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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
An amazing story about love, surviving the harsh hierarchy of a society, and putting fragments of a shattered city together, to make a new, and civil government. Where civilians can feel safe and free to roam about.
One of the BEST BOOKS EVER. Can not wait to read it again.Julia Golding certainly hits it all.
challenging
hopeful
fast-paced
The worldbuilding was a lot stronger than in Dragonfly, but the central conflict and romance was weaker. In the second half of the book everything just goes too perfectly for the main characters, it would’ve been nice if it had taken its time a bit and introduced a bit more of a struggle for success.
I just about like Rain as a character, and I like the continuation of Ram and Tashi’s characters from Dragonfly into the background of this book, but you can still feel a certain level of one-dimensionality in them (and other characters like Ret, Peri, Katia, Krital, Timber, Jettan Kirn… et cetera). I don’t think a book being middle-grade or teen oriented means the characters can’t be complicated and multifaceted! I’m a bit disappointed by the lack of depth.
Also, almost all the men in this book either treat Rain like a fragile flower that needs protecting and can’t make her own decisions or like trade goods. That sucked.
I wasn’t sure if I had read this one when I was younger based on my memories of Dragonfly and the blurb but a lot of it came back to me as I was reading, so I reckon I must have at some point.
I just about like Rain as a character, and I like the continuation of Ram and Tashi’s characters from Dragonfly into the background of this book, but you can still feel a certain level of one-dimensionality in them (and other characters like Ret, Peri, Katia, Krital, Timber, Jettan Kirn… et cetera). I don’t think a book being middle-grade or teen oriented means the characters can’t be complicated and multifaceted! I’m a bit disappointed by the lack of depth.
Also, almost all the men in this book either treat Rain like a fragile flower that needs protecting and can’t make her own decisions or like trade goods. That sucked.
I wasn’t sure if I had read this one when I was younger based on my memories of Dragonfly and the blurb but a lot of it came back to me as I was reading, so I reckon I must have at some point.
I really liked this book. The thing that did bother me about it was that it lacked originality. It followed the same basic outline of Dragonfly, which I found kind of disappointing. But overall I found this book very enjoyable.
A nice little story. This book is a stand-alone in the world this author already created.
The female character is easy to like, without a lot of the Mary-Sue qualities you tend to get. She is not overly hysterical nor does she become a caricature when presented with difficulties. Even the growing romance between the characters is not irritating. I especially appreciate that her looks are not the primary area of attraction. Overall, a good read.
At times the story can get a little preachy, but it is easy to forgive that as the characters are engaging and the story entertaining. If her other book crosses my path, I would not say no to reading more from this author.
The female character is easy to like, without a lot of the Mary-Sue qualities you tend to get. She is not overly hysterical nor does she become a caricature when presented with difficulties. Even the growing romance between the characters is not irritating. I especially appreciate that her looks are not the primary area of attraction. Overall, a good read.
At times the story can get a little preachy, but it is easy to forgive that as the characters are engaging and the story entertaining. If her other book crosses my path, I would not say no to reading more from this author.
I'd put this at the lower end of 4 stars- I enjoyed Dragonfly a lot more, though this was still a good read.
Being a fan of Julia Golding for quite some time, I was excited to pick up this book, after enjoying "Dragonfly" so much. However, that wasn't the case.
I found the world that she built around Rain to be absolutely charming. The glassmakers were interesting to read about, and picking up this book, I expected the story to revolve around Rain's fight to become known in the glassmaking world. To my surprise, that wasn't the case at all. Rain travels to a country beyond the sea and was forced to establish her life there. The plot cruises along very nicely, and ends on a somewhat satisfying note. I liked the plot enough and the book would have gotten a higher rating from me if I didn't find some of the characters utterly annoying. I felt that her relationship she builds with Perry to be a sort of "he's my first love and we've been through so much together, we're bound for each other anyway" thing. I suppose not every love is supposed to be perfect, and I understand that, but there was something about her and Peri's relationship that just wasn't doing it for me.
Plot aside, I'm going to say a few things about the two people that the plot revolved around, Rain and Peri.
Rain: the protagonist, she's level headed and obviously clever. Her personality is fiery and she's not afraid to let her opinions be heard, even when Peri, her love interest, discourages her. Rain's ability to adapt in every new environment that she's been thrown in gives her quite an admirable quality to her. However, she feels a bit distant to me as a reader, as I couldn't relate to her very well or to her struggles. That point is relative, however. Even though Rain has a mind of her own, the overbearingness of both her father and Peri made even me struggle for breath.
