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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
DNF - PG 54
Why?
You know how some books draw you in immediately, make you HAVE to read it?
This book was the exact opposite. Right from the start - page four or five - I was putting it down every couple of pages, looking for an excuse NOT to read it.
There's something about the writing style that I just don't like and I feel nothing but distance and disdain for the characters.
*shrug* Some people might like it. Heck, I might like it if I could stick with it. But I can't and if I try to force myself, I will hate the book.
Why?
You know how some books draw you in immediately, make you HAVE to read it?
This book was the exact opposite. Right from the start - page four or five - I was putting it down every couple of pages, looking for an excuse NOT to read it.
There's something about the writing style that I just don't like and I feel nothing but distance and disdain for the characters.
*shrug* Some people might like it. Heck, I might like it if I could stick with it. But I can't and if I try to force myself, I will hate the book.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-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
This gets 4 stars just for the leads. It's a good book, but not perfect. The characters were by far the most remarkable part of this book. After reading 'Private Arrangements'an HR by this author, I'd sworn off her stuff. Luckily I didn't recognize the name when I picked up this one. Bah! I really can't do reviews! So if you want a YA with more heart (the real kind and not what passes for it!) than running around, pick up this book.
I really enjoyed this! It was YA without being "YA." I was really skeptical about reading it because, while I really love Sherry Thomas, I wasn't so sure about the blurb and the cover. I'm not so much into fantasy, especially YA fantasy, these days. I think the blurb and cover do a huge injustice to the book, though! The book is largely set in Victorian England at Eton! It's not the overwhelming new world that I thought it would be at first. It's sort of Harry Potterish in that it's the world you know combined with a magical alternate world.
Anyway, if you're on the fence, give it a try. It's not what you expect.
Oh, and that prologue? Amazing.
Anyway, if you're on the fence, give it a try. It's not what you expect.
Oh, and that prologue? Amazing.
Overall impression:
I thought The Burning Sky was going to be a slam dunk for me. While I enjoyed it, it’s not my favorite fantasy.
Read the full review on Book Revels.
I thought The Burning Sky was going to be a slam dunk for me. While I enjoyed it, it’s not my favorite fantasy.
Read the full review on Book Revels.
Summer most places means a lot of sun, beaches and heat. But of course, I live in a rainforest, and so I have had to look to other sources for my ‘burning sky’ like Sherry Thomas’ novel by the same title. Burning Sky is about Iolanthe Seabourne and Prince Titus. The two become unlikely allies when Titus discoveries that Iolanthe is the greatest elemental mage of her generation as told by prophesy. Together the two have a destiny to defeat the tyrannical rule of Atlantis and the Bane, and a fate to become more than just unlikely allies.
“This is the story of a girl who fooled a thousand boys, a boy who fooled an entire country, a partnership that would change the fate of realms, and a power to challenge the greatest tyrant the world had ever known. Expect magic.”
Burning Sky is best described as a young adult fantasy with an undercurrent of historical fiction. A lot of the fantasy aspect worked for me but the historical fiction part didn’t seem to mesh well with my concept of the premise. I expected a lot of the cultural stigmas of England in the 1800s to appear here (which did not happen), but instead I only really recognized the period because the characters said the date.
I can break this book down in to three parts, the enjoyable beginning, the forgettable middle, and the cute ending. I enjoyed the beginning because Iolanthe was easily recognizable as a strong female lead. She had the courage and determination to persevere despite the hard times, and she was successful for the most part. Enter Titus. As soon as Titus met Iolanthe the story started to be less, “survive, help my keeper save his job, etc.” and more “she was so beautiful, it made me heady.” That is were the forgettable middle started– with lots off gaga eyes and descriptions of beauty. The ending was cute and well done. I would be tempted to read the next book because that ending almost salvaged the middle. Almost.
“Love will make you weak and indecisive, remember?” she murmured.
What a fool he had been. For a journey like theirs, love was the only thing that would make him strong enough.
“Don’t ever listen to an idiot like me,” he answered.”
Most of the big problems inherent in this novel can be found in the middle. Iolanthe is professed by Titus to be a remarkably beautiful girl, but yet he disguises her as a boy and has her attend an all boys boarding school. Is it just me (and especially as this applies to the 1800s) but how can one be both a beautiful girl and pass as an average schoolboy? The entire plot relied on this girl not being recognized as a boy and to me it just felt like it was too obvious that she was not like the others.
Outside of all the instalove and appearance problems, the plot itself was, for the most part, fast paced and enjoyable. We will see if I decide to read the next one.
“This is the story of a girl who fooled a thousand boys, a boy who fooled an entire country, a partnership that would change the fate of realms, and a power to challenge the greatest tyrant the world had ever known. Expect magic.”
Burning Sky is best described as a young adult fantasy with an undercurrent of historical fiction. A lot of the fantasy aspect worked for me but the historical fiction part didn’t seem to mesh well with my concept of the premise. I expected a lot of the cultural stigmas of England in the 1800s to appear here (which did not happen), but instead I only really recognized the period because the characters said the date.
I can break this book down in to three parts, the enjoyable beginning, the forgettable middle, and the cute ending. I enjoyed the beginning because Iolanthe was easily recognizable as a strong female lead. She had the courage and determination to persevere despite the hard times, and she was successful for the most part. Enter Titus. As soon as Titus met Iolanthe the story started to be less, “survive, help my keeper save his job, etc.” and more “she was so beautiful, it made me heady.” That is were the forgettable middle started– with lots off gaga eyes and descriptions of beauty. The ending was cute and well done. I would be tempted to read the next book because that ending almost salvaged the middle. Almost.
“Love will make you weak and indecisive, remember?” she murmured.
What a fool he had been. For a journey like theirs, love was the only thing that would make him strong enough.
“Don’t ever listen to an idiot like me,” he answered.”
Most of the big problems inherent in this novel can be found in the middle. Iolanthe is professed by Titus to be a remarkably beautiful girl, but yet he disguises her as a boy and has her attend an all boys boarding school. Is it just me (and especially as this applies to the 1800s) but how can one be both a beautiful girl and pass as an average schoolboy? The entire plot relied on this girl not being recognized as a boy and to me it just felt like it was too obvious that she was not like the others.
Outside of all the instalove and appearance problems, the plot itself was, for the most part, fast paced and enjoyable. We will see if I decide to read the next one.
I really tried to like this book, since the story was original, the characters unique, and overall it had a pleasing style...and yet I had to push and push to get through it, only making it about 2/3-3/4 of the way through!
I think maybe it tended to be a little draggy. I will try again to get through it at a later date, simply to find out how the story ends.
I think maybe it tended to be a little draggy. I will try again to get through it at a later date, simply to find out how the story ends.
5 stars!
In my opinion this is one of the best books I have read this year. Its been awhile since I've read a high fantasy novel and such a good one at that! The pacing was just right, the action was riveting, the plot was flawless, and the characters are perfectly flawed.
Iolanthe was a perfect heroine. she didn't pretend to be super brave, but at the same time she was strong, witty, clever, and everything else that a heroine should be. She never whined about anything like a baby, but instead, she chose to face her troubles head on. She is now officially one of my favorite heroines of all time.
Titus on the other hand...
He is awesome. Simply said.
even though he seems cold and hard on the outside it just makes the relationship between him and Iolanthe MUCH MUCH better ;-) *evil grin*
Besides, the knowledge that he has had to live with makes his personality understandable. The fact that he is willing to give up friends, family, or even his life for the sake of this mission just makes him look braver in my eyes. My heart just broke for him when he had to make Iolanthe hate him (at first).
Another thing that I want to complement the author on, is the romance between Iolanthe and Titus.
It was perfectly developed, starting from hate, to grudging trust, then like, then REALLY like, then LURVE. I could tell that this author had written romance before because the writing was in fact, perfectly balanced. It didn't feel rushed at all and the reader could get to enjoy the banter between the two characters as they desperately tried to hide their attraction from each other.
Overall, I LOVED this book and its characters, and look forward to reading the next book in the series when it comes out.
In my opinion this is one of the best books I have read this year. Its been awhile since I've read a high fantasy novel and such a good one at that! The pacing was just right, the action was riveting, the plot was flawless, and the characters are perfectly flawed.
Iolanthe was a perfect heroine. she didn't pretend to be super brave, but at the same time she was strong, witty, clever, and everything else that a heroine should be. She never whined about anything like a baby, but instead, she chose to face her troubles head on. She is now officially one of my favorite heroines of all time.
Titus on the other hand...
He is awesome. Simply said.
even though he seems cold and hard on the outside it just makes the relationship between him and Iolanthe MUCH MUCH better ;-) *evil grin*
Besides, the knowledge that he has had to live with makes his personality understandable. The fact that he is willing to give up friends, family, or even his life for the sake of this mission just makes him look braver in my eyes. My heart just broke for him when he had to make Iolanthe hate him (at first).
Another thing that I want to complement the author on, is the romance between Iolanthe and Titus.
It was perfectly developed, starting from hate, to grudging trust, then like, then REALLY like, then LURVE. I could tell that this author had written romance before because the writing was in fact, perfectly balanced. It didn't feel rushed at all and the reader could get to enjoy the banter between the two characters as they desperately tried to hide their attraction from each other.
Overall, I LOVED this book and its characters, and look forward to reading the next book in the series when it comes out.
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes