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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
DNF - 36% finished chapter 19
I cannot believe how many positive reviews this book has gotten. I really tried to brute force this book to give it a fair review but I just couldn't waste my time which sucks because I was excited for this to come out.
First of all, this story is awkwardly written in present tense for no apparent reason. Present tense can make a story more cinematic and climactic, but the narration is not compelling enough for that to be effective and the action does not last long enough for the tense to be warranted. The writing is sloppy and inelegant. Many details that would help with comprehension are just skipped (like characters entering or leaving a scene). Nothing in this book painted a picture in my head, there is barely any description of people and settings other than hair colour.
All of this build up for our protagonist to face her trial and then the trial is extremely simple and only lasts a chapter. Afterwards she says a few times that she nearly died but I don't buy it. She got bitten once. The only reaction that we get is a scream after the bite, there is no grasping her arm or even any hindrance to her abilities. Like sure, adrenaline or whatever, but her not reacting at all to then saying she nearly died is wrong.
None of the characters feel unique or compelling. They each have 0-1 personality traits. Even Lysta doesn't have a consistent personality; is she sarcastic or short tempered or composed? she shows all 3 traits in a very short time span which doesn't feel believable. Many of the interactions are just exposition that leave questions that aren't interesting enough for me to want to know the answer.
this really just feels like the author read the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and thought "I could do that" but really couldn't. Please do not take my review as your only reason not to read this book, clearly there are plenty of people who love it, it was just too poorly thought out and too simple for me.
EDIT: just letting people know that this author deletes any negative comments on her Instagram and blocks the accounts that leave them. I mentioned how disappointed I was and now I'm blocked.
I cannot believe how many positive reviews this book has gotten. I really tried to brute force this book to give it a fair review but I just couldn't waste my time which sucks because I was excited for this to come out.
First of all, this story is awkwardly written in present tense for no apparent reason. Present tense can make a story more cinematic and climactic, but the narration is not compelling enough for that to be effective and the action does not last long enough for the tense to be warranted. The writing is sloppy and inelegant. Many details that would help with comprehension are just skipped (like characters entering or leaving a scene). Nothing in this book painted a picture in my head, there is barely any description of people and settings other than hair colour.
All of this build up for our protagonist to face her trial and then the trial is extremely simple and only lasts a chapter. Afterwards she says a few times that she nearly died but I don't buy it. She got bitten once. The only reaction that we get is a scream after the bite, there is no grasping her arm or even any hindrance to her abilities. Like sure, adrenaline or whatever, but her not reacting at all to then saying she nearly died is wrong.
None of the characters feel unique or compelling. They each have 0-1 personality traits. Even Lysta doesn't have a consistent personality; is she sarcastic or short tempered or composed? she shows all 3 traits in a very short time span which doesn't feel believable. Many of the interactions are just exposition that leave questions that aren't interesting enough for me to want to know the answer.
this really just feels like the author read the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and thought "I could do that" but really couldn't. Please do not take my review as your only reason not to read this book, clearly there are plenty of people who love it, it was just too poorly thought out and too simple for me.
EDIT: just letting people know that this author deletes any negative comments on her Instagram and blocks the accounts that leave them. I mentioned how disappointed I was and now I'm blocked.
“Who did this?” *I proceed to pass out.*
What really sold this book for me was the premise of fighting for your powers. While magic is pretty much a caveat for fantasy novels, most of the time characters are born with powers or go through some sort of change in which they are granted immense power. In War Hour, the only way to gain powers is to willingly risk your life in a trial you know nothing about.
With that being the premise, I had no idea how much more this story would hold. Lysta goes from fighting for her life as a street rat to trying to match wits in a political minefield. She has no idea who she can really trust and her enemies are a lot harder to identify in the glamorous Capital city.
It really is a unique and enthralling fantasy story. While I found some of the plot a bit predictable, I felt the characters were brilliantly written. Even the unlikable characters showed depth and complex motives behind their actions. It was refreshing to read a fantasy novel where everyone seemed, in varying degrees, morally grey.
And there’s always extra points for a possessive “Who did this?” when a certain someone finds a cut on Lysta’s face.
What really sold this book for me was the premise of fighting for your powers. While magic is pretty much a caveat for fantasy novels, most of the time characters are born with powers or go through some sort of change in which they are granted immense power. In War Hour, the only way to gain powers is to willingly risk your life in a trial you know nothing about.
With that being the premise, I had no idea how much more this story would hold. Lysta goes from fighting for her life as a street rat to trying to match wits in a political minefield. She has no idea who she can really trust and her enemies are a lot harder to identify in the glamorous Capital city.
It really is a unique and enthralling fantasy story. While I found some of the plot a bit predictable, I felt the characters were brilliantly written. Even the unlikable characters showed depth and complex motives behind their actions. It was refreshing to read a fantasy novel where everyone seemed, in varying degrees, morally grey.
And there’s always extra points for a possessive “Who did this?” when a certain someone finds a cut on Lysta’s face.
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I was on a winning streak with books this year. Only one that was not my thing. And now 3 books back to back. I don't know what it is but I misjudged this book. I thought it was right up my ally! Beautiful cover, fantasy, romance and an original story. But every decision of the main characters was just so not logical and annoying. At 75% I had to call it.
Rating: 4
Lysta has learnt the rules of the street. She spent her life trying to outrun the imminent threat of the trials, until one day her heart rules over her head, and she pays the price.
After being dragged to her new fate, she is flung into a world of new games, courts, and crowns, each as cut throat as the last. However Lysta is determined to survive, not for herself, for the justice of her people. But how can she survive, when she can even determine who to trust?
…
Plot/aspects:
- fast pace
- strong fmc
- Enemies to ??
- Dagger scene
- Jealousy
- morally grey
- betrayal
-friendship
- earned powers
I really enjoyed this book, it was super fast paced and full of plot twists which keep you on your toes. I really like Lysta, she was strong headed, independent, and not afraid for a fight. Torryn was our morally grey man, stern, and untrusting. Evander was the good guy, supportive, and secretive.
My favourite part was probably the powers, I found it really interesting how they had to be earned and could manifest differently dependent on how you compete the trial.
I can’t wait to see more of how Lysta grows as a character and how her relationship with the heirs grows.
Lysta has learnt the rules of the street. She spent her life trying to outrun the imminent threat of the trials, until one day her heart rules over her head, and she pays the price.
After being dragged to her new fate, she is flung into a world of new games, courts, and crowns, each as cut throat as the last. However Lysta is determined to survive, not for herself, for the justice of her people. But how can she survive, when she can even determine who to trust?
…
Plot/aspects:
- fast pace
- strong fmc
- Enemies to ??
- Dagger scene
- Jealousy
- morally grey
- betrayal
-friendship
- earned powers
I really enjoyed this book, it was super fast paced and full of plot twists which keep you on your toes. I really like Lysta, she was strong headed, independent, and not afraid for a fight. Torryn was our morally grey man, stern, and untrusting. Evander was the good guy, supportive, and secretive.
My favourite part was probably the powers, I found it really interesting how they had to be earned and could manifest differently dependent on how you compete the trial.
I can’t wait to see more of how Lysta grows as a character and how her relationship with the heirs grows.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Pacing was off at times, but I really enjoyed the world building.
Sometimes a bit predictable, but overall I enjoyed it and will read the next one.
Sometimes a bit predictable, but overall I enjoyed it and will read the next one.
This book was filled with so many twists and turns, I could not put it down. The plot and way people get their magic is unique and different from any other fantasy I’ve read.
Lysta lives in constant fear of being trialed, a test in which users either die or succeed and gain magic. In her court, the trialed are used by King Drystas to push his will. Forced to trial against her will & succeeding, Lysta becomes a weapon King Drystas plans to use in order to force the untrialed to trial. That is, until Torryn, who she does not trust, gives her an opportunity to stop it. Lysta is forced to leave the people she cares about behind, thrust into the court politics between trialed kingdoms, all in an effort to attempt to take down King Drystas.
Lysta lives in constant fear of being trialed, a test in which users either die or succeed and gain magic. In her court, the trialed are used by King Drystas to push his will. Forced to trial against her will & succeeding, Lysta becomes a weapon King Drystas plans to use in order to force the untrialed to trial. That is, until Torryn, who she does not trust, gives her an opportunity to stop it. Lysta is forced to leave the people she cares about behind, thrust into the court politics between trialed kingdoms, all in an effort to attempt to take down King Drystas.
ARC review.
I was very excited to have a chance to be an ARC reader for this book, as this is my first experience with ARC. The premise had my interest peaked. I thought it to be very interesting. Civilians of different courts enduring trails to be awarded powers.
These trials were heavily mentioned in the beginning of the book, adding to the intrigue of what they were to to entail. For the build-up of them, I found it to be utterly underwhelming.
A lot of the story and character descriptions I felt were felt very much lacking. I tried so hard to get through this book, and I was not successful. I feel if there was more time fully describing surroundings, the other courts, and characters, it would have been an amazing read. A lot of things felt rushed when they could have been so much more.
With all that being said, I feel as though this author has something on her hands here. She has created a very unique world with a very interesting premise for character powers. I wish her the best in her future endeavors.
I was very excited to have a chance to be an ARC reader for this book, as this is my first experience with ARC. The premise had my interest peaked. I thought it to be very interesting. Civilians of different courts enduring trails to be awarded powers.
These trials were heavily mentioned in the beginning of the book, adding to the intrigue of what they were to to entail. For the build-up of them, I found it to be utterly underwhelming.
A lot of the story and character descriptions I felt were felt very much lacking. I tried so hard to get through this book, and I was not successful. I feel if there was more time fully describing surroundings, the other courts, and characters, it would have been an amazing read. A lot of things felt rushed when they could have been so much more.
With all that being said, I feel as though this author has something on her hands here. She has created a very unique world with a very interesting premise for character powers. I wish her the best in her future endeavors.