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3.23 AVERAGE
3.23 AVERAGE
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book could have been a fairly run of the mill YA fantasy. It's got the protagonist from a special group in his society that is somehow even more special than his contemporaries. It's got a corrupt goverment benefitting from supressing certain classes. It's got a love triangle. But 2 things really stop it from being just a fine YA, one good and one bad.
To start with the bad, this story doesn't really start until 2/3 or more into the book. Nothing really happens in the majority of this book; there are no stakes, and out MC is just kind of living his life. Something that felt like an inciting incident early in the book had very little actual impact. There's a super important prophesy that we don't even hear about until the last 10%. The final conflict isn't set up until it's just about to happen. There's a bunch of twists and reveals in the end that had no foreshadowing at all. This made the last section of the book feel very contrived.
On the other hand, the one thing this book does incredibly well is the world-building. I didn't reall mind that lack of story while I read because I was just enjoying the world we were in and learning more about it.
To start with the bad, this story doesn't really start until 2/3 or more into the book. Nothing really happens in the majority of this book; there are no stakes, and out MC is just kind of living his life. Something that felt like an inciting incident early in the book had very little actual impact. There's a super important prophesy that we don't even hear about until the last 10%. The final conflict isn't set up until it's just about to happen. There's a bunch of twists and reveals in the end that had no foreshadowing at all. This made the last section of the book feel very contrived.
On the other hand, the one thing this book does incredibly well is the world-building. I didn't reall mind that lack of story while I read because I was just enjoying the world we were in and learning more about it.
Fascinating world building.
Good story.
Cliffhanger ending. :(
Good story.
Cliffhanger ending. :(
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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:
Yes
Incredible book! There’s so much depth, I felt like I was constantly reflecting on the various metaphors and messages of the story, it left me with so much to think on. The characters were funny, loveable, brave, distinct and all around i was rooting for them while constantly guessing who was really pulling the strings. The audiobook narrator also did an incredible job bringing every character to life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Violence, Classism
Minor: Drug use, Police brutality, Murder
Taj is a sin-eater, a job he had no choice in and one that will eventually kill him. The other sin-eaters are like family to him and he works hard to train them to survive. But there are more forces at work than he knows about and he gets caught in the middle of a treasonous plot to destroy the kingdom.
Very choppy book. I put it down several times before finishing. The character is wonderful but the world building is a bit confusing for a YA audience and it feels as if the scenes change randomly. A map would help too.
Very choppy book. I put it down several times before finishing. The character is wonderful but the world building is a bit confusing for a YA audience and it feels as if the scenes change randomly. A map would help too.
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book has a killer premise—I absolutely love the concept and was wicked excited to start reading. Sins that can be made flesh and blood, then killed and consumed by an Eater to purify the sinner? A corrupt monarchy and a richly woven city with rebellion seeping out the edges of its crooked streets? A boy who will give anything to protect the ones he loves, including a forbidden romance with a princess who is far more than a pretty face? a Hell yes!
Unfortunately, I found the plot to be so meandering that it was downright confusing; it would jump from one event to the next with too few logical connections to stick it all together. Because of this, I had a difficult time connecting to the characters, which is a shame because many of them had big dreams, loud attitudes, and a whole lot to say. I admire their spirit, fortitude, and resilience, and I found myself longing to see more of this world—especially the dichotomy between cultures that despise the Eaters and those that revere them.
I’m not sure if I’ll ever pick up the sequel, but I do hope to see more from this author someday!
I was given an e-arc of this book by Penguin's First to Read program. I was so looking forward to this and was left sorely disappointed, but I will post a full review closer to the 10/31/17 publication date.
Really like the premise, but the first chapter didn’t grip me. Attempting to curb my physical TBR
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I do recall the decision to stack my to-reads with a variety of undersung authors working in genre lit, and I don't regret that. However it did result in a whole lot of YA/fantasy picks, and I'm not a huge fan of this genre. I can like it, but I can't read it indefinitely. All that is to say I wasn't thrilled about starting this book when I did, through no fault of the book. In fact this is a compelling idea of a book. The world-building comes on strong, but once you adjust, it becomes great living context. I was interested in the plot, both as a story and a metaphor, like all good fantasy. I would like to see more of the characters. The pacing, especially at the end, is not perfect, there is too much revealed at once and not fully resolved. Still I would read on to see how these elements resolve themselves, and to see this voice develop.