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josephine687's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
sam_hartwig's review
3.0
Not as hooked on this series as Vampire Academy & Bloodlines. I will continue to read them but not in any hurry.
marzie_21's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
magikspells's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first ARC I've gotten that I was honestly really excited about. And I'm very pleased to report that it was just as awesome as I was hoping that it would be. I've read several of Richelle Mead's books now. I think if I were to count them up it would be something around 13 of them, with this being numero 14. Alright lets do this.
Gameboard of the Gods takes place in a future world where a new regime as taken over called the RUNA where religion is banned in any form. The story centers around our main characters Justin March and Mae Koshinen who have been brought together by forces that neither of them are fully aware of.
The setting and world of the book is very well established without feeling like I was reading endless pages of background. I think Richelle took advantage of what we already know and picture about dystopian militaristic futures and used these images to help further build on her own take on this world. While this is a dystopian world in a way, I'm not sure I felt as fake so many others. Or perhaps her take is just more tolerable. This story hinges on religion and/or lack there of in this society. And I really don't like the dystopia genre because I think they fail to account for pivotal things like religion in a world suffering from a very recent collapse. When all else fails, religion remains. This story embraces religion and how it effects people's lives. Whatever you believe in or don't believe in, I would dare anyone to say there isn't some mention or effect of religion on their everyday life. I applaud Richelle for tackling this topic.
As characters go, I enjoyed them all immensely. Mae is very much a strong beautiful warrior (harkening back to Mead's other characters like Rose from [b:Vampire Academy|345627|Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, #1)|Richelle Mead|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1361098973s/345627.jpg|335933] and Eugenie from [b:Storm Born|2754510|Storm Born (Dark Swan, #1)|Richelle Mead|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1327900947s/2754510.jpg|3159815]). I think my main issue with Mae is that I feel like she's combinations of other character traits Read's used before. I would love to see some more range for her female lead characters. Justin is a brilliant thinker with an addiction to gambling, women, drinking, and most any other vice you could think of. I enjoyed him as well, he reminded me very much of Adrian (more around the [b:Bloodlines|8709527|Bloodlines (Bloodlines, #1)|Richelle Mead|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1297199431s/8709527.jpg|13582374] part of that storyline) which wins him points in my book. I find their interactions complex, interesting, and believable. I do quite like the tension built there. Side characters were awesome as always, Leo, Dominic, Tessa, and Horatio and Magnus were ones that I particularly liked.
I thought the story was well paced, and it kept my attention. The story built to several very dramatic scenes and by the time it ended, I felt both satisfied as well as intrigued to know more. I'm looking forward to reading more of this series.
Gameboard of the Gods takes place in a future world where a new regime as taken over called the RUNA where religion is banned in any form. The story centers around our main characters Justin March and Mae Koshinen who have been brought together by forces that neither of them are fully aware of.
The setting and world of the book is very well established without feeling like I was reading endless pages of background. I think Richelle took advantage of what we already know and picture about dystopian militaristic futures and used these images to help further build on her own take on this world. While this is a dystopian world in a way, I'm not sure I felt as fake so many others. Or perhaps her take is just more tolerable. This story hinges on religion and/or lack there of in this society. And I really don't like the dystopia genre because I think they fail to account for pivotal things like religion in a world suffering from a very recent collapse. When all else fails, religion remains. This story embraces religion and how it effects people's lives. Whatever you believe in or don't believe in, I would dare anyone to say there isn't some mention or effect of religion on their everyday life. I applaud Richelle for tackling this topic.
As characters go, I enjoyed them all immensely. Mae is very much a strong beautiful warrior (harkening back to Mead's other characters like Rose from [b:Vampire Academy|345627|Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, #1)|Richelle Mead|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1361098973s/345627.jpg|335933] and Eugenie from [b:Storm Born|2754510|Storm Born (Dark Swan, #1)|Richelle Mead|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1327900947s/2754510.jpg|3159815]). I think my main issue with Mae is that I feel like she's combinations of other character traits Read's used before. I would love to see some more range for her female lead characters. Justin is a brilliant thinker with an addiction to gambling, women, drinking, and most any other vice you could think of. I enjoyed him as well, he reminded me very much of Adrian (more around the [b:Bloodlines|8709527|Bloodlines (Bloodlines, #1)|Richelle Mead|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1297199431s/8709527.jpg|13582374] part of that storyline) which wins him points in my book. I find their interactions complex, interesting, and believable. I do quite like the tension built there. Side characters were awesome as always, Leo, Dominic, Tessa, and Horatio and Magnus were ones that I particularly liked.
