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annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not sure why this book and I didn't click better than an average three star rating. Maybe I read this book at the wrong moment, in the wrong mood (totally possible in my case). Maybe all the different elements that were there, weren't as important to me as the element that was missing. Maybe I had too high expectations after seeing this book at so many places.
The premise of this book is truly amazing and interesting. The book deals with a young girl coming to terms with the dark power she is wielding. Our main character Vesper can summon your worse fears and bring them to life, but we also learn about all the other possible powers, a list that's endless. And of course, we learn about the people who were determined to keep the secret and punished everyone who broke their rules. It's part mystery, part action and mostly a coming of age story.
What I love is that all the information, about Vesper's past, about what happened to the world, about all the different powers and people was spread out through the book. There was no huge info-dump to give us everything at once, but we were given pieces of the puzzle until eventually those pieces clicked and we ended up with a somehow complete picture.
But, I had some issues with the emotional sides of the story. Due to Vesper's reserved and distant nature, I had the feeling that we were never really allowed to come too close. It made it hard to connect with any of the other characters, it made it hard for me to really understand and see the romance, it made it hard to feel anything for the other characters. For me personally, it also made it hard to really connect with Vesper. It felt a little as if she was sometimes keeping me, as a reader, out too.
And for me reading is emotion. So, the story is good and interesting. The writing style is simple and to the point, but nice. The world is fascinating. But I didn't feel much while reading this story and about these characters and for me that means there's really something important missing.
The premise of this book is truly amazing and interesting. The book deals with a young girl coming to terms with the dark power she is wielding. Our main character Vesper can summon your worse fears and bring them to life, but we also learn about all the other possible powers, a list that's endless. And of course, we learn about the people who were determined to keep the secret and punished everyone who broke their rules. It's part mystery, part action and mostly a coming of age story.
What I love is that all the information, about Vesper's past, about what happened to the world, about all the different powers and people was spread out through the book. There was no huge info-dump to give us everything at once, but we were given pieces of the puzzle until eventually those pieces clicked and we ended up with a somehow complete picture.
But, I had some issues with the emotional sides of the story. Due to Vesper's reserved and distant nature, I had the feeling that we were never really allowed to come too close. It made it hard to connect with any of the other characters, it made it hard for me to really understand and see the romance, it made it hard to feel anything for the other characters. For me personally, it also made it hard to really connect with Vesper. It felt a little as if she was sometimes keeping me, as a reader, out too.
And for me reading is emotion. So, the story is good and interesting. The writing style is simple and to the point, but nice. The world is fascinating. But I didn't feel much while reading this story and about these characters and for me that means there's really something important missing.
ddillon154's review against another edition
3.0
Not bad. Reading it at a different time I might have liked it more. The different clans of oddities was nice and has a lot of potential. Might re-read again later.
millie1985's review against another edition
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
miss_art3mis's review against another edition
HUGE FAN jiu jitsu my long lost beloved
allie018's review against another edition
3.0
The Beckoning Shadow was on my reading list for a while, so I’ve been really anxious to read it because of how interesting it sounded. Now that I’ve read it, I’m not sure if it lived up to the hype I was expecting.
The thing that really bugged me about the book was the plot. The plot didn’t seem to have a clear direction as the book progressed. There were several subplots bundled together, with there being a mystery surrounding Sam’s girlfriend’s, Elisa, death, the threat of the Wardens looming over Oddity society, Vesper’s search for reconciliation with herself, and her. Each of these subplots didn’t feel very balanced, as more weight seemed to be given to Vesper’s internal conflict. Each chapter also kept bouncing between subplots, making the transitions feel really jumpy and unnatural. Random details would also be thrown into some of the conversations between the characters without any buildup, which left me scratching my head and wondering what the heck I just read. For example, All of these random twists and turns in the plot ultimately made it feel really murky and rushed, which wasn’t a very good experience for me when reading.
As much as I liked the ideas that went into the power system and Oddity world, I didn’t think that the world-building was very good. Oddities, people with special powers, have to stay hidden from the world, or else Baselines, regular humans, would try to eradicate them. Wardens, Oddities who police other Oddities and serve as intermediaries between Baselines and Oddities, protect both worlds from destroying each other. This conflict between the Oddities and Baselines was barely touched upon in the book, so this part of the world-building didn’t feel very sustained. It is also stated that Oddities manifest their powers through magic and that certain powers originated in certain areas, yet it never really goes into why this occurs. I guess that’s kind of a mystery in itself that leaves things up to the reader’s imagination, but I kinda wish that there was a bit more on the origin of this magic system.
While the plot and world-building of the book left a little something to be desired, I thought the characters were the main highlight.
