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tobereadbookshelf's Reviews (935)
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
I have been following this author’s journey through social media and I was excited to see for myself if Sky’s End would live up to the hype. I am certainly not the target audience for this book and I have sat with my thoughts on it for a few days to try to take that fact fully into account. I am honestly a little sad to say that I wasn’t super impressed. The biggest issue for me was with the characters. They all felt extremely one dimensional and underdeveloped in my opinion. The author gave each of them essentially one goal and one personality trait each and leaned very heavily on those details. As a result there were a lot of very repetitive lines and interactions between characters that made the story feel dull and difficult to connect with.
I also feel conflicted because I think their society (and by extension them) might be the bad guys in this story. I will admit that I am intrigued enough that I will likely read on to learn what happens next. For whatever reason, this book reminded me of the Mistborn series which has a cult like following so I imagine there will be a lot of people out there who will really enjoy this. Apart from my issues with the characters, this may be a case of “just not for me”.
2.5 stars would probably be more accurate but I am bumping it up since I think this was written with teenage boys in mind.
I also feel conflicted because I think their society (and by extension them) might be the bad guys in this story. I will admit that I am intrigued enough that I will likely read on to learn what happens next. For whatever reason, this book reminded me of the Mistborn series which has a cult like following so I imagine there will be a lot of people out there who will really enjoy this. Apart from my issues with the characters, this may be a case of “just not for me”.
2.5 stars would probably be more accurate but I am bumping it up since I think this was written with teenage boys in mind.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I felt compelled to complete this series, but this level of depravity is not for me. Not a plot point in site.
adventurous
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Respectfully, I hated this. Nothing about this book worked for me. Magic drums that shoot people? Make it make sense. An Obeah? Still not sure what the heck one looks like… silver eyes and a tuft of fur on its back? Sounds ghastly. They are fighting an endless war because??? Because they all think they’re better than each other? To make sunlight or something somehow? Literally no clue what the stakes were here and it seemed like they weren’t really sure either.
The characters were flat and uninteresting at best and most were down right unlikeable. I HATED Lettle. What a hot headed selfish brat. She read like a 15 year old but I think she was meant to be in her late 20s. The romances gave nothing. Lettle and Rayan in particular had zero chemistry and the majority of their interactions were just her being a brat while he repeated her name over and over. She must be really hot because she has no other redeeming qualities.
The strangest part was that the author chose to end the book by transferring so much power to a male character. I felt like she spent the entire book trying to cultivate “strong” female characters and then majorly diminished them all with one singular event. As a reader I wasn’t unhappy with that particular turn of events, but it seemed like it ran counter to what the author was trying to accomplish. If you want my honest opinion, I think this book was unfairly boosted because it featured diverse characters. It was not even remotely deserving of the hype that preceded it.
This is of course only my opinion. Feel free to subject yourself to this book if you are like me and you must decide for yourself. 😅
The characters were flat and uninteresting at best and most were down right unlikeable. I HATED Lettle. What a hot headed selfish brat. She read like a 15 year old but I think she was meant to be in her late 20s. The romances gave nothing. Lettle and Rayan in particular had zero chemistry and the majority of their interactions were just her being a brat while he repeated her name over and over. She must be really hot because she has no other redeeming qualities.
The strangest part was that the author chose to end the book by transferring so much power to a male character. I felt like she spent the entire book trying to cultivate “strong” female characters and then majorly diminished them all with one singular event. As a reader I wasn’t unhappy with that particular turn of events, but it seemed like it ran counter to what the author was trying to accomplish. If you want my honest opinion, I think this book was unfairly boosted because it featured diverse characters. It was not even remotely deserving of the hype that preceded it.
This is of course only my opinion. Feel free to subject yourself to this book if you are like me and you must decide for yourself. 😅
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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:
Complicated
This was so cute from start to finish. Hot nerds make elite book boyfriends and Jacob is the definition of a cinnamon roll. This was my first book by this author and I would definitely read more of her work. I did get a little annoyed with all the food related lines thrown in. I get it, she’s a pastry chef, but it’s a little excessive for our main character to be thinking “my heart cracked like crème brûlée” in a key moment. I also would have liked at least a little burn after all that slow build up. Closed door romances can feel so anticlimactic and I did feel a little short changed by the conclusion. Overall I would definitely recommend this book, especially if you prefer a more clean romance.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Whelp… the plot twist came and it was certainly twisty. Safe to say that I did not see that coming. It seems that the author really isn’t going to explain the dead bodies and severed heads. There is a strong implication that they are not the true villains in the story but the author seems dead set on claiming the title for them. Was it self defense? Were they all bad men and murderers in their own right? I need an explanation to feel good about the romance aspect of this book and unfortunately, I did not get it. The grumpy/sunshine trope is one of the most beloved in the romance genre so I am not surprised that people love this, but am I really the only one who doesn’t feel right about the murdery bits? I enjoyed this in spite of myself and will read book two in hopes of finally getting some answers. 3.5 stars rounded up.
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Thoughts while reading: I’m sorry, but how am I meant to overlook the dead body, severed heads and stray eyeball on the floor? I’m at 68% and I’m still waiting for this to be explained in some fashion that makes him noble in some way rather than an actual grade A psycho villain. Plot… feel free to go ahead and twist because what kind of crazy person would fall for an actual murderer… We just breezed past all that to the cutesy YA style romance and I’m still not over it. 👀
—————————————————————————
Thoughts while reading: I’m sorry, but how am I meant to overlook the dead body, severed heads and stray eyeball on the floor? I’m at 68% and I’m still waiting for this to be explained in some fashion that makes him noble in some way rather than an actual grade A psycho villain. Plot… feel free to go ahead and twist because what kind of crazy person would fall for an actual murderer… We just breezed past all that to the cutesy YA style romance and I’m still not over it. 👀
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I won’t lie, I ate this up. The dialogue between the two MC’s was extremely lame and the plot was pretty obvious and straightforward, but still, I loved it. I can see where the haters are coming from but I think maybe their expectations were too high. This book gave exactly what I expected it to give. Book two is surely in the works and it will definitely be on my TBR!
Side note, Twilight can’t corner the market on scenting someone guys. Pretty silly to compare these two books based on that detail alone.
Side note, Twilight can’t corner the market on scenting someone guys. Pretty silly to compare these two books based on that detail alone.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Adrienne Young has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Ironically her most read book (Fable) was my least favorite by far. It can be tempting to write off an author after finishing a book you dislike, but I will remember this book and “The Unmaking of June Farrow” next time I catch myself being quick to judge an author. Her writing style is beautiful and engaging and her stories each have a unique quality about them that sets them apart from others in the genre. I could see a sequel to this book being just as good if the author decided to write one about the next generation. I am very intrigued by the island which felt like another character in the story rather than just a land mass and I would be interested to learn more about its drive and motivations. There was almost a malevolent presence to the town but did that come from the island or the people? Why does the island draw them back in? What does it gain from their presence? It sometimes bugs me when I am left with so many questions but the air of mystery feels appropriate in the magical realism genre. I will anxiously await this authors next book!
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
“You remember the fairy tales you were told when you were very small - 'once upon a time...' Why do you think they always began like that?"
"Because they weren't true," Simon said promptly.
Jane said, caught up in the unreality of the high remote place, "Because perhaps they were true once, but nobody could remember when.”
This read like a lost chapter of Narnia with some Goonies vibes sprinkled in. I am surprised to have never heard of this series until recently. It seems to be a staple of British Literature. Maybe the setting didn’t resonate with American readers as much? There were lulls in the story here and there, but overall this was a solid intro to the series. From what I can gather, it seems like book two is the favorite of the series. Crazy that it was published 8 years after this one. She really made people wait for it, but it sounds like she delivered. It might be difficult to convince myself to read the rest of the series after finishing that one knowing that it is the clear favorite. I do wonder if this would be very palatable to the middle grade students it was intended for. Like a lot of older literature, I’m not sure I would recommend it to a child but I imagine this series has inspired many writers over the years and will have a continued impact on literature.
“Oh honestly, Jane," Simon said. "You can't find a treasure map and just say, 'Oh, how nice,' and put it back again.”
"Because they weren't true," Simon said promptly.
Jane said, caught up in the unreality of the high remote place, "Because perhaps they were true once, but nobody could remember when.”
