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A review by thatkorigirl
Sapphique by Catherine Fisher
3.0
Well. The first book I loved - not one of my favorite books ever, but full of innovative new concepts, characters I felt emotionally attached to (even if that emotion happened to be 'kill that person now' for more than one person), an enchantingly horrid world, and writing that pulls you in.
I started this book, and by the time I was a quarter through I hated it.
In the beginning of this book, we see Attia involved in an elaborate con, with Keiro nowhere to be seen. Claudia's father has disappeared, and in the 'real world' the Queen has been playing alone with the pretense of civility while Finn and Claudia try to figure out a way back into Incarceron. Just when Finn is about to officially be crowned King, a contester appears, claiming himself as Giles, causing both Finn and Claudia to face internal doubts.
The writing, while not outright poor, was at the very least below average for a published book (well, for a published book outside of the romance genre). Certainly it had deteriorated enormously since the last book. Except for Keiro, the one character who stayed consistent throughout the transition, my view of each player changed completely from the end of the last book to the beginning of this. I still loathed Keiro, while waiting for him to commit any act that showed he was redeemable, but suddenly Claudia and Finn were also on my bad side. Yes, they were going through a bad time, but suddenly Claudia outrighted succumbed to emotion without thinking about Finn at all, and Finn was so obsessed with the past that he refused to realize how he needed to behave to gain control. He came from a world of madness, and in the next one he can't even try to cope, despite the looming danger?
Attia was the only person that reversed in a good way. When she was introduced last book, I had high hopes for a past full of intrique, but she turned out to be only a subservient yet intelligent girl with little going for her or against her. Not enough to make me pay attention to her, and certainly not enough to become anywhere near my list of favorite/most interesting person.
Master Jared also began to play a part in this book, that is, a part where he was not just a tutor but also a character. Saying much more might spoil a few twists, so I'll move on.
After the first quarter, however, the writing improves. Although it takes a while to return to the level of the previous books, the writing eventually stops being an eyesore that prevents enjoyment of the story. Character interest begans to pick up, and the subplots begin to move forward.
By the end of the book, several scenes have actually entertained me in the same way as the last book, but many of the characters seem unlikeable or just foreign by now. There's a character, who, though introduced in the beginning of the book, keeps getting crazier and crazier that he really just seems to be a bundle of traits conveniently packaged in one form for the author to advance the plot with. The ending ties most of the subplots up, but somehow it feels hollow. Reading the ending, I couldn't believe the story had actually ceased - not because it blew my mind, or anything of that nature, but because it seemed so ...unrealistic? For a steampunk science fiction novel that word might not be fitting, but the ending seemed to stretch plausibility while semi-boring me, while at the same time leaving me anticipating a satisfying ending (which never came).
For this book alone, I would hardly advise it. For the interesting worlds introduced in the entire series, I might recommend it, but note that this book is a sore disappointment when following the first. I almost abandoned it by the first 100 pages, and though I enjoyed the book overall, it wasn't great.
I started this book, and by the time I was a quarter through I hated it.
In the beginning of this book, we see Attia involved in an elaborate con, with Keiro nowhere to be seen. Claudia's father has disappeared, and in the 'real world' the Queen has been playing alone with the pretense of civility while Finn and Claudia try to figure out a way back into Incarceron. Just when Finn is about to officially be crowned King, a contester appears, claiming himself as Giles, causing both Finn and Claudia to face internal doubts.
The writing, while not outright poor, was at the very least below average for a published book (well, for a published book outside of the romance genre). Certainly it had deteriorated enormously since the last book. Except for Keiro, the one character who stayed consistent throughout the transition, my view of each player changed completely from the end of the last book to the beginning of this. I still loathed Keiro, while waiting for him to commit any act that showed he was redeemable, but suddenly Claudia and Finn were also on my bad side. Yes, they were going through a bad time, but suddenly Claudia outrighted succumbed to emotion without thinking about Finn at all, and Finn was so obsessed with the past that he refused to realize how he needed to behave to gain control. He came from a world of madness, and in the next one he can't even try to cope, despite the looming danger?
Attia was the only person that reversed in a good way. When she was introduced last book, I had high hopes for a past full of intrique, but she turned out to be only a subservient yet intelligent girl with little going for her or against her. Not enough to make me pay attention to her, and certainly not enough to become anywhere near my list of favorite/most interesting person.
Master Jared also began to play a part in this book, that is, a part where he was not just a tutor but also a character. Saying much more might spoil a few twists, so I'll move on.
After the first quarter, however, the writing improves. Although it takes a while to return to the level of the previous books, the writing eventually stops being an eyesore that prevents enjoyment of the story. Character interest begans to pick up, and the subplots begin to move forward.
By the end of the book, several scenes have actually entertained me in the same way as the last book, but many of the characters seem unlikeable or just foreign by now. There's a character, who, though introduced in the beginning of the book, keeps getting crazier and crazier that he really just seems to be a bundle of traits conveniently packaged in one form for the author to advance the plot with. The ending ties most of the subplots up, but somehow it feels hollow. Reading the ending, I couldn't believe the story had actually ceased - not because it blew my mind, or anything of that nature, but because it seemed so ...unrealistic? For a steampunk science fiction novel that word might not be fitting, but the ending seemed to stretch plausibility while semi-boring me, while at the same time leaving me anticipating a satisfying ending (which never came).
For this book alone, I would hardly advise it. For the interesting worlds introduced in the entire series, I might recommend it, but note that this book is a sore disappointment when following the first. I almost abandoned it by the first 100 pages, and though I enjoyed the book overall, it wasn't great.