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rebelkiss's review against another edition
3.0
A girl and her adopted brother live in the ghetto part of the entire ghetto. They work. She has magic. He doesn't want her to use it. One day, her brother vanishes. She and a hottie set off to find it. She uncovers the truth, sh!t his the fan and then there's a sequel. Honestly, I liked the storyline. I'm sure the author has a good writing style. But I listened to this on audio. The gal who read it....was horrible. I wanted to just give this book 2 stars because of her. But, as I said, I did enjoy the storyline. Not enough to want to read the next book though.
amethystbookwyrm's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for giving me this book to review.
In the city of Ninurta, 17 year old Kai has the ability to manipulate the threads of time but only one man, the ruler of Ninurta, is meant to possess magic. Kai has no memories from the age of 8 since her adoptive brother, Reev found her on the river bank. When Reev disappears, Kai vows to find him no matter what it takes and with her only friend Avan, she leaves the only home she has ever known. To save Reev, Kai must unravel her past and discover the secrets that everyone has been hiding.
Gates of Thread and Stone is a really good fantasy novel which was unpredictable and kept me on the edge of my seat. It has interesting mythology, action and romance. While it is a fantasy novel, it was unusual as it was dystopian fantasy world and I have never read anything like it.
I like Kai as she is a good person who is loyal and caring but is also stubborn, determined and feisty. Avan is enigmatic, protective and unlike some romantic interests has a past. I also like Reev as he was the perfect big brother and Mason and I hope we learn more about them.
It has a bitter sweet ending and I am looking forward to reading the next book, The Infinite. I would recommend Gates of Thread and stone to fans of Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne and Threats of Sky and Sea by Jennifer Ellision.
This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm
In the city of Ninurta, 17 year old Kai has the ability to manipulate the threads of time but only one man, the ruler of Ninurta, is meant to possess magic. Kai has no memories from the age of 8 since her adoptive brother, Reev found her on the river bank. When Reev disappears, Kai vows to find him no matter what it takes and with her only friend Avan, she leaves the only home she has ever known. To save Reev, Kai must unravel her past and discover the secrets that everyone has been hiding.
Gates of Thread and Stone is a really good fantasy novel which was unpredictable and kept me on the edge of my seat. It has interesting mythology, action and romance. While it is a fantasy novel, it was unusual as it was dystopian fantasy world and I have never read anything like it.
I like Kai as she is a good person who is loyal and caring but is also stubborn, determined and feisty. Avan is enigmatic, protective and unlike some romantic interests has a past. I also like Reev as he was the perfect big brother and Mason and I hope we learn more about them.
It has a bitter sweet ending and I am looking forward to reading the next book, The Infinite. I would recommend Gates of Thread and stone to fans of Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne and Threats of Sky and Sea by Jennifer Ellision.
This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm
manoncremers's review against another edition
2.0
More reviews on my blog, Exploring Pages.
Thank you Skyscape for providing me with an advanced reading copy for review.
My overall reaction with Gates of Thread and Stone has a lot to do with my disappointment. I expected to receive an epic fantasy about a girl who can weave the threads of time, unraveling the mystery behind her brother's disappearance. It certainly had those aspects, as it started out great and also ended on a high note. I can't shake off the feeling of discontent. I wanted so much more.
In the beginning of the book, I found it to be well-paced. The mystery jumped in from the start and made my interest grow with every page I read. Somewhere along the thrilling ride, that very interest suddenly disappeared. Although I was already two hundred pages in, I felt like there was nothing happening anymore. The more the book progressed, the less I knew what was actually going on. The characters were heading back and forth and no one seemed to have a plan anymore. The several actions scenes didn't even feel as action scenes anymore. They were rather scenes to fill up the pages. They weren't enough to make me want to continue, which resulted into a reading slump that carried on for far too long.
It wasn't until the book was nearing its climax that I grew interested again. The dull storyline picked up very quickly, and from then on the thrilling chapters kept coming. Even though the ending was a bit weird and rushed, it certainly left me wanting more. Something that didn't improve, was my lack of care. The characters themselves, for example, were okay. They didn't stand out, but there was nothing that made them bad or underdeveloped. I still felt no attachment to any of them.
