Reviews

Dauntless by Elisa A. Bonnin

flarion's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

aielylois's review against another edition

adventurous challenging hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

ark99's review against another edition

2.0

e-arc thru netgalley
This was an interesting book, however it was difficult for me to finish it.
I feel like I wasn't really interested in the characters at all, and I really only got more interested towards the end. Overall I feel like maybe some of the characters needed more development or more background.

sunshinemagik's review against another edition

adventurous tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

blakereads_'s review

adventurous

3.0

justinekorson's review against another edition

5.0

I received an E-ARC of DAUNTLESS and I'm so thankful to be one of the first people to read this incredible story. Growing up, there were no books with Filipino characters that I could enjoy and this is EXACTLY the kind of book I wish I had as a teenager. Seri's struggle with her identity, her first love, and what she believes as right and wrong was incredible to witness. Her hopes and fears were very personable and gave her character so much depth. I loved Seri from the moment I met her and love her even more at the end of her story.

It was more than just Seri that drew me into the story. It was all the other strong female characters surrounding her, Tsana, Eshai, and Raya. Without spoiling too much I want to say that I've never related to so many characters in a single novel before. Usually I find myself liking only one or two but I fell in love with every character I met (except maybe our main villain, though I could understand his actions to a point). I could see pieces of myself in each of the women mentioned above. Their immense love and loyalty for those around them and their courage in the face of incredible hardship made me want to embody them and their values.

The romance arcs (and even the friendship arcs), though not the main plot of story, were fully fleshed out and beautiful to witness. I'm a sucker for romance and the ones inside this story were gut punches in a VERY good way and I'm going to leave it at that.

This is truly a wonderful book and I cant' wait to re-read it when my pre-order comes in.

woolfian's review against another edition

3.0

2.5/5. There were some really unique elements here that I enjoyed--the shifting armor, the trees, some of the relationships between characters. But then it really devolves into a series of tired YA tropes that makes it a completely middling read.

Mysterious backstory? Check. Protagonist realizes and achieves some untapped, special skill that that makes them unique? Check. Tragic childhood experience makes protagonist live in perpetual self-punishment? Check. Unrealistically fast romanantic attachment (even for wlw)? Check. The predictable "betrayal but not a betrayal?" Check. The "and the protagonist almost singlehandedly changes the world" ending? Check. The convenience of all characters being linked to all other characters even though (supposedly) the protagonist's society didn't even know the other population even existed? Check. The "happily ever after" tone of the epilogue? Check.

Honestly, I wish the book had been about Eshai. They were a lot more interesting.

katietheman's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

It was fine, there were some plot holes that were attempted to be filled at the end and the characters were relatively one dimensional with an attempt at growth at the end

krysciatto's review against another edition

adventurous challenging tense slow-paced

5.0

savetris's review against another edition

4.0

a story of three girls and the many ways one displays dauntlessness. it follows star-crossed seri and tsana from two peoples secretly at war (i say secretly because one wasn't aware of the other until the main events of the book). one hunts beasts and wears their skin and bones as armor that magically increases its wearer's abilities, while the other bonds with a beast and shares its power. the world isn't overly complicated but it did take some time to establish. i didnt care much for any of the characters until around 50% of the book. it starts a bit slow but once the action gets going the reader also learns more about the world and the characters. i like that this is a standalone too! while i can see some opportunity to expound on a sequel, i think the story was tied together very well already