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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
A bit of a disappointment after the first book
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5
I'm a little disappointed honestly. There was still plenty of action, but halfway through the book Ryiah became a silly love-obsessed girl who made terrible decisions blinded by love, not the warrior-mage I loved from the first book.
Also, I don't how many freakin' times I saw this sentence, "My pulse stopped" when Ryiah was anywhere near Darren, but it seriously annoyed me. If your pulse stops, you die. I guess she literally died every time Darren looked her in the eyes.
I'm a little disappointed honestly. There was still plenty of action, but halfway through the book Ryiah became a silly love-obsessed girl who made terrible decisions blinded by love, not the warrior-mage I loved from the first book.
Also, I don't how many freakin' times I saw this sentence, "My pulse stopped" when Ryiah was anywhere near Darren, but it seriously annoyed me. If your pulse stops, you die. I guess she literally died every time Darren looked her in the eyes.
first read: March 19-21, 2015
first reread: July 3-5, 2015
second reread: February 3-?, 2017
JULY 2015: My feelings have definitely not changed in a negative way towards this book. I loved it the first time around, and I loved it even more on this reread. The world R.E.C. has created is truly beautiful, and I can't be more excited than I already am for book three.
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MARCH 19: I miss having a job........but ONLY because then I could buy the books I wanted when I wanted.......I NEED THIS, but I just talked my husband into buying me a couple and I told him I wouldn't buy anymore for a while..........FML............I have allllll these books to read, but I don't have THIS one, and I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.....If you havent read the first one, do it. do it RIGHT NOW!
MARCH 20: sooooooooooooooooo.........................Im going to read this now, haha. Apparently my husband can just go broke because I can't stop buying books ;) ooooooops.
MARCH 21:
WAIT...wait....it's over????? no! it can't be....go back....I read it too fast!!!!
I freaking loved the first one.....but I FUCKING LOVE THIS ONE!! it was awesome...and heartbreaking...and confusing....and happy and awesome......and amazing....and beautiful...and awesome......did I say awesome? I meant it was AWESOME.
I love Ry. ...I love her personality and although she does stupid things, it's for a good reason and it's written in a way that I can't be irritated with (like SOMEONE.....in another book *insurgent*). And then there is Darren. ..I loved and hated him.....he keeps you wondering until the end what the hell is going on with him....I wanted to slap him.....a lot...and maybe punch him in the throat once or a hundred times.......I want him to be a book boyfriend but idk yet....
....yep, I thought about it...of course he is :)
Rachel, you are awesome!! I'm excited for the 3rd. SO SO SO excited...so if you wanted to just finish it already and release it tomorrow (I'd say today but I figured I'd be nice and understanding...) I'd be okay with that.
first reread: July 3-5, 2015
second reread: February 3-?, 2017
"My dear, each one of us is a hero. The irony, of course, is that most will never receive the title."
JULY 2015: My feelings have definitely not changed in a negative way towards this book. I loved it the first time around, and I loved it even more on this reread. The world R.E.C. has created is truly beautiful, and I can't be more excited than I already am for book three.
-----------
MARCH 20: sooooooooooooooooo.........................Im going to read this now, haha. Apparently my husband can just go broke because I can't stop buying books ;) ooooooops.
MARCH 21:
WAIT...wait....it's over????? no! it can't be....go back....I read it too fast!!!!
I freaking loved the first one.....but I FUCKING LOVE THIS ONE!! it was awesome...and heartbreaking...and confusing....and happy and awesome......and amazing....and beautiful...and awesome......did I say awesome? I meant it was AWESOME.
I love Ry. ...I love her personality and although she does stupid things, it's for a good reason and it's written in a way that I can't be irritated with (like SOMEONE.....in another book *insurgent*). And then there is Darren. ..I loved and hated him.....he keeps you wondering until the end what the hell is going on with him....I wanted to slap him.....a lot...and maybe punch him in the throat once or a hundred times.......I want him to be a book boyfriend but idk yet....
