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my_corner_of_the_library's Reviews (320)
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book made me so mad that I DNF'd at 100 pages. Nothing worked in this book.
Julia was one of the least professional psychiatrists I've ever read about, and this book was the very definition of, "tell me you never took a psych 101 class without telling me." If your psychiatrist has to Google the symptoms of autism, ESPECIALLY if they are an utmost expert in the field and have basically made the diagnosis before hearing ANYTHING about the child...they suck.
There's so much more wrong with the first 100 pages of this book, but I'll stop there.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book is so hard for me to review. I've never been so emotionally affected by a book I have so many criticisms of.
First, the bad...
Corban's Visions
I really struggled with Corban's visions right from the start. Every time we would get any insight into Corban's visions and connection to Elyon/Asroth it felt randomly dumped and forced. There was very little transition or reason for them to be happening when they did and then they weren't brought up again. Maybe it was just me, but this was the number one thing that really made me remember that this is a debut novel and would keep pulling me out of the story.
The Least Interesting POV's
There was definitely a point in the book where I had really lost interest and was struggling to keep reading. I had a hard time figuring out why, because the events that were happening weren't uninteresting, but I just couldn't find the motivation. It wasn't until I was talking it through with my husband that I realized what the problem was:
I constantly felt like I was reading the book from the least interesting POV. I so wanted to know more about Edana or Gar or anyone else in Ardan, and instead kept reading about Corban and Cywen (whose POV was only used as a plot device). I really didn't care about Veradis, but would have loved to read more about Nathair and what in the world was going through his head. I groaned whenever we got to Kastell because his POV was so incredibly boring and unnecessary, but we kept coming back to it. I just wish we would have read things from a far more intriguing POV
Edana's Friendship with Corban and Cywen
Edana's friendship with Croban and Cywen felt very random and out of nowhere. I really hated how Edana, a princess and heir to a throne, just randomly walked up to someone one day, befriended them, and started sneaking them around Dun Carreg to eavesdrop on meetings, etc. It felt very forced and unnatural.
HOWEVER, no one will ever convince me that Cywen and Edana didn't belong together. I know, Gwynne had Cywen falling for the guard, but Cywen and Edana had such great chemistry that shouldn't have been ignored.
Ronan's Grudge
I was on board with this for a while. A bully that just wouldn't stop and was harboring a grudge, I can get on board with that. But during that final battle??? UGH. At some point it should have died and been given up. That final battle was not the place to try and work out childhood grudges and just made me roll my eyes.
Now, the reason this book completely stole my heart, and I'll be reading the second...
Corban in general
For as much as I'm shitting on this book, I ADORED Corban. What a genuine sweetheart. When he saved the cub, I nearly swooned. There is no better way to get me to love a character than make them stand up for those that need it and love a dog.
The Familial Relationships
I really liked the interpersonal relationships in this book, ESPECIALLY the familial relationships around Corban. His family was so genuine...(view spoiler)
That Ending Though...
Despite all my complaints about this book, the last 50 or so pages hit me in a way I can't explain. I will be reading book #2.
First, the bad...
Corban's Visions
I really struggled with Corban's visions right from the start. Every time we would get any insight into Corban's visions and connection to Elyon/Asroth it felt randomly dumped and forced. There was very little transition or reason for them to be happening when they did and then they weren't brought up again. Maybe it was just me, but this was the number one thing that really made me remember that this is a debut novel and would keep pulling me out of the story.
The Least Interesting POV's
There was definitely a point in the book where I had really lost interest and was struggling to keep reading. I had a hard time figuring out why, because the events that were happening weren't uninteresting, but I just couldn't find the motivation. It wasn't until I was talking it through with my husband that I realized what the problem was:
I constantly felt like I was reading the book from the least interesting POV. I so wanted to know more about Edana or Gar or anyone else in Ardan, and instead kept reading about Corban and Cywen (whose POV was only used as a plot device). I really didn't care about Veradis, but would have loved to read more about Nathair and what in the world was going through his head. I groaned whenever we got to Kastell because his POV was so incredibly boring and unnecessary, but we kept coming back to it. I just wish we would have read things from a far more intriguing POV
Edana's Friendship with Corban and Cywen
Edana's friendship with Croban and Cywen felt very random and out of nowhere. I really hated how Edana, a princess and heir to a throne, just randomly walked up to someone one day, befriended them, and started sneaking them around Dun Carreg to eavesdrop on meetings, etc. It felt very forced and unnatural.
HOWEVER, no one will ever convince me that Cywen and Edana didn't belong together. I know, Gwynne had Cywen falling for the guard, but Cywen and Edana had such great chemistry that shouldn't have been ignored.
Ronan's Grudge
I was on board with this for a while. A bully that just wouldn't stop and was harboring a grudge, I can get on board with that. But during that final battle??? UGH. At some point it should have died and been given up. That final battle was not the place to try and work out childhood grudges and just made me roll my eyes.
Now, the reason this book completely stole my heart, and I'll be reading the second...
Corban in general
For as much as I'm shitting on this book, I ADORED Corban. What a genuine sweetheart. When he saved the cub, I nearly swooned. There is no better way to get me to love a character than make them stand up for those that need it and love a dog.
The Familial Relationships
I really liked the interpersonal relationships in this book, ESPECIALLY the familial relationships around Corban. His family was so genuine...(view spoiler)
That Ending Though...
Despite all my complaints about this book, the last 50 or so pages hit me in a way I can't explain. I will be reading book #2.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-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
I know this isn't everyone's favorite Kristin Hannah book because it feels like it's tragedy after tragedy but that's actually one of the reasons I really enjoyed it.
Given that this book was set during the great depression I felt that the constant struggles were realistic. It felt like reading about the reality of what it was like for someone from the Dust Bowl during that time. We've all seen those pictures of families selling children, desperate for money, so I don't see how it could come off as unrealistic that this family would go through so many hardships.
I understand that Elsa could come off as whiney, but personally, I found her inspiring. For someone who truly didn't believe in herself she continued to push through every hardship thrown her way in an attempt to give her children a good life.
Given that this book was set during the great depression I felt that the constant struggles were realistic. It felt like reading about the reality of what it was like for someone from the Dust Bowl during that time. We've all seen those pictures of families selling children, desperate for money, so I don't see how it could come off as unrealistic that this family would go through so many hardships.
I understand that Elsa could come off as whiney, but personally, I found her inspiring. For someone who truly didn't believe in herself she continued to push through every hardship thrown her way in an attempt to give her children a good life.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Do I think this book was perfect? No. But I don't think giving it anything less than 5 stars would be fair.
This book was a phenomenal look at every step of the grooming process and how the manipulated can be made to feel like the manipulator. It did a great job at describing the effects this can have on the groomed, and the present and continuing effects of PTSD.
I do have two main criticisms of the book that I don't think should be overlooked when thinking of this book as a teaching mechanism.
1. Vanessa was a little too self-aware and the book was a little too on the nose
Oftentimes, during the 2000-2007 POVs Vanessa was quite young and vulnerable, and yet she seemed fully aware of the manipulation being pushed on her. Such as when Strane was telling her that she was in control and she would mentally recognize that she was not. I don't think that feels very realistic, and more like the author was trying to make a point than properly show how a 15-year-old girl would view the situation. Maybe I'm wrong because I've never been in Vanessa's situation, but it seemed odd that she would be so aware.
Also, the story almost seemed too...perfect. It felt a little bit like the author looked up all the most common grooming tactics and PTSD symptoms and popped them all perfectly into the book. In reality, not every single one of those tactics and symptoms would exist in every relationship, and it would have been nice for things to be a little more realistic. Especially if we are to believe that Vanessa was the first (which was heavily implied).
