rwalker101's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Look. I love the TikTok series as much as the next person. I think it's charming and quirky, and Ms. Maehrer is clearly passionate about this idea. I think she has a promising future career as an author, as long as she continues to learn and grow throughout this trilogy and with whatever comes after.
That being said...
This reads like a first draft. It has lots of potential, but it's weighed down by darlings the author has yet to kill, and that the editing team at Tantor didn't bother trying to fix because they needed to get it out before the deadline for the cash grab passed.
Things that would have been caught during the second pass this book clearly didn't get:
--Redundant phrasing (this book could have been a good 5,000 words shorter, at the least)
--Corny dialogue (the entire book feels too modern in general for the supposed high fantasy setting)
--Tone vs setting (see above, I get the feeling that at first, this wasn't a fantasy setting, it was a superhero setting, and as such many things are far too modern for the high fantasy vibe that was ultimately decided on)
--Uneven pacing (the more ambitious and intriguing parts are, on the whole, rushed, falling flat of the impact the author was going for)
--The entire first third (is so clearly attempting to mimic the tone of the TikTok series it's based off that it's jarring compared to the rest, which stumbles a little but eventually finds its unique voice)
--I get what's trying to happen with Becky's character. I do. I don't think it was executed well at all.
--Just get rid of Tristan's pov. I'm begging. I get that he's a sweetheart who's been hurt but there was nothing in the povs from him that added to the story. It's glaringly obvious he's into Evie, it's glaringly obvious the frog is a prince, etc. etc. We didn't need any of his prevaricating.
--The "evil" stuff is either played for laughs or has had its teeth pulled, because the author needs the deuteragonists to be likeable. Unfortunately that just leaves cartoony violence and unfunny jokes about how the villain doesn't know how to hug, or what a tea party is.
--He's The Villain? Really? You couldn't have come up with a cooler name?
Things I liked, actually:
--The honest-to-God slow burn! Man we never get real slow burns anymore. While the execution is a little clumsy, it's clear there's more suppressed sexual tension in store.
--Similar to the romance element, I like that there are clearly-seeded plot points we can expect in future books. It kinda felt like watching the first season of a TV show, knowing some characters will return far in the future.
--There were some parts where I actually laughed!
--I mentioned before that, while it stumbles at first, there are moments when the author's unique voice shines through. More of that please.
--I also mentioned before that there are elements that are ambitious, and I am all for ambition, even if execution falls flat. You can always try again.
Ok I'm done. I hope the next books are better etc etc.
That being said...
This reads like a first draft. It has lots of potential, but it's weighed down by darlings the author has yet to kill, and that the editing team at Tantor didn't bother trying to fix because they needed to get it out before the deadline for the cash grab passed.
Things that would have been caught during the second pass this book clearly didn't get:
--Redundant phrasing (this book could have been a good 5,000 words shorter, at the least)
--Corny dialogue (the entire book feels too modern in general for the supposed high fantasy setting)
--Tone vs setting (see above, I get the feeling that at first, this wasn't a fantasy setting, it was a superhero setting, and as such many things are far too modern for the high fantasy vibe that was ultimately decided on)
--Uneven pacing (the more ambitious and intriguing parts are, on the whole, rushed, falling flat of the impact the author was going for)
--The entire first third (is so clearly attempting to mimic the tone of the TikTok series it's based off that it's jarring compared to the rest, which stumbles a little but eventually finds its unique voice)
--I get what's trying to happen with Becky's character. I do. I don't think it was executed well at all.
--Just get rid of Tristan's pov. I'm begging. I get that he's a sweetheart who's been hurt but there was nothing in the povs from him that added to the story. It's glaringly obvious he's into Evie, it's glaringly obvious the frog is a prince, etc. etc. We didn't need any of his prevaricating.
--The "evil" stuff is either played for laughs or has had its teeth pulled, because the author needs the deuteragonists to be likeable. Unfortunately that just leaves cartoony violence and unfunny jokes about how the villain doesn't know how to hug, or what a tea party is.
--He's The Villain? Really? You couldn't have come up with a cooler name?
Things I liked, actually:
--The honest-to-God slow burn! Man we never get real slow burns anymore. While the execution is a little clumsy, it's clear there's more suppressed sexual tension in store.
--Similar to the romance element, I like that there are clearly-seeded plot points we can expect in future books. It kinda felt like watching the first season of a TV show, knowing some characters will return far in the future.
--There were some parts where I actually laughed!
--I mentioned before that, while it stumbles at first, there are moments when the author's unique voice shines through. More of that please.
--I also mentioned before that there are elements that are ambitious, and I am all for ambition, even if execution falls flat. You can always try again.
Ok I'm done. I hope the next books are better etc etc.
rosline's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
emshamblin's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? No
3.5
madelinexpfit's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really wanted to like this book but I couldn’t get into the swing of it. It took me a long time to finish it which I didn’t enjoy but it wasn’t fully because of the pace. I don’t think the book really picked up until the end and then it had the audacity to end on a cliff hanger. This book received 3 stars because it didn’t fully capture my attention and beg me to read it.
raeof_sunshinebooks's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
ldaley3004's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0