....yep, I thought about it...of course he is :)
Rachel, you are awesome!! I'm excited for the 3rd. SO SO SO excited...so if you wanted to just finish it already and release it tomorrow (I'd say today but I figured I'd be nice and understanding...) I'd be okay with that.
I received a review copy of this book and I am so happy I did because this book is absolutely amazing!
The previous book, First Year, was already great but Apprentice definitely blew that one out of the water for me.
Everything was multiplied by four! The funny parts, the action, and there were some extra sexy moments here and there *cough* the second half of the book *cough*
But let’s back up a bit so you get what I’m talking about.
First Year was about Ryiah’s trial year at the academy, and after she finished that one she became an ‘apprentice’ for the title of black mage.
First year was only one year while this book, Apprentice, covers the other four years at the academy.
That is why everything is multiplied by four.
We start off a few weeks in Ryiah’s second year and go through the book till graduation. I must admit that I sometimes got confused with the timeline because I didn’t know if it was the third or fifth year. Books with a long timeline often have this problem, and because not every little thing from the years is put in the story you can forget what time it is at the part you’re reading.
Apart from the timeline I didn’t have any real problems with this book. It was funny, witty, sexy, HEARTBREAKING and overall just really good.
Seeing more of the academy and the people there was brilliant! In ‘First Year’ we were sheltered from the other parts of this world so that we could focus on the magic and characters that were introduced and not get distracted and clueless about what was happening.
Now that we know the basics of magic and the lessons of the academy that we were ready to see more of the world.
Let me tell you, what you’ve read about the training of mages-to-be in the first book doesn’t compare! The first years are really just getting tested; the real deal starts when you become an apprentice.
If you enjoyed reading about the lessons (like me) you will get satisfied here.
The training is… more, the activities are way more fun but also way more serious than they were.
Battles, pain casting, elemental magic, it’s all there.
The only thing I missed was seeing more of the other factions. I get that Ryiah is in Combat, but I would’ve liked to see more of the lessons and things that the other factions do.
There could’ve been a really good opportunity to do so with Alex, Rhyiah’s brother, being in Restoration and Ruth, their friend, in Alchemy but we only saw a little bit of Alex’s training. I was a little disappointed by that.
The characters grow a lot in this book. They start off as teenager from around 16 to adults from 20. It's a long but great ride because you see everyone mature!
Ryiah is still one of my favorite female characters and I, yes, I am still in love with Darren.
For you Darren and Ryiah shippers out there, hold your heart because they have a lot of sad, sweet and sexy moments!
They go through a lot in this book together and I’m sure it’s just the beginning of a lot more.
We also see a bit more of the place where Darren grew up, which I also really loved.
They visit the palace more than once and we get a bit more Blayne and their father, the king. There wasn’t a lot to go on because they didn’t stay too long, but we saw more of Darren’s personal life and things he cares about, while getting a taste of his "family life".
I actually read the prequel novella ‘Non-Heir’ before I read Apprentice.
I recommend you to do the same. It gives you more of an insight of court and Darren’s life before school.
You’ll also understand where his “potential” for magic and pain casting comes from.
The story of Non-Heir just gives you an edge when reading this book. I forced my friend to read Non-Heir so she’ll get it better.
You get Non-Heir by signing up for Rachel E. Carter’s newsletter (on her website)!
Overall this was a really enjoyable read and I am going to keep recommending this series to everyone, but especially people who love fantasy and badass characters!
The previous book, First Year, was already great but Apprentice definitely blew that one out of the water for me.
Everything was multiplied by four! The funny parts, the action, and there were some extra sexy moments here and there *cough* the second half of the book *cough*
But let’s back up a bit so you get what I’m talking about.
First Year was about Ryiah’s trial year at the academy, and after she finished that one she became an ‘apprentice’ for the title of black mage.
First year was only one year while this book, Apprentice, covers the other four years at the academy.
That is why everything is multiplied by four.
We start off a few weeks in Ryiah’s second year and go through the book till graduation. I must admit that I sometimes got confused with the timeline because I didn’t know if it was the third or fifth year. Books with a long timeline often have this problem, and because not every little thing from the years is put in the story you can forget what time it is at the part you’re reading.
Apart from the timeline I didn’t have any real problems with this book. It was funny, witty, sexy, HEARTBREAKING and overall just really good.
Seeing more of the academy and the people there was brilliant! In ‘First Year’ we were sheltered from the other parts of this world so that we could focus on the magic and characters that were introduced and not get distracted and clueless about what was happening.
Now that we know the basics of magic and the lessons of the academy that we were ready to see more of the world.
Let me tell you, what you’ve read about the training of mages-to-be in the first book doesn’t compare! The first years are really just getting tested; the real deal starts when you become an apprentice.
If you enjoyed reading about the lessons (like me) you will get satisfied here.
The training is… more, the activities are way more fun but also way more serious than they were.
Battles, pain casting, elemental magic, it’s all there.
The only thing I missed was seeing more of the other factions. I get that Ryiah is in Combat, but I would’ve liked to see more of the lessons and things that the other factions do.
There could’ve been a really good opportunity to do so with Alex, Rhyiah’s brother, being in Restoration and Ruth, their friend, in Alchemy but we only saw a little bit of Alex’s training. I was a little disappointed by that.
The characters grow a lot in this book. They start off as teenager from around 16 to adults from 20. It's a long but great ride because you see everyone mature!
Ryiah is still one of my favorite female characters and I, yes, I am still in love with Darren.
For you Darren and Ryiah shippers out there, hold your heart because they have a lot of sad, sweet and sexy moments!
They go through a lot in this book together and I’m sure it’s just the beginning of a lot more.
We also see a bit more of the place where Darren grew up, which I also really loved.
They visit the palace more than once and we get a bit more Blayne and their father, the king. There wasn’t a lot to go on because they didn’t stay too long, but we saw more of Darren’s personal life and things he cares about, while getting a taste of his "family life".
I actually read the prequel novella ‘Non-Heir’ before I read Apprentice.
I recommend you to do the same. It gives you more of an insight of court and Darren’s life before school.
You’ll also understand where his “potential” for magic and pain casting comes from.
The story of Non-Heir just gives you an edge when reading this book. I forced my friend to read Non-Heir so she’ll get it better.
You get Non-Heir by signing up for Rachel E. Carter’s newsletter (on her website)!
Overall this was a really enjoyable read and I am going to keep recommending this series to everyone, but especially people who love fantasy and badass characters!
There's a profound fundamental flaw at the heart of this book, which is that the narrator is a bystander in her own story. The ending feels cheap and undeserved (as did the ending of the first book, for that matter) because it's pretty much all come about by the off-the-page efforts of other characters. Your protagonist needs to actually ... well, protag. The feisty, determined Ryiah of the first book is missing in action here, replaced with someone who spends a lot of time moping about how everything she wants doesn't just fall into her lap, right up to the point where they do in fact fall right into her lap.
While the first book had a better storyline than this one, it wasn't bad. A lot of the book revolved around the mock battles the apprentices had to participate in. I personally enjoyed these, but I can understand why others might not have.
I wasn't a fan of the love triangle between Riyah, Ian and Darren. It seemed unnecessary, and there was no buid-up between Riyah and Ian (major insta-love vibes). It was obvious Ryiah was using Ian to try and ignore her feeling for Darren, and it honestly just made me dislike her. She was self absorbed and constantly whining. I also don't understand why (minor spoiler). Her stringing the guys along and avoiding them because she 'couldn't choose' and didn't want to 'make the wrong choice' was annoying to read. Especially when she started lashing out at the people who tried to reason with her and told her that what she was doing was unfair. The only response she had was that 'they didn't understand'. Wasn't a fan of her selfish personality in this book.
The part that I disliked the most about this book though, was the excessive use of exclamation marks. There was an exclamation mark after every second sentence any of the characters said. I'm not sure if the author was trying to place emphasis on the dialogue, or if the characters were constantly yelling at each other. It was almost annoying enough to make me stop reading the book. On a more positive note, her writing seemed to have improved from the previous book.
