popthebutterfly's review against another edition
5.0
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Resistor
Author: C.E. Clayton
Book Series: Ellinor Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: sci-fi and fantasy lovers
Publication Date: August 7, 2020
Genre: Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 17+ (language, violence, gore, death, grief, slight sexual content, slut shaming)
Publisher: Starfish Ink
Pages: 436
Synopsis: Ellinor Rask has wanted one thing for the past eight years: vengeance. But when Ellinor is captured, she finds herself dragged back into the world she walked away from, entangled once more with friends she would rather forget.
As if that weren’t humiliating enough, Ellinor learns first hand that her magic can be stripped away by a piece of bio-tech—and her ex-boss is happy to leash her with the technology in order to get what he wants. If Ellinor behaves, the device will be removed. All she has to do is deliver a package. One containing a creature created from raw magical energy and discarded technology. Simple, right?
But when her goals start getting people murdered, Ellinor has to decide if the year’s planning, her honor, and even her own magic, are worth the lives it’s costing. Dodging ruthless gangsters, she finds herself on the run with a creature of immeasurable magical abilities alongside her one-time friends. Now, Ellinor must relearn to trust the people she once abandoned. She must put her faith in technology, and her life in the hands of independent contractors, all while racing to deliver the package before it gets taken by force, or worse, the creature decides to make an appearance itself.
Review: Oh my word this was an amazing book! I loved the complex world building and the character development. The characters and how they interact with each other is always C.E.’s strong writing points and I loved all of the characters in this universe. The book was also full of action and the magic system and tech was pretty well done as well.
The only issues I had with the book were that the book is pretty slow in the being and it takes some getting used to in order to get into the book. But, once I was into the book, it was a quick 5 hour read. There was also some slut shaming which put me off of the main character.
Verdict: Definitely a must read if you’re into fantasy and sci-fi!
Book: Resistor
Author: C.E. Clayton
Book Series: Ellinor Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: sci-fi and fantasy lovers
Publication Date: August 7, 2020
Genre: Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 17+ (language, violence, gore, death, grief, slight sexual content, slut shaming)
Publisher: Starfish Ink
Pages: 436
Synopsis: Ellinor Rask has wanted one thing for the past eight years: vengeance. But when Ellinor is captured, she finds herself dragged back into the world she walked away from, entangled once more with friends she would rather forget.
As if that weren’t humiliating enough, Ellinor learns first hand that her magic can be stripped away by a piece of bio-tech—and her ex-boss is happy to leash her with the technology in order to get what he wants. If Ellinor behaves, the device will be removed. All she has to do is deliver a package. One containing a creature created from raw magical energy and discarded technology. Simple, right?
But when her goals start getting people murdered, Ellinor has to decide if the year’s planning, her honor, and even her own magic, are worth the lives it’s costing. Dodging ruthless gangsters, she finds herself on the run with a creature of immeasurable magical abilities alongside her one-time friends. Now, Ellinor must relearn to trust the people she once abandoned. She must put her faith in technology, and her life in the hands of independent contractors, all while racing to deliver the package before it gets taken by force, or worse, the creature decides to make an appearance itself.
Review: Oh my word this was an amazing book! I loved the complex world building and the character development. The characters and how they interact with each other is always C.E.’s strong writing points and I loved all of the characters in this universe. The book was also full of action and the magic system and tech was pretty well done as well.
The only issues I had with the book were that the book is pretty slow in the being and it takes some getting used to in order to get into the book. But, once I was into the book, it was a quick 5 hour read. There was also some slut shaming which put me off of the main character.
Verdict: Definitely a must read if you’re into fantasy and sci-fi!
sheska_meroba's review
I received a copy of this ebook in a Goodreads giveaway.
I didn’t really care for the fantasy/sci-if setting of this book and just found myself not really caring as much as I felt like I should.
I didn’t really care for the fantasy/sci-if setting of this book and just found myself not really caring as much as I felt like I should.
the_m_lor's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
__apf__'s review against another edition
2.0
Cheesy, pulpy, full of tropes, a lot of good fun. A fast fantasy read in a cyberpunk world. Resistor reads like a movie with lots of dark corners, neon hair, and fascinating costumes. I normally prefer books that take themselves more seriously, but it was still an enjoyable read. If you are looking for brain candy, you might like it. If you're looking for something with substance, or with strong characterization, this is not the novel for you.
I received this book for free via BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book for free via BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
bringerofbooks's review against another edition
5.0
What an intricate and just down right colorful cyberpunk/fantasy book!
I absolutely loved the main character, Ellinor, whose life long mission is to get vengeance for the death of her husband. She's relatable, cold, and kind of a badass. However, as much as I found her legit amazing, she was extremely real. She gets to the point where she's almost blinded by her need for vengeance, which we can see how it affects her choices in the story.
The rest of the characters were 100% deep and I fell in love with all of them - they were SO well written!
Overall, this book was wonderful. The blend of magic and technology was beautiful and vivid, and I'm excited to read more from this author. Easily a new favorite!
Thank you so much to C.E Clayton and Netgalley for the ARC.
I absolutely loved the main character, Ellinor, whose life long mission is to get vengeance for the death of her husband. She's relatable, cold, and kind of a badass. However, as much as I found her legit amazing, she was extremely real. She gets to the point where she's almost blinded by her need for vengeance, which we can see how it affects her choices in the story.
The rest of the characters were 100% deep and I fell in love with all of them - they were SO well written!
Overall, this book was wonderful. The blend of magic and technology was beautiful and vivid, and I'm excited to read more from this author. Easily a new favorite!
Thank you so much to C.E Clayton and Netgalley for the ARC.
muga's review against another edition
2.0
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book had the potential to impress me, the author started out weaving this great mythology of the world the story took place in only to build the world as an exact replica of our earth with only two races I have to admit I was disappointed.
This story could have benefitted if it was written on earth I feel like the author would have developed the plot better if they didn't have to worry about creating an entire unique world.
As for the characters they were nothing special especially in this genre the snarky female lead is quite overdone in science fiction so I was not taken with her, the group dynamics with a single point of view made the story stilted I didn't know who to root for because I did not know any of these characters but only from the point of view of a character I did not already like.
Apart from that the blend of magic and tech is always interesting.
Thank you book sirens for the ARC
This book had the potential to impress me, the author started out weaving this great mythology of the world the story took place in only to build the world as an exact replica of our earth with only two races I have to admit I was disappointed.
This story could have benefitted if it was written on earth I feel like the author would have developed the plot better if they didn't have to worry about creating an entire unique world.
As for the characters they were nothing special especially in this genre the snarky female lead is quite overdone in science fiction so I was not taken with her, the group dynamics with a single point of view made the story stilted I didn't know who to root for because I did not know any of these characters but only from the point of view of a character I did not already like.
Apart from that the blend of magic and tech is always interesting.
Thank you book sirens for the ARC
arrakistowesteros's review against another edition
4.0
I hunted down this ARC solely because of Bookstagram. I saw the cover, I read the blurb, I knew I had to read it. And it did not disappoint! I giggled and settled in for a good read when I saw the first chapter is titled "Well Shit...Part One."
The main character is perfectly sassy without being annoying - which is a rare achievement in the sci fi books I've read recently. She's funny and badass and humanly flawed. The world-building is interesting but not hugely fleshed out; instead a short backstory is placed at the beginning.
I'm still not sure how I feel about the main character's tragic backstory itself; there was a bit of "telling-not-showing" and I couldn't get a grasp on the personality of one of the characters. However, the rest of the cast in the present setting of the book were all excellent.
Resistor is definitely a setup for more world building and storytelling, as there wasn't really a solid "conclusion," but neither did it end on a true cliffhanger. I am looking forward to more!!
Thank you to the author and BookSirens, where I found this ARC.
The main character is perfectly sassy without being annoying - which is a rare achievement in the sci fi books I've read recently. She's funny and badass and humanly flawed. The world-building is interesting but not hugely fleshed out; instead a short backstory is placed at the beginning.
I'm still not sure how I feel about the main character's tragic backstory itself; there was a bit of "telling-not-showing" and I couldn't get a grasp on the personality of one of the characters. However, the rest of the cast in the present setting of the book were all excellent.
