting them was never delivered upon. There was a missed opportunity in the sickness as well because it never truly affected their journey nor did it cause an obstacle. Really, there were hardly any obstacles that prevented the characters from doing anything. Most of them were easily overcome as well.
I think this had a lot of potential and I'd be interested to see what the author creates next but, this book was just not there for me.
In The Beholden we follow two sisters and a reformed Pirate as they fulfill the tenets of a bargain they made with a River Goddess 5 years prior. They are tasked with finding the source of a sickness that is spreading through their land. A sickness that means people, animals, and plants are not dying. The world is out of balance and it is their task to restore it.
There were some interesting things in this novel. I thought that the world the author created was cool, there was an intriguing magic system and we were given a pantheon of gods that I had never truly seen before.
Honestly, though, this book ended up missing the mark for me. It had quite a bit of potential but there were quite a few missed opportunities as overall the story lacked tension and character growth for me. The magic system was never truly explained despite us being presented with a counter system and the lush jungle that was presented was underutilized.
We were given three potentially awesome characters between a powerful mage, a former pirate, and a noble woman who was traveling on this quest despite being pregnant. These three and how they approached the conflict, each other, and the obstacles thrown in their way could've been wonderful! Despite this and the events that they faced (when they happened) we barely saw any character growth through the novel except at the very end when it was necessary to the plot progression. It also was a little aggrevating to see the fact that one of the characters was pregnant and not experiencing pregnancy as she should've referenced every other paragraph. Its understandable on some level and I am not a parent but, women have been pregnant and giving birth in far worse circumstances for centuries. Outside of traveling and one attack, this character had it pretty good.
I can often forgive two dimensional characters if you give me an active plot with tension. This book mostly revolved around the three characters traveling somewhere, speaking with some folks and then moving onto the next desination. But, even when they traveled they were mostly just talking to each other or bemoaning their situation. When we did get an action scene it didn't feel important. Because, there didn't really seem to be any threat. Even one of the characters referencing people that would've been hunting them was never delivered upon. There was a missed opportunity in the sickness as well because it never truly affected their journey nor did it cause an obstacle. Really, there were hardly any obstacles that prevented the characters from doing anything. Most of them were easily overcome as well.
I think this had a lot of potential and I'd be interested to see what the author creates next but, this book was just not there for me.
feelingmyshelf2021's review
3.0
(ARC received in exchange for honest review at www.netgalley.com)
I have not ready anything by Cassandra Rose Clarke and honestly the only reason why I requested this novel is because of the cover. It is absolutely gorgeous!
Once I got into the book I was a little disappointed with the plot, or lack of it. I think the concept of what she was trying to get at was great but it just didn't execute well!
I loved the jungle setting and the relationship between the two sisters. I wish I could give half stars because this was a 3.5/5 for me.
I have not ready anything by Cassandra Rose Clarke and honestly the only reason why I requested this novel is because of the cover. It is absolutely gorgeous!
Once I got into the book I was a little disappointed with the plot, or lack of it. I think the concept of what she was trying to get at was great but it just didn't execute well!
I loved the jungle setting and the relationship between the two sisters. I wish I could give half stars because this was a 3.5/5 for me.
vaniavela's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
“I’m tired of being evil,”Kjari said, before Ico could lash out again. “Tired of being the monster human children fear before they go to bed. River has no idea what it is to fill the role I fill.”
The Beholden tells the story of Izara and Celestia, two sister who summon the Lady of the Seraphine and demands a favor. But a favor from the river goddess always comes at a cost. Years later, rumors of war and disease are spreading, and the Lady of the Seraphine is back to collect her due; together, they must repay their debt to the Lady—embarking on a mission that will put them on a collision course with a god even more powerful than her.
The cover of this book is just beautiful. From the colors to the drawings, all the elements combine perfectly. It fascinated me from the moment I saw it for the first time.
The characters are unique in their own way. I really liked the way each of them brings something important to the plot. The sister relationship between Izara and Celestia is very real. They can get angry with each other and disagree on certain issues, but they always have unconditional love for each other.
The elements of magic seemed incredible to me. The concept of gods and diseases was very creative in my opinion. The combination of magic with the characters, and how it helps them on their journey is fascinating.
The descriptions are also very detailed and I liked that too much. I was able to imagine each place and setting in a detailed way and that allowed me to read the story more realistically.
It was a book that I enjoyed.It is a plot driven book, so it is a bit more difficult to read if you are used to read character driven books. Still, it is very enjoyable.
I am grateful to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. It is simply wonderful. I hope I can buy a physical copy very soon :)
The Beholden tells the story of Izara and Celestia, two sister who summon the Lady of the Seraphine and demands a favor. But a favor from the river goddess always comes at a cost. Years later, rumors of war and disease are spreading, and the Lady of the Seraphine is back to collect her due; together, they must repay their debt to the Lady—embarking on a mission that will put them on a collision course with a god even more powerful than her.
The cover of this book is just beautiful. From the colors to the drawings, all the elements combine perfectly. It fascinated me from the moment I saw it for the first time.
The characters are unique in their own way. I really liked the way each of them brings something important to the plot. The sister relationship between Izara and Celestia is very real. They can get angry with each other and disagree on certain issues, but they always have unconditional love for each other.
The elements of magic seemed incredible to me. The concept of gods and diseases was very creative in my opinion. The combination of magic with the characters, and how it helps them on their journey is fascinating.
The descriptions are also very detailed and I liked that too much. I was able to imagine each place and setting in a detailed way and that allowed me to read the story more realistically.
It was a book that I enjoyed.It is a plot driven book, so it is a bit more difficult to read if you are used to read character driven books. Still, it is very enjoyable.
I am grateful to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. It is simply wonderful. I hope I can buy a physical copy very soon :)
More...