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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
LOVED.IT.SO.HARD!
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC. I was really excited to read this and hoped it would live up to the hype - and IT.DID! Stormdancer begins with a gorgeous cover and continues with fantastic characters who take you on a spellbinding journey of love, sacrifice and hope that left me in tears. (Ugly-cry sobbing is more like it.)
This story sucked me in right away and Jay Kristoff is a master worldbuilder. He transports the reader right into a Japan on the brink of war by painting such vivid pictures through sights, sounds and smells. (I kept catching myself covering my face, as if I could actually smell the stench.) The relationship between Yukiko and Buruu is honest and heart-aching in it's tenderness and left me wishing for a Buruu of my own. (Are you listening Santa?)
Yukiko is definitely out numbered by men and Kin and Hiro are just two who find themselves rotating in her orbit. One is quiet and determined while the other is a fierce warrior. Both are loyal in their dedication and it's that loyalty that might just be their undoing.
Yukiko does every girl proud with her strength, beauty and stubbornness. She doesn't do anything half way, whether it's fighting for what she believes in or loving those around her. She makes a few mistakes and learns some tough lessons about love and friendship but it's not until she suffers a gut wrenching betrayal that she learns the true meaning of sacrifice.
The Lotus Wars has only just begun and I can't wait to see what happens next!
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC. I was really excited to read this and hoped it would live up to the hype - and IT.DID! Stormdancer begins with a gorgeous cover and continues with fantastic characters who take you on a spellbinding journey of love, sacrifice and hope that left me in tears. (Ugly-cry sobbing is more like it.)
This story sucked me in right away and Jay Kristoff is a master worldbuilder. He transports the reader right into a Japan on the brink of war by painting such vivid pictures through sights, sounds and smells. (I kept catching myself covering my face, as if I could actually smell the stench.) The relationship between Yukiko and Buruu is honest and heart-aching in it's tenderness and left me wishing for a Buruu of my own. (Are you listening Santa?)
Yukiko is definitely out numbered by men and Kin and Hiro are just two who find themselves rotating in her orbit. One is quiet and determined while the other is a fierce warrior. Both are loyal in their dedication and it's that loyalty that might just be their undoing.
Yukiko does every girl proud with her strength, beauty and stubbornness. She doesn't do anything half way, whether it's fighting for what she believes in or loving those around her. She makes a few mistakes and learns some tough lessons about love and friendship but it's not until she suffers a gut wrenching betrayal that she learns the true meaning of sacrifice.
The Lotus Wars has only just begun and I can't wait to see what happens next!
[bc:Stormdancer|10852343|Stormdancer (The Lotus War, #1)|Jay Kristoff|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1337359560s/10852343.jpg|15767096][bc:Kinslayer|15773979|Kinslayer (The Lotus War, #2)|Jay Kristoff|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1368634748s/15773979.jpg|21484229][bc:Endsinger|17928198|Endsinger (The Lotus War, #3)|Jay Kristoff|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1400245769s/17928198.jpg|25128526]
3.5 Stars - Great world and great story, but rushed and a little bit stereotypical at times.
I decided to tackle this as a series instead of individual books. I had attempted to start Stormdancer 3 - 4 times since its publication date, and for one reason or another, it never stuck. This time, I picked it up for and vowed to power through whatever my block was, and I'm glad I did. On the other side, I found an amazing, unique world, a believable government, and somewhat stereotypical characters. Overall, it wasn't the best story I've ever read, but it was fun, entertaining, and time well spent.
Kristoff builds a great world. It was complex, complicated, and dirty. It was that grit that made it really believeable. It was as political as needed to move the story along, but not getting mired in the details and turning into a Game of Thrones with steampunk samurai. The book follows the tail (seewhatididthere?) of an arashitora (or griffon) and a girl, Yukiko who can talk to animals telepathically. Through a series of unlikely events loosely roped together as 'fate', the two seemingly imcompatible beings become friends. Their relationship starts off convoluted and complicated with many differing motivations, but most of those fall away as the two grow closer together. They do a lot of 'glazing over' some of the more unpleasant aspects of their early relationship.
What I think I loved the most about the world Kristoff created was the culture that clearly stands apart from normal western experience. The concept of clans and the tattoos on the upper arm representing clans was very cool and the clan/tribal mentality was really interesting to read about. The culture mashed the steampunk genre into the feudal style Japan and did it well. Really well. The culture and the world building are the best parts of this series.
I think where it lost the most momentum was the development of the main character, Yukiko. She starts off so interesting, someone who's strong and stands up to the Shogun (whoever minutely). But as the story progresses, she looses some of that power and peters out into a stereotypical teenage girl who's alternately moody, swoon-y, and seemingly wise beyond her years all at once. There were moments where the shift was so jarring I thought I might have been reading about a different character.
I also feel like the Viking-like tribes left a bit of something to be desired. They play a pretty pivotal role in the story but don't have much background or substance. I wanted to know more about them, who they were, why they were. Their never really resolved into anything satisfying, which left them feeling more like a shoehorned plot device than a fully fledged culture. I think if Kristoff hadn't done such a great job creating the culture of Shima, the difference between the two wouldn't have been as glaring.
Towards the end, things started moving and changing quickly. It felt a little bit like "oh, well gotta tie up all these loose ends conveniently..." There are some events towards the end that did more to annoy me than anything else. I didn't see any story motivation for them other than and easy way to to wrap things up.
But in the grand scheme these complaints are minor. The story was still fun and engaging--really is it possible to NOT love steampunk samurai? I don't think so. Good story, fun setting, and overall great experience--just don't expect complex characters who deviate too far from expected stereotypes.
3.5 Stars - Great world and great story, but rushed and a little bit stereotypical at times.
I decided to tackle this as a series instead of individual books. I had attempted to start Stormdancer 3 - 4 times since its publication date, and for one reason or another, it never stuck. This time, I picked it up for and vowed to power through whatever my block was, and I'm glad I did. On the other side, I found an amazing, unique world, a believable government, and somewhat stereotypical characters. Overall, it wasn't the best story I've ever read, but it was fun, entertaining, and time well spent.
Kristoff builds a great world. It was complex, complicated, and dirty. It was that grit that made it really believeable. It was as political as needed to move the story along, but not getting mired in the details and turning into a Game of Thrones with steampunk samurai. The book follows the tail (seewhatididthere?) of an arashitora (or griffon) and a girl, Yukiko who can talk to animals telepathically. Through a series of unlikely events loosely roped together as 'fate', the two seemingly imcompatible beings become friends. Their relationship starts off convoluted and complicated with many differing motivations, but most of those fall away as the two grow closer together. They do a lot of 'glazing over' some of the more unpleasant aspects of their early relationship.
What I think I loved the most about the world Kristoff created was the culture that clearly stands apart from normal western experience. The concept of clans and the tattoos on the upper arm representing clans was very cool and the clan/tribal mentality was really interesting to read about. The culture mashed the steampunk genre into the feudal style Japan and did it well. Really well. The culture and the world building are the best parts of this series.
I think where it lost the most momentum was the development of the main character, Yukiko. She starts off so interesting, someone who's strong and stands up to the Shogun (whoever minutely). But as the story progresses, she looses some of that power and peters out into a stereotypical teenage girl who's alternately moody, swoon-y, and seemingly wise beyond her years all at once. There were moments where the shift was so jarring I thought I might have been reading about a different character.
I also feel like the Viking-like tribes left a bit of something to be desired. They play a pretty pivotal role in the story but don't have much background or substance. I wanted to know more about them, who they were, why they were. Their never really resolved into anything satisfying, which left them feeling more like a shoehorned plot device than a fully fledged culture. I think if Kristoff hadn't done such a great job creating the culture of Shima, the difference between the two wouldn't have been as glaring.
Towards the end, things started moving and changing quickly. It felt a little bit like "oh, well gotta tie up all these loose ends conveniently..." There are some events towards the end that did more to annoy me than anything else. I didn't see any story motivation for them other than and easy way to to wrap things up.
But in the grand scheme these complaints are minor. The story was still fun and engaging--really is it possible to NOT love steampunk samurai? I don't think so. Good story, fun setting, and overall great experience--just don't expect complex characters who deviate too far from expected stereotypes.
Review can be found on *Milky Way of Books*
Do you know the song "Big in Japan" by Alphaville? Well if you could combine the song, steampunk and everything in the Japanese history, then you would have "Stormdancer". As the very first book Mr. Kristoff wrote before the success of ILLUMINAE and Nevernight, I really hoped to have the chance to read this one.