Vesper was an amazing protagonist, with her being really witty, smart, tough, and vulnerable. The way she narrates the events in the story reminds me a little of Percy Jackson, with her thinking things like, “Don’t look at him, don’t look, don’t look …. and I looked” which made the story really entertaining and humorous. (On a side note, the chicken shark conversation was one of the most hilarious moments in the book.) I liked how Vesper was a perfect blend of tough but vulnerable. Her hatred of herself and her abilities because of what she did to her family hardened her and made it difficult for her to want to be near people in fear of hurting them. However, throughout the story, I loved how she begins to open up more and learn to embrace her power, as well as take control of her fears to find freedom and love. Her arc was just so well-written, and I really liked how she comes to the ultimate realization that focusing on the past and fearing the future blinds her from the present moment, allowing her to change for the better.
I wasn’t a huge fan of Sam at first, but I started to like him more as the book went on. One thing that I thought was really unique about Sam was how he chooses to act even though he went through some major losses that led to him feeling depressed and lonely. I feel like most authors tend to mire their characters in their difficulties to make them seem badass, edgy, or cool, but Sam approaches his problems with a willingness to do something about them. He gets into exercising and starts writing down the good things he experiences each day in a notebook, making him feel more vulnerable as he searches for healing. I also thought it was interesting that Sam was a mirror to Vesper as he sought his own kind of reconciliation throughout the book. I liked how both their desires to fill the hole in their hearts brought them together and encouraged them to heal each other and find that reconciliation.
Though they didn’t have very prominent roles in the story, Sapphira, Aldrick, Mavis, and Abagail were really cool characters. I liked Sapphira and Vesper’s friendship and how they strove to have a bit of normalcy return to their lives. Aldrick’s kindness and humor were very refreshing, and I liked how loyal and protective he was towards his friends. Mavis surprised me a lot because I thought she would be a vicious rival to Vesper, but she turned out to be a good ally, just with a bit of a temper. Abagail was kind of like a watered-down Vesper, being tough and all, but I really appreciated how her character and motif show that girls can do manly things without sacrificing their femininity.
All in all, The Beckoning Shadow may not have had the compelling plot I was looking for, but I think the characters more than made up for it. I would definitely recommend this to readers who enjoy character-driven books, great character development, and a bit of magical realism.
The thing that really bugged me about the book was the plot. The plot didn’t seem to have a clear direction as the book progressed. There were several subplots bundled together, with there being a mystery surrounding Sam’s girlfriend’s, Elisa, death, the threat of the Wardens looming over Oddity society, Vesper’s search for reconciliation with herself, and her
Spoiler
growing feelings towards SamSpoiler
Sam tells Vesper that his former girlfriend Elisa was a Metalurg (an Oddity that can control metal), but after they visit the Chronicler (an Oddity who writes down the histories of every Oddity that ever existed), Elisa is revealed to have been a Ripper (an Oddity who can steal powers from other Oddities), which Sam had known the whole time but refused to share with Vesper. As if that wasn’t already a huge twist, it then turns out that Elisa was Ivan’s, the head of the Wardens and the main antagonist, daughter. There was also an instance when Vesper and her friends go to meet Lynn to find out more about Elisa’s death and Vesper mentions how her father lost his power because he refused to hurt a child. Lynn then reveals that she was that child, which confused me because I didn’t remember there ever being a moment where Vesper explained why her father lost his power before Lynn’s revelation. Overall, these twists just felt so sudden and random that they didn’t give me as much of a shock factor as I would’ve liked.As much as I liked the ideas that went into the power system and Oddity world, I didn’t think that the world-building was very good. Oddities, people with special powers, have to stay hidden from the world, or else Baselines, regular humans, would try to eradicate them. Wardens, Oddities who police other Oddities and serve as intermediaries between Baselines and Oddities, protect both worlds from destroying each other. This conflict between the Oddities and Baselines was barely touched upon in the book, so this part of the world-building didn’t feel very sustained. It is also stated that Oddities manifest their powers through magic and that certain powers originated in certain areas, yet it never really goes into why this occurs. I guess that’s kind of a mystery in itself that leaves things up to the reader’s imagination, but I kinda wish that there was a bit more on the origin of this magic system.
While the plot and world-building of the book left a little something to be desired, I thought the characters were the main highlight.
Vesper was an amazing protagonist, with her being really witty, smart, tough, and vulnerable. The way she narrates the events in the story reminds me a little of Percy Jackson, with her thinking things like, “Don’t look at him, don’t look, don’t look …. and I looked” which made the story really entertaining and humorous. (On a side note, the chicken shark conversation was one of the most hilarious moments in the book.) I liked how Vesper was a perfect blend of tough but vulnerable. Her hatred of herself and her abilities because of what she did to her family hardened her and made it difficult for her to want to be near people in fear of hurting them. However, throughout the story, I loved how she begins to open up more and learn to embrace her power, as well as take control of her fears to find freedom and love. Her arc was just so well-written, and I really liked how she comes to the ultimate realization that focusing on the past and fearing the future blinds her from the present moment, allowing her to change for the better.
