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A review by dherzey
Burning Kingdoms by Lauren DeStefano
2.0
Sometimes, you read books that lack plotwise but still end up really liking it because of its character-driven story coupled with a message that makes you think. Burning Kingdoms has a bunch of well-written characters that grew on me since the previous book. But while the plot of the first book, Perfect Ruin, isn't its brightest spot, it still managed to hold me, to interest me. In this second book, the plot is different but very, very dull. And not even its characters could save it.
Nothing happened at like, 99% of the book and the 1% where something did occur is way up to the last pages -- long after I give a damn.
I am disappointed. I like the first book and I'm very excited to read this one. I expect a lot but what I'm not expecting is a middle-book syndrome with me nearly falling asleep before I even reach a 20% mark. The characters, like before, are well developed, flawed and has great connection with each other. But even them -- especially Pen and Morgan -- tend to madden me with their painstaking whining and senseless nightly, drunk adventures. Morgan's provoking curiosity adds fuel to the first book but in here, we are given a Morgan who spends most of her time sneaking out to get drunk, comparing the sky and the ground and just regretting everything that's why halfway through the book, it all becomes so old and withered like my attention. She and Pen still got this strong bond that I admire though, but sometimes I just want to punch Pen and all her idiotic wasted nonsense or just force Morgan to punch her and give her some sense, for a change. Truthfully, Princess Celeste, the psycho girl from book one who actually turns out to be reasonable, is my favorite character in this one. She is just an active character who has actual goals in mind and a functioning brain, although desperate. She looks like she could take care of herself too and not afraid to say what she thinks and what she wants.
I also don't like how Judas and Amy are only shown in the story when they are needed. They just pop out of nowhere. You wouldn't even think they are there unless they're mentioned. They are so unlike their solid roles in the previous book. There's also the old professor who is only given a few scenes at the beginning before altogether disappearing and only mentioned once or twice at the latter part of the story. Everything goes the same for the other characters. I feel like they were only there when something terrible happened to Morgan. Just props for distraction and use. The new characters actually has a bigger role here but I also want the old characters to function more dynamically like before.
I am sort of confuse on what kind of world Havalais is. It seemed like the 20th century but still somewhat more/less advanced and fantastical (they got mermaids and elephants for transportation). It was a nice setting to explore but the descriptions are lacking. The war between these two kingdoms on the ground offers little explanation and the attempts to explain the politics seemed mediocre. So, Morgan made stupid decisions that could probably end Internment and that this King Ingram want this mineral called phosane to power his machines. I want more details about the politics and decisions involved in this place but all I get is another talk about a jet that will be built to reach the magical floating city. I don't know how such an engine is built when the people on the ground doesn't even have tellies yet. Frankly, I could barely care about what shit is going on.
Unfortunately, my love-triangle prediction came true. It doesn't really bother the plot (although I'm not sure what plot it is bothering) but with all that is happening, it just seemed pointless. I also bet that Judas only like Morgan because she reminds him of Daphne. I'm not really a big fan of Basil (I think he's a pretty flat character) and Judas seemed interesting to know about but Basil and Morgan seemed to know each other pretty well and are developing nicely, so an added love interest is just fucking dumb -- especially when their attraction originated from nowhere.
Nah...
Conclusion: One boring, pointless, stupid book. Two stars because of the pretty writing.
Nothing happened at like, 99% of the book and the 1% where something did occur is way up to the last pages -- long after I give a damn.
I am disappointed. I like the first book and I'm very excited to read this one. I expect a lot but what I'm not expecting is a middle-book syndrome with me nearly falling asleep before I even reach a 20% mark. The characters, like before, are well developed, flawed and has great connection with each other. But even them -- especially Pen and Morgan -- tend to madden me with their painstaking whining and senseless nightly, drunk adventures. Morgan's provoking curiosity adds fuel to the first book but in here, we are given a Morgan who spends most of her time sneaking out to get drunk, comparing the sky and the ground and just regretting everything that's why halfway through the book, it all becomes so old and withered like my attention. She and Pen still got this strong bond that I admire though, but sometimes I just want to punch Pen and all her idiotic wasted nonsense or just force Morgan to punch her and give her some sense, for a change. Truthfully, Princess Celeste, the psycho girl from book one who actually turns out to be reasonable, is my favorite character in this one. She is just an active character who has actual goals in mind and a functioning brain, although desperate. She looks like she could take care of herself too and not afraid to say what she thinks and what she wants.
I also don't like how Judas and Amy are only shown in the story when they are needed. They just pop out of nowhere. You wouldn't even think they are there unless they're mentioned. They are so unlike their solid roles in the previous book. There's also the old professor who is only given a few scenes at the beginning before altogether disappearing and only mentioned once or twice at the latter part of the story. Everything goes the same for the other characters. I feel like they were only there when something terrible happened to Morgan. Just props for distraction and use. The new characters actually has a bigger role here but I also want the old characters to function more dynamically like before.
"Internment was our home, but its edge blinded my brother, and its government took away his and Alice's child before it could have been born. Internment is an imperfect world that sits atop another imperfect world."
I am sort of confuse on what kind of world Havalais is. It seemed like the 20th century but still somewhat more/less advanced and fantastical (they got mermaids and elephants for transportation). It was a nice setting to explore but the descriptions are lacking. The war between these two kingdoms on the ground offers little explanation and the attempts to explain the politics seemed mediocre. So, Morgan made stupid decisions that could probably end Internment and that this King Ingram want this mineral called phosane to power his machines. I want more details about the politics and decisions involved in this place but all I get is another talk about a jet that will be built to reach the magical floating city. I don't know how such an engine is built when the people on the ground doesn't even have tellies yet. Frankly, I could barely care about what shit is going on.
Unfortunately, my love-triangle prediction came true. It doesn't really bother the plot (although I'm not sure what plot it is bothering) but with all that is happening, it just seemed pointless. I also bet that Judas only like Morgan because she reminds him of Daphne. I'm not really a big fan of Basil (I think he's a pretty flat character) and Judas seemed interesting to know about but Basil and Morgan seemed to know each other pretty well and are developing nicely, so an added love interest is just fucking dumb -- especially when their attraction originated from nowhere.
Nah...
Conclusion: One boring, pointless, stupid book. Two stars because of the pretty writing.