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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
This book had so many elements that I would love. Yet I just didn't like it.
I really loved the plot concept: magic and beasts and all, but I didn't enjoy the execution. First of all, the writing felt disjointed and abrupt sometimes. Also, expectations: I expected to love this book and thus set my expectations too high.
I really loved the plot concept: magic and beasts and all, but I didn't enjoy the execution. First of all, the writing felt disjointed and abrupt sometimes. Also, expectations: I expected to love this book and thus set my expectations too high.
Well this was agonizing and fun at the same time. I love how the three perspectives come together! I love the characters and the concept is awesome. Ayana does a great job getting me to give a hoot about everyone. The Greater Jungle is an interesting place as well and the concepts are solid. The Night Zoo was such an interesting place and she devoted just enough time to each part to have the descriptions fully fleshed out with the pacing moving fairly well.
Admittedly I am a sucker, so I walked right into the Plot Twist and went "omg!". I'm sure others could see things coming but not me. Lol
I can't wait for the next one!
Admittedly I am a sucker, so I walked right into the Plot Twist and went "omg!". I'm sure others could see things coming but not me. Lol
I can't wait for the next one!
I don't even know what to say, I feel so conflicted.
When I started this book, it felt like an instant 5 star rating. Like an easy 5 star rating. Part one of the book sets everything up so incredibly well and I really love the relationships the characters have with each other. Especially the main characters chemistry in part one. They have very good reason to hate each other but it is clear that they actually need each other. They each have a role to play and I am fond of how that is portrayed.
Reading Part Two is where my feelings began to differ. I felt like things were taking too long and I didn't understand why there were so many words and yet nothing was happening. Things happen in part three that made very little sense. It takes people 8 years to master this one skill this girl who's never even heard of the splendor masters it in a paragraph? I'm calling crap on this one. Also, apparently the main character is able to forgive her father for the trauma he put her through in 60 seconds when it takes everyone else in the world years of therapy??? But he says sorry and they're good? I didn't agree with that, it didn't sit well with me. And I promise this isn't me projecting my own daddy issues onto the main character, sometimes even when someone who has severly hurt us apologizes, we still are not able to forgive them for their transgressions. And you don't hold onto that anger even though you haven't forgiven them, you just kind of move on. You learn how to survive with that. It's one of those, "I acknowledge that you hurt me, I am never going to forgive you for it, but I also am not giving you the power to have a hold on me emotionally."
I think the enemies to lovers bit was amazing.
I think the miscommunication was lame and like... whatever.
I think introducing a brand new IMPORTANT character in the last 4 seconds IS THE WORST.
Overall I give it 2 stars. Probably won't read the rest of the books.
When I started this book, it felt like an instant 5 star rating. Like an easy 5 star rating. Part one of the book sets everything up so incredibly well and I really love the relationships the characters have with each other. Especially the main characters chemistry in part one. They have very good reason to hate each other but it is clear that they actually need each other. They each have a role to play and I am fond of how that is portrayed.
Reading Part Two is where my feelings began to differ. I felt like things were taking too long and I didn't understand why there were so many words and yet nothing was happening. Things happen in part three that made very little sense. It takes people 8 years to master this one skill this girl who's never even heard of the splendor masters it in a paragraph? I'm calling crap on this one. Also, apparently the main character is able to forgive her father for the trauma he put her through in 60 seconds when it takes everyone else in the world years of therapy??? But he says sorry and they're good? I didn't agree with that, it didn't sit well with me. And I promise this isn't me projecting my own daddy issues onto the main character, sometimes even when someone who has severly hurt us apologizes, we still are not able to forgive them for their transgressions. And you don't hold onto that anger even though you haven't forgiven them, you just kind of move on. You learn how to survive with that. It's one of those, "I acknowledge that you hurt me, I am never going to forgive you for it, but I also am not giving you the power to have a hold on me emotionally."
I think the enemies to lovers bit was amazing.
I think the miscommunication was lame and like... whatever.
I think introducing a brand new IMPORTANT character in the last 4 seconds IS THE WORST.
Overall I give it 2 stars. Probably won't read the rest of the books.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
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:
Yes
For me, the world-building was vibrant and unique, but drew me away from the core of the story and slowed down the pace. There is a lot of underlying mythology that I appreciate and find interesting, but at times it seemed there was almost too much of it. However, I completely understand I am not exactly the demographic for this book. While I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped, my local library was thrilled to receive the hardcover donation of this book for their YA fantasy readers.
DNF after 400 pages (~85%). These characters are insufferable.
I really enjoyed this book! I thought the story lagged in a few parts but I thought the fantasy world was well rounded, and I really enjoyed the emotional intelligence of the story channeled through the characters.
Brief summary: Koffi and Ekon, young people living in the city of Lkossa, partner to hunt the Shetani, a beast who lives in the neighboring jungle. Koffi and Ekon both want to capture the Shetani for different reasons and are not open with each other initially about their ambitions. They encounter many other beasts and even a god in their travels. They also start to fall for each other. This is a fully rounded Pan-African fantasy world with many references and inspiration drawn from African and African American culture.
Brief summary: Koffi and Ekon, young people living in the city of Lkossa, partner to hunt the Shetani, a beast who lives in the neighboring jungle. Koffi and Ekon both want to capture the Shetani for different reasons and are not open with each other initially about their ambitions. They encounter many other beasts and even a god in their travels. They also start to fall for each other. This is a fully rounded Pan-African fantasy world with many references and inspiration drawn from African and African American culture.
This book started slow for me. The characters were fun and I really enjoyed the mythology