This read like a lost chapter of Narnia with some Goonies vibes sprinkled in. I am surprised to have never heard of this series until recently. It seems to be a staple of British Literature. Maybe the setting didn’t resonate with American readers as much? There were lulls in the story here and there, but overall this was a solid intro to the series. From what I can gather, it seems like book two is the favorite of the series. Crazy that it was published 8 years after this one. She really made people wait for it, but it sounds like she delivered. It might be difficult to convince myself to read the rest of the series after finishing that one knowing that it is the clear favorite. I do wonder if this would be very palatable to the middle grade students it was intended for. Like a lot of older literature, I’m not sure I would recommend it to a child but I imagine this series has inspired many writers over the years and will have a continued impact on literature.
“Oh honestly, Jane," Simon said. "You can't find a treasure map and just say, 'Oh, how nice,' and put it back again.”
emotional
reflective
slow-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
I’ve known kitty cats with more personality than these dragons.
————————————————————————-
I really hate to compare this to Fourth Wing, but how can I not? Especially after every book influencer and the author’s own marketing team lead with that comparison. I am honestly not Fourth Wing obsessed, but one great thing (arguably the best thing) about those books was the depiction of the dragons. Their characters had rich personalities and their own free will. The dragons in Fireborne read more like overgrown pets and frankly could have easily been swapped out for planes or broomsticks.
The plot was largely political and I wasn’t sure which side to root for. I suppose that was by design since the characters were also struggling to know whether or not to place their faith in this new regime. Perhaps this will be remedied in book two, but that doesn’t change the fact that I felt like they were blindly following their leaders for most of the book which didn’t really endear me to the characters. I hope they all rebel in book two, but I think Lee and little orphan Annie will have to soldier forth without me.
————————————————————————-
I really hate to compare this to Fourth Wing, but how can I not? Especially after every book influencer and the author’s own marketing team lead with that comparison. I am honestly not Fourth Wing obsessed, but one great thing (arguably the best thing) about those books was the depiction of the dragons. Their characters had rich personalities and their own free will. The dragons in Fireborne read more like overgrown pets and frankly could have easily been swapped out for planes or broomsticks.
The plot was largely political and I wasn’t sure which side to root for. I suppose that was by design since the characters were also struggling to know whether or not to place their faith in this new regime. Perhaps this will be remedied in book two, but that doesn’t change the fact that I felt like they were blindly following their leaders for most of the book which didn’t really endear me to the characters. I hope they all rebel in book two, but I think Lee and little orphan Annie will have to soldier forth without me.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Felix was by far my favorite character, quickly followed by Sam. Unfortunately, I can’t claim to have much love at all for Lucy. Her life at the beginning did sound kind of rough and I felt for her, but once she arrived in the future, all her actions quickly killed any goodwill she had garnered.
Her response to finding out she had a husband and children was nothing short of bizarre. I get that she was in denial initially, but once she understood the situation, wouldn’t she feel some level of awe? She also very clearly identified that she had aged, so why did her denial last so long? Her spending spree also really through me off and made her less likable in my eyes.
Once the story got rolling, I honestly did enjoy the majority of this book, but this particular storyline had no possible ending that truly would have satisfied me. It wouldn’t have felt right if she gave up so many years of her life but I also did not enjoy her leaving her children and husband behind. She chose to leave with the knowledge that her return to the past could completely erase her children from existence. I’ll be honest and say that if I were given the same choice, I would have sacrificed the years instead. At least we can say with clarity that she is not yet ready to be a mom.
Her response to finding out she had a husband and children was nothing short of bizarre. I get that she was in denial initially, but once she understood the situation, wouldn’t she feel some level of awe? She also very clearly identified that she had aged, so why did her denial last so long? Her spending spree also really through me off and made her less likable in my eyes.
Once the story got rolling, I honestly did enjoy the majority of this book, but this particular storyline had no possible ending that truly would have satisfied me. It wouldn’t have felt right if she gave up so many years of her life but I also did not enjoy her leaving her children and husband behind. She chose to leave with the knowledge that her return to the past could completely erase her children from existence. I’ll be honest and say that if I were given the same choice, I would have sacrificed the years instead. At least we can say with clarity that she is not yet ready to be a mom.