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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read this with a book club and someone said:
“Im having a strange experience where I really enjoy it for a couple chapters, and then I'm over it. I push through, find myself enjoying it again, and then meh. I've never had it happen in this wave-like pattern before.”
And this was 100% the best way to describe my feelings about this book.
I think the themes of religion and religious trauma were the most intriguing parts of this book.
I think the book only made sense if you read the last 50 pages.
I wanted to like this more than I did. Conceptually, checks all my boxes. In execution it read like a YA-like Joan of Arc-ish Diary written to be irreverent like Gideon the Ninth but missing the connection to both characters and plot?
It also felt like it suffered “I’m the second book in a series” syndrome while also being the first book in a series.
Didn’t have the impact for me I think the book intended to deliver.
“Im having a strange experience where I really enjoy it for a couple chapters, and then I'm over it. I push through, find myself enjoying it again, and then meh. I've never had it happen in this wave-like pattern before.”
And this was 100% the best way to describe my feelings about this book.
I think the themes of religion and religious trauma were the most intriguing parts of this book.
I think the book only made sense if you read the last 50 pages.
I wanted to like this more than I did. Conceptually, checks all my boxes. In execution it read like a YA-like Joan of Arc-ish Diary written to be irreverent like Gideon the Ninth but missing the connection to both characters and plot?
It also felt like it suffered “I’m the second book in a series” syndrome while also being the first book in a series.
Didn’t have the impact for me I think the book intended to deliver.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
DNFed at 63% through the audiobook.
I might try to revisit this one some other time when my anxiety and stress levels aren't quite so elevated. As someone with religious trauma, I don't think I was in the right headspace to deal with the amount of religious imagery in this book. That on top of the fact that I wasn't really vibing with the characters or plot all that much despite being past the halfway point made it so I couldn't really bring myself to power through and finish it before it had to be returned to the library.
I might try to revisit this one some other time when my anxiety and stress levels aren't quite so elevated. As someone with religious trauma, I don't think I was in the right headspace to deal with the amount of religious imagery in this book. That on top of the fact that I wasn't really vibing with the characters or plot all that much despite being past the halfway point made it so I couldn't really bring myself to power through and finish it before it had to be returned to the library.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I thought this was boring and that there was no chemistry between any of the characters, and there was nothing I was rooting for even by the halfway mark. Hated the change in direction the plot takes midway too and just yeah this is one of the driest books I’ve forced myself through. I really wanted this to be great
Couldn't get into it, though on paper it seems like it should be right up my alley. Maybe I'll try again later but it's not clicking now.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A fascinating study in faith, rebellion, madness, and duty. Not for the faint of heart, but deeply fascinating.
I am usually fine when thrown into the middle of action in a book. I just couldn't get my head around all the religious titles and themes and picture the hierarchy or the social structure without having a glossary ready to go on my hand. The new pronounces that I had to learn in a very quick time did not help either. I don't think my brain was up to this task for me to push far to enjoy, unfortunately.