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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-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
Really interesting book with extensive cool world building and concepts. It is a post apocalyptic book by a Native American author, where most survivors are Native peoples. The writing was a little simplistic/YA but the concepts and ideas were really cool. Overall a really fun, quick read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
I'm a sucker for broken people hunting monsters. (See also: The Witcher short stories.) Great characterization, fascinating backdrop, and well-paced monster hunting.
Enjoyed the characters. Definitely can tell this is an earlier work of roanhorse’s. Her character development is not as compelling as Black Sun but still some great fleshed out characters, not the hugest fan of the romance angle but that does add to the YA-NA feel of the book.
This was an urban fantasy story based on Native American folklore invoking gods and monsters. I really thought I would like it and I'm quite split. There is so much potential for interesting world-building and the characters could be very complex. But the ending became quite cliched, shoe-horning some romance in where it was unneeded, and trying to surprise us when we definitely had received enough clues to not really be surprised. The main character was a bad-ass female warrior in the beginning and became whiny and pathetic. In addition, the author would put the characters in tight spots, and then just create ways for them to get out without explaining the new powers or reasons they survived. There seemed to be a lot of plotholes and the author got very lazy in explaining why some characters survived when they really shouldn't have. Overall, I gave it 3 stars because they were so much potential. I will read the next book but if it doesn't improve, I will drop the series.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-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:
Yes
I struggled with the pacing of this but I think that's my fault this time, because when I read the description and teaser of the next book I was excited to borrow it? Maybe I just wasn't in the right headspace for this type of read at the moment.
This is so great! And I love reading about my own people and the stories, legends, and myths that are passed down! So good!!! Please read this if you haven't already!
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The plot was kind of a mess lots of things that happened that felt a bit unnecessary or like they didn’t really move things forward. The characters were a bit flat I didn’t really understand anyone’s motivations. And for a character that was supposed to be suspicious her instincts were a mess. Feel like things kind of happened without it feeling that impactful or clear.
I am a sucker for Percy Jackson-- I got into them in high school, and am not ashamed to admit I've stayed caught up. Rick Riordan is a good writer, but what really has me hooked is the reimagining of the Greek myths I grew up reading.
That said, Greek mythology is a little overdone, and sometimes overly familiar. Reading adaptations of other, equally rich mythologies is exciting, and Trail of Lightning provides that and more: set in a post-apocalyptic world, with old magic re-emerging, and the mythological figures of Navajo stories walking the land again.
One thing that's very refreshing about the take on mythology here is that the gods are not hiding. They walk the land more or less openly, if not announcing their presence, and those in the know fear them mostly. This has a slight Lovecraftian, Elder God feel to it which I really like.
I'm a little sleep deprived and might write more later, but for now- a definite must-read. I finished and immediately put the next in the series on hold.
That said, Greek mythology is a little overdone, and sometimes overly familiar. Reading adaptations of other, equally rich mythologies is exciting, and Trail of Lightning provides that and more: set in a post-apocalyptic world, with old magic re-emerging, and the mythological figures of Navajo stories walking the land again.
One thing that's very refreshing about the take on mythology here is that the gods are not hiding. They walk the land more or less openly, if not announcing their presence, and those in the know fear them mostly. This has a slight Lovecraftian, Elder God feel to it which I really like.
I'm a little sleep deprived and might write more later, but for now- a definite must-read. I finished and immediately put the next in the series on hold.
A conflicted 3 or 3.5 stars. Lots to enjoy- world-building, myth, representation of Native culture. But it sounds like that representation is problematic; thank you to another reviewer for posting this response to the book by the Diné Writer Collective. Aside from that, I felt the main character was interesting to start even if a little cliche, but grew more cliche over time - damaged girl learns to open up because of a good man and a sexy makeover. I never felt chemistry between the romantic leads. And the main character missed so many obvious clues about the people and events around her that it strained credulity. I also think there was a missed opportunity to explore the ecological disaster that preceded the book. That may happen more in later books in the series, but I wasn't engaged enough to continue on with it.