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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I don't know how to make out this story.
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It has a strong start but a rush ending.
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The characters are fine. Some characters are a bit slow-witted
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I love the story but it has a weak plot.
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It has a strong start but a rush ending.
.
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The characters are fine. Some characters are a bit slow-witted
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I love the story but it has a weak plot.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-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
I got this book as part of a “blind date with a book” parcel. I could not finish it. As a matter of fact, the second I came to (yes) the actual words (yes) “round eye” and “gaijin”, that little voice inside of myself, the one that tells me to stop procrastinating and be productive? Well, it whispered to me. It said “what the fuck”. There are much more eloquent 1-star reviews on the racism and cultural appropriation in this book. Those are reviews you should read. Don’t be like me, and continue another 30-odd stumbling pages just because you want to see a sentient gryphon.
The author, Jay Kristoff, contends his book is awesome because it’s a unique premise in an exhausted genre. It’s his baby. And who am I to get between a man and his baby? I am Only, dear readers, the mother fucking King Solomon of bathtub book-reading. Others, however, have been more adept than I in cutting this baby to shredded ribbons. Seriously. Read those reviews.
Speaking of the author- I can’t tell you how many times I looked at his Wikipedia page, at the back of the cover, through Goodreads, etc al. to find out if he is actually of Asian OR Japanese decent. If someone knows the answer, please tell me. Otherwise I will forever be forced to imagine his Harem of bodypillows, and I really really don’t want to do that.
I never even made it to the Gryphon.
The author, Jay Kristoff, contends his book is awesome because it’s a unique premise in an exhausted genre. It’s his baby. And who am I to get between a man and his baby? I am Only, dear readers, the mother fucking King Solomon of bathtub book-reading. Others, however, have been more adept than I in cutting this baby to shredded ribbons. Seriously. Read those reviews.
Speaking of the author- I can’t tell you how many times I looked at his Wikipedia page, at the back of the cover, through Goodreads, etc al. to find out if he is actually of Asian OR Japanese decent. If someone knows the answer, please tell me. Otherwise I will forever be forced to imagine his Harem of bodypillows, and I really really don’t want to do that.
I never even made it to the Gryphon.
Brilliant! Japanese Steampunk. Griffins. Revolution and adventure and Jay Kristoff's relentless savage prose. I hope kinslayer turns up soon.
I've been dying to get my hands on this book for months, and had to wait patiently (not) for my library to order it. Then I got it, and I was nervous to finally read it, because what if I got my hopes up too high? What if it wasn't worth the hype? There were VERY mixed reviews on Goodreads, after all. Either love or hate, with almost nothing in between. I am extremely happy to say that I fell into the love category! Why did I ever doubt it? DON'T DOUBT IT, GUYS.
Many people complained about the slow pace and overly descriptive writing. I assure you, IT'S NOT THAT BAD. This is coming from someone who despises excessive description. I do need to warn you, though: Read over the glossary before you start the novel. It will vastly help your understanding of the world. (There's a map, too! Bonus points, I love maps!) I admit I made one failed attempt before I had to start over fresh (you know when you read a paragraph over and over and STILL have no clue what it said because you weren't really paying attention? Yeah, that was me for 20 pages), and the second time I was much more gung-ho about the book because I actually understood the world a bit better. Sure, it may have been a bit slow for a short period, but once Buruu came into play I was completely engrossed!
Yukiko was a good lead. Strong, fiery, and independent. But I'm afraid I didn't connect with her overly much, because her glory was stolen. Yes, that's right. By who, you ask? Buruu! My vast adoration for him overshadowed anything I might have felt toward Yukiko. It has been a very long time since I've loved any character as much as I loved the fierce and magnificent thunder tiger. He made me laugh with his pragmatic and straightforward wit. Kristoff did a fantastic job of giving him the perfect personality of a mighty beast that could easily crush a human like a mouse.
ENOUGH NOISE. STAND ASIDE. I WILL GUT HIM.
