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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
What a boring, mediocre disappointment of a book. I did not care about these characters, none, the plot made little sense, the world was under-developed, I had such a hard time finishing this book but I had to see what the fuss was about as this got some pretty decent reviews. The romance was awful and I am pretty sure the MC blushed at swooned every time a male character in this book paid her the slightest bit of attention.
As much as I'd like to say I don't judge a book by its cover, sometimes I do pick one up solely because the cover calls to me. Isn't this cover intriguing? I want to be her. So I picked it up and read her in almost one sitting (darn that work shift getting in the way), and now I can't stop talking about how much I love this book. It's a debut novel, too! Which means to me, and no pressure, Lindsay, but I'm excited for all the years of reading your works ahead of me.
Shelf-talker: Watch out, Annie Oakley! Serendipity Jones has come to Cessation, and she's making her (expert) mark on the city of sin. This riveting debut novel follows Pity as she escapes a forced marriage and the 87th Commune (the only home she's ever known) and heads toward Columbia, across the "Wild West" of a post-Second Civil War landscape. Deadly Scroungers and a well-timed rescue derail her plans, leading her to Max and the Theatre Vespertine. Though Pity's now enjoying more creature comforts (delicious food, luxurious rooms, stylish clothes) than she's ever known, every day she stays in Cessation comes at a cost: complete loyalty to Selene, who rules Casimir (Cessation's "house of ill repute" and the home of the theater) with a velvet-covered iron fist, and Pity's struggle to decide whether she will allow her sharpshooter skills to be used for an act far more deadly than the mere marksmanship she displays before an audience. When Pity finds herself at the center of a plot to overthrow Selene, she must decide what is more important: the lives of her new friends, her new love, or her freedom - the one thing she's always wanted but has not been able to secure. A fast-paced, riveting debut novel featuring a cast of kick-ass females. While the ending does not disappoint, there's plenty of story left for a possible book 2.
Personal Notes: Two thumbs way, WAY up! I devoured this book, and challenge you not to do the same. The world building was just enough - lots of details that built a full picture but without bogging us down with ones that would make the story drag. I think that was one of the most impressive things about this book: the amount of plot it contained for its length. A LOT happened in those 368 pages, and the storyline just kept moving right along. There wasn't a lot of down time, and I really liked that. The pace of the book seemed to match the pace of the world Pity lived in. In a futuristic, somewhat dystopian Wild West world like this, I don't think they would have taken a lot of time to think things through. They would have had a thought and then acted, or let their actions speak for them, both of which we see evidence of many times over during the book.
Also, the cast. So many great female characters! While the males were no slouch either, they weren't the driving force of the book. There's plenty of fodder here for a feminist reading, but I'll contain myself and just list the main females that really pushed the plot forward: six-shooter toting Serendipity Jones herself, of course; her BFF, Finn, who provides comfort, support, and a major life lesson; Pity's mother-in-memory, and the sharp-shooting lessons she gave Pity; Selene, the ruler of Casimir, with a real friend-or-foe dilemma going on; Siena Bond, the bounty hunter, who may or may not be after Pity, but who certainly knows more than she's telling; and so on. I could name so many more, but that taste should be enough to convince you that women are the heart and soul of this novel, and I couldn't be happier in recommending it as a read.
Shelf-talker: Watch out, Annie Oakley! Serendipity Jones has come to Cessation, and she's making her (expert) mark on the city of sin. This riveting debut novel follows Pity as she escapes a forced marriage and the 87th Commune (the only home she's ever known) and heads toward Columbia, across the "Wild West" of a post-Second Civil War landscape. Deadly Scroungers and a well-timed rescue derail her plans, leading her to Max and the Theatre Vespertine. Though Pity's now enjoying more creature comforts (delicious food, luxurious rooms, stylish clothes) than she's ever known, every day she stays in Cessation comes at a cost: complete loyalty to Selene, who rules Casimir (Cessation's "house of ill repute" and the home of the theater) with a velvet-covered iron fist, and Pity's struggle to decide whether she will allow her sharpshooter skills to be used for an act far more deadly than the mere marksmanship she displays before an audience. When Pity finds herself at the center of a plot to overthrow Selene, she must decide what is more important: the lives of her new friends, her new love, or her freedom - the one thing she's always wanted but has not been able to secure. A fast-paced, riveting debut novel featuring a cast of kick-ass females. While the ending does not disappoint, there's plenty of story left for a possible book 2.
Personal Notes: Two thumbs way, WAY up! I devoured this book, and challenge you not to do the same. The world building was just enough - lots of details that built a full picture but without bogging us down with ones that would make the story drag. I think that was one of the most impressive things about this book: the amount of plot it contained for its length. A LOT happened in those 368 pages, and the storyline just kept moving right along. There wasn't a lot of down time, and I really liked that. The pace of the book seemed to match the pace of the world Pity lived in. In a futuristic, somewhat dystopian Wild West world like this, I don't think they would have taken a lot of time to think things through. They would have had a thought and then acted, or let their actions speak for them, both of which we see evidence of many times over during the book.
