Scan barcode
A review by gothbaby
Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta
adventurous
challenging
funny
fast-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
3.75
After over 10 weeks, I finally finished Gearbreakers. I wanted to love this story and the characters and the entire experience, but sadly it all fell a little bit short for me.
Let me start by saying that the writing was beautiful. The introspective bits were so well done, so thoughtful, and so lyrical I stopped to reread several lines more than once. To me, the writing alone could have elevated this book to an adult category because it did such a great job at eliciting emotions in the reader that matched the characters’. Sona and Eris were such rich characters and their respective thoughts and emotions matched the sci-fi setting and war laden world. I loved the author’s acknowledgement at the end where she described her own book as a rom-com that happened to have robots. Sona’s and Eris’s relationship was tender and loving and I loved having Sona’s perspective throughout the book.
One of the things that fell short for me was the setting. Considering the genre and the uniqueness of the plot, I expected the world-building to have been more detailed and extensive. For some reason I felt like I was reading a book where I got to pick my own setting since very little described where or how things were supposed to be. Overall I felt there weren’t enough paragraphs that focused on the setting and setting alone.
Along with the descriptions, I was properly confused about the time passage. I could not tell you how much time passed throughout the book. Because I couldn’t pinpoint the time and any sort of progression, I started to feel like Sona and Eris weren’t connecting in a way that was realistic. I wanted a slow burn budding romance and I can’t say I know whether or not I got that!
The last five chapters were very engaging (and worth picking the book back up) but again: I didn’t understand enough about the Academy, the setting, the Phoenixes and Archangels and other robots to appreciate the action enough.
I will absolutely read its sequel because I know the author loved her characters and so did I.
Let me start by saying that the writing was beautiful. The introspective bits were so well done, so thoughtful, and so lyrical I stopped to reread several lines more than once. To me, the writing alone could have elevated this book to an adult category because it did such a great job at eliciting emotions in the reader that matched the characters’. Sona and Eris were such rich characters and their respective thoughts and emotions matched the sci-fi setting and war laden world. I loved the author’s acknowledgement at the end where she described her own book as a rom-com that happened to have robots. Sona’s and Eris’s relationship was tender and loving and I loved having Sona’s perspective throughout the book.
One of the things that fell short for me was the setting. Considering the genre and the uniqueness of the plot, I expected the world-building to have been more detailed and extensive. For some reason I felt like I was reading a book where I got to pick my own setting since very little described where or how things were supposed to be. Overall I felt there weren’t enough paragraphs that focused on the setting and setting alone.
Along with the descriptions, I was properly confused about the time passage. I could not tell you how much time passed throughout the book. Because I couldn’t pinpoint the time and any sort of progression, I started to feel like Sona and Eris weren’t connecting in a way that was realistic. I wanted a slow burn budding romance and I can’t say I know whether or not I got that!
The last five chapters were very engaging (and worth picking the book back up) but again: I didn’t understand enough about the Academy, the setting, the Phoenixes and Archangels and other robots to appreciate the action enough.
I will absolutely read its sequel because I know the author loved her characters and so did I.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Violence, and Torture