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A review by rknitss
A Bright Heart by Kate Chenli
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I really really wanted to like this book more. The idea of a romantasy where the main character goes back in time to take revenge on the people who destroyed her in her first life sounds great to me, but a couple of things (mostly nitpicking) stopped me from really getting into this.
1) I really don't like the current trend of ya novels being told from the first person perspective. I like it even less when there's no indication in the summary or marketing so you don't know until the book is in your hands.
2) the main character, Mingshin, is a girl with too many gifts. I expect her to use future knowledge to her advantage, to be exceptionally clever and maybe one or two other things. Instead she's good at everything. She's clever, a master at strategy games, can remember almost everything she's read in a time of crisis, she's a brilliant musician, she's physically superior to other girls ... Her only flaw is being, apparently, plain in appearance compared to her cousin.
3) the romance felt like it starts out of nowhere. Prince Jieh goes from "who is this upstart?" To "I gotta kiss her!" In what feels like a single chapter. And with his interest comes Mingshin shoving him away and being upset when his hurt feelings mean he doesn't give her attention. Repeat that one for 331 pages.
Ultimately, this is a YA novel. Despite my complaints I feel like someone in the appropriate age range could get caught up in the adventure and fantasy of it all. The problem here is probably me.
1) I really don't like the current trend of ya novels being told from the first person perspective. I like it even less when there's no indication in the summary or marketing so you don't know until the book is in your hands.
2) the main character, Mingshin, is a girl with too many gifts. I expect her to use future knowledge to her advantage, to be exceptionally clever and maybe one or two other things. Instead she's good at everything. She's clever, a master at strategy games, can remember almost everything she's read in a time of crisis, she's a brilliant musician, she's physically superior to other girls ... Her only flaw is being, apparently, plain in appearance compared to her cousin.
3) the romance felt like it starts out of nowhere. Prince Jieh goes from "who is this upstart?" To "I gotta kiss her!" In what feels like a single chapter. And with his interest comes Mingshin shoving him away and being upset when his hurt feelings mean he doesn't give her attention. Repeat that one for 331 pages.
Ultimately, this is a YA novel. Despite my complaints I feel like someone in the appropriate age range could get caught up in the adventure and fantasy of it all. The problem here is probably me.