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jay_jade736's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Funny enough, I actually read the 5th book and 4th book first, albeit I didn't finish the 4th book because I wanted to read it in chronological order, so I already know what's going to happen...well that was long ago and I still am interested to read the whole series...anyways
I have seen a plethora of issues in the book, mainly in the world building specifically the geography and magic system.
I review books with spoilers so if you don't want to be spoiled...don't read this review. Let's start with the issues:
• The story starts with us being introduced to Cole, his best friend Dalton and his longtime crush Jenna. Right at the get-go, I remembered that Cole had a "love interest". Personally, as far as love interest goes in fantasy books, it's either a hit or miss with me. Sadly, the whole love thing with Cole and Jenna is a miss. There isn't really anything going for them, which is justified because Jenna isn't even in the book for alot of it's time. But I think as though as it was there for the sake that Cole is in the bridge between 6th grader to a 7th grader. This is more of a nitpick issue but it just didn't sit well with me
• Throughout out the book, Cole always whines grouch about how he miss his life in Arizona and that life there is better and life in the outskirts suck. I have two issues with this:
- one is that we don't really know much of his life in Arizona. Sure, he said something to his dad about taking out the trash and him and his sister bickering as their last conversation but it wasn't as impactful as it could have been because rather than it happening or showed to us, it was just told that it did happen. We didn't really get a background of what his life was so it's hard to sympathize for his pain.
- he grouches about it more than once. I know that it's to relieve yourself from stress but when you're in a place of which you know nothing of, talking about how you miss your friends and life is not helping. It would have been nice if throughout the story, he was slowly making plans on how he can save Jenna and Dalton (cause some thing happened and now they're in the Outskirts) rather than keeping on grouching about it
• The whole world building, magic system and geography is a unique idea gone wrong.
The 4th book did a much better job at giving intel on its kingdom (I'll give my overall thought about that book once I'm actually done) and it's system not just in magic but its overall world building.
I was introduced to Sambria but what is Sambria?? Apparently, the place is about the line between Imagination and wakefulness but how does that differ to Ellower's (the Kingdom of the 2nd book) reality and fantasy magic?? The magic system is briefly explained and when I mean briefly...I mean just 1-2 sentences. There's also this thing called the eastern and western cloudwall that to me just confuses the whole geography of the outskirts. There are 5 kingdoms. Sambria, Ellower, Zeropolis, Necronum, and Creon with Junction City as the middle of all kingdoms. The issue I have with this is the ""western and eastern" thing. Is Sambria found in the right side of the Outskirts?? Left side?? It's not in the center because that's where Junction is but geographically speaking, it should have been Sambria. There isn't a map so I'm clarified with this issue whatsoever
• The sky raiders.
What's the point of naming the book about a group of people who takes Cole in if they're not even part of the whole story?? Sure they might have impacted the plot but shouldn't they have more use than just a set up??
I also have another issue with this. Rather than me being introduced to the Outskirts, Sambria, it's magic system and how it differs to other magic system of the other kingdoms, I'm here learning that Cole has been sent on a mission by the Sky Raiders. I think as though as having them was rather useless than what they are being put out if 1) the kingdom is not properly introduced and 2) they're not part of the whole book
(Sorry if I'm repetitive)
• The book has some...dark subtexts with non living things having sentient qualities but aren't considered as such but isn't taken advantage of. I think it's because Brandon Mull wants to save that idea for another kingdom but it still would have been nice to have a depth talk about it and how it could differ to other kingdom/s.
• There were some plot revelations that was just added there but wasn't developed enough. One of them should have been delved more to give more of a frightening crisis to Cole. The other one should have had more revelation to it to have some sympathy towards Jace (a character), his background and experience in the outskirts, and his POV of the kingdom. There are two characters part in this "revelation" but they're only on the book for such a little time that the book could have gone by without including them and it would have been the same. Better arguably. I mean...Amanda and Will got their own chapters but they were only apart of for what is not half of it...that's sad 😭😭
• Jace.
