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allivenger's review against another edition
5.0
I’m not sure where the negative reviews for this are coming from (and everyone is entitled to their own opinion honestly) because I loved this book. I listened to it as an audiobook and it had the same hilarious themes as an anime would. It was funny and immature yes but serious at times as well. I couldn’t wait to get to the end to figure out if this was a standalone or if this would continue as a series. I was so happy to find out the ending is left open with potential for a sequel. Because I want to come back to Zhara and Han and most importantly Xu (because they were one of my favorite characters)
Zhara wasn’t a strong female protagonist for a lot of the book. She was weakened by her self image and she desire to be a “good girl”. This did get annoying but I understand that when you’re the victim of a narcissist you start to feel a certain way about yourself and life. It also took way too long for Zhara to figure things out and that was frustrating as a reader in general.
But overall I loved it. I’m glad that I am getting the illumicrate edition now that I’ve read the book and loved it. It’ll become a treasured part of my collection and I can’t wait for the next book.
Zhara wasn’t a strong female protagonist for a lot of the book. She was weakened by her self image and she desire to be a “good girl”. This did get annoying but I understand that when you’re the victim of a narcissist you start to feel a certain way about yourself and life. It also took way too long for Zhara to figure things out and that was frustrating as a reader in general.
But overall I loved it. I’m glad that I am getting the illumicrate edition now that I’ve read the book and loved it. It’ll become a treasured part of my collection and I can’t wait for the next book.
katiemcgregor's review against another edition
I rarely DNF but I’m just not interested. The characters are flat and read as very young. I can see where this is going and the plot doesn’t have enough to keep me interested. I just keep wishing I was reading something like Cinder instead. 🥴
ifsh's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.75
coolhandluke140's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
quackthump's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
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? No
4.25
asbooktrovert's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
It is simply 3 lower rated because it took a while (more than 50% through) to really get into the story. I can say that I DO look forward to the next book in the series and more of Han and Zhara.
soccer8s's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
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? No
4.0
This was a good book. Long, but it kept my interest all the way to the end. I loved the twists.
ddnreads's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
2,5 ⭐
My 14yo self might love this book, but the first two chapters (teens reading smut, etc) might contradict the idea.
First, I think the market was overclaim. I was sold by the mention of sailor moon and turned out the story is below my expectations.
The premise is pretty simple. Zhara is a young woman with magical ability in a land where magic was unacknowledged. Her magic turned out to be crucial and greater than what she can imagine. Suprise, turned out there are magicians everywhere. And where there are magicians, there are demons too. Zhara and her friend tried to fight the abomination. She found love and family and group where she belonged to. A light whismical romanfantasy for teens.
It doesn't really suit me.
I found the characters cringey and lack of depth. Xu was the most interesting one. Everyone else's felt one dimensional and typical. Don't get me started with good looking giggles or whatever that is.
The story telling isn't gripping enough to invest with the characters and the plot.
It has such a great potential with the setting and magical ability and the beasts and the abomination. Sadly, for me, it wasn't well executed. The world building is the most exciting idea of this book.
What really turned me off is at the end of this book, the author chose to portray, I believe, one of the KPop idol group. The author didn't even change the group name. I don't know if that's wise to include real life idols in a commercial book. And... I'm not a fan. The exaggerating description of how handsome and awesome was not selling. And Im confuse how in the end they suddenly have a big role toward the plot and follow Zhara's next journey like what's for. It's understandable if u want to put them in a plot as performers, but to include them all the way to the next adventure sounds very childish imo. Nope nope
Im giving this book a second chance bcs I'm still going to read Ami. But if I see those 7 boys out of nowhere I might dnf early.
My 14yo self might love this book, but the first two chapters (teens reading smut, etc) might contradict the idea.
First, I think the market was overclaim. I was sold by the mention of sailor moon and turned out the story is below my expectations.
The premise is pretty simple. Zhara is a young woman with magical ability in a land where magic was unacknowledged. Her magic turned out to be crucial and greater than what she can imagine. Suprise, turned out there are magicians everywhere. And where there are magicians, there are demons too. Zhara and her friend tried to fight the abomination. She found love and family and group where she belonged to. A light whismical romanfantasy for teens.
It doesn't really suit me.
I found the characters cringey and lack of depth. Xu was the most interesting one. Everyone else's felt one dimensional and typical. Don't get me started with good looking giggles or whatever that is.
The story telling isn't gripping enough to invest with the characters and the plot.
It has such a great potential with the setting and magical ability and the beasts and the abomination. Sadly, for me, it wasn't well executed. The world building is the most exciting idea of this book.
What really turned me off is at the end of this book, the author chose to portray, I believe, one of the KPop idol group. The author didn't even change the group name. I don't know if that's wise to include real life idols in a commercial book. And... I'm not a fan. The exaggerating description of how handsome and awesome was not selling. And Im confuse how in the end they suddenly have a big role toward the plot and follow Zhara's next journey like what's for. It's understandable if u want to put them in a plot as performers, but to include them all the way to the next adventure sounds very childish imo. Nope nope
Im giving this book a second chance bcs I'm still going to read Ami. But if I see those 7 boys out of nowhere I might dnf early.