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lucybbookstuff's Reviews (373)
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Really enjoyed this!!
Definitely some typical YA eye-rolling going on, but that just comes down to my preferences. I also got pretty lost in the details of the main conflict. Though that could definitely be because I listened to most of this book and my attention sometimes wavers with audio.
But I loved the main characters and the magic and the dragons. Not to mention anticolonialist message. And the surprise ace rep!!!! π₯Ή The romances were a bit cheesy, but I'm into them and was SO pleasantly surprised to see some rep. π«Άπ»
I was already planning to continue (and even moreso when I learned this is only going to be a duology), but that ending really sealed the deal!! Love it, so excited to see where this story goes.
Definitely some typical YA eye-rolling going on, but that just comes down to my preferences. I also got pretty lost in the details of the main conflict. Though that could definitely be because I listened to most of this book and my attention sometimes wavers with audio.
But I loved the main characters and the magic and the dragons. Not to mention anticolonialist message. And the surprise ace rep!!!! π₯Ή The romances were a bit cheesy, but I'm into them and was SO pleasantly surprised to see some rep. π«Άπ»
I was already planning to continue (and even moreso when I learned this is only going to be a duology), but that ending really sealed the deal!! Love it, so excited to see where this story goes.
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Okay uh this is already leaps and bounds better than book 1 lol. And answered a couple of questions that book 1 had left me with. I'm now more excited to continue the series!
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Having trouble organizing my thoughts on this.
I'll start by saying, I was warned that this first book is quite cheesy and tropey, but that the series improves greatly afterwards. The first part I found to be true, so I will continue to believe the second part as well! I definitely want to continue.
I am quite interested in our main characters (for my purposes, that's our 3 main boys and 1 girl). I liked their characterizations and want to get to know them more, and the relationships between them were endearing. I'm also very intrigued by our main villain and where their arc could take them. Most of the MYRIAD other characters fell a little flat. They all had a couple of characteristics that they stuck to and otherwise, I was given little reason to care what happens to them.
I also found the storytelling in this introductory book to be rather clunky. The pacing was off, and a lot of what happened felt either convenient or contrived or glossed over. I'm struggling to remember much of what happened because little of it inspired emotion. Definitely felt like he was just cobbling a bunch of setup together for the story he really wants to tell.
And thankfully, I liked this enough that I do want to hear that story. I will trust in my bookish community and keep trying this series, though I'm not racing to do so.
I'll start by saying, I was warned that this first book is quite cheesy and tropey, but that the series improves greatly afterwards. The first part I found to be true, so I will continue to believe the second part as well! I definitely want to continue.
I am quite interested in our main characters (for my purposes, that's our 3 main boys and 1 girl). I liked their characterizations and want to get to know them more, and the relationships between them were endearing. I'm also very intrigued by our main villain and where their arc could take them. Most of the MYRIAD other characters fell a little flat. They all had a couple of characteristics that they stuck to and otherwise, I was given little reason to care what happens to them.
I also found the storytelling in this introductory book to be rather clunky. The pacing was off, and a lot of what happened felt either convenient or contrived or glossed over. I'm struggling to remember much of what happened because little of it inspired emotion. Definitely felt like he was just cobbling a bunch of setup together for the story he really wants to tell.
And thankfully, I liked this enough that I do want to hear that story. I will trust in my bookish community and keep trying this series, though I'm not racing to do so.
The first two chapters really hooked me... and then the next two chapters immediately released me back into the sea. π
I just can't do the magical cheesiness of talking objects. Especially if they're this silly. It's making this adult book feel almost middle grade.
I also had heard this book comped to Six of Crows, and it was definitely heavily evoking SoC for me, but without the fun crew and their relational dynamics. Just the one very solitary MC. Which I'm sure will change eventually, but yeah... nah.
I just can't do the magical cheesiness of talking objects. Especially if they're this silly. It's making this adult book feel almost middle grade.
I also had heard this book comped to Six of Crows, and it was definitely heavily evoking SoC for me, but without the fun crew and their relational dynamics. Just the one very solitary MC. Which I'm sure will change eventually, but yeah... nah.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Really liked this. This is exactly what I was wishing Chain-Gang All-Stars would be. I read CGAS 4 months ago and thought it was good, but it didn't really work for me. I found myself thinking while reading it that it would work better as interconnected short stories instead, because it really gave a short story vibe in terms of how the characters and setting were used. Only to discover that Adjei-Brenyah is, in fact, a short story writer.
