You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
tamunra 's review for:
Bonds of Brass
by Emily Skrutskie
I usually prefer to read books with women protagonists, and so I didn't originally pick this book up. But the cover combined with a reread of the description (and the author's description on Goodreads) made me rethink. It's a science fiction book, with equal focus on the overarching plot and on the friendship/relationship between Ettian and Gal. In fact, it's the perfect combination of the two.
I liked Ettian's voice. I liked knowing his emotions, his struggles. Even so, it was difficult for me to get into the book at the beginning. It picked up for me, after Ettian and Gal left the planet. Once the truth of Gal's identity comes out, Ettian begins to doubt his friend's sincerity on multiple fronts, and he second-guesses himself. The interpersonal conflict between them was believable, and I sympathized with Ettian.
A highlight was when Wen appeared in the book. Although frustrated by her, Ettian finally had someone who had undergone the same kind of harrowing losses that he had. I loved the bond that they formed, and hope to see her more in the next book.
I enjoyed reading the book overall, but I wasn't sure just how much I liked it since it took me a while to warm up to it. But! Ultimately, I loved the ending. Often I can predict what will happen next in a book. I usually pick up on hints and foreshadowing. So, I was thrilled to have a plot twist that I didn't expect, and I'm not sure that it was hinted at much either. The complexity of the ending has me wanting more, and soon. I want to know how or if Ettian can resolve his relationship with Gal. I originally wasn't sure if I wanted to read the second book of this series, but now I certainly do.
This book is tightly written. Although it's a YA book, or at least about YA characters, it doesn't read like one. Ettian and Gal are attracted to each other, but there's less sexuality or explicitness in it than in many YA books. I still enjoy good YA novels, but I'm also in my mid-30s; whenever I read one, I wonder "would I recommend this book to my daughter when she's a preteen or teenager?" I can say yes about it to this one.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley.
I liked Ettian's voice. I liked knowing his emotions, his struggles. Even so, it was difficult for me to get into the book at the beginning. It picked up for me, after Ettian and Gal left the planet. Once the truth of Gal's identity comes out, Ettian begins to doubt his friend's sincerity on multiple fronts, and he second-guesses himself. The interpersonal conflict between them was believable, and I sympathized with Ettian.
A highlight was when Wen appeared in the book. Although frustrated by her, Ettian finally had someone who had undergone the same kind of harrowing losses that he had. I loved the bond that they formed, and hope to see her more in the next book.
I enjoyed reading the book overall, but I wasn't sure just how much I liked it since it took me a while to warm up to it. But! Ultimately, I loved the ending. Often I can predict what will happen next in a book. I usually pick up on hints and foreshadowing. So, I was thrilled to have a plot twist that I didn't expect, and I'm not sure that it was hinted at much either. The complexity of the ending has me wanting more, and soon. I want to know how or if Ettian can resolve his relationship with Gal. I originally wasn't sure if I wanted to read the second book of this series, but now I certainly do.
This book is tightly written. Although it's a YA book, or at least about YA characters, it doesn't read like one. Ettian and Gal are attracted to each other, but there's less sexuality or explicitness in it than in many YA books. I still enjoy good YA novels, but I'm also in my mid-30s; whenever I read one, I wonder "would I recommend this book to my daughter when she's a preteen or teenager?" I can say yes about it to this one.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley.