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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
I loved, loved, loved [b:The False Prince|12432220|The False Prince (Ascendance, #1)|Jennifer A. Nielsen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1585683740l/12432220._SX50_.jpg|16221764]. I liked [b:Mark of the Thief|17453187|Mark of the Thief (Mark of the Thief, #1)|Jennifer A. Nielsen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1402065517l/17453187._SY75_.jpg|24341792]. And I really, really, really disliked this book. It was painful, difficult to finish, and I accidentally checked it out from Hoopla twice because I couldn't even remember if I had finished it (I had). The romance was rushed (when it didn't need to be!) and I just found myself not rooting for anyone. I wanted everyone in this world to leave and to start over with some decent people.
The second half of the book was better than the first, which was at least a positive for it - it's crazy because it lagged SO much in the first half and the background didn't actually feel necessary or useful. Pacing is an issue throughout the whole book.
It is rare for me to not just read the next in a series - you've already learned about the world and characters, so why not? - but this series is one I will not be picking up again.
The second half of the book was better than the first, which was at least a positive for it - it's crazy because it lagged SO much in the first half and the background didn't actually feel necessary or useful. Pacing is an issue throughout the whole book.
It is rare for me to not just read the next in a series - you've already learned about the world and characters, so why not? - but this series is one I will not be picking up again.
this is the first audiobook i’ve listened to. honestly, i prefer physically reading a book or even reading on my phone. i think it’s easier for me to absorb the story and imagine the characters when im reading instead of listening. i really liked the book, but the mind blowing moments are not as great when you’re listening to a robot voice read to you. it was slow at some points and wrapped up somewhat quickly, BUT there are two more books and this one took place over only 5 days so im not mad about it. overall, the fun story made up for my distaste of audiobooks. i’ll probably listen to the rest of the series just because it’s so much more convenient and i want to know what happens next!
This book was so good. I had to start the next one as soon as I could. 4.5 stars
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
It was just ok. Kestra isn’t a particularly compelling heroine to follow, and her confused motivations sometimes made the plot and relationship between characters hard-to-understand. There are so many relationship changes-of-heart that they don’t really feel like a “twist”
It's hard to believe that this is from the same author who wowed me with The False Prince. It feels more like a debut novel than something from a seasoned author.
The good:
The cover is gorgeous. Kudos to the designer.
Nielsen's trademark twists and turns. The "Oh, I did not see THAT coming" moments. Some author's telegraph these from the beginning, so the big reveals fall flat. While I can sometimes predict the twists that Nielsen will use because they fit a standard YA trope, there are still surprises.
The wit. I love snark, Nielsen's characters love snark. It should be a match made in heaven.
But...
The not so good:
Plot pacing just didn't work. I know the '4 days' thing was supposed to create tension and urgency, but it also set things up for a sense of unreality and impossibility. I found myself trying to tick days off on my fingers to figure out what day we were on and if all of that could really have been accomplished in the days that had passed.
Character development. I cared exactly zero bits for any of the characters. Their arcs felt forced, and I felt as if I was being asked to like some really unlikable people. The whole 'trustworthy/not trustworthy' bit grew old quickly. I am almost ready to root for Lord Endrick because at least he's consistent.
The middle-ages-not-quite-steampunk vibe. Dude has an advanced tech mechanical leg with gears and tubes, but people still haven't figured out transportation beyond horse/other creature and carriage.
The romance. Yawn.
I cannot for the life of me tell if this book is supposed to be middle-grade or YA. The writing in the first half of the book felt incredibly middle-grade and simplistic (although I've read some middle-grade fiction with beautiful writing), but the subject matter is more YA. It wasn't until the latter quarter of the book that the writing really began to gel as a YA novel for me.
The good:
The cover is gorgeous. Kudos to the designer.
Nielsen's trademark twists and turns. The "Oh, I did not see THAT coming" moments. Some author's telegraph these from the beginning, so the big reveals fall flat. While I can sometimes predict the twists that Nielsen will use because they fit a standard YA trope, there are still surprises.
The wit. I love snark, Nielsen's characters love snark. It should be a match made in heaven.
But...
The not so good:
Plot pacing just didn't work. I know the '4 days' thing was supposed to create tension and urgency, but it also set things up for a sense of unreality and impossibility. I found myself trying to tick days off on my fingers to figure out what day we were on and if all of that could really have been accomplished in the days that had passed.
Character development. I cared exactly zero bits for any of the characters. Their arcs felt forced, and I felt as if I was being asked to like some really unlikable people. The whole 'trustworthy/not trustworthy' bit grew old quickly. I am almost ready to root for Lord Endrick because at least he's consistent.
The middle-ages-not-quite-steampunk vibe. Dude has an advanced tech mechanical leg with gears and tubes, but people still haven't figured out transportation beyond horse/other creature and carriage.
The romance. Yawn.
I cannot for the life of me tell if this book is supposed to be middle-grade or YA. The writing in the first half of the book felt incredibly middle-grade and simplistic (although I've read some middle-grade fiction with beautiful writing), but the subject matter is more YA. It wasn't until the latter quarter of the book that the writing really began to gel as a YA novel for me.
This wasn't a bad book by any means but I don't know for me personally it was just missing something to give it a higher rating. I enjoyed my time reading the book but it was really easy to see where the plot line was going. By the time I finished the book I wasn't really surprised by the outcome and I feel like I was supposed to be but I wasn't. I might continue with the book because despite the fact that I knew what was going to happen I am slightly intrigued by the story. I don't know we will see. I don't feel like the book was a waste of my time but I maybe could have waited to read it.
I have no recollection of even a single scene in this book. Sometimes I even wonder if I ever did read it or if it was some wild dream.
Kestra knows how little control she has over her life. After an attempted kidnapping, the daughter of evil Lord Kendricks' right hand man was exiled to the Lava Fields, and as much as she didn't desire to go there - she doesn't desire to go back either. But go back she must, at the beck and call of her father who has designs for her that Kestra knows don't have her best interests at heart. With rebel groups threatening to rise up and rumors of a legendary Olden Blade that can kill the purportedly immortal Lord Kendrick beginning to seem more real than legendary, Kestra is unwittingly drawn into a plot that will take all her wit and cunning to survive, if she can figure out which side she truly wants to fight on.
Great world building here! I appreciated that I had a firm "historical" foundation right from the beginning so I understood what was at stake and where Kestra fit. With three different factions at odds here, the story could've gotten mired down in politics or explanations, but I felt like the plot moved along swiftly and really kept my attention. The romantic storyline was on point and both the love interest and Kestra are fully fleshed out as we switch between their points of view. The writing was sharp and the dialogue flowed in a way that resonated with me. I"d have liked to see a little more of the "magic" in this world but overall, I really enjoyed this first installment and I'm anxious to see where Kestra's choices lead her.
Great world building here! I appreciated that I had a firm "historical" foundation right from the beginning so I understood what was at stake and where Kestra fit. With three different factions at odds here, the story could've gotten mired down in politics or explanations, but I felt like the plot moved along swiftly and really kept my attention. The romantic storyline was on point and both the love interest and Kestra are fully fleshed out as we switch between their points of view. The writing was sharp and the dialogue flowed in a way that resonated with me. I"d have liked to see a little more of the "magic" in this world but overall, I really enjoyed this first installment and I'm anxious to see where Kestra's choices lead her.