Peri: Fucking Peri. There's justa lot something that pisses me off. First of all, I don't think I have met a more overbearing character than Peri. He always challenges Rain in a way that makes you go "Oh dear Lord JUST CALM DOWN" and he tries way, way too hard around her. We never know quite old Peri is, and for me, that detaches him from me immediately. Rain and Peri never really talk about their problems and their thoughts and feelings, and all of a sudden, BAM, Peri, I'm your No. -9023834092380248 fan.
Overall, I'm disappointed at how the book turned out. From reading "Dragonfly," I expected more than this, and I know that Golding has more to offer. The characters just aren't as developed, as much liked, as Tashi and Ram from the companion book. If you're looking for a sappy, mild fantasy book to read, this is for you. For those looking for epic/high fantasy novels, you should find another book to read than this.
I found the world that she built around Rain to be absolutely charming. The glassmakers were interesting to read about, and picking up this book, I expected the story to revolve around Rain's fight to become known in the glassmaking world. To my surprise, that wasn't the case at all. Rain travels to a country beyond the sea and was forced to establish her life there. The plot cruises along very nicely, and ends on a somewhat satisfying note. I liked the plot enough and the book would have gotten a higher rating from me if I didn't find some of the characters utterly annoying. I felt that her relationship she builds with Perry to be a sort of "he's my first love and we've been through so much together, we're bound for each other anyway" thing. I suppose not every love is supposed to be perfect, and I understand that, but there was something about her and Peri's relationship that just wasn't doing it for me.
Plot aside, I'm going to say a few things about the two people that the plot revolved around, Rain and Peri.
Rain: the protagonist, she's level headed and obviously clever. Her personality is fiery and she's not afraid to let her opinions be heard, even when Peri, her love interest, discourages her. Rain's ability to adapt in every new environment that she's been thrown in gives her quite an admirable quality to her. However, she feels a bit distant to me as a reader, as I couldn't relate to her very well or to her struggles. That point is relative, however. Even though Rain has a mind of her own, the overbearingness of both her father and Peri made even me struggle for breath.
Peri: Fucking Peri. There's just
Spoiler
they get off to get hitched.Overall, I'm disappointed at how the book turned out. From reading "Dragonfly," I expected more than this, and I know that Golding has more to offer. The characters just aren't as developed, as much liked, as Tashi and Ram from the companion book. If you're looking for a sappy, mild fantasy book to read, this is for you. For those looking for epic/high fantasy novels, you should find another book to read than this.
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
It was cute, nice to see that the author has tried to rectify her racial biases shown in the previous book lol
I had such high hopes for this book. I loved Dragonfly, but this one doesn't live up to Ramil and Tashi's story.
Rain is a glassmaker in hiding. Even though Ramil has taken over Holt and made lots of changes from when Fergox ruled, girls are still not allowed in the glassmaker guild. Her father hides her talent until an opportunity comes to send a glassmaker to a new land. Rain goes and is promptly caught in a bandit raid. She is the only survivor and is rescued by Peri. He is a falconer but considered unclean by the citizens of the city. He drops her off at the gates expecting her to be taken care of. Of course she isn't. Then total chaos reigns over the city and Peri has to rescue Rain again. Together they must help forge a new land out of the ashes of the old.
This was an interesting story and Golding has written it well. Unfortunately not a lot actually happens in the story and Rain and Peri are not the most likeable characters. Rain is perfect unfortunately and solves every problem by making glass. Peri is pushy and total alpha-male. I don't know why they fall in love but they do rather quickly. This book doesn't have the danger or intrigue of Dragonfly; however, it is a nice story.
Rain is a glassmaker in hiding. Even though Ramil has taken over Holt and made lots of changes from when Fergox ruled, girls are still not allowed in the glassmaker guild. Her father hides her talent until an opportunity comes to send a glassmaker to a new land. Rain goes and is promptly caught in a bandit raid. She is the only survivor and is rescued by Peri. He is a falconer but considered unclean by the citizens of the city. He drops her off at the gates expecting her to be taken care of. Of course she isn't. Then total chaos reigns over the city and Peri has to rescue Rain again. Together they must help forge a new land out of the ashes of the old.
This was an interesting story and Golding has written it well. Unfortunately not a lot actually happens in the story and Rain and Peri are not the most likeable characters. Rain is perfect unfortunately and solves every problem by making glass. Peri is pushy and total alpha-male. I don't know why they fall in love but they do rather quickly. This book doesn't have the danger or intrigue of Dragonfly; however, it is a nice story.