These stories delivered exactly what I was hoping for. The same themes of racial justice (or lack thereof) and consumerism, etc. but in more digestible bites. And I didn't feel as much demand for character work as I do with novels. Some faves were Finkelstein 5, Zimmer Land, Friday Black, Light Spitter, and Through the Flash. Probably my fave of all those is Light Spitter - I found this to be such unique commentary on the issue of school shootings.
I think he is a fantastic writer!! I'll read more from him for sure, but I also hope that if he tries more novels, he can break away from his short story roots for them!
These stories delivered exactly what I was hoping for. The same themes of racial justice (or lack thereof) and consumerism, etc. but in more digestible bites. And I didn't feel as much demand for character work as I do with novels. Some faves were Finkelstein 5, Zimmer Land, Friday Black, Light Spitter, and Through the Flash. Probably my fave of all those is Light Spitter - I found this to be such unique commentary on the issue of school shootings.
I think he is a fantastic writer!! I'll read more from him for sure, but I also hope that if he tries more novels, he can break away from his short story roots for them!
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
I was definitely expecting/wanting a bit more commentary on how it's okay (and honestly pretty great) to be single, if you embrace it. And it got pretty laggy in the middle for a while.
But nonetheless a very fun, funny, goofy read. Got incredibly stressful and ridiculous a few times. A great break in the midst of a lot of heavier reads.
But nonetheless a very fun, funny, goofy read. Got incredibly stressful and ridiculous a few times. A great break in the midst of a lot of heavier reads.
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-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
My god. I am loath to put this book down, but it is indeed over. π
It's one of those where I'm searching for any reason not to give it a full 5 stars, and I'm coming up empty. I had some mild doubts in the beginning. I wasn't expecting and wasn't sure how I felt about the "life story" narrative style and the flowery writing. But it all drew me in pretty quickly and I eventually found myself not minding that at all, and in fact, becoming quite immersed in it and captivated by it.
She's just such an incredible writer. The way she wove this story together is beyond intelligent and intentional, without feeling pretentious and inaccessible. The focus on Fitz as a character study was done so well. There was hardly any "action" in this book, but I don't even care, and I still kept turning pages just to know more about Fitz and his growing mind. The characterizations of every major and minor character were done so well and realistically. There was also still plenty of intrigue. The plot of this book is "slow," but the reading experience was not. At least not unintentionally. I didn't rush through it because I wanted to savor it.
This was just so good. Everything everyone told me it would be, and more. I'm so excited to continue, but I'm not going to do so immediately. I need to make it last.
It's one of those where I'm searching for any reason not to give it a full 5 stars, and I'm coming up empty. I had some mild doubts in the beginning. I wasn't expecting and wasn't sure how I felt about the "life story" narrative style and the flowery writing. But it all drew me in pretty quickly and I eventually found myself not minding that at all, and in fact, becoming quite immersed in it and captivated by it.
She's just such an incredible writer. The way she wove this story together is beyond intelligent and intentional, without feeling pretentious and inaccessible. The focus on Fitz as a character study was done so well. There was hardly any "action" in this book, but I don't even care, and I still kept turning pages just to know more about Fitz and his growing mind. The characterizations of every major and minor character were done so well and realistically. There was also still plenty of intrigue. The plot of this book is "slow," but the reading experience was not. At least not unintentionally. I didn't rush through it because I wanted to savor it.
This was just so good. Everything everyone told me it would be, and more. I'm so excited to continue, but I'm not going to do so immediately. I need to make it last.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Vague spoilers ahead.
Thank god for that ending. I was coming dangerously close to writing this book off as misery p*rn, inflicted entirely upon women, by a male author.
But thankfully he did turn it around and make it a story of healing generational trauma.
Though I didn't particularly love his storytelling choices. I wish the healing had been a bit more gradual, rather than being thrown in at the 11th hour. I had been getting pretty fed up with the endless suffering.
I feel like he could/should have mixed in some male characters. I'm not sure this had to be a story only about women and gender-related trials. No matter how respectfully it's done, I think I'll always side-eye books about female struggles written by men.
I thought the magical realism elements were very interesting; just didn't love the execution that was equal parts vague and intensely scientific.
Not bad, though, and I generally recommend to folks who read a lot of lit fic and/or love magical realism.
Thank god for that ending. I was coming dangerously close to writing this book off as misery p*rn, inflicted entirely upon women, by a male author.
But thankfully he did turn it around and make it a story of healing generational trauma.
Though I didn't particularly love his storytelling choices. I wish the healing had been a bit more gradual, rather than being thrown in at the 11th hour. I had been getting pretty fed up with the endless suffering.
I feel like he could/should have mixed in some male characters. I'm not sure this had to be a story only about women and gender-related trials. No matter how respectfully it's done, I think I'll always side-eye books about female struggles written by men.