Thinking that he's been a slave his whole life, deliberately chooses to be with a wanted princess, you'd think he'd be smart with his choices and think this through but nope. He's RECKLESS. He arguably is the reason as to why the gang in this book is always in trouble. He just doesn't think things through and when Brandon added a mini character development in the end...it wasn't handled well and was put in the brush. I'm surprised the other part of the gang but up with him. Speaking to which, how did Mirs put out with that???!!! He's a big reason why they're always on trouble and she should have called him out earlier in in the book. She's literally a princess!! Not saying that princesses should be reserved but she's THE SYMBOL OF THE REBELLION!!! She should be taken care of rather than be with someone so reckless yet she puts up with that. And when she finally snapped, she just..let's herself get beaten down by Have and had this half ass speach. Talk about royalty and royal speaches. Oh I forgot...can we talk about how Jace thinks highly of himself and talks Cole and Twitch down?? Especially Twitch. He's a sweetheart.
• The grand shapers
I'm just confused as to why they didn't stop the tyranny of the High King. You're one of the strongest shapers (magicians) in the land!!! Why not stop the tyranny?? Also, there seems to be a "typo". It wouldn't be later on but for now it could be considered. Mira says that one of the grand shapers (there is one grand shaper in every kingdom and the high shaper lives in Junction city, in this case, the King) teamed up with the High King but then Declan (The grand shaper of Sambria) says that all four of them wants to see the downfall of the King. How does he know that all wants to see the king fall of his glory if he rarely, if ever, reaches out to other allies?? This wasn't addressed at all so I'm hoping the 2nd book will speak on this issue.
• Twitch
I just think that he's underused. Probably because he's going to have more part in the 2nd book but he's just there to give warnings that always underlined.
• The epic battle in the end
I just think that it's not handled well. Would have been nice if Mira was the one who handled it since the situation is about her but nope...Cole saves the day. The build up to the end for Mira to be the symbol of the rebellion that she is...ruined. Also, the way that they defeat the monster is Farfetch. It's explained in the end but it's still farfetched.
With all that being said, the book was still enjoyable. The magic system is still interesting. It's similar to that of the Avatar where there's great limit to the magic of the people, in this case the geography.
• Liam is an attractive person. I have interest in guys who have a similar attitude with Liam and as you can guess...he's my crush
• Mira and Cole is still likable. Even with the flaws, they still carry their archetype well. Twitch is also still likable despite being useless for the most part of the book. And yes...even Jace is..likable. I'd say toleratable more than likable but still. His racism towards Twitch (Twitch is a grasshopper) can be...annoying tho so keep that in mind
• Declan as the grand shaper is predictable and unexceptional but he's a fun character so he carries that
Overall, I still recommend the book and I'm hoping to see more with the other books to the series ❤️❤️
I have seen a plethora of issues in the book, mainly in the world building specifically the geography and magic system.
I review books with spoilers so if you don't want to be spoiled...don't read this review. Let's start with the issues:
• The story starts with us being introduced to Cole, his best friend Dalton and his longtime crush Jenna. Right at the get-go, I remembered that Cole had a "love interest". Personally, as far as love interest goes in fantasy books, it's either a hit or miss with me. Sadly, the whole love thing with Cole and Jenna is a miss. There isn't really anything going for them, which is justified because Jenna isn't even in the book for alot of it's time. But I think as though as it was there for the sake that Cole is in the bridge between 6th grader to a 7th grader. This is more of a nitpick issue but it just didn't sit well with me
• Throughout out the book, Cole always whines grouch about how he miss his life in Arizona and that life there is better and life in the outskirts suck. I have two issues with this:
- one is that we don't really know much of his life in Arizona. Sure, he said something to his dad about taking out the trash and him and his sister bickering as their last conversation but it wasn't as impactful as it could have been because rather than it happening or showed to us, it was just told that it did happen. We didn't really get a background of what his life was so it's hard to sympathize for his pain.
- he grouches about it more than once. I know that it's to relieve yourself from stress but when you're in a place of which you know nothing of, talking about how you miss your friends and life is not helping. It would have been nice if throughout the story, he was slowly making plans on how he can save Jenna and Dalton (cause some thing happened and now they're in the Outskirts) rather than keeping on grouching about it
• The whole world building, magic system and geography is a unique idea gone wrong.
The 4th book did a much better job at giving intel on its kingdom (I'll give my overall thought about that book once I'm actually done) and it's system not just in magic but its overall world building.
I was introduced to Sambria but what is Sambria?? Apparently, the place is about the line between Imagination and wakefulness but how does that differ to Ellower's (the Kingdom of the 2nd book) reality and fantasy magic?? The magic system is briefly explained and when I mean briefly...I mean just 1-2 sentences. There's also this thing called the eastern and western cloudwall that to me just confuses the whole geography of the outskirts. There are 5 kingdoms. Sambria, Ellower, Zeropolis, Necronum, and Creon with Junction City as the middle of all kingdoms. The issue I have with this is the ""western and eastern" thing. Is Sambria found in the right side of the Outskirts?? Left side?? It's not in the center because that's where Junction is but geographically speaking, it should have been Sambria. There isn't a map so I'm clarified with this issue whatsoever
• The sky raiders.
What's the point of naming the book about a group of people who takes Cole in if they're not even part of the whole story?? Sure they might have impacted the plot but shouldn't they have more use than just a set up??
I also have another issue with this. Rather than me being introduced to the Outskirts, Sambria, it's magic system and how it differs to other magic system of the other kingdoms, I'm here learning that Cole has been sent on a mission by the Sky Raiders. I think as though as having them was rather useless than what they are being put out if 1) the kingdom is not properly introduced and 2) they're not part of the whole book
(Sorry if I'm repetitive)
• The book has some...dark subtexts with non living things having sentient qualities but aren't considered as such but isn't taken advantage of. I think it's because Brandon Mull wants to save that idea for another kingdom but it still would have been nice to have a depth talk about it and how it could differ to other kingdom/s.
• There were some plot revelations that was just added there but wasn't developed enough. One of them should have been delved more to give more of a frightening crisis to Cole. The other one should have had more revelation to it to have some sympathy towards Jace (a character), his background and experience in the outskirts, and his POV of the kingdom. There are two characters part in this "revelation" but they're only on the book for such a little time that the book could have gone by without including them and it would have been the same. Better arguably. I mean...Amanda and Will got their own chapters but they were only apart of for what is not half of it...that's sad 😭😭
• Jace.
Thinking that he's been a slave his whole life, deliberately chooses to be with a wanted princess, you'd think he'd be smart with his choices and think this through but nope. He's RECKLESS. He arguably is the reason as to why the gang in this book is always in trouble. He just doesn't think things through and when Brandon added a mini character development in the end...it wasn't handled well and was put in the brush. I'm surprised the other part of the gang but up with him. Speaking to which, how did Mirs put out with that???!!! He's a big reason why they're always on trouble and she should have called him out earlier in in the book. She's literally a princess!! Not saying that princesses should be reserved but she's THE SYMBOL OF THE REBELLION!!! She should be taken care of rather than be with someone so reckless yet she puts up with that. And when she finally snapped, she just..let's herself get beaten down by Have and had this half ass speach. Talk about royalty and royal speaches. Oh I forgot...can we talk about how Jace thinks highly of himself and talks Cole and Twitch down?? Especially Twitch. He's a sweetheart.
• The grand shapers
I'm just confused as to why they didn't stop the tyranny of the High King. You're one of the strongest shapers (magicians) in the land!!! Why not stop the tyranny?? Also, there seems to be a "typo". It wouldn't be later on but for now it could be considered. Mira says that one of the grand shapers (there is one grand shaper in every kingdom and the high shaper lives in Junction city, in this case, the King) teamed up with the High King but then Declan (The grand shaper of Sambria) says that all four of them wants to see the downfall of the King. How does he know that all wants to see the king fall of his glory if he rarely, if ever, reaches out to other allies?? This wasn't addressed at all so I'm hoping the 2nd book will speak on this issue.
• Twitch
I just think that he's underused. Probably because he's going to have more part in the 2nd book but he's just there to give warnings that always underlined.
• The epic battle in the end
I just think that it's not handled well. Would have been nice if Mira was the one who handled it since the situation is about her but nope...Cole saves the day. The build up to the end for Mira to be the symbol of the rebellion that she is...ruined. Also, the way that they defeat the monster is Farfetch. It's explained in the end but it's still farfetched.
With all that being said, the book was still enjoyable. The magic system is still interesting. It's similar to that of the Avatar where there's great limit to the magic of the people, in this case the geography.
• Liam is an attractive person. I have interest in guys who have a similar attitude with Liam and as you can guess...he's my crush
• Mira and Cole is still likable. Even with the flaws, they still carry their archetype well. Twitch is also still likable despite being useless for the most part of the book. And yes...even Jace is..likable. I'd say toleratable more than likable but still. His racism towards Twitch (Twitch is a grasshopper) can be...annoying tho so keep that in mind
• Declan as the grand shaper is predictable and unexceptional but he's a fun character so he carries that
Overall, I still recommend the book and I'm hoping to see more with the other books to the series ❤️❤️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: War
More...