We can't kill him like this.
AH. YOU WISH TO LET HIM STARVE, THEN. SLOW DEATH. FITTING.
No, I think we should bring him with us.
Buruu blinked, cocked his head to one side.
TO EAT?
I think the development between Yukiko and Buruu was my favorite part of Stormdancer (besides Buruu himself, of course). At first it's hatred, and they're forced into an uneasy alliance, but Yukiko earned his grudging respect and the bond they forged was incredible and powerful.
The minor characters were done well, too, and felt incredibly real. Their depth was stunning! I love when an author can pull me into their story enough to feel hatred for a character (Shogun Yoritomo), and there were many times I didn't know who to trust.
Let's take a moment to gush over my favorite arashitora (okay, the only one). I FREAKING ADORE BURUU. Can I please be a Stormdancer so I can ride my own thunder tiger? Please?? Okay, so not just any thunder tiger. I just want Buruu. Because he was so awesome! I am blinded by the shining glory of Buruu!!! Ahem. I'm going to stop the crazed fangirling now. ^.^
Kristoff's writing is beautiful and captivating, his world painted vividly in the reader's mind with flowing and descriptive prose. The book was very engaging, too - in fact, I was emotionally invested enough to cry (only a handful of books have done that). I knew I was in for heartbreak at the end of the book, and I even though I saw the loss coming, I still cried. Mr. Kristoff, you broke my heart! I can't wait to see what happens next in the series, and can't wait for more Buruu!
This review was originally posted on Novel Heartbeat. To see a breakdown of my assessment, please visit the full review here.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It's probably one of the most anticipated books coming out in September 2012. And I recommend you buy and read it. While it wasn't perfect, I did fall in love with the world Jay Kristoff has created. I look forward to the second book in the series and hope the author will show us more of this original world and bring us closer to his heroine. Read my full review on SFF Book Review
If I were talking about this book on twitter (were I such a person), here are some of the hashtags I'd be bound to use: #Japan #Feudal #Steampunk #Dysopia #Fantasy #Griffins #War.
Do any of those sound like something you might like? Then this is probably the book for you!
Although, I'd like to warm major Japan buffs: Either don't read the book, or prepare to look of it as a new, separate reality than actual Japan, because the author has confessed to using Wikipedia for his research, and sometimes - you could really sense that. Especially when using honorifics (wrongly. A lot). I love Japan, and yes - some of the blatant mistakes kind of grated, but I loved the world. I love the Japanish feel of it, but because of the dystoia and steampunk elements, I really didn't feel I need to force "reality" on it. It's a completely new world - so I was able to enjoy it. But many people hate on this book for the same reasons - people with better understanding of Japan than the author. So enter prepared; or don't enter at all.
One of my favorite things about this book was the writing. I kept comparing it to that of Ink, a book I tried reading last month also set in Japan - there, everything felt forced, like it was trying too hard. Not here. I felt like the author had a great grasp of the world he created; describing it almost effortlessly, in a way that was easy for the reader to follow - but also immensely beautiful and sometimes poetic. He also has a talent for either starting or ending a chapter on high notes. Like, really.
But my absolute favorite thing in this book? Like, hands down favorite, makes all-the-shit-that-happens-later-worth-it-just-to-read-about-it favorite? Yukiko and Buruu.
Yukiko is our Main Character, a girl who knows both the excess of the rulers and the poverty of the mass, a girl who's both highly trained and afraid. A girl forced to move beyond her fears. Buruu is also our main character - only he's an Arashitora (a Griffin). These two were so amazing together. Their growing friendship was just the most delightful thing to read about, and Buruu was so awesome I can't even! I swear to god, if Kristoff hurts Buruu (more than he already has) I will find where he lives and force him to change what he wrote and publicly apologize for the pain he had caused me (and everyone else).