3 stars
I wasn't a fan of the love triangle between Riyah, Ian and Darren. It seemed unnecessary, and there was no buid-up between Riyah and Ian (major insta-love vibes). It was obvious Ryiah was using Ian to try and ignore her feeling for Darren, and it honestly just made me dislike her. She was self absorbed and constantly whining. I also don't understand why (minor spoiler)
Spoiler
she told Ian she 'chose him' and then went on to tell Darren the same thing 5 pages laterThe part that I disliked the most about this book though, was the excessive use of exclamation marks. There was an exclamation mark after every second sentence any of the characters said. I'm not sure if the author was trying to place emphasis on the dialogue, or if the characters were constantly yelling at each other. It was almost annoying enough to make me stop reading the book. On a more positive note, her writing seemed to have improved from the previous book.
3 stars
OMG! I loved this book. If you didn't read the firs one I recommend reading that first, since this one continies from the point where the first ended. Not to mention that without knowing the characters back story it would be hard to understand the plot.
Also for those who didn't read First year, this review contains mild spoilers.
The story spans over 4 years so a lot of things happens in it. It is really action packed despite the fact that the characters still in the learning stages. There is also an underlying romantic thread, but it only complicates thing in the long run mainly because of Ry stupidity. I could understand that she wanted to get over er heartache but she only considered herself, didn't care about the ones around her, the ones she hurt during the so called 'healing process'.
Unfortunatley the things she mostly dispays in this story are ambitions, self-pity and selfishness. Not the best ones, yeah? Sure she is strong too, but she strats to lose her 'purity' he had before starting the school. Ry goes through a lot of hardship every day, she has to work harder than the others, her powers not just handed to her she has to work fro them, unlike some of her classmates. And somewher along the way she became bitter about it. So her personality started down a slippery slope, not so sure how will she balance it out later.
I never liked Alex character and it didn't change.
Darres stayed a mistery, he still have a kind of two sided personality, but it became clearer that wich one of it is his true one. I like him.
However I love how the story progresses in an up and down way like a roller-coaster. I love the drama, the constant twist and turns. A really great story and I loved it despite my dislike of Ry. Looking forward to the next book.
Also for those who didn't read First year, this review contains mild spoilers.
The story spans over 4 years so a lot of things happens in it. It is really action packed despite the fact that the characters still in the learning stages. There is also an underlying romantic thread, but it only complicates thing in the long run mainly because of Ry stupidity. I could understand that she wanted to get over er heartache but she only considered herself, didn't care about the ones around her, the ones she hurt during the so called 'healing process'.
Unfortunatley the things she mostly dispays in this story are ambitions, self-pity and selfishness. Not the best ones, yeah? Sure she is strong too, but she strats to lose her 'purity' he had before starting the school. Ry goes through a lot of hardship every day, she has to work harder than the others, her powers not just handed to her she has to work fro them, unlike some of her classmates. And somewher along the way she became bitter about it. So her personality started down a slippery slope, not so sure how will she balance it out later.
I never liked Alex character and it didn't change.
Darres stayed a mistery, he still have a kind of two sided personality, but it became clearer that wich one of it is his true one. I like him.
However I love how the story progresses in an up and down way like a roller-coaster. I love the drama, the constant twist and turns. A really great story and I loved it despite my dislike of Ry. Looking forward to the next book.
PORFAVOR QUE ALGUIEN ESTRANGULE A TODOS LOS PERSONAJES. TODOS
En algun punto de verdad es que no provoca mas nada, por otro lado, ehm el tiempo paso literalmente volando no?
De verdad cuantas emociones me ha dado este libro
EL FINAL
Estaba como que: what, nonononono
Que desesperacion
En algun punto de verdad es que no provoca mas nada, por otro lado, ehm el tiempo paso literalmente volando no?
De verdad cuantas emociones me ha dado este libro
EL FINAL
Estaba como que: what, nonononono
Que desesperacion