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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
First I want to say that I generally do not "critically" review books. If I enjoy a book I give it 5 stars. It doesn't have to be in my top 5 books that year to get a 5 star review. Also, I have dnfed 3 books ever. I read over 100 books every year. I just want the readers of this review to have an understanding of my background before I state my reasons for this particular review. With all that said, here is my review:
I read one page before I knew that there was no way I could finish this book. I had to read and reread each sentence to even get a basic understanding of what was happening. I kept questioning myself. Maybe this book is a higher level and I'm just not smart enough. So, I took it to my husband and had him read a page. I took it to my brother in law and had him read a page. I took it to my friend and had them read a page. We all came to the same conclusion....The grammar is almost perfect. But every single sentence is written in a parallel style. Every single one. It feels like an AI wrote the entire book. If I didn't read so many books, I may have not noticed. I would have just thought this book is uneccisarily hard to read. The grammar is almost perfect, but no human writes or speaks like this. I dont have hard evidence which is why I haven't done anything other than write this review, however, i will never support unethical use of ai to create art and that includes books, book covers, art like maps inside a book. I am almost 100 percent positive that this entire book was created with the use of unethical ai. What is worse is that due to my disabilities, I struggle with reading on screens for any given amount of time...so instead of reading the free arc the author sent me, I purchased an overpriced paperback book that has ai created artwork, ai created maps, and what feels like ai written words. I would reccomend anyone that has given this book a five star review without actually reading it, that they go back and look into this book more closely. Supporting an author who is clearly using ai artwork and maps is bad enough. But if what I suspect is correct, then you are also supporting an author who used ai to write this entire book. If I am wrong and this author actually writes like this, then I guess I just dislike the style enough that out of 76 books I've read so far this year, this is the only one I've given a negative review.
I read one page before I knew that there was no way I could finish this book. I had to read and reread each sentence to even get a basic understanding of what was happening. I kept questioning myself. Maybe this book is a higher level and I'm just not smart enough. So, I took it to my husband and had him read a page. I took it to my brother in law and had him read a page. I took it to my friend and had them read a page. We all came to the same conclusion....The grammar is almost perfect. But every single sentence is written in a parallel style. Every single one. It feels like an AI wrote the entire book. If I didn't read so many books, I may have not noticed. I would have just thought this book is uneccisarily hard to read. The grammar is almost perfect, but no human writes or speaks like this. I dont have hard evidence which is why I haven't done anything other than write this review, however, i will never support unethical use of ai to create art and that includes books, book covers, art like maps inside a book. I am almost 100 percent positive that this entire book was created with the use of unethical ai. What is worse is that due to my disabilities, I struggle with reading on screens for any given amount of time...so instead of reading the free arc the author sent me, I purchased an overpriced paperback book that has ai created artwork, ai created maps, and what feels like ai written words. I would reccomend anyone that has given this book a five star review without actually reading it, that they go back and look into this book more closely. Supporting an author who is clearly using ai artwork and maps is bad enough. But if what I suspect is correct, then you are also supporting an author who used ai to write this entire book. If I am wrong and this author actually writes like this, then I guess I just dislike the style enough that out of 76 books I've read so far this year, this is the only one I've given a negative review.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
The Fate of Elysian by Theresa Sherron is a debut novel by this author. I was really looking forward to reading this book when first heard about it on TikTok. Much to my happiness the book lived up to every expectation I had of it. To be honest, the novel exceeded them. I enjoyed the intrigue, the mystery and all the twists, turns and everything in between. Once I started, I found it hard to put down.
The book is set in a dystopian future where everything has collapsed and pretty much with everyone starving. I loved the main character Faye, how she reacted, thought and acted. I actually was a fan of the characters, plot… well, actually everything. I can’t wait until book 2!
Final Review:
Five out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The aesthetic of the book
5 out of 5 thumbs up 👍👍👍👍👍
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-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:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
This book felt like all my favorite books as a teen rolled into to one! Gave me Matched, Uglies, Divergent, and Hunger Games vibes throughout and made me feel so happy and nostalgic. There were characters I loved and some I hated, and when the twist ending came, it left me questioning how I really felt about every single one of them. Now I need to go back and reread it to really digest the whole book because I flew through it in my first read through. Highly recommend!
4.5 star rating, thanks to Theresa Sherron for an advanced copy for my honest review.
4.5 star rating, thanks to Theresa Sherron for an advanced copy for my honest review.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
“Today, tomorrow, and every day after that. You are my world.”
