Scan barcode
biancagraey's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
shoelay's review against another edition
4.0
!SPOILERS AHEAD!
After finishing the book my favourite aspect of this book definitely was how imperfect all the characters were especially Karis and Alix. I loved that when given a tough choice between saving ppl she cared for and doing what was considered "the greater good" she like most people would, made the selfish choice. It made her more personable to me at least. I also loved that her choice ended up being the wrong the choice almost damning everything, because how many times have we seen MC’s just magically making all the right choices and calling all the shots. Having Karis mess up and realize how dumb her choice really had been showed growth in her character. The cherry on top for me was Alix being unable to forgive Karis and wasn’t ready to trust her after being so heavily betrayed by the one person he trusted after his father. Seeing how hard it was for him to regain trust in Karis just made it all the more realistic and idk I just loved that it wasn’t a happy go lucky easy ending. All the characters faced their hardships and are in their own ways healing at the end as anyone would after an epic adventure like the one they faced.
Overall, I really did love the book and I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking to find parts of themselves in the pages of a book and a new family to belong in. Karis and Alix’s story is one where you can easily see urself in and realize its ok to be lost and it may be hard but you will find yourself and your path one day ✨
Favourite quote:
“So just be you, because that’s enough. It’s always been enough”
After finishing the book my favourite aspect of this book definitely was how imperfect all the characters were especially Karis and Alix. I loved that when given a tough choice between saving ppl she cared for and doing what was considered "the greater good" she like most people would, made the selfish choice. It made her more personable to me at least. I also loved that her choice ended up being the wrong the choice almost damning everything, because how many times have we seen MC’s just magically making all the right choices and calling all the shots. Having Karis mess up and realize how dumb her choice really had been showed growth in her character. The cherry on top for me was Alix being unable to forgive Karis and wasn’t ready to trust her after being so heavily betrayed by the one person he trusted after his father. Seeing how hard it was for him to regain trust in Karis just made it all the more realistic and idk I just loved that it wasn’t a happy go lucky easy ending. All the characters faced their hardships and are in their own ways healing at the end as anyone would after an epic adventure like the one they faced.
Overall, I really did love the book and I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking to find parts of themselves in the pages of a book and a new family to belong in. Karis and Alix’s story is one where you can easily see urself in and realize its ok to be lost and it may be hard but you will find yourself and your path one day ✨
Favourite quote:
“So just be you, because that’s enough. It’s always been enough”
atrailofpages's review against another edition
3.0
I did enjoy this book, I just think it fell a bit short of my expectations. We follow Karis who finds Alix an automaton who reminded me sooooo much of BEN from Treasure Planet. Very naive, cute, and suffering from memory loss, not to mention they both have that same copper like “skin”. They run away from the Scriptorium to start new lives, but end up being captured by pirates, that turn out to be more like rebels fighting against the Scriptorium and fighting for a free and better world. Karis and Alix decide to join in their cause to stop the Scriptorium.
I first have to say the world and the magic system is amazing! The book had such potential just based on the world that seemed to be based off Rome, with people who used runes to control objects. The setting also seemed to be set at sea for the most part, which is my favorite setting of any book! It had a lot of u inquest representation in the book with the diverse characters, as well as focusing a lot on the oppression and lack of freedom many have because of who, or what, they are.
I think I would have loved this story, if I had liked the characters, and if the pacing was different. Everything seemed very rushed. The relationships of the characters seemed to happen so fast. I mean, one minute they’re taken by pirates, and the next minute, everyone seems to trust each other and be allies suddenly. It just wasn’t very believable for me. Then the characters themselves were actually rather boring to me. I might have appreciated Karis more if she were less selfish(granted she learned in the end, but took her the whole book to realize that), but none of the characters resonated with me. Once I got through the first part of the book, I kind of just wanted to get the story over with, which sounds awful, but I just got bored honestly.
Although I was disappointed in this book, I’m sure others would love this book. It just wasn’t for me.
I first have to say the world and the magic system is amazing! The book had such potential just based on the world that seemed to be based off Rome, with people who used runes to control objects. The setting also seemed to be set at sea for the most part, which is my favorite setting of any book! It had a lot of u inquest representation in the book with the diverse characters, as well as focusing a lot on the oppression and lack of freedom many have because of who, or what, they are.
