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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
In reading other reviews, I found myself agreeing with the most-stated criticism: this is a great idea executed only fairly. But! Like one or two other books I've read recently, I feel like this was a failing on the part of the editor, as opposed to the author. If I had to describe the book in one word it would be "loose." The passage of time is unclear, where people are is unclear. I found myself consulting the map continuously because my mind was on "where are they now? Is that where she's from? How did they get there all of a sudden?" Even now I can't picture any locations in this story other than one lake. Mountains? Valleys? Deserts? No idea.
On the other hand. I do feel like this is a series with which I want to continue. The magic system is interesting. The gender roles are interesting. Unlike many other reviewers I didn't find the story boring at all. It's heavily steeped in politics and social maneuvering though, so if you're an "action, action, action" person, this may not be the book for you. But if you are interested in following one young girl from small village girl to the woman who is going to "break the wheel," this installment may be worth your time.
Also, 11 out of 10 stars for the ending. I saw it coming but it was a well-executed cliff-hanger!
On the other hand. I do feel like this is a series with which I want to continue. The magic system is interesting. The gender roles are interesting. Unlike many other reviewers I didn't find the story boring at all. It's heavily steeped in politics and social maneuvering though, so if you're an "action, action, action" person, this may not be the book for you. But if you are interested in following one young girl from small village girl to the woman who is going to "break the wheel," this installment may be worth your time.
Also, 11 out of 10 stars for the ending. I saw it coming but it was a well-executed cliff-hanger!
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-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
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Love mysterious identities and the world with magic and monsters.
While I enjoyed the tone of the book and even the prose, (Maybe, perhaps even the main character? Still undecided) the rules of the magic in it made little sense and I felt like I was reading a magical version of memoirs of a geisha? Why did she have to play an instrument? Why do these magicians need to entertain people in tea houses?? I mean, they have freaking MAGIC??? It was so odd. It made no sense.
I didn't enjoy the love interest either and I thought they had pretty much zero chemistry.
I didn't enjoy the love interest either and I thought they had pretty much zero chemistry.
I felt like the plot was moving along too slowly, I may come back to this book at a later time.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book for review.
This book has been on the back burner for me for a couple of years now and I decided that a reading challenge was the way to get myself to finish it. Well, I started it but didn't end up finishing it.
There was nothing especially wrong with the book- 2 stars on Goodreads means "okay" and that's how I felt. I guess that in my life right now, life is too short to read okay books. After a couple hundred pages I skimmed to the end and was satisfied with my choice.
The book has a flashback structure which seems very in vogue right now but that I'm tired of. The small chapter that began the book is about a bard meeting the bone witch on a ravaged beach, watching her do bone witchy things, and ask for her story. These italicized chapters continue to be interspersed throughout the rest of the book, but most of the book is the bone witch obligingly telling the bard her story. This always takes the wind out of the sails of the story a bit for me- we know the witch is still around to swan about in fancy robes and discuss her autobiography with an eager bard, so clearly she's made it to at least the end of this book.
The rest of the book is the well-trod ground of the coming of age story for our witch Tea. (Is it pronounced Tee? or Tay? I want to know how to pronounce main characters' names, authors!) She's from a small village, ends up having a powerful and scary talent, and another witch comes along to take her to the big city and learn how to use her powers. It's sort of Memoirs of a Geisha combined with Kill Bill, with a bit of royal intrigue and romance thrown in. I think this makes it sound better than it is, because as I've said the book is okay. Maybe if I'd been in the mood for a long drawn out origin tale I'd have happily sunk into the book, but I've read a lot of origin tales and this particular book didn't wow me more than the rest. However, I'd try a book from this author in a different series. Sometimes authors need a bit of time to work the kinks out of their writing (so to speak) and this author does have talent. Now that she's written her origin story trilogy, I'm interested to see what she'll do next.
This book has been on the back burner for me for a couple of years now and I decided that a reading challenge was the way to get myself to finish it. Well, I started it but didn't end up finishing it.
There was nothing especially wrong with the book- 2 stars on Goodreads means "okay" and that's how I felt. I guess that in my life right now, life is too short to read okay books. After a couple hundred pages I skimmed to the end and was satisfied with my choice.
The book has a flashback structure which seems very in vogue right now but that I'm tired of. The small chapter that began the book is about a bard meeting the bone witch on a ravaged beach, watching her do bone witchy things, and ask for her story. These italicized chapters continue to be interspersed throughout the rest of the book, but most of the book is the bone witch obligingly telling the bard her story. This always takes the wind out of the sails of the story a bit for me- we know the witch is still around to swan about in fancy robes and discuss her autobiography with an eager bard, so clearly she's made it to at least the end of this book.
The rest of the book is the well-trod ground of the coming of age story for our witch Tea. (Is it pronounced Tee? or Tay? I want to know how to pronounce main characters' names, authors!) She's from a small village, ends up having a powerful and scary talent, and another witch comes along to take her to the big city and learn how to use her powers. It's sort of Memoirs of a Geisha combined with Kill Bill, with a bit of royal intrigue and romance thrown in. I think this makes it sound better than it is, because as I've said the book is okay. Maybe if I'd been in the mood for a long drawn out origin tale I'd have happily sunk into the book, but I've read a lot of origin tales and this particular book didn't wow me more than the rest. However, I'd try a book from this author in a different series. Sometimes authors need a bit of time to work the kinks out of their writing (so to speak) and this author does have talent. Now that she's written her origin story trilogy, I'm interested to see what she'll do next.
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Reading this book was a pleasure and I can’t wait to get ahold of the future books in the series. The world building was believable and made it so easy to escape into the world. I have read alot of 3rd person books recently but truly I prefer first-person. The writing style also had certain poetic or lyrical moments that just fit in perfectly. The book follows a long period of time but it still was detailed. I didn’t even realize how fast time was going. I enjoyed how descriptive it was for character appearances. I love to imagine the story happening visually. In every chapter, there is a short page or two told from a different point of view. It made me want to read yet another chapter every time. It was mysterious and dark although not scary like a horror or thriller. I loved the characters so much. Tea felt very realistic for the position she was in. I love Fox and his bond with her. They felt so connected and so caring towards each other. Teas friend Likh I feel similar towards. I was always cheering him on. Hopefully, he becomes an Asha in the next book. I look forward to more of the romance subplot in the next book. I think it was a nice choice to make it a slow burn and have not much romance in this book. The ending was satisfying and helped me feel this way. Tea asking him to have dinner together was so cute. I have so much more I could say but I’ll end it here!