4.75⭐️ This book was really slow for me in the beginning and I felt that at points there was some repetition with Faye’s thoughts. Which I completely understand but for me it was a bit much. It started picking up around the 30% point and then it was just a wild ride from there. I understand the beginning was needed for the world building and set up so I’m not mad about it, it was just on the slower pace for me. I’m still new-ish to the dystopian genre but after that point, I was completely hooked. Lots of twists and turns and a lot of questions that better be answered in Book 2. I’m looking at you Theresa 👀👀🤣🤣 Hunger Games, The 100, Mazerunner vibes and I am here for it. This is her debut novel and I really love the concept behind it and how it was delivered. The book definitely leaves it open for the second book to start and for you to form your own theories about what in the world just happened. I cannot wait to see her writing style grow as she writes more books and I’m so thankful I get to be apart of her team for it. 🖤🖤
4.75⭐️ This book was really slow for me in the beginning and I felt that at points there was some repetition with Faye’s thoughts. Which I completely understand but for me it was a bit much. It started picking up around the 30% point and then it was just a wild ride from there. I understand the beginning was needed for the world building and set up so I’m not mad about it, it was just on the slower pace for me. I’m still new-ish to the dystopian genre but after that point, I was completely hooked. Lots of twists and turns and a lot of questions that better be answered in Book 2. I’m looking at you Theresa 👀👀🤣🤣 Hunger Games, The 100, Mazerunner vibes and I am here for it. This is her debut novel and I really love the concept behind it and how it was delivered. The book definitely leaves it open for the second book to start and for you to form your own theories about what in the world just happened. I cannot wait to see her writing style grow as she writes more books and I’m so thankful I get to be apart of her team for it. 🖤🖤
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A nostalgic kind of love for this Dystopian debut! A no spoilers review.
I loved how much this book made me reminisce on the dystopian fiction of my teenage years. Immediately, it gave Hunger Games x Divergent vibes. Reading it had me questioning everything; I didn’t trust anyone or anything. I rated this book on vibes alone. It had its issues but overall, I enjoyed myself while reading it. The last 25% I couldn't stop thinking about, and I couldn't put the story down every time I tried.
This was a love-triangle, insta-love, forbidden romance story. The plot was interesting. It kept me guessing and the ending threw me for a loop. Knowing what I know now because of the ending, I’d like to reread it. It takes a lot for me to want to reread a book.
I found the characters could have been developed a little better. The writing could’ve been better, but it wasn’t bad. I found the writing to be a bit choppy but the storyline was overall good enough to easily overlook. I think for a debut indie-published novel, that is to be expected. The writing has some great potential! I still wanted to keep reading.
Faye and I have a love-hate relationship. I found her very naive, but I found that I often had to remind myself of her upbringing and that under the circumstances, she would be naive. It makes sense with her character.
The romance was good, but a little rushed, even for insta-love. It seemed like the whole soulmates process should’ve been explained to the people coming into the City. I’m really interested in how the next book evolves with the way the book ended.
The short of it: this book was most of what I look for in a book - entertaining, interesting, and decently written. It did have some things that can be improved, but I see so much potential in Theresa’s writing and storytelling.
I can’t wait for book 2 because it’s going to be amazing! I can’t wait to see what Theresa will do with it!
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I loved how much this book made me reminisce on the dystopian fiction of my teenage years. Immediately, it gave Hunger Games x Divergent vibes. Reading it had me questioning everything; I didn’t trust anyone or anything. I rated this book on vibes alone. It had its issues but overall, I enjoyed myself while reading it. The last 25% I couldn't stop thinking about, and I couldn't put the story down every time I tried.
This was a love-triangle, insta-love, forbidden romance story. The plot was interesting. It kept me guessing and the ending threw me for a loop. Knowing what I know now because of the ending, I’d like to reread it. It takes a lot for me to want to reread a book.
I found the characters could have been developed a little better. The writing could’ve been better, but it wasn’t bad. I found the writing to be a bit choppy but the storyline was overall good enough to easily overlook. I think for a debut indie-published novel, that is to be expected. The writing has some great potential! I still wanted to keep reading.
Faye and I have a love-hate relationship. I found her very naive, but I found that I often had to remind myself of her upbringing and that under the circumstances, she would be naive. It makes sense with her character.
The romance was good, but a little rushed, even for insta-love. It seemed like the whole soulmates process should’ve been explained to the people coming into the City. I’m really interested in how the next book evolves with the way the book ended.
The short of it: this book was most of what I look for in a book - entertaining, interesting, and decently written. It did have some things that can be improved, but I see so much potential in Theresa’s writing and storytelling.
I can’t wait for book 2 because it’s going to be amazing! I can’t wait to see what Theresa will do with it!
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Wow, I don’t even know where to start with this book. I was lucky enough to be an ARC reader for this book and it did not disappoint.
Divergent meets Hunger Games meets The 100 meets Maze Runner and add in a little bit of 🌶️. A dystopian novel I didn’t realize I needed!
And that ending!! What in the world, Theresa! I was mind blown to say the least.
The plot is so good and fresh and Theresa delivered it amazingly.
The Fate of Elysian will have you on the edge of your seat trying to figure out what’s going to happen next and just when you think you’ve got it, BAM, Theresa throws in the wildest twist ever.
This is a book you don’t want to pass up, and you won’t be able to put it down once you start!
5⭐️ and I will be recommending it every chance I get!
Divergent meets Hunger Games meets The 100 meets Maze Runner and add in a little bit of 🌶️. A dystopian novel I didn’t realize I needed!
And that ending!! What in the world, Theresa! I was mind blown to say the least.
The plot is so good and fresh and Theresa delivered it amazingly.
The Fate of Elysian will have you on the edge of your seat trying to figure out what’s going to happen next and just when you think you’ve got it, BAM, Theresa throws in the wildest twist ever.
This is a book you don’t want to pass up, and you won’t be able to put it down once you start!
5⭐️ and I will be recommending it every chance I get!
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes