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silver_ethereal's Reviews (205)
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-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
DNF @ 75%
I absolutely devoured the first two books in this series, but it has just... Lost my interest. I don't understand what is happening, which is bizarre considering the wild amount of repetitive exposition. The characters spend like 70% of their time just having big conversations. They're always talking. They always have something to have long discussions about. I also just don't think I can handle reading that Poppy has a question and another character answers 'oF cOuRsE yOu DO' or something like that. It also irks me that Poppy was so sheltered and is literally so so young but is somehow just able to contribute the same level of political/military/royal/war counsel as ancient beings?? Anyway. Maybe I'll try again in the future, but DNF for now.
I absolutely devoured the first two books in this series, but it has just... Lost my interest. I don't understand what is happening, which is bizarre considering the wild amount of repetitive exposition. The characters spend like 70% of their time just having big conversations. They're always talking. They always have something to have long discussions about. I also just don't think I can handle reading that Poppy has a question and another character answers 'oF cOuRsE yOu DO' or something like that. It also irks me that Poppy was so sheltered and is literally so so young but is somehow just able to contribute the same level of political/military/royal/war counsel as ancient beings?? Anyway. Maybe I'll try again in the future, but DNF for now.
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
It is worth reading this for the romance, which was done super well! The tension is perfect and I found it really impactful and emotional and sweet.
I also think the setting is really interesting, taking the idea that trolls live under bridges and really running with it in a very cool way. The city and caste system are fascinating.
Beyond that, however, the world building was really lacking. We get a tiny little taste of where Lark's power comes from, but this is never really used or expanded upon which seems like a missed opportunity. Also at times I felt so confused by Lark's decision making. Some choices she made just didn't make sense to me and I found myself just going... "What?! Why did she do that?". I think it was also a missed opportunity to have Lark train and get stronger... Instead she just gets beat up again and again and again and again. I think she is bruised and beaten for the entire book.
The ending felt rushed and unsatisfying.
I also think the setting is really interesting, taking the idea that trolls live under bridges and really running with it in a very cool way. The city and caste system are fascinating.
Beyond that, however, the world building was really lacking. We get a tiny little taste of where Lark's power comes from, but this is never really used or expanded upon which seems like a missed opportunity. Also at times I felt so confused by Lark's decision making. Some choices she made just didn't make sense to me and I found myself just going... "What?! Why did she do that?". I think it was also a missed opportunity to have Lark train and get stronger... Instead she just gets beat up again and again and again and again. I think she is bruised and beaten for the entire book.
The ending felt rushed and unsatisfying.
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
There were some interesting elements to the story for sure - Thea's fate stone, the prophecy, the history about how/why women's right to bear arms/fight, a cast of loveable characters.
However, I found the world building, action/fighting, and some of the dialogue to be lacking. I couldn't picture the world or the geography. I didn't understand who would have magic, anything about the magic system, and why only royals. I also didn't really even grasp the ranks of warriors or what the normal progression of their training would be. It all felt vague and undefined. I also had no concept of religion or other beliefs... Beside the 'Furies' which I couldn't stop reading as 'Furries' every time. What is the Veil? What does it mean that it is ripping/thinning?
Also the pacing was a little weird - it felt like nothing happened for the first 10 chapters, which is a lonngggg time to slog through before getting to more interesting bits.
I love Malik and wish we got more of him. Kipp and Cal were great and I did love their friendship, but I was lacking any understanding of their own backstories or individual motivations.
I did find myself skimming a lot and jumping ahead at parts. While I didn't dislike the romance, it definitely felt a bit cringe. When Wilder said "It won't be gentle...", I wanted to crawl out of my skin. But then he wasn't even that rough so the words felt empty. I also feel a little frustrated with their 'will we, won't we' dynamic, which seems like it could have just been solved by having a simple conversation.
Despite all this, I did finish it and will give the second book a chance. I am interested to see where the story goes, I know there is a lot of potential here!
However, I found the world building, action/fighting, and some of the dialogue to be lacking. I couldn't picture the world or the geography. I didn't understand who would have magic, anything about the magic system, and why only royals. I also didn't really even grasp the ranks of warriors or what the normal progression of their training would be. It all felt vague and undefined. I also had no concept of religion or other beliefs... Beside the 'Furies' which I couldn't stop reading as 'Furries' every time. What is the Veil? What does it mean that it is ripping/thinning?
Also the pacing was a little weird - it felt like nothing happened for the first 10 chapters, which is a lonngggg time to slog through before getting to more interesting bits.
I love Malik and wish we got more of him. Kipp and Cal were great and I did love their friendship, but I was lacking any understanding of their own backstories or individual motivations.
I did find myself skimming a lot and jumping ahead at parts. While I didn't dislike the romance, it definitely felt a bit cringe.
Despite all this, I did finish it and will give the second book a chance. I am interested to see where the story goes, I know there is a lot of potential here!
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-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
The premise is really interesting and the world building so cool! It's a very unique concept. I think Saraya is a strong character, and I enjoyed the interactions between her and Altara, as well as Agatha and Bluebell.
I didn't see the academy/disguise storyline coming, but I really enjoyed it. I do wish that more time was spent there focusing on training, character building, and relationships.
It would have been SO cool if she and Draxian became friends, and also if her and Briar and Emery had a stronger bond. I think this would have set her up so well for future allies. This could have also been a great time to start building more tension/foreshadowing about the bond with Drake. But it seemed like the academy plot was over in a flash and then she just left... I think more time could have been spent here.
Overall it kept me intrigued the whole time, but also I did notice a lot of typos and grammatical errors. It was entertaining enough that I carried on to the second book right away.
I didn't see the academy/disguise storyline coming, but I really enjoyed it. I do wish that more time was spent there focusing on training, character building, and relationships.
Overall it kept me intrigued the whole time, but also I did notice a lot of typos and grammatical errors. It was entertaining enough that I carried on to the second book right away.