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sken11's review against another edition
reflective
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
2.0
queerologist's review against another edition
2.0
Empress of the World is a quick, YA love story about two young women coming together and falling in love, in a contemporary coming of age novel.
Although I gave this book a 2 star rating, I feel like it's more of a 2.5 star rating for me, personally.
There were a lot of elements in the story that I found rather boring and cliche. The writing style was clear but isn't really my favourite to read and indulge in. The characters weren't entirely fleshed out, so it was hard to have any kind of emotional attachment to them.
All in all, the story wasn't bad, it just felt like a mediocre retelling of numerous other novels I've read throughout the years. If you're wanting a quick, LGBT read for pride month I would suggest this, but just know that, more likely then not, this won't end up being one of your favourites.
Although I gave this book a 2 star rating, I feel like it's more of a 2.5 star rating for me, personally.
There were a lot of elements in the story that I found rather boring and cliche. The writing style was clear but isn't really my favourite to read and indulge in. The characters weren't entirely fleshed out, so it was hard to have any kind of emotional attachment to them.
All in all, the story wasn't bad, it just felt like a mediocre retelling of numerous other novels I've read throughout the years. If you're wanting a quick, LGBT read for pride month I would suggest this, but just know that, more likely then not, this won't end up being one of your favourites.
rainsynch's review against another edition
4.0
While I never read the other books in this series, I read Empress of the World back when I was in middle or high school originally - I forget which precisely. It was one of the first few lesbian love stories I was able to get my hands on and it is one I still think of fondly even now. It deals with homophobia and coming of age and it felt very real and meant a lot to me back then. I think the story still holds up now as well.
tiannagripp's review against another edition
3.0
This book was...cute. I enjoyed the author's writing style and I how she portrayed her characters as intelligent young adults who weren't ashamed of being smart or nerdy. At least while they were in summer camp. I liked the touches of insecurity that some of the characters had. The emotional back and forth that seem like the end of the world to a teenager, though to an adult like myself seem mundane. Not to say that the story was mundane at all. I felt that this was done well. This wasn't a "lesbian story" as much as a story where the main character was in a lesbian relationship. And even that relationship could have easily been a heterosexual one and played out the exact same way.
sapphic_reader2's review against another edition
1.0
I feel like the book started off strong and had a lot of great promise. About halfway through I realized that the story begun to be stagnant. It was also hard for me to connect with any of the characters. I never felt like I was able to truly get to know any of the characters, even the narrator. I understand that they were all teenagers, but they acted more childish than their age. I don't feel like any of the characters had true growth or learned much of anything throughout the book. Ultimately, it just felt juvenile to me, and the story lacked purpose.
thepetitepunk's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars
I’m really surprised I didn’t like this one. It’s super faced paced, and although that’s usually something I enjoy in YA novels, I think the story ended up not feeling as fleshed out as it could have been. I didn’t think any components of the book were particularly memorable nor did it make feel anything special. I wasn’t expecting this to be an all-time favorite, but I’m still disappointed.
I’m really surprised I didn’t like this one. It’s super faced paced, and although that’s usually something I enjoy in YA novels, I think the story ended up not feeling as fleshed out as it could have been. I didn’t think any components of the book were particularly memorable nor did it make feel anything special. I wasn’t expecting this to be an all-time favorite, but I’m still disappointed.
stephen_arvidson's review against another edition
4.0
Author Sara Ryan deftly captures the sweetness and uncertainty of a young girl’s first love in her 2001 debut. Empress of the World celebrates adolescent romance and budding sexuality in all of its sticky, modern complexity.
While studying archeology at an academic summer camp, fifteen-year-old Nicola ‘Nic’ Lancaster becomes embroiled in an on-again, off-again romance with the implausibly named Battle Hall Davies, a beautiful North Carolinian wildflower with electric green eyes, blond hair, and a rebellious streak. Nic approaches her homosexual proclivities with surprisingly little angst and introspection, self-identifying as bisexual in light of past dalliances with boys. Save for a pair of overt homophobes in Nic’s archeology class, Nic’s and Battle’s same-sex liaison isn’t dogged by prevailing cultural forces. In fact, their closest peers hardly bat an eye and are quite supportive, while the more angst-addled pupils react with tacit approval. Things are going well until their fledgling relationship is curtailed by an ill-conceived gift that's coupled with Nic’s compulsion to dissect and categorize emotions. Turned off by her girlfriend’s taxonomic obsessions, Battle quickly resorts to dating Kevin, a spacey music geek and mutual friend of Nic’s. Teen drama naturally unfolds as the pair struggles to find balance in their relationship.
Perceptive and witty, Nic Lancaster is a likeable heroine whom the author depicts in language that's both respectful and accessible to teenage audiences. Ryan peppers the narrative with anxious musings—or “field notes”—from Nic’s diary, further evidencing the character’s strong sense of self and her need to deconstruct relationships in order to understand how they function. Refreshingly, Ryan doesn’t grapple with the issue of sexual orientation to the same extent as other like-minded novels, but rather the ordinary drama and anguish of teen romance—which makes Nic's affection for Battle seem organic and true-to-life.
Although unlikely to leave any lasting impressions, Empress of the World is well-paced and touching in its simplicity. Young readers with liberal social values will delight in this uplifting tale that’s streets ahead of the usual frothy summer romance fare.
While studying archeology at an academic summer camp, fifteen-year-old Nicola ‘Nic’ Lancaster becomes embroiled in an on-again, off-again romance with the implausibly named Battle Hall Davies, a beautiful North Carolinian wildflower with electric green eyes, blond hair, and a rebellious streak. Nic approaches her homosexual proclivities with surprisingly little angst and introspection, self-identifying as bisexual in light of past dalliances with boys. Save for a pair of overt homophobes in Nic’s archeology class, Nic’s and Battle’s same-sex liaison isn’t dogged by prevailing cultural forces. In fact, their closest peers hardly bat an eye and are quite supportive, while the more angst-addled pupils react with tacit approval. Things are going well until their fledgling relationship is curtailed by an ill-conceived gift that's coupled with Nic’s compulsion to dissect and categorize emotions. Turned off by her girlfriend’s taxonomic obsessions, Battle quickly resorts to dating Kevin, a spacey music geek and mutual friend of Nic’s. Teen drama naturally unfolds as the pair struggles to find balance in their relationship.
Perceptive and witty, Nic Lancaster is a likeable heroine whom the author depicts in language that's both respectful and accessible to teenage audiences. Ryan peppers the narrative with anxious musings—or “field notes”—from Nic’s diary, further evidencing the character’s strong sense of self and her need to deconstruct relationships in order to understand how they function. Refreshingly, Ryan doesn’t grapple with the issue of sexual orientation to the same extent as other like-minded novels, but rather the ordinary drama and anguish of teen romance—which makes Nic's affection for Battle seem organic and true-to-life.
Although unlikely to leave any lasting impressions, Empress of the World is well-paced and touching in its simplicity. Young readers with liberal social values will delight in this uplifting tale that’s streets ahead of the usual frothy summer romance fare.
jadeynk18's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
shhchar's review against another edition
2.0
My main dislike was the writing. It wasn't very polished, the plot lacked a lot, and I felt that way too many things were upper-cased that had no need to be.
briarhoes's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0