The story takes place in Japan, somewhere between 18th-19th century if I had to guess, but the country is nothing you are expecting to see. The lands are polluted, the shogun is ruling with the help of the Lotus Guild (more like they are ruling) and the sky is no longer blue because of the pollution.
In this land Yukiko and her father, along with a group of elite hunters, receive a mission from the shogun who wants to add in his collection a thunder-tiger. When the trip goes wrong, Yukiko and the thunder-tiger will combine their powers for more than surviving.
First of all we have the world-building. Jay Kristoff manages to bring to life everything; from the traditional clothes of the Japanese civilization to the buildings, weapons and the wild-life of the mountains. Yukiko and Buduu form a unique bond and many times I found myself laughing with their conversations.
The secondary characters are also interesting, especially Kin. I love the guy, even if he is a brainwashed fool, but he proves himself in an amazing way. The love interest? If I could wield a katana, probably I'd cut his head off.
But the story does not stay only to the characters. In its core it's a message about enviromental polution, how people tend to forget their own myths and legends and how many times the ruling power uses propaganda in order to achieve its purposes. Also another interesting part was the mention of the kaijin, the foreigners with the white skin and the strange eyes, who are portayed as monsters who might like eating babies. Does that ring any bells to you? Think about the reaction of the white men when they met people of another color for the first time.
I have high hopes for this series and while I'm still reading the second book I can't stop recommending this one. I can only hope that Yukiko and Buddu will find their peace in the end of the series.
Do you know the song "Big in Japan" by Alphaville? Well if you could combine the song, steampunk and everything in the Japanese history, then you would have "Stormdancer". As the very first book Mr. Kristoff wrote before the success of ILLUMINAE and Nevernight, I really hoped to have the chance to read this one.
The story takes place in Japan, somewhere between 18th-19th century if I had to guess, but the country is nothing you are expecting to see. The lands are polluted, the shogun is ruling with the help of the Lotus Guild (more like they are ruling) and the sky is no longer blue because of the pollution.
In this land Yukiko and her father, along with a group of elite hunters, receive a mission from the shogun who wants to add in his collection a thunder-tiger. When the trip goes wrong, Yukiko and the thunder-tiger will combine their powers for more than surviving.
First of all we have the world-building. Jay Kristoff manages to bring to life everything; from the traditional clothes of the Japanese civilization to the buildings, weapons and the wild-life of the mountains. Yukiko and Buduu form a unique bond and many times I found myself laughing with their conversations.
The secondary characters are also interesting, especially Kin. I love the guy, even if he is a brainwashed fool, but he proves himself in an amazing way. The love interest? If I could wield a katana, probably I'd cut his head off.
But the story does not stay only to the characters. In its core it's a message about enviromental polution, how people tend to forget their own myths and legends and how many times the ruling power uses propaganda in order to achieve its purposes. Also another interesting part was the mention of the kaijin, the foreigners with the white skin and the strange eyes, who are portayed as monsters who might like eating babies. Does that ring any bells to you? Think about the reaction of the white men when they met people of another color for the first time.
I have high hopes for this series and while I'm still reading the second book I can't stop recommending this one. I can only hope that Yukiko and Buddu will find their peace in the end of the series.
it was a book and i enjoyed reading it even though it's the first book of the author he explained the characters well but the story should have been improved it's just looks like all other stories
This was a high concept read, with a faux (apparantly VERY faux) Japanese dystopia. The story was fun, but the plot was uneven in many spots and the characterization and emotional range disappointed me several times (the romance, in particular, I found laughable). It read very much as YA, despite not being exclusively marketed to YA.
Japanese Steampunk. That is all you need to know. That and a Griffon. Yep. You should read it!
While it was initially a bit difficult for me to get into this book due to the level of detail and background provided, I'm so glad I stuck with it. Stormdancer was so much more than it seemed on the surface...with a multi-layered story and beautifully drawn and inspiring characters. I just loved Yukiko!
Stormdancer captivated me since I saw its cover. It is a gorgeously delivered piece of art that catches your eye and nearly demands that you read the book. I couldn’t have picked a better cover myself. Since this can be seen as a double-edged knife I can assure you that this is not one of those typical Young Adult novels that give you a mediocre story and hope to make up by their pretty covers.