2. I wish there was more outside the grooming
I understand that a large part of the book was meant to show how Vanessa's entire life became about her relationship with Strane, but I do wish there would have been SOMETHING else going on at any given time. We would get little glimpses of pop culture or political references, and it was implied that Vanessa cared or was interested in these things, but after a couple of sentences her life would immediately go back to Strane. Again, I feel like in reality, a person would have at least a couple of other things going on in their life, or at least pretend like it. It made it feel like someone going through something like this would be easy to identify because they would have literally nothing else going on in their life and that's just not true.
This book was a phenomenal look at every step of the grooming process and how the manipulated can be made to feel like the manipulator. It did a great job at describing the effects this can have on the groomed, and the present and continuing effects of PTSD.
I do have two main criticisms of the book that I don't think should be overlooked when thinking of this book as a teaching mechanism.
1. Vanessa was a little too self-aware and the book was a little too on the nose
Oftentimes, during the 2000-2007 POVs Vanessa was quite young and vulnerable, and yet she seemed fully aware of the manipulation being pushed on her. Such as when Strane was telling her that she was in control and she would mentally recognize that she was not. I don't think that feels very realistic, and more like the author was trying to make a point than properly show how a 15-year-old girl would view the situation. Maybe I'm wrong because I've never been in Vanessa's situation, but it seemed odd that she would be so aware.
Also, the story almost seemed too...perfect. It felt a little bit like the author looked up all the most common grooming tactics and PTSD symptoms and popped them all perfectly into the book. In reality, not every single one of those tactics and symptoms would exist in every relationship, and it would have been nice for things to be a little more realistic. Especially if we are to believe that Vanessa was the first (which was heavily implied).
2. I wish there was more outside the grooming
I understand that a large part of the book was meant to show how Vanessa's entire life became about her relationship with Strane, but I do wish there would have been SOMETHING else going on at any given time. We would get little glimpses of pop culture or political references, and it was implied that Vanessa cared or was interested in these things, but after a couple of sentences her life would immediately go back to Strane. Again, I feel like in reality, a person would have at least a couple of other things going on in their life, or at least pretend like it. It made it feel like someone going through something like this would be easy to identify because they would have literally nothing else going on in their life and that's just not true.
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Is it wrong to say I liked this more than IPB? To many people, probably, but...here we are.
I felt like the world and magic of this book were better developed than IPB and I'd be interested to learn more about the magic and history of this world. I almost wish that this book was less focused on romance and more focused on magic and history and world-building. Because I think it would have been super interesting.
Let's talk about some things about Dixon's work that are starting to become a turn-off to me:
Dixon's opinions of body image and what constitutes attractive just...aren't it. When reading the IPB there was regularly an emphasis on the guys being tall and built, and the women having flat stomachs. But since the women had starved for a long time before the series really started and the men were a particular breed of alien that was surviving on pure protein in a winter wasteland, I can see how these things would be plausible and make sense. But I don't understand why we repeatedly needed to be told how Kael didn't have an ounce of body fat. I get how this could have been an apt thing to point out on first meeting him, but why did it need to be brought up over and over again? Maybe that's just a personal thing, but I definitely found it to be a turn-off, rather than intriguing.
I felt like the world and magic of this book were better developed than IPB and I'd be interested to learn more about the magic and history of this world. I almost wish that this book was less focused on romance and more focused on magic and history and world-building. Because I think it would have been super interesting.
Let's talk about some things about Dixon's work that are starting to become a turn-off to me:
Dixon's opinions of body image and what constitutes attractive just...aren't it. When reading the IPB there was regularly an emphasis on the guys being tall and built, and the women having flat stomachs. But since the women had starved for a long time before the series really started and the men were a particular breed of alien that was surviving on pure protein in a winter wasteland, I can see how these things would be plausible and make sense. But I don't understand why we repeatedly needed to be told how Kael didn't have an ounce of body fat. I get how this could have been an apt thing to point out on first meeting him, but why did it need to be brought up over and over again? Maybe that's just a personal thing, but I definitely found it to be a turn-off, rather than intriguing.