I thought the magical realism elements were very interesting; just didn't love the execution that was equal parts vague and intensely scientific.
Not bad, though, and I generally recommend to folks who read a lot of lit fic and/or love magical realism.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I needed a slump buster, and this book delivered!! Absolutely kept me turning pages to get through it in a day. Breakneck pacing and just the wildest story.
Almost too wild by the end, and heavily dependent on ultra-stereotypical villains, but even so. Even though it was very plot-focused, I feel like this did a lot more character work than your average thriller. And within a time frame of only 10 hours. There were also several twists that I maybe had vague inklings of but did not predict.
Highly recommend if you need a page turner or slump crusher!
Almost too wild by the end, and heavily dependent on ultra-stereotypical villains, but even so. Even though it was very plot-focused, I feel like this did a lot more character work than your average thriller. And within a time frame of only 10 hours. There were also several twists that I maybe had vague inklings of but did not predict.
Highly recommend if you need a page turner or slump crusher!
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It pains me to rate this so low (by my standards) but this ended up being so disappointing. π
This had such a strong start. The character introductions had me hooked immediately, and the worldbuilding was so rich and lush from the start. I was so interested in where it would go. And then... it just totally dropped off. π«
The whole thing was very tell-not-show. There was very little emotion behind the plot or most of the characters' actions. Much of the "telling" was kept very vague and mysterious. It makes sense for a world, magic, and motives to be vague and mysterious at the start of a book/series... but if I get to the end of a whole book still feeling like I don't know any more than I did at the start, that is a problem. For me at least. I hate feeling confused and intentionally kept in the dark for longer than necessary. I start to lose interest and just get frustrated.
The characters, after their intriguing introductions, just fell flat unfortunately. It comes back to the telling-not-showing. They didn't dig very deep emotionally and I didn't understand anyone's motives. I understood the more macro motives like vengeance, coming into power, and anticolonialism (which are also the themes), but most of their actions didn't have much to back them up.
The villains were all boring and one-dimensional. The romance was just instalust and didn't make much sense otherwise. I liked the MCs but only really loved one character and I felt she was criminally underutilized. There were also a bunch of random POVs that didn't add much to the storytelling (and I usually LOVE a huge cast of POVs).
The relationships between pretty much any set of characters gave me ~nothing~. The threads holding them together were so thin. And there were many moments that would have benefited from expounding on the emotions beneath the surface, but she opted instead for just quickly moving the plot along.
It also was getting comical at points how "girls rule, boys drool" this story was. I appreciate a feminist story and some feminine rage, but I don't usually appreciate this type of heavy-handedness.
That is a lot of complaints lol. Some might think it deserves a lower rating, but I can still see the value in this book and why others would love it. And I do really appreciate the atmosphere she created, as well as her often-beautitul prose.
Just wasn't for me. π₯²
This had such a strong start. The character introductions had me hooked immediately, and the worldbuilding was so rich and lush from the start. I was so interested in where it would go. And then... it just totally dropped off. π«
The whole thing was very tell-not-show. There was very little emotion behind the plot or most of the characters' actions. Much of the "telling" was kept very vague and mysterious. It makes sense for a world, magic, and motives to be vague and mysterious at the start of a book/series... but if I get to the end of a whole book still feeling like I don't know any more than I did at the start, that is a problem. For me at least. I hate feeling confused and intentionally kept in the dark for longer than necessary. I start to lose interest and just get frustrated.
The characters, after their intriguing introductions, just fell flat unfortunately. It comes back to the telling-not-showing. They didn't dig very deep emotionally and I didn't understand anyone's motives. I understood the more macro motives like vengeance, coming into power, and anticolonialism (which are also the themes), but most of their actions didn't have much to back them up.
The villains were all boring and one-dimensional. The romance was just instalust and didn't make much sense otherwise. I liked the MCs but only really loved one character and I felt she was criminally underutilized. There were also a bunch of random POVs that didn't add much to the storytelling (and I usually LOVE a huge cast of POVs).
The relationships between pretty much any set of characters gave me ~nothing~. The threads holding them together were so thin. And there were many moments that would have benefited from expounding on the emotions beneath the surface, but she opted instead for just quickly moving the plot along.
It also was getting comical at points how "girls rule, boys drool" this story was. I appreciate a feminist story and some feminine rage, but I don't usually appreciate this type of heavy-handedness.
That is a lot of complaints lol. Some might think it deserves a lower rating, but I can still see the value in this book and why others would love it. And I do really appreciate the atmosphere she created, as well as her often-beautitul prose.
Just wasn't for me. π₯²