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shaun_trinh 's review for:
Heavenly Bodies
by Imani Erriu
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a fin book, gets the job done. I really like the idea of the stars being demi-gods that have their own unique charm (power) and starlight power that they all have. I think it's cool for them to each be patrons of a different kingdom that they preside over and have their own politics over. That said they were pretty under utilized despite being one of hte primary forces of the story. Like they might tickel you a little but besides the main antagonist they were all kinda just there.
The main characters and the side cast were cool. Wish were saw more of Isra and Leo tbh. I thought Elara's story and emotions were really enthralling to read. What really got me was the idea of this black box made of shadows in her mind that she opens and seals shut with everything she sees as weakeness, or the reason why she's afraid of those with light powers from her getting attacked as a child and literally burned from the inside by an assaliant shoving light into her throat, and my favortie scene of the "play" where Sofia died and how she deceived both the reader and the Stars by faking her death. So many of her plot points are so emotionally charged and feel justified and earned in the story.
Enzo, was fine. Annoying as all fuck in the first half throwing a tantrum left right and center. Which okay I get given Elara comes from an enemy nation, was more sheltered, and that his mom died in her kingdom, but DAMNNN he was pissing me off. But at least he was a very opinionated and defined character. He became a lot more one note at the second half though. Emobidment of down bad. Which I get it its nice its sweet its fresh but jesus christ I could swap him out for any male character who is down bad and I wouldn't be able to tell the difference. He starts as an asshole who is but actually a good prince, but then softens up for Elara, has daddy issues that are briefly touched, suddenly gets the opportunity to kill his dad, kills dad, end daddy issues (?), end of his story in the book. I know I talked a lot of shit about him, but I don't dislike him, he's a fine guy, he just get eclipsed sooooo much and loses a lot of his characterization.
A critique I do have and is a main reason why Im rating 3/5 stars (besides the lack of utilization of the Stars, character issue, and just other plot stuff), is that the 2nd half of this book was filled to the BRIM with "....oh but ACTUALLYYYY" after anything happens. You think you've escaped the antagonist "no ACTUALLY", someone betrayed you, "no ACTUALLY", you think you tricked the antagonist, "no ACTUALLY", you think you've beat the antagonist "no ACTUALLY", you think you've killed the antagonist with the weapon designed to kill him and yet you leave him somewhat alive because you think you've won for no reason like an idiot "no ACTUALLY"....and it the list goes on and on and on like PLEASEEEEEEEEE PLEASEEEEEEEE ITS EXHAUSTINGGGG THESE AREN'T TWISTS ITS JUST STUPID STORY TELLING AFTER A CERTAIN POINT.
Anyways I still did enjoy myself well enough.
The main characters and the side cast were cool. Wish were saw more of Isra and Leo tbh. I thought Elara's story and emotions were really enthralling to read. What really got me was the idea of this black box made of shadows in her mind that she opens and seals shut with everything she sees as weakeness, or the reason why she's afraid of those with light powers from her getting attacked as a child and literally burned from the inside by an assaliant shoving light into her throat, and my favortie scene of the "play" where Sofia died and how she deceived both the reader and the Stars by faking her death. So many of her plot points are so emotionally charged and feel justified and earned in the story.
Enzo, was fine. Annoying as all fuck in the first half throwing a tantrum left right and center. Which okay I get given Elara comes from an enemy nation, was more sheltered, and that his mom died in her kingdom, but DAMNNN he was pissing me off. But at least he was a very opinionated and defined character. He became a lot more one note at the second half though. Emobidment of down bad. Which I get it its nice its sweet its fresh but jesus christ I could swap him out for any male character who is down bad and I wouldn't be able to tell the difference. He starts as an asshole who is but actually a good prince, but then softens up for Elara, has daddy issues that are briefly touched, suddenly gets the opportunity to kill his dad, kills dad, end daddy issues (?), end of his story in the book. I know I talked a lot of shit about him, but I don't dislike him, he's a fine guy, he just get eclipsed sooooo much and loses a lot of his characterization.
A critique I do have and is a main reason why Im rating 3/5 stars (besides the lack of utilization of the Stars, character issue, and just other plot stuff), is that the 2nd half of this book was filled to the BRIM with "....oh but ACTUALLYYYY" after anything happens. You think you've escaped the antagonist "no ACTUALLY", someone betrayed you, "no ACTUALLY", you think you tricked the antagonist, "no ACTUALLY", you think you've beat the antagonist "no ACTUALLY", you think you've killed the antagonist with the weapon designed to kill him and yet you leave him somewhat alive because you think you've won for no reason like an idiot "no ACTUALLY"....and it the list goes on and on and on like PLEASEEEEEEEEE PLEASEEEEEEEE ITS EXHAUSTINGGGG THESE AREN'T TWISTS ITS JUST STUPID STORY TELLING AFTER A CERTAIN POINT.
Anyways I still did enjoy myself well enough.