I thought the story was well paced, and it kept my attention. The story built to several very dramatic scenes and by the time it ended, I felt both satisfied as well as intrigued to know more. I'm looking forward to reading more of this series.
halynah's review
5.0
That was truly amazing, unputdownable, exciting read! I was hesitant to begin it because of so many negative reviews, and I sincerely can't fathom, how somebody can rate such a book with one star - that's really unfair. One star is given, when the style of writing is primitive and dreadful or the plot is a mess, and these were not the cases with this book.
I absolutely loved the word-building and mythology, the development of events was gripping and most of the characters were AWESOME (my favourites were ravens, of course). The only black spot was Justin - in many situations he was plainly disgusting, so I hope the sequel will provide us with some new and WORTHY love interest.To tell the truth - all R.Meade's male protagonists are lacking and far from perfect - Dmitri put Rose through much, Adrian was often weak and irritating with his addictions, but still Justin is the worst of them.
I liked Mae and I don't think she was an unemotional robot - elite military people are not supposed to be weepy, smily or cuddly, so she was just a good professional. Tessa has a great potential for the next book as well as Lucian. I really can't wait the sequel - I hope there will be some progress with Mae's niece in it.
The book is highly recommended - a perfect mix of mythology, dystopia, sci-fi and adult romance. I enjoyed it immensely!
I absolutely loved the word-building and mythology, the development of events was gripping and most of the characters were AWESOME (my favourites were ravens, of course). The only black spot was Justin - in many situations he was plainly disgusting, so I hope the sequel will provide us with some new and WORTHY love interest.To tell the truth - all R.Meade's male protagonists are lacking and far from perfect - Dmitri put Rose through much, Adrian was often weak and irritating with his addictions, but still Justin is the worst of them.
I liked Mae and I don't think she was an unemotional robot - elite military people are not supposed to be weepy, smily or cuddly, so she was just a good professional. Tessa has a great potential for the next book as well as Lucian. I really can't wait the sequel - I hope there will be some progress with Mae's niece in it.
The book is highly recommended - a perfect mix of mythology, dystopia, sci-fi and adult romance. I enjoyed it immensely!
inlibrisveritas's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5 Stars
I thought this one was fairly unique in the way the world blended a few different elements. It's an odd mix of sci-fi and urban fantasy, and despite some slower moments, it worked pretty well. I won't say the two main characters are my favorite, but I like that they were both less than perfect in a lot of ways.
I thought this one was fairly unique in the way the world blended a few different elements. It's an odd mix of sci-fi and urban fantasy, and despite some slower moments, it worked pretty well. I won't say the two main characters are my favorite, but I like that they were both less than perfect in a lot of ways.
jnjackson's review
3.0
definitely not a YA book like vampire academy - more like dystopian society with adult themes. good though!
stephxsu's review
This was an odd disappointment. I've always rather admired Richelle Mead's world-building in genres that sometimes seem to inexplicably put world-building second to romance, when in fact it is those very genres (paranormal/urban fantasy) that require some of the most thorough world-building. But GAMEBOARD OF THE GODS simply failed in that regard for me. It's not that there is no lack of trying; it's that, somehow, the various elements of this world--religious, technological, socioeconomic, racial--never congealed in that deceptively effortless way that I require for an immersive read.
To make matters worse, I totally couldn't feel the romance. A couple that gives me no motivation to read on to see how their relationship develops.
Oh, I'll still give any of Richelle Mead's future books a try. But this one did not work for me, because of the awkward way in which it tried to make a bunch of parts into a cohesive whole.
To make matters worse, I totally couldn't feel the romance. A couple that
Spoiler
has sex within 30 minutes of their first meetingOh, I'll still give any of Richelle Mead's future books a try. But this one did not work for me, because of the awkward way in which it tried to make a bunch of parts into a cohesive whole.
beautifuldissonance's review
4.0
After reading some of the reviews on here I was expecting this book to be complete rubbish but now that I've finished it I'm puzzled by the bad reviews. I did find the pacing to be a little slow in the beginning of the book, but it does pick up. Mead doesn't hand everything to you on a silver platter, so if you expect to have everything about this world spelled out for you you'll be disappointed at first. Give it time, enjoy the world for what it is, think a little, and hopefully you'll enjoy this book as much as I did.
keberwick's review
4.0
Holy. Fuck. This was amazing! I fell in love with Richelle Mead through the Vampire Academy (still one of my absolute favorite series in the history of ever), and have read most of her other series and loved them. Except Bloodlines. That was a flop for me, but that's not the point of this review.
Gameboard of the Gods was so amazingly constructed. The world building was on point, I really can't describe it better than that. The intricate way that mythology and government were woven together left me speechless, and honestly, I can't wait for the next book because I have a feeling it'll be just as fabulous and well written as the first.
Gameboard of the Gods was so amazingly constructed. The world building was on point, I really can't describe it better than that. The intricate way that mythology and government were woven together left me speechless, and honestly, I can't wait for the next book because I have a feeling it'll be just as fabulous and well written as the first.