I wasn’t a huge fan of Sam at first, but I started to like him more as the book went on. One thing that I thought was really unique about Sam was how he chooses to act even though he went through some major losses that led to him feeling depressed and lonely. I feel like most authors tend to mire their characters in their difficulties to make them seem badass, edgy, or cool, but Sam approaches his problems with a willingness to do something about them. He gets into exercising and starts writing down the good things he experiences each day in a notebook, making him feel more vulnerable as he searches for healing. I also thought it was interesting that Sam was a mirror to Vesper as he sought his own kind of reconciliation throughout the book. I liked how both their desires to fill the hole in their hearts brought them together and encouraged them to heal each other and find that reconciliation.
Though they didn’t have very prominent roles in the story, Sapphira, Aldrick, Mavis, and Abagail were really cool characters. I liked Sapphira and Vesper’s friendship and how they strove to have a bit of normalcy return to their lives. Aldrick’s kindness and humor were very refreshing, and I liked how loyal and protective he was towards his friends. Mavis surprised me a lot because I thought she would be a vicious rival to Vesper, but she turned out to be a good ally, just with a bit of a temper. Abagail was kind of like a watered-down Vesper, being tough and all, but I really appreciated how her character and motif show that girls can do manly things without sacrificing their femininity.
All in all, The Beckoning Shadow may not have had the compelling plot I was looking for, but I think the characters more than made up for it. I would definitely recommend this to readers who enjoy character-driven books, great character development, and a bit of magical realism.
_nyctophob1a_'s review against another edition
Lost bookmark then lost interest in finishing the end
rachelwrites007's review against another edition
4.0
Ah this book was so good. I read an early draft and it's perfect for fans of Lauren Oliver, Saba Tahir, Victoria Schwab, and The Magicians. The worldbuilding is just so new and different. Looking forward to reading the finished copy in 2019!!
billblume's review
4.0
The Beckoning Shadow is one of those books that I've been anticipating for a long time. The comps for it were Fight Club meets The Magicians. That combination really works for me (which is surprising, since I've never seen Fight Club and didn't like the novel The Magicians).
First things first: what makes this book work so well is Vesper. I got into her character. She's a hot mess, and understandably so. There's something enticing about a character running in search of redemption, even if she isn't fully aware that's what she's doing. As a harbinger, she's able to manifest people's worst fears, and at first, I wasn't sure how well that was going to work for her as a fighter, but Blair finds some clever ways to use Vesper's powers within the fights.
Perhaps the best thing about Vesper's story is how Blair makes her arc developing into a fighter more about how she accepts her powers. At the beginning, her powers are completely out of her control.
The relationship with Sam provides a lot of intrigue. Not only is Vesper planning to betray him, but he's got a lot of his own secrets. The more we learn about Sam, the more we learn about this hidden world of Oddities.
There are some plot points that I'm wondering if Blair plans to address in future books.
I will admit that I suspected pretty early on where the storyline with Ananias was going, but that didn't bother me too much. The story includes a lot of other twists that I didn't expect, which makes up for that. More importantly, it's never clear how Vesper will manage to outwit Ananias in the end, so that made for good tension.
I think this book works great. It stands on its own, but I still want to see what Blair plans to do next with these characters and this world.
First things first: what makes this book work so well is Vesper. I got into her character. She's a hot mess, and understandably so. There's something enticing about a character running in search of redemption, even if she isn't fully aware that's what she's doing. As a harbinger, she's able to manifest people's worst fears, and at first, I wasn't sure how well that was going to work for her as a fighter, but Blair finds some clever ways to use Vesper's powers within the fights.
Perhaps the best thing about Vesper's story is how Blair makes her arc developing into a fighter more about how she accepts her powers. At the beginning, her powers are completely out of her control.
The relationship with Sam provides a lot of intrigue. Not only is Vesper planning to betray him, but he's got a lot of his own secrets. The more we learn about Sam, the more we learn about this hidden world of Oddities.
There are some plot points that I'm wondering if Blair plans to address in future books.
Spoiler
I'm most puzzled by the message left in umbra ink on Sam's wall by his lost love Elisa. The message is seemingly left for him, but since he's a baseline, there's no reason for Elisa to think he'd ever see it. That suggests Elisa might actually have left the message for Vesper, even though the two of them have never met. Does this mean Elisa learned the future from someone, most likely the Chronicler?I will admit that I suspected pretty early on where the storyline with Ananias was going, but that didn't bother me too much. The story includes a lot of other twists that I didn't expect, which makes up for that. More importantly, it's never clear how Vesper will manage to outwit Ananias in the end, so that made for good tension.
I think this book works great. It stands on its own, but I still want to see what Blair plans to do next with these characters and this world.