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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
Great storyline and idea, just not the most enticing writing skills. I will definitely read the rest when they come out, to follow the story.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Well this was disappointing. A brilliant premise let down by uninteresting characters and a meandering plot.
Syrah and her brother are out exploring in the Sequoia national forest in the middle of the night, having left their camping tent against their parents' instructions, when a tragedy occurs and Syrah is left alone in the world.
Years later, she is a Fire Chief in that same forest, pulled back by a desire to protect the land she so loves. Little does she know that there is another world born of the ancient trees' roots where two sides battle for the future of the forest.
I dove into this book ready to find a compelling main character, a rich fantasy world, and a narrative of nature v. man. Unfortunately, I didn't much care for Syrah. That's not bad in itself, there are plenty of characters whom I didn't like but still wanted to follow their story, but this was not the case.
When you build a fantasy world on top of a real one, the real one still has to make sense, and this one didn't. An entire hidden world that is not so hidden, because they work their wonders within our world, which goes by completely unnoticed in one of the most popular national parks in the country.
The problem might have been that the scope was too big for this book. Is this a fantasy book? A mystery to discover what happened to Syrah's brother? A race to save the land from the evils of plastic-hoarding people? A character finding herself beyond a single purpose? In the end, the book doesn't fulfill any of these and was a letdown.
Syrah and her brother are out exploring in the Sequoia national forest in the middle of the night, having left their camping tent against their parents' instructions, when a tragedy occurs and Syrah is left alone in the world.
Years later, she is a Fire Chief in that same forest, pulled back by a desire to protect the land she so loves. Little does she know that there is another world born of the ancient trees' roots where two sides battle for the future of the forest.
I dove into this book ready to find a compelling main character, a rich fantasy world, and a narrative of nature v. man. Unfortunately, I didn't much care for Syrah. That's not bad in itself, there are plenty of characters whom I didn't like but still wanted to follow their story, but this was not the case.
When you build a fantasy world on top of a real one, the real one still has to make sense, and this one didn't. An entire hidden world that is not so hidden, because they work their wonders within our world, which goes by completely unnoticed in one of the most popular national parks in the country.
The problem might have been that the scope was too big for this book. Is this a fantasy book? A mystery to discover what happened to Syrah's brother? A race to save the land from the evils of plastic-hoarding people? A character finding herself beyond a single purpose? In the end, the book doesn't fulfill any of these and was a letdown.
The author manages to cram sexism, racism, feelings of abandonment, the environment, and more, into a simplistic screed that would, in my estimation, bore even a juvenile reader. The writing isn't bad, but it isn't intriguing enough to make the heavy handed messaging interesting enough to get to page 100.
Thank you Veronica G. Henry, Netgalley and 47North for this free ARC in exchange for a review.
Unfortunately I only made it 23% into this novel before giving up. It was moving along far too slowly, with none of the whimsy I would have imagined from the description. I shouldn't still be bored that far into the book.
Unfortunately I only made it 23% into this novel before giving up. It was moving along far too slowly, with none of the whimsy I would have imagined from the description. I shouldn't still be bored that far into the book.
This book started off with a lot of promise. An interesting premise, an intriguing main character, and the possibility of magical things to come. Once the two worlds met, I started to lose interest and then just get annoyed. Everything moved too quickly, wasn't explained well enough, and I started to think the MC was making terrible decisions based on what... supposedly love? But it was never developed. Unfortunate because many of the fantasy aspects were very intriguing and held my interest quite well, but the plot and characters ended up being poorly developed. Not sad I read it, but a little sad that it's potential was not lived up to. Won't be continuing the series.
I have a very strong connection to the Sequoias, Sequoia National Park and Three Rivers so I was naturally drawn to this book being that I am also a Black woman. I picked it up as part of the Amazon First Reads program. It was such an thoughtful take on society and nature with and a very interesting storyline. I will add that when authors write about Black women who are not happy, friendly, or entertaining certain reviewers are quick to say “can’t relate”, “unrelatable”, “not for me” without really giving the character a chance. The narration was a little hard to get into at first but I really enjoyed the story. Can’t wait for book 2.
This book has a lot of potential but it just didn’t work for me . Firstly, I think pacing was just a bit slow to keep attention. I think the running theme being nodded at about the need for nature preservation is wonderful . The personification of the trees and movements of nature as the work of the people of Rhiza was done well . The MC was hard to like for a good majority of the book. I also felt like there were details thrown in that didn’t mean anything to the story line .
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Original review at Gabic Reads.
https://gabicreads.blogspot.com/2024/11/the-canopy-keepers-scorched-earth-1-by.html
https://gabicreads.blogspot.com/2024/11/the-canopy-keepers-scorched-earth-1-by.html
I love the National Park setting. This book takes place mostly in the future where humans have surpassed the turning point for climate change. Forest fires are becoming more frequent, the oceans are encroaching, animals are becoming extinct. Syrah is a wildfire firefighter just starting her dream job as Chief of the Sequoia National Park Firefighters. Her journey and struggles were interesting to be apart of. It seems no matter what she chooses she is constantly pulled in a different direction by her family.
Another fantasy that I love the concept of that just fell short in some places. This book moved too fast and too slow all at the same time. Sometimes it felt like we were missing key information about interactions and relationships between the characters. And the "romance" felt very forced and strange. I am also still confused about the magic system. But I'm hoping some of this will get better with the sequel! I also wanted more of the firefighting than we got, but that was more of a preference.
At the same time a comment on climate change, racism, and sexism, The Canopy Keepers is an interesting fantasy series starter that any National Park enthusiast will like.