Resistor is definitely a setup for more world building and storytelling, as there wasn't really a solid "conclusion," but neither did it end on a true cliffhanger. I am looking forward to more!!
Thank you to the author and BookSirens, where I found this ARC.
_kit_kat_'s review against another edition
4.0
Through no fault of its own, this book caught me in a bit of a reading slump so I had some trouble getting through it even though I had a great time every time I did pick it up. I enjoyed the very tongue in cheek writing style and the loveable and diverse cast, even though there are a little too many people introduced in the first third or so. Also great to see a female protagonist in a sci-fi adventure who is a little older (although the life expectancy is also longer so relatively she's still young).
Full review to follow!
Thanks to BookSirens for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
Full review to follow!
Thanks to BookSirens for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
writetoexpress's review against another edition
4.0
I received an advance review copy for free via BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
If I were to describe this novel in a single word, it would be “vengeance”.
It has been eight years since the death of Ellinor’s husband. Not a day goes by without her thinking about him and the man who committed the crime. Bent on revenge and rage, Ellinor vows to seek vengeance on her old boss. However, things get a little complicated when her old boss captures her and forces her to run a fool's errand without using her magical abilities. To make matters worse, Ellinor discovers that her old crew would be tagging along on the mission. Betrayal and deceit lurk around every corner. Ellinor must tread carefully if she wants to live, better yet, get her revenge.
Resistor is one of the most action-packed novels I have ever read. It started a little slow. But by 30%, you are thrown into nonstop action, where the stakes only seemed to get higher and higher. I was fascinated with the word and learning more about their technology and magical abilities.
I fell in love with Kai and Jelani almost immediately! Although their intentions were unknown at that point, I was with them until the end. As for Ellinor’s character, I thought she was quite complex. There are many layers to her, and she is very aware of which one she pulls back. There is so much to unpack about her character! However, her thoughts about vengeance kind of got a little old after a while. I would have liked to have been able to see Ellinor with her powers a little bit more at the beginning to understand how much of a disadvantage she is at throughout the book.
I was presently surprised by how fast I read this book. Clayton does a great job of keeping the readers hooked. If you like action and adventure, then this book is perfect!
One thing I was not anticipating while reading this book was the graphic detail of gore. While I did not have that big of an issue with it, it is something for others to keep in mind before picking up this book.
If I were to describe this novel in a single word, it would be “vengeance”.
It has been eight years since the death of Ellinor’s husband. Not a day goes by without her thinking about him and the man who committed the crime. Bent on revenge and rage, Ellinor vows to seek vengeance on her old boss. However, things get a little complicated when her old boss captures her and forces her to run a fool's errand without using her magical abilities. To make matters worse, Ellinor discovers that her old crew would be tagging along on the mission. Betrayal and deceit lurk around every corner. Ellinor must tread carefully if she wants to live, better yet, get her revenge.
Resistor is one of the most action-packed novels I have ever read. It started a little slow. But by 30%, you are thrown into nonstop action, where the stakes only seemed to get higher and higher. I was fascinated with the word and learning more about their technology and magical abilities.
I fell in love with Kai and Jelani almost immediately! Although their intentions were unknown at that point, I was with them until the end. As for Ellinor’s character, I thought she was quite complex. There are many layers to her, and she is very aware of which one she pulls back. There is so much to unpack about her character! However, her thoughts about vengeance kind of got a little old after a while. I would have liked to have been able to see Ellinor with her powers a little bit more at the beginning to understand how much of a disadvantage she is at throughout the book.
I was presently surprised by how fast I read this book. Clayton does a great job of keeping the readers hooked. If you like action and adventure, then this book is perfect!
One thing I was not anticipating while reading this book was the graphic detail of gore. While I did not have that big of an issue with it, it is something for others to keep in mind before picking up this book.
library_of_alexandra_'s review against another edition
4.0
Thank you Book Sirens and C.E. Clayton for an eARC of this book!
Ellinor Olyesha Rask is pronounced exactly how you would expect. Okay, now that is out of the way. Ellinor Olyesha Rask is a great main character, and I want more and that’s that. The scifi world building is so fun and cool. The science is so good it feels like magic, but there are also casters who are actually magical, so the line between science fiction and fantasy is blurry and I love it.
Ellinor is out for revenge. Her husband was killed in a fight with her former boss, but in her eight year quest to get back at him, she is captured. Her former boss, Cosmin, decides he needs her to help him. He puts her in a collar that cuts off her access to her magic and won’t take it off unless she cooperates. She then has to go on a mission with many of her former teammates to deliver Cosmin’s package and then she is done. But then team members are getting killed or going rouge, and her plans for vengeance don’t seem so simple. She has to learn how to trust again before she has to pay the highest price.
At first I could not stand Ellinor. But just watching her growth in her character arc made me like her a lot more than I did at first. It took me a hot minute to get into it, but by the second half, I did not want to leave Ellinor. Her main focus was on the death of her husband and her desire for vengeance. She had been working alone since her husband’s death, and seeing her having to interact with others that knew him forced her out of her new angry comfort zone.
For a book with one strong main character, there are a lot of side characters. A lot of her former coworkers were introduced early on, and I was unsure which to care about. I also got some of them confused with each other. But as the team shifted around and different people left, it became clear who mattered the most. It took a little bit of a long time for my liking, but once it did, I was really excited by the characters that were left.
A bit of a spoiler here, but the ending is not a closed door. There are definitely a lot of loose ends left over for the sequel, so if that bothers you, you have been warned. However, the way it ends does not have a just stop vibe. I hope the sequel picks up right were this left off and that’s all I will say on the subject.
Overall, this is a pretty good book. I like the world, I like the main character, and I think the character arc of the main character is one of the strongest I’ve seen in awhile. I highly recommend this for science fiction and fantasy fans!
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Romantic Subplot Rating: ❤❤❤/5
Ellinor is obsessed with vengeance for her husband and keeping his memory alive. So it is not until the team gets smaller that the twinkle of a subplot starts creeping in. I know Ellinor would be mad if I said it, but I have high expectations for the rest of her relationship with this particular character. And that is all.
Ellinor Olyesha Rask is pronounced exactly how you would expect. Okay, now that is out of the way. Ellinor Olyesha Rask is a great main character, and I want more and that’s that. The scifi world building is so fun and cool. The science is so good it feels like magic, but there are also casters who are actually magical, so the line between science fiction and fantasy is blurry and I love it.
Ellinor is out for revenge. Her husband was killed in a fight with her former boss, but in her eight year quest to get back at him, she is captured. Her former boss, Cosmin, decides he needs her to help him. He puts her in a collar that cuts off her access to her magic and won’t take it off unless she cooperates. She then has to go on a mission with many of her former teammates to deliver Cosmin’s package and then she is done. But then team members are getting killed or going rouge, and her plans for vengeance don’t seem so simple. She has to learn how to trust again before she has to pay the highest price.
At first I could not stand Ellinor. But just watching her growth in her character arc made me like her a lot more than I did at first. It took me a hot minute to get into it, but by the second half, I did not want to leave Ellinor. Her main focus was on the death of her husband and her desire for vengeance. She had been working alone since her husband’s death, and seeing her having to interact with others that knew him forced her out of her new angry comfort zone.
For a book with one strong main character, there are a lot of side characters. A lot of her former coworkers were introduced early on, and I was unsure which to care about. I also got some of them confused with each other. But as the team shifted around and different people left, it became clear who mattered the most. It took a little bit of a long time for my liking, but once it did, I was really excited by the characters that were left.
A bit of a spoiler here, but the ending is not a closed door. There are definitely a lot of loose ends left over for the sequel, so if that bothers you, you have been warned. However, the way it ends does not have a just stop vibe. I hope the sequel picks up right were this left off and that’s all I will say on the subject.
Overall, this is a pretty good book. I like the world, I like the main character, and I think the character arc of the main character is one of the strongest I’ve seen in awhile. I highly recommend this for science fiction and fantasy fans!
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Romantic Subplot Rating: ❤❤❤/5
Ellinor is obsessed with vengeance for her husband and keeping his memory alive. So it is not until the team gets smaller that the twinkle of a subplot starts creeping in. I know Ellinor would be mad if I said it, but I have high expectations for the rest of her relationship with this particular character. And that is all.