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cayenne503's Reviews (227)
medium-paced
I went into this book with low expectations. Yes I only picked it up because I got influenced by booktok. I saw plenty of people say that it’s basically just smut so I was honestly expecting a DNF. Imagine my surprise when I found myself giving a four star rating.
I wouldn’t call it a masterpiece by any stretch, but it’s entertaining enough. Overall, I’m not mad I read it and I’ll probably pick up the next book in the series at some point.
I wouldn’t call it a masterpiece by any stretch, but it’s entertaining enough. Overall, I’m not mad I read it and I’ll probably pick up the next book in the series at some point.
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
This book is so good! The story is gripping and well written. If you like true crime podcasts then I think you’d like this story. I thought the relationships between the various characters were incredibly well done, in particular. My only criticism (if I had to pick something to criticize) is that sometimes the dialogue was unrealistic, particularly between the main character and her parents. But that is so minor it didn’t even warrant taking off half a star IMO. Looking forward to reading the rest of this series!
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
4.5 stars. There were enough awkward moments/interactions that I was sometimes distracted from the story but overall this is a good book. It is also terrible, horrific, disgusting, and depressing but given that it centers on the atrocities of war that feels appropriate.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
2 stars and I think that’s being generous. The little blurb at the top of the Goodreads page makes this story sound way better than it actually is. The characters are flat and have no development. They make practically no choices throughout the entire story, instead just moving forward as stuff happens to/around them. I don’t fault them for saying and doing stupid things because they are teenagers and that’s to be expected. But the stupid stuff they say and do barely ever actually matters because the freight engine of the story just keeps railroading the, forward.
Although it doesn’t seem like it in the moment they don’t really face much opposition to their various goals: reaching the first temple happens practically off screen where they almost immediately convince the last guardian that they are the good guys and he agrees to help them. Upon arriving in the town where the sunstone is, they are basically immediately accepted into the challenge that allows them to win it, also practically immediately convincing their ragtag crew to go along with the plan. And this keeps happening- the diviner village, the crew recruited to rescue Zelie, the mercenaries hired to bring them to the final temple… in each case any objection is quelled after about 5 seconds.
Next up, the repetitiveness. Ok Inan, I get it, you want to kill magic. Destroy magic, kill the girl with the sea salt soul. Ok Amari, I get it, you’re going to be strong this time and strike.
The magic system could have been so much more. Really all the world building left so much to be desired. Instead of being rich and vibrant we are left with something barely more than an amorphous afterthought.
The romance? WHY. THAT DID NOT NEED TO BE IN THIS STORY AND MADE NO SENSE. You thought Romeo and Juliet moved too fast in their relationship, allow me to introduce you to Zelie and Inan.
The only thing I think that is done kind of well in this book is the way it addresses oppression and fear in the lives of the oppressed. It does not mince words in that respect, and although the theme is a bit in your face and shoved down your throat sometimes, I think those ideas SHOULD be. It’s not something that we should skirt around.
I was really leaning towards a 1.5 star rating on this book but the very last scene finally managed to elicit enough emotion that I felt something other than annoyance at having picked up this book.
Although it doesn’t seem like it in the moment they don’t really face much opposition to their various goals: reaching the first temple happens practically off screen where they almost immediately convince the last guardian that they are the good guys and he agrees to help them. Upon arriving in the town where the sunstone is, they are basically immediately accepted into the challenge that allows them to win it, also practically immediately convincing their ragtag crew to go along with the plan. And this keeps happening- the diviner village, the crew recruited to rescue Zelie, the mercenaries hired to bring them to the final temple… in each case any objection is quelled after about 5 seconds.
Next up, the repetitiveness. Ok Inan, I get it, you want to kill magic. Destroy magic, kill the girl with the sea salt soul. Ok Amari, I get it, you’re going to be strong this time and strike.
The magic system could have been so much more. Really all the world building left so much to be desired. Instead of being rich and vibrant we are left with something barely more than an amorphous afterthought.
The romance? WHY. THAT DID NOT NEED TO BE IN THIS STORY AND MADE NO SENSE. You thought Romeo and Juliet moved too fast in their relationship, allow me to introduce you to Zelie and Inan.
The only thing I think that is done kind of well in this book is the way it addresses oppression and fear in the lives of the oppressed. It does not mince words in that respect, and although the theme is a bit in your face and shoved down your throat sometimes, I think those ideas SHOULD be. It’s not something that we should skirt around.
I was really leaning towards a 1.5 star rating on this book but the very last scene finally managed to elicit enough emotion that I felt something other than annoyance at having picked up this book.