Speaking of shit happening... The casualty count is pretty high, y'all. Don't expect everyone you love to survive BECAUSE THEY DON'T AND I AM NOT OKAY, OKAY?! It's kind of nerve wrecking, to be honest. I didn't know this is what I was getting into, and I got lolled into a sense of security by the first half when things are still oka-WHAM darkness darkness darkness! My, this book got heavy! Not in a bad way, but... in a hard way? Gah, don't know how to explain myself.
Let's move to something easier - the romance! Which was... How to sum it in one word? Hmm... I guess, to keep off spoilers, I'll use the word... weak. I loved that Kristoff laughed about Insta Love through it, though. But, as I decidedly didn't ship the two involved, and my actual ship actually contains bestiality so it's kind of impossible (I can't help it. Yukiko and Buruu are so perfect together, and I'm not even sorry! If Kristoff managed to give him to ability to turn into a human at will so it could happen, I'd be overjoyed, but I sense that won't happen) I made do with another ship.
And as I've read some reviews of book two, I heard that ship sinks, so now I'm uber afraid to read it. Way to go, me! I'll get over it, I'm sure, but not before book three comes out.
Do any of those sound like something you might like? Then this is probably the book for you!
Although, I'd like to warm major Japan buffs: Either don't read the book, or prepare to look of it as a new, separate reality than actual Japan, because the author has confessed to using Wikipedia for his research, and sometimes - you could really sense that. Especially when using honorifics (wrongly. A lot). I love Japan, and yes - some of the blatant mistakes kind of grated, but I loved the world. I love the Japanish feel of it, but because of the dystoia and steampunk elements, I really didn't feel I need to force "reality" on it. It's a completely new world - so I was able to enjoy it. But many people hate on this book for the same reasons - people with better understanding of Japan than the author. So enter prepared; or don't enter at all.
One of my favorite things about this book was the writing. I kept comparing it to that of Ink, a book I tried reading last month also set in Japan - there, everything felt forced, like it was trying too hard. Not here. I felt like the author had a great grasp of the world he created; describing it almost effortlessly, in a way that was easy for the reader to follow - but also immensely beautiful and sometimes poetic. He also has a talent for either starting or ending a chapter on high notes. Like, really.
But my absolute favorite thing in this book? Like, hands down favorite, makes all-the-shit-that-happens-later-worth-it-just-to-read-about-it favorite? Yukiko and Buruu.
Yukiko is our Main Character, a girl who knows both the excess of the rulers and the poverty of the mass, a girl who's both highly trained and afraid. A girl forced to move beyond her fears. Buruu is also our main character - only he's an Arashitora (a Griffin). These two were so amazing together. Their growing friendship was just the most delightful thing to read about, and Buruu was so awesome I can't even! I swear to god, if Kristoff hurts Buruu (more than he already has) I will find where he lives and force him to change what he wrote and publicly apologize for the pain he had caused me (and everyone else).
Speaking of shit happening... The casualty count is pretty high, y'all. Don't expect everyone you love to survive BECAUSE THEY DON'T AND I AM NOT OKAY, OKAY?! It's kind of nerve wrecking, to be honest. I didn't know this is what I was getting into, and I got lolled into a sense of security by the first half when things are still oka-WHAM darkness darkness darkness! My, this book got heavy! Not in a bad way, but... in a hard way? Gah, don't know how to explain myself.
Let's move to something easier - the romance! Which was... How to sum it in one word? Hmm... I guess, to keep off spoilers, I'll use the word... weak. I loved that Kristoff laughed about Insta Love through it, though. But, as I decidedly didn't ship the two involved, and my actual ship actually contains bestiality so it's kind of impossible (I can't help it. Yukiko and Buruu are so perfect together, and I'm not even sorry! If Kristoff managed to give him to ability to turn into a human at will so it could happen, I'd be overjoyed, but I sense that won't happen) I made do with another ship.
And as I've read some reviews of book two, I heard that ship sinks, so now I'm uber afraid to read it. Way to go, me! I'll get over it, I'm sure, but not before book three comes out.