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claire_thebookreader's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-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
3.0
sarahgsreads's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
theplantsalivesed's review against another edition
4.0
I bought this book randomly, and was very pleasantly surprised.
umairah's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars
I really enjoyed it as the ideas were interesting and fresh in terms of dealing with addiction, the cool female warriors who live in a world above the canopy of the trees and the whole idea of mist. It left many open threads which I think will be explored in the next books which I shall read and I liked the sense of mystery running throughout the book and the clues along the way.
I really enjoyed it as the ideas were interesting and fresh in terms of dealing with addiction, the cool female warriors who live in a world above the canopy of the trees and the whole idea of mist. It left many open threads which I think will be explored in the next books which I shall read and I liked the sense of mystery running throughout the book and the clues along the way.
secretdearest's review against another edition
Solely on the base of alcohol abuse, I won't be reading this.
maraya21's review against another edition
3.0
⚡ Read for the KU Shitathon 2018 Challenge™ over at the MacHalos ⚡
2.5 Stars
One of the idioms we have in Greece says "Πέρασε και δεν ακούμπησε", which very roughly translates to "It didn't connect, Made no impact, Same before same after". That is what this book was. Noooo touchyyy.
The Baddest, Most Badass Female to have walk the planet in recent years said it best. No, she didn't say I was the epitome of lazyness. Yet. (^_^)
Will continue with this but not going crazy for it at this point.
◼ Book: #7 -- Week: 26/08 - 08/09 ◼
2.5 Stars
One of the idioms we have in Greece says "Πέρασε και δεν ακούμπησε", which very roughly translates to "It didn't connect, Made no impact, Same before same after". That is what this book was. Noooo touchyyy.
The Baddest, Most Badass Female to have walk the planet in recent years said it best. No, she didn't say I was the epitome of lazyness. Yet. (^_^)
Will continue with this but not going crazy for it at this point.
◼ Book: #7 -- Week: 26/08 - 08/09 ◼
lauramg's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
booksarebetter's review against another edition
4.0
Review to come! I really liked this but ugh that cliffhanger!!!!
sashapasha's review against another edition
4.0
I have such mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, finally! A fantasy book with a young female lead protagonist that isn't just a flimsy veneer for a romance. The world building was excellent and not only were there other significant characters besides the heroine, but every side character was fully fleshed out with their own problems and flaws. AND, as a plus, the book was gritty and dark, none of the fluffiness omnipresent in the YA lit I usually read.
**Note, some spoilers below, besides the ones in the spoiler tags.**
However, I didn't like a large percentage of the characters, they drove me up the wall.
Swinton in particular, realllllly got on my nerves. Normally, in these types of books, he would be one of my favorites, but in this case Scheuerer did a great (if unintentional) job of making him despicable to me. I guessed what drove his actions as soon as she dropped the hints, however I also just assumed that the King knew all along and was blackmailing him, which would in some small measure excuse his blind loyalty. However, at the end, it was revealed that he'd thought the king was ignorant of his secret. And thinking back on all his actions, and how he'd probably condemned hundreds, maybe thousands to death with the mist-and-map scheme and had rounded up hundreds of Ashai for torture and death, I just can't excuse him for his behavior. Can't. He shows incredible selfishness throughout , and his selfishness is compounded by also displaying an incredible capacity for self-righteousness , and an incredible capacity for self-pity, along with all his other disgusting qualities. I understand that Scheuerer was trying to make him a flawed, yet sympathetic character, but in my eyes she went way overboard and ruined him, probably beyond redemption. (Depends on whether he improves in the sequels and whether I forget all my rage and frustration in this installment, lol.)
As for the other characters, let's see.
I hated Bren. He was pathetic, entitled, annoying , not to mention stupid .
I also wasn't a huge fan of Henri a lot of the time. She got better towards the end, but for a large chunk of the middle was a pretty unlikable chick, even after making allowances for her position and the weight of her responsibilities.
Dash got on my nerves because I thought, given his age, he should have been much more aware of the social/political consequences of his actions. I hate when authors forget that kids are actually pretty smart.
Fiore was alrightish, not too annoying, which is saying something with this lot, but also not great.
And then there was Bleak herself. Probably the main reason I kept reading (along with the fact that this book is goddamn addicting, so much Drama), and even she had her moments. Usually because I was cursing her for not even attempting to overcome her addiction.
Sidenote, Luka was great, and I really enjoyed Bleak's forays into her thoughts. Also, Athene was harsh.
Alas, despite all the numerous shortcomings of the characters and how much they all had me pulling out my hair, they were, for the most part, incredibly real and drawn with considerable thought. The plot also had a level of complexity and intrigue that I haven't encountered in a good long while, so win for that. I did manage to guess/predict a chunk of the twists, but that didn't diminish the reading experience except when I was hopping up and down cursing the characters for not figuring things out sooner.
To summarize (and repeat), I have very mixed feelings about this book. Was it great? Infuriating? Brilliant? Dissatisfying?
Probably all of the above?
Oh, and let's not forget the cliffhanger. No neat resolutions for this book, oh no. Will have to read the sequel, which I think isn't going to be released until sometime mid-2018, urg.
One last thought:
Listening Soundtrack:
- Purity of Heart - Steve Jablonsky (this! perfectly captures the tone of the book)
- Songs from Wonder Woman (No Man's Land, Pain, Loss & Love, etc)- Rupert Gregson-Williams
- Radiate - Joseph Trapanese
- other...
**Note, some spoilers below, besides the ones in the spoiler tags.**
However, I didn't like a large percentage of the characters, they drove me up the wall.
Swinton in particular, realllllly got on my nerves. Normally, in these types of books, he would be one of my favorites, but in this case Scheuerer did a great (if unintentional) job of making him despicable to me. I guessed what drove his actions as soon as she dropped the hints
Spoiler
his thought about how a previous relationship with a lower born woman hadn't ended well, his money mysteriously vanishing for parts unknown and being unable to afford to upkeep his gear)Spoiler
one of many examples is his relative indifference to the fact that one of his men is trying to rape(!) Bleak while she is under his care (da fuk, dude)Spoiler
he doesn't take any sort of responsibility or blame in his own mind for the fiasco at the tavern where Bleak was forced to defend herself and Henri by killing everyone since he'd essentially slipped Henri a date rape drug and she couldn't defend herselfAs for the other characters, let's see.
I hated Bren. He was pathetic, entitled
Spoiler
he thought he had some sort of claim on Bleak because of his attachmentSpoiler
why oh whyyy did he have to follow her everywhere??Spoiler
allow me to point you to the part where he shows up at the palace claiming to be one of a race of people who are persecuted, imprisoned, and murdered because he thinks that that will get people to take him to Bleak???I also wasn't a huge fan of Henri a lot of the time. She got better towards the end, but for a large chunk of the middle was a pretty unlikable chick, even after making allowances for her position and the weight of her responsibilities.
Dash got on my nerves because I thought, given his age, he should have been much more aware of the social/political consequences of his actions. I hate when authors forget that kids are actually pretty smart.
Fiore was alrightish, not too annoying, which is saying something with this lot, but also not great.
And then there was Bleak herself. Probably the main reason I kept reading (along with the fact that this book is goddamn addicting, so much Drama), and even she had her moments. Usually because I was cursing her for not even attempting to overcome her addiction.
Sidenote, Luka was great, and I really enjoyed Bleak's forays into her thoughts. Also, Athene was harsh.
Alas, despite all the numerous shortcomings of the characters and how much they all had me pulling out my hair, they were, for the most part, incredibly real and drawn with considerable thought. The plot also had a level of complexity and intrigue that I haven't encountered in a good long while, so win for that. I did manage to guess/predict a chunk of the twists, but that didn't diminish the reading experience except when I was hopping up and down cursing the characters for not figuring things out sooner.
To summarize (and repeat), I have very mixed feelings about this book. Was it great? Infuriating? Brilliant? Dissatisfying?
Probably all of the above?
Oh, and let's not forget the cliffhanger. No neat resolutions for this book, oh no. Will have to read the sequel, which I think isn't going to be released until sometime mid-2018, urg.
One last thought:
Spoiler
I can't help but be impressed at the degree of dislike that Swinton leveled at Dash during their encounters.Listening Soundtrack:
- Purity of Heart - Steve Jablonsky (this! perfectly captures the tone of the book)
- Songs from Wonder Woman (No Man's Land, Pain, Loss & Love, etc)- Rupert Gregson-Williams
- Radiate - Joseph Trapanese
- other...
gemhall's review against another edition
3.0
Not in the right headspace to enjoy this book. Had trouble picking it back up but also trouble putting it down.