Also, the cast. So many great female characters! While the males were no slouch either, they weren't the driving force of the book. There's plenty of fodder here for a feminist reading, but I'll contain myself and just list the main females that really pushed the plot forward: six-shooter toting Serendipity Jones herself, of course; her BFF, Finn, who provides comfort, support, and a major life lesson; Pity's mother-in-memory, and the sharp-shooting lessons she gave Pity; Selene, the ruler of Casimir, with a real friend-or-foe dilemma going on; Siena Bond, the bounty hunter, who may or may not be after Pity, but who certainly knows more than she's telling; and so on. I could name so many more, but that taste should be enough to convince you that women are the heart and soul of this novel, and I couldn't be happier in recommending it as a read.
Either 2.5 or 3 stars. Somewhere around there.
This book was a total cover-buy for me. I had never heard about this book until I saw it in stores the day it was released. I bought it expecting two things: a strong female lead and a western feel. I got neither of those.
The intro has a bit of the western feel, but after that it was 100% cliche dystopian novel. Nothing I haven’t read before.
My main disappointment with the book was how unimpressive Serendipity was. I’m supposed to believe she’s the greatest sharpshooter there is but yet she can’t make any important shots? I swear she missed half the shots she had to take throughout the book. She just was the cliche weak dystopian heroine who lands these special roles that other people would fight hard for but she just... gets them.
Then the western bit. I never really read any western stuff but I thought it’d be fun for a change. Yeah, I didn’t get that western feel from this book at all. It felt like the western setting of this novel was for the sole purpose of Pity having the gun thing.
Other than my issues there, I enjoyed this book enough to give it a decent rating. I was continuously torn between being disappointed and then mildly enjoying the story. Pity did get some good development by the end, but not enough to completely bring up the rating. I also enjoy romances that aren’t insta-love and actually develop a bit, which I feel I got here.
Overall, I’m not going to go out of my way to get the sequel when it inevitably happens, but if I end up with a copy, I’ll end up reading it.
This book was a total cover-buy for me. I had never heard about this book until I saw it in stores the day it was released. I bought it expecting two things: a strong female lead and a western feel. I got neither of those.
The intro has a bit of the western feel, but after that it was 100% cliche dystopian novel. Nothing I haven’t read before.
My main disappointment with the book was how unimpressive Serendipity was. I’m supposed to believe she’s the greatest sharpshooter there is but yet she can’t make any important shots? I swear she missed half the shots she had to take throughout the book. She just was the cliche weak dystopian heroine who lands these special roles that other people would fight hard for but she just... gets them.
Then the western bit. I never really read any western stuff but I thought it’d be fun for a change. Yeah, I didn’t get that western feel from this book at all. It felt like the western setting of this novel was for the sole purpose of Pity having the gun thing.
Other than my issues there, I enjoyed this book enough to give it a decent rating. I was continuously torn between being disappointed and then mildly enjoying the story. Pity did get some good development by the end, but not enough to completely bring up the rating. I also enjoy romances that aren’t insta-love and actually develop a bit, which I feel I got here.
Overall, I’m not going to go out of my way to get the sequel when it inevitably happens, but if I end up with a copy, I’ll end up reading it.
Spent this whole book stressed over what the Second Civil War was fought over. Not a good sign that we never found out.
Where is the world-building? Why are there three times too many characters? Why does nothing make sense? I'm so annoyed by this book. I was ready for a 10/10 read from a promising synopsis but I got a vague, directionless plot and a major case of telling everything and showing very little. I didn't believe any of the relationships; the story lurched from idea to idea as though it was bits of 3 books stitched together, and not a single bit of the ending made sense. What did I just read??? I'm so mad.
A Western set in a re-imagined United States. Serendipity Jones, the main character, is a compelling narrator. She suffers adversity - some on page, some in her history - and comes out better for it. I appreciated how the story didn't veer away from emotional conflict. Too much of stereotypical Western media is emotionless and overly physical.
Overall, an excellent standalone, though I'd love to read more in this world!
Overall, an excellent standalone, though I'd love to read more in this world!
Wanted to like this one because it seemed right up my alley but it’s just so boring. I’ve tried multiple times to finish it and I just can’t. It’s billed as western but has more of a circus feel, and I just can’t connect with the characters. Maybe it gets better later, but I’m 150 pages in and can’t make myself continue.
I don't usually do western type books so I enjoyed this more than I thought I would.
To put it simply. This was the most amazing book I have read. It had great world building and when you read it, it seemed like anything could happen on any page. I could be peaceful or at least calm and the BOOM death! It was also an incredible experience meeting Lyndsay in person and asking her questions about the book, the inspiration, etc. I was a bit devastated to learn that for right now it is a standalone but I can't wait to read the next book she will write!