Stormdancer is one of the best books I’ve read this year and I swear, hand on my heart, that I’m not exaggerating.
One of my main reasons for liking Stormdancer so much is the amazing universe Jay Kristoff has created. It’s one of the most unique and detailed universe out there. The tattooed bodies, the masked faces, the goggled eyes. Social and environmental changes. Pollution caused by the Lotus plants. Samurais! Thunder Tigers!!
How can you not love all that? Especially since nowadays the entire Young Adult genre focuses on love triangles, teenage angst and stupidity.
Which brings us to the characters. Stormdancer is a party attended by the coolest characters you could find. Shallowness? No sir! Jay Kristoff is too good for that.
Yukiko is our beloved heroine. Even though she’s sixteen years old she behaves like a mature and responsible teen.
A mature and responsible young adult. It is not a myth people! They do exist. She is likable, strong, keeps her shit together and did not annoy me. Not even once.
And now it's time for my favorite character in the book. Arashitora. Thunder Tiger.
Buruu is cruel, unpredictable, even funny at times. However, the reason why I like him so much is the love he developed for Yukiko. I have a soft spot for beasts developing strong feelings for humans. A dog is a man’s best friend. A dog that saves a human’s life is a hero in my eyes. Now imagine my feelings when it comes to a telepathic relationship between a normal girl and a Thunder Tiger.
Is it just me or do they resemble Kenpachi Zaraki and Yachiru Kusajishi from Bleach?
And yes, it does have a love triangle. A thing you should know about me is that I absolutely hate love triangles. However, in our Stormdancer’s case you get a perfectly performed love triangle and a perfect conclusion to it. Short-lived, cruel and painful. Perfect!
Another reason why I loved Stormdancer is that it reads like Anime. Many scenes in the book were full of action and reminded me of some cool Anime shows that I watch. It doesn’t give you a chance of getting bored. That’s always a plus.
So if you are in need of a great book, unique and deliciously interesting then go for Stormdancer. You won’t regret it.
ARC courtesy of St. Martin's Press via NetGalley.
Review also posted on
Stormdancer is one of the best books I’ve read this year and I swear, hand on my heart, that I’m not exaggerating.
One of my main reasons for liking Stormdancer so much is the amazing universe Jay Kristoff has created. It’s one of the most unique and detailed universe out there. The tattooed bodies, the masked faces, the goggled eyes. Social and environmental changes. Pollution caused by the Lotus plants. Samurais! Thunder Tigers!!
How can you not love all that? Especially since nowadays the entire Young Adult genre focuses on love triangles, teenage angst and stupidity.
Which brings us to the characters. Stormdancer is a party attended by the coolest characters you could find. Shallowness? No sir! Jay Kristoff is too good for that.
Yukiko is our beloved heroine. Even though she’s sixteen years old she behaves like a mature and responsible teen.
A mature and responsible young adult. It is not a myth people! They do exist. She is likable, strong, keeps her shit together and did not annoy me. Not even once.
And now it's time for my favorite character in the book. Arashitora. Thunder Tiger.
Her protector. Her brother. Her friend. Then I will call you Buruu.
Buruu is cruel, unpredictable, even funny at times. However, the reason why I like him so much is the love he developed for Yukiko. I have a soft spot for beasts developing strong feelings for humans. A dog is a man’s best friend. A dog that saves a human’s life is a hero in my eyes. Now imagine my feelings when it comes to a telepathic relationship between a normal girl and a Thunder Tiger.
Is it just me or do they resemble Kenpachi Zaraki and Yachiru Kusajishi from Bleach?
And yes, it does have a love triangle. A thing you should know about me is that I absolutely hate love triangles. However, in our Stormdancer’s case you get a perfectly performed love triangle and a perfect conclusion to it. Short-lived, cruel and painful. Perfect!
Another reason why I loved Stormdancer is that it reads like Anime. Many scenes in the book were full of action and reminded me of some cool Anime shows that I watch. It doesn’t give you a chance of getting bored. That’s always a plus.
So if you are in need of a great book, unique and deliciously interesting then go for Stormdancer. You won’t regret it.
ARC courtesy of St. Martin's Press via NetGalley.
Review also posted on