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Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.
This book bills itself as a cross between The Hunger Games and Game of Thrones. I would say that if you're a fan of Game of Thrones, you would be very much disappointed by this book. This is very much a young adult book, so it can't really come close to the level of content that GoT can achieve and still remain readable and appropriate for young adults. It's definitely very much in the vein of young adult dystopian future-type books. I'd put it a little closer to Divergent than Hunger Games in terms of comparisons.
Strengths: The book's strength is definitely in the plot and pacing. The plot is full of interesting twists and turns and moves quickly. Each chapter contains some sort of reveal that furthers the plot and there is a lot of action with little down time.
Weaknesses: Character and world-building. In books like these, world-building is key because we are in a world that resembles our own, but is not our own. Understanding the differences and how the world of the book relates to the world we know is important. Unfortunately, Seeker is very lacking in this aspect. I am not sure if this was meant to be a future earth, or some kind of alternate earth. There is never any reference to what year this takes place. There are televisions and cell phones, but also airships that orbit London and strange shapeshifting weapons. It's also impossible to tell how the Seekers fit into this world. Are they known or secret? We are given no indication. I kept waiting for the book to flesh out the world and the organization and history of the Seekers, but it never did. Granted, this is the first in the series but it's hard to continue on when there's not enough detail to keep you interested in the world or the group of people at the heart of the story.
Similarly, the characters didn't stand out quite enough. Much of the success of The Hunger Games is due to Katniss' unique voice and Quin is no Katniss. She is plucky and good-hearted, but the hardships she faces never seem to really touch her. Every opportunity for character growth is skipped over with magic. Instead of having to face the consequences of what they have done and grow from that, the characters are given magic, fast-acting character growth potions so they can get over their damage and get on with the plot. It certainly keeps the pace quick, but it makes the characters feel like mannequins, placed where they need to be to advance to plot, rather than human beings with all of the messiness that entails.
TL;DR: If you love dystopian future young adult series and are looking for something with fast-moving plot that's full of action, then by all means go for it. If you are looking for something a little deeper, this is probably not the book for you.
This book bills itself as a cross between The Hunger Games and Game of Thrones. I would say that if you're a fan of Game of Thrones, you would be very much disappointed by this book. This is very much a young adult book, so it can't really come close to the level of content that GoT can achieve and still remain readable and appropriate for young adults. It's definitely very much in the vein of young adult dystopian future-type books. I'd put it a little closer to Divergent than Hunger Games in terms of comparisons.
Strengths: The book's strength is definitely in the plot and pacing. The plot is full of interesting twists and turns and moves quickly. Each chapter contains some sort of reveal that furthers the plot and there is a lot of action with little down time.
Weaknesses: Character and world-building. In books like these, world-building is key because we are in a world that resembles our own, but is not our own. Understanding the differences and how the world of the book relates to the world we know is important. Unfortunately, Seeker is very lacking in this aspect. I am not sure if this was meant to be a future earth, or some kind of alternate earth. There is never any reference to what year this takes place. There are televisions and cell phones, but also airships that orbit London and strange shapeshifting weapons. It's also impossible to tell how the Seekers fit into this world. Are they known or secret? We are given no indication. I kept waiting for the book to flesh out the world and the organization and history of the Seekers, but it never did. Granted, this is the first in the series but it's hard to continue on when there's not enough detail to keep you interested in the world or the group of people at the heart of the story.
Similarly, the characters didn't stand out quite enough. Much of the success of The Hunger Games is due to Katniss' unique voice and Quin is no Katniss. She is plucky and good-hearted, but the hardships she faces never seem to really touch her. Every opportunity for character growth is skipped over with magic. Instead of having to face the consequences of what they have done and grow from that, the characters are given magic, fast-acting character growth potions so they can get over their damage and get on with the plot. It certainly keeps the pace quick, but it makes the characters feel like mannequins, placed where they need to be to advance to plot, rather than human beings with all of the messiness that entails.
TL;DR: If you love dystopian future young adult series and are looking for something with fast-moving plot that's full of action, then by all means go for it. If you are looking for something a little deeper, this is probably not the book for you.