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A review by amybraunauthor
League of Liars by Astrid Scholte
3.0
I had high hopes for this book and I think it is well written and engaging for some readers. But in the end, it wasn't the book for me. It started off very strong, with an interesting magic system, a solid premise, and personal stakes for the main character. I do think that the way each character's plot interconnects is well done and made for an exciting ending. There are some really great twists in here as well, and I can see the potential for future books.
Unfortunately, the blurb didn't equal the plot that I read, and I found it very challenging to connect with the characters.
For over half the book, the story revolves around a young man named Cayder as he tries to exonerate someone close to him for a crime. This sounds amazing until you realize that it ends up reading like a courtroom drama. Which I have nothing against since I definitely understand the lure of procedurals and the high tension that can come from such stories. And it truly was there, so fans of that genre will be pleased.
But I wasn't interested in a courtroom drama. I was hoping for more magic and mystery, as well as backstabbing. I was hoping for a much more in-depth jailbreak than was actually placed in the novel. The magic and monsters are also so compelling, but they were woefully underused.
As for the characters, I found it hard to connect with them. Jey is fun, Graymond is a sweetheart, and Elenora is complicated, but I couldn't connect with Leta and wasn't really a fan of Cayder's attitude. The bond he formed with Elenora seemed a little rushed and so its twist at the end didn't quite strike home for me.
The book has some great illustrations and use of text that make for a fun experience. I think Scholte is a talented, creative writer who likes to experiment with high concepts. I do think that this is an easy read for anyone looking for a popcorn-style book and who also enjoys crime procedurals. Though this was not the Six of Crows style-book I thought it was, I do recommend giving it a shot if you're interested.
Unfortunately, the blurb didn't equal the plot that I read, and I found it very challenging to connect with the characters.
For over half the book, the story revolves around a young man named Cayder as he tries to exonerate someone close to him for a crime. This sounds amazing until you realize that it ends up reading like a courtroom drama. Which I have nothing against since I definitely understand the lure of procedurals and the high tension that can come from such stories. And it truly was there, so fans of that genre will be pleased.
But I wasn't interested in a courtroom drama. I was hoping for more magic and mystery, as well as backstabbing. I was hoping for a much more in-depth jailbreak than was actually placed in the novel. The magic and monsters are also so compelling, but they were woefully underused.
As for the characters, I found it hard to connect with them. Jey is fun, Graymond is a sweetheart, and Elenora is complicated, but I couldn't connect with Leta and wasn't really a fan of Cayder's attitude. The bond he formed with Elenora seemed a little rushed and so its twist at the end didn't quite strike home for me.
The book has some great illustrations and use of text that make for a fun experience. I think Scholte is a talented, creative writer who likes to experiment with high concepts. I do think that this is an easy read for anyone looking for a popcorn-style book and who also enjoys crime procedurals. Though this was not the Six of Crows style-book I thought it was, I do recommend giving it a shot if you're interested.