I think I would have loved this story, if I had liked the characters, and if the pacing was different. Everything seemed very rushed. The relationships of the characters seemed to happen so fast. I mean, one minute they’re taken by pirates, and the next minute, everyone seems to trust each other and be allies suddenly. It just wasn’t very believable for me. Then the characters themselves were actually rather boring to me. I might have appreciated Karis more if she were less selfish(granted she learned in the end, but took her the whole book to realize that), but none of the characters resonated with me. Once I got through the first part of the book, I kind of just wanted to get the story over with, which sounds awful, but I just got bored honestly.
Although I was disappointed in this book, I’m sure others would love this book. It just wasn’t for me.
brownwall268's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I loved this book! I appreciated that there wasn’t really a romance plot and the friendship between Alix and Karis was very cute! Alix was an adorable character and I love robot/android characters, especially with a bit of a steampunk element to it!
lyoungthebookfae's review against another edition
5.0
Androids! Sci-fi! Ahhhh! Definitely loved it, and highly recommended!
ciaraqueer's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The book was fine , and that's all I can really say. The premise is decent and the execution was average. As pointed out by some other reviewers there remain a few big plot holes. The characters supposedly grow a lot and fall in love over the course of three weeks, and everything felt a bit rushed and unnecessarily high paced without decent fleshing out.
I'm a bit confused why it's sold with the subtitle "an absorbing, slow-burn fantasy debut” when the protagonist is distinctly aroace from the start. This actually led me to being very disappointed it wasn't a WLW story, having had mistaken expectations when I bought it. Which is a shame cause normally I'd be thrilled by aroace representation.
I'm a bit confused why it's sold with the subtitle "an absorbing, slow-burn fantasy debut” when the protagonist is distinctly aroace from the start. This actually led me to being very disappointed it wasn't a WLW story, having had mistaken expectations when I bought it. Which is a shame cause normally I'd be thrilled by aroace representation.
livinliterary's review against another edition
3.0
The premise is very interesting, but the world building was lacking severely to me, and i found it quite difficult to be immersed in the story because of it.
mags83509's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Great aroace rep!
ameserole's review against another edition
3.0
Do you want to know what makes me angry? Buying a book and then realizing that you are about to get the SAME book in your freaking upcoming book box. To say I'm mad at myself is an understatement because I basically bought the book twice without knowing. So, yeah, that happened and this is the book I'm talking about.
Other than that, this book was interesting and weird to me. Interestingly weird. Still enjoyable but also.. weird. Yeah. Going with that. In This Golden Flame, you will meet Karis. She is currently an orphan and trying to find a wait out of this shithole she is in. If that makes sense in any way. The reason why she wants to escape and smell freedom? Well, her brother was taken and shipped to far far away. No, not that place in any of the Shrek movies.. just really far away (from her).
One day she randomly awakens an automaton - Alix - and they begin the adventure of escaping this hidden gem. Along the way, they learn more about themselves. Now at times, I really liked Alix and Karis.. but other times they would annoy me. It would just be little things honestly. Oh and the big betrayal but other than that they were likable.
In the end, it was an okay book. I don't really have a specific feeling for how it really ended. It just did - plain, simple, and easy. So I guess, in a way, I'm glad that it's a standalone.
Other than that, this book was interesting and weird to me. Interestingly weird. Still enjoyable but also.. weird. Yeah. Going with that. In This Golden Flame, you will meet Karis. She is currently an orphan and trying to find a wait out of this shithole she is in. If that makes sense in any way. The reason why she wants to escape and smell freedom? Well, her brother was taken and shipped to far far away. No, not that place in any of the Shrek movies.. just really far away (from her).
One day she randomly awakens an automaton - Alix - and they begin the adventure of escaping this hidden gem. Along the way, they learn more about themselves. Now at times, I really liked Alix and Karis.. but other times they would annoy me. It would just be little things honestly. Oh and the big betrayal but other than that they were likable.
In the end, it was an okay book. I don't really have a specific feeling for how it really ended. It just did - plain, simple, and easy. So I guess, in a way, I'm glad that it's a standalone.