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user613 's review for:
Darkstalker
by Tui T. Sutherland
This is my first encounter with the Wings of Fire Series, and based on this first novel, I don’t plan on continuing.
This book is told by three dragons. Darkstalker, Clearsight, and Fathom. Their three stories come together to form a twisted, abusive, evil narration.
Darkstalker’s voice is dark, power hungry, and constantly focused on revenge. Violent revenge. His part of the book gives many unhealthy, even dangerous, messages. In addition to the dark tone, Darkstalker has many horrific plans, and does many destructive, murderous deeds, all of which sound perfectly justified. Both to himself, and to the reader. The worst part, in my mind, was the scene where he takes control of his father’s mind, then forces him to kill himself by tearing his stomach out. With his family watching. Not impressed.
Clearsight’s voice is a breath of fresh air. She’s an interesting character, with great intentions, and a knack for adventures. However, between lying to herself about Darkstalker’s motivations and her obsession with changing the future, there’s nothing left to her story.
In addition, she and Darkstalker believe they are soulmates. And, Darkstalker is an evil, abusive, twisted character. So, we spend most of the book watching their relationship unfold. Manipulative and abusive. And watching Darkstalker become more and more evil, and Clearsight remaining completely oblivious. Until the end. When she suddenly realizes it’s too late for the good futures she predicted, and heroically saves the world from her former lover.
Then, there’s Fathom. The third narrator. He survives his grandfather massacring his entire family. Then, it’s discovered that Darkstalker has the same powers as his grandfather. So, Fathom is brought to try and prevent Darkstalker from going evil. He fails. Miserably. Fathom watches his grandfather turn evil, then watches Darkstalker go down the same path, decades quicker than his grandfather. Thinking about this was a bit disturbing, honestly.
This book is sold as a children’s book, which I don’t completely understand since it’s definitely graphic enough to be a book for older readers.
However, the world doesn’t feel developed enough for them.
The dragons happen to fly, but other than this they might as well be human. The mind reading abilities were weird at best, and inconsistent at worst. The fact that Clearsight can predict the future so clearly, and yet fails to see Darkstalker is going evil until he does, didn’t sit well with me.
There are some exciting parts. Some wise quotes. Cute scenes. But the story, between the violence, manipulation and evilness of Darkstalker, and his friends running to change his mind, just wasn’t worth it.
Alternatives:
[bc:The False Prince|12432220|The False Prince (Ascendance, #1)|Jennifer A. Nielsen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1585683740l/12432220._SX50_.jpg|16221764][bc:The Door to the Lost|36899920|The Door to the Lost|Jaleigh Johnson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1513115102l/36899920._SY75_.jpg|58660707][bc:Dealing with Dragons|150739|Dealing with Dragons (Enchanted Forest Chronicles, #1)|Patricia C. Wrede|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1385526967l/150739._SY75_.jpg|1178402]
Content:
One or two graphic murder scenes.
Darkstalker’s voice is dark, power-hungry, and focused on revenge. He’s an abusive character, who does many evil deeds, all of which he justifies to himself. At the end, he takes control of his fathers' mind and tells him to graphically kill himself as he and his sister watch.
In another scene, Fathom’s grandfather kills his entire family, with Fathom scared that he’ll be next.
Clearsight can see the future. Darkstalker and various other dragons can read minds.
Talk of dragons being in love and marrying and having kids, nothing graphic. There is underlying romantic tension between Clearsight and Darkstalker for most of the book.
This book is told by three dragons. Darkstalker, Clearsight, and Fathom. Their three stories come together to form a twisted, abusive, evil narration.
Spoiler
Darkstalker’s voice is dark, power hungry, and constantly focused on revenge. Violent revenge. His part of the book gives many unhealthy, even dangerous, messages. In addition to the dark tone, Darkstalker has many horrific plans, and does many destructive, murderous deeds, all of which sound perfectly justified. Both to himself, and to the reader. The worst part, in my mind, was the scene where he takes control of his father’s mind, then forces him to kill himself by tearing his stomach out. With his family watching. Not impressed.
Clearsight’s voice is a breath of fresh air. She’s an interesting character, with great intentions, and a knack for adventures. However, between lying to herself about Darkstalker’s motivations and her obsession with changing the future, there’s nothing left to her story.
In addition, she and Darkstalker believe they are soulmates. And, Darkstalker is an evil, abusive, twisted character. So, we spend most of the book watching their relationship unfold. Manipulative and abusive. And watching Darkstalker become more and more evil, and Clearsight remaining completely oblivious. Until the end. When she suddenly realizes it’s too late for the good futures she predicted, and heroically saves the world from her former lover.
Then, there’s Fathom. The third narrator. He survives his grandfather massacring his entire family. Then, it’s discovered that Darkstalker has the same powers as his grandfather. So, Fathom is brought to try and prevent Darkstalker from going evil. He fails. Miserably. Fathom watches his grandfather turn evil, then watches Darkstalker go down the same path, decades quicker than his grandfather. Thinking about this was a bit disturbing, honestly.
This book is sold as a children’s book, which I don’t completely understand since it’s definitely graphic enough to be a book for older readers.
However, the world doesn’t feel developed enough for them.
The dragons happen to fly, but other than this they might as well be human. The mind reading abilities were weird at best, and inconsistent at worst. The fact that Clearsight can predict the future so clearly, and yet fails to see Darkstalker is going evil until he does, didn’t sit well with me.
There are some exciting parts. Some wise quotes. Cute scenes. But the story, between the violence, manipulation and evilness of Darkstalker, and his friends running to change his mind, just wasn’t worth it.
Alternatives:
[bc:The False Prince|12432220|The False Prince (Ascendance, #1)|Jennifer A. Nielsen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1585683740l/12432220._SX50_.jpg|16221764][bc:The Door to the Lost|36899920|The Door to the Lost|Jaleigh Johnson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1513115102l/36899920._SY75_.jpg|58660707][bc:Dealing with Dragons|150739|Dealing with Dragons (Enchanted Forest Chronicles, #1)|Patricia C. Wrede|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1385526967l/150739._SY75_.jpg|1178402]
Content:
One or two graphic murder scenes.
Spoiler
Darkstalker’s voice is dark, power-hungry, and focused on revenge. He’s an abusive character, who does many evil deeds, all of which he justifies to himself. At the end, he takes control of his fathers' mind and tells him to graphically kill himself as he and his sister watch.
In another scene, Fathom’s grandfather kills his entire family, with Fathom scared that he’ll be next.
Clearsight can see the future. Darkstalker and various other dragons can read minds.
Talk of dragons being in love and marrying and having kids, nothing graphic. There is underlying romantic tension between Clearsight and Darkstalker for most of the book.