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A review by caiturgfismine
Air Awakens by Elise Kova
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Seeing as I changed my rating for this book twice (and not for the better), I feel like that I need to update this review a bit.
It is definitely entertaining, I’ll give it that. There are some good things in this book, but from what I saw in videos recommending it, I imagined that the literature level would be a lot higher. Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed reading it, and I will probably continue reading this series (up until the point I get so sick of Vhalla’s oyster IQ that I have to DNF), but this is very very YA.
The writing is simple, the story not very complex and it seems that the author wanted to give her characters a lot of depths, but the experiment failed and we are left with a case of personality Frankenstein. In other words, their actions and who they are supposed to be don’t add up. At least, I am struggling to make sense of it. I see the vision! But unfortunately it turned out to be just that. A vision.
For some reason, I still hope to see this get widened and worked upon in the rest of the series. But I doubt it.
Anyways I could go in more detail about everything that is problematic in this book, but a brilliant friend of mine has already written a very wordy review about it, stating it all. And I am too lazy to write all that. So lilureads, thanks for your sacrifice 🫶 appreciate it
Now, the love story was quite quick. There was no build up.
This is not what I consider a good ennemies to lovers. Aldrik (although I think he is very funny to laugh at) is not the standard.
I don’t know it just doesn’t make sense to me, how NO ONE thought it weird that he was just casually hanging out with a lower class librarian in his private royal rose garden. But whatever. To me, it felt like they fell in love in basically 2 seconds. And the only “plausible” explanation the author found to make their fast-and-furious-romance work, was very weak. I am talking about the bond. This whole bond thing (again I don’t mind the trope but it seemed a bit too easy of an excuse to push them together) was extremely quick. There was barely any expansion on the topic, the characters didn’t work through it enough, or talked about it at all it seemed. I’m sorry, if I find out I am linked to an entitled brat for the rest of my life, I WOULD HAVE QUESTIONS. That Aldrik didn’t question it, I can understand. He has known for a while and has probably already processed through it. But Vhalla ? What’s your excuse babe ? The little lady was just like: “ oh yeah ok, fine by me.” AND NEVER MENTIONED IT AGAIN?? And I mean, the guy literally pushes her off a tower, almost kills her and the grovelling is barely there. I can get past the pushing of a tower, but the absence of grovelling and petty behaviour? No. I want to see her push him off a mountainside. Get even bitch. Sorry. I just like my ennemies to lovers raw, not tender. And like so many authors who label their book “ennemies to lovers” and the booktok’s jurors who gobble it up like a little lad with his stupid fucking cream, it might be good enough, but to me, what a disappointment. And there are four other books coming yet. I am a bit afraid what that is supposed to mean for their relationship. Please do not give me a reiteration of fourth wing. The half-assed (and completely unnecessary) love triangle was bad enough. Thank god it didn’t last long. RIP Sareem, you will not be missed.
I do have to say, I really like the side characters. I know this book has the found family trope, so it makes me optimistic on that at least. I feel like their group of friends will be something I will quite enjoy reading about 😊
But if we could just add some actual depth to the characters, it would be great. I only like 2D in the original Avatar.
Anyways, to me this felt again to be a lot more romance first-fantasy later, although the fantasy components are somewhat present, what with the elemental magic going on (I keep thinking of Avatar the last Airbender. There are a few similarities (actually there are a lot), but Avatar is top tier- nothing can beat the original.), but yeah again, let’s hope book 2 develops more on that front.
Hopeful for book 2! (I started reading it and the hope has since then died.)
Stay tuned 😉
Last point: Fuck you Roan. What was your purpose? Seriously?
It is definitely entertaining, I’ll give it that. There are some good things in this book, but from what I saw in videos recommending it, I imagined that the literature level would be a lot higher. Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed reading it, and I will probably continue reading this series (up until the point I get so sick of Vhalla’s oyster IQ that I have to DNF), but this is very very YA.
The writing is simple, the story not very complex and it seems that the author wanted to give her characters a lot of depths, but the experiment failed and we are left with a case of personality Frankenstein. In other words, their actions and who they are supposed to be don’t add up. At least, I am struggling to make sense of it. I see the vision! But unfortunately it turned out to be just that. A vision.
For some reason, I still hope to see this get widened and worked upon in the rest of the series. But I doubt it.
Anyways I could go in more detail about everything that is problematic in this book, but a brilliant friend of mine has already written a very wordy review about it, stating it all. And I am too lazy to write all that. So lilureads, thanks for your sacrifice 🫶 appreciate it
Now, the love story was quite quick. There was no build up.
This is not what I consider a good ennemies to lovers. Aldrik (although I think he is very funny to laugh at) is not the standard.
I don’t know it just doesn’t make sense to me, how NO ONE thought it weird that he was just casually hanging out with a lower class librarian in his private royal rose garden. But whatever. To me, it felt like they fell in love in basically 2 seconds. And the only “plausible” explanation the author found to make their fast-and-furious-romance work, was very weak.
I do have to say, I really like the side characters. I know this book has the found family trope, so it makes me optimistic on that at least. I feel like their group of friends will be something I will quite enjoy reading about 😊
But if we could just add some actual depth to the characters, it would be great. I only like 2D in the original Avatar.
Anyways, to me this felt again to be a lot more romance first-fantasy later, although the fantasy components are somewhat present, what with the elemental magic going on (I keep thinking of Avatar the last Airbender. There are a few similarities (actually there are a lot), but Avatar is top tier- nothing can beat the original.), but yeah again, let’s hope book 2 develops more on that front.
Hopeful for book 2! (I started reading it and the hope has since then died.)
Stay tuned 😉
Last point: Fuck you Roan. What was your purpose? Seriously?