The best thing out of the entire book would have to be Lori M. Lee's world. Ninurta is simply put, fascinating. I have always had a thing for a world where the chasm between the rich and the poor is remarkable, and has a huge effect on the population. As Kai has always lived in the Labyrinth, she knows how to survive on her own and doesn't act impulsive. The story puts her into unknown territory, yet she manages to play the game. Even if it takes her to unexpected losses and victories.
All in all, Gates of Thread and Stone is the kind of trilogy that could have been fitted easily into one or two books. I could have been so much more than what it is now. Despite it not being as good as I first expected, I do think this series still holds some potential. I may be hesitant towards the sequels, but I wonder where this might be heading.
“My nails clawed against the smooth tiles as I pushed up onto my hands and knees. I rose unsteadily to my feet.
Speed is my ally. Breathe. In and out. Focus. Time is my power.”
― Lori M. Lee, Gates of Thread and Stone
Thank you Skyscape for providing me with an advanced reading copy for review.
My overall reaction with Gates of Thread and Stone has a lot to do with my disappointment. I expected to receive an epic fantasy about a girl who can weave the threads of time, unraveling the mystery behind her brother's disappearance. It certainly had those aspects, as it started out great and also ended on a high note. I can't shake off the feeling of discontent. I wanted so much more.
In the beginning of the book, I found it to be well-paced. The mystery jumped in from the start and made my interest grow with every page I read. Somewhere along the thrilling ride, that very interest suddenly disappeared. Although I was already two hundred pages in, I felt like there was nothing happening anymore. The more the book progressed, the less I knew what was actually going on. The characters were heading back and forth and no one seemed to have a plan anymore. The several actions scenes didn't even feel as action scenes anymore. They were rather scenes to fill up the pages. They weren't enough to make me want to continue, which resulted into a reading slump that carried on for far too long.
It wasn't until the book was nearing its climax that I grew interested again. The dull storyline picked up very quickly, and from then on the thrilling chapters kept coming. Even though the ending was a bit weird and rushed, it certainly left me wanting more. Something that didn't improve, was my lack of care. The characters themselves, for example, were okay. They didn't stand out, but there was nothing that made them bad or underdeveloped. I still felt no attachment to any of them.
The best thing out of the entire book would have to be Lori M. Lee's world. Ninurta is simply put, fascinating. I have always had a thing for a world where the chasm between the rich and the poor is remarkable, and has a huge effect on the population. As Kai has always lived in the Labyrinth, she knows how to survive on her own and doesn't act impulsive. The story puts her into unknown territory, yet she manages to play the game. Even if it takes her to unexpected losses and victories.
All in all, Gates of Thread and Stone is the kind of trilogy that could have been fitted easily into one or two books. I could have been so much more than what it is now. Despite it not being as good as I first expected, I do think this series still holds some potential. I may be hesitant towards the sequels, but I wonder where this might be heading.
lia_trn's review against another edition
4.0
PROCEED WITH CAUTION : hot male lead whose charms are impossible to resist ; once fallen into his traps, I bet all you ladies would wonder why such perfectly sketched male specimen doesn't exist outside of the book!
_camk_'s review against another edition
2.0
+It was interesting world but a pity it got quite confusing.
+Avan. He derserved so much better from everyone in this book.
-Kai. One of the most naive people in the book calling someone else naive was the most ironic thing I've read. She doesn't really learn anything or grow as a person.
-Romance. It was trying to force itself through the very beginning. You have to read a lot of lines about Kai thinking about Avan, for the whole thing to then be actually pretty irrelevant and unneeded.
-Story. The story was really unengaging.
+Avan. He derserved so much better from everyone in this book.
-Kai. One of the most naive people in the book calling someone else naive was the most ironic thing I've read. She doesn't really learn anything or grow as a person.
-Romance. It was trying to force itself through the very beginning. You have to read a lot of lines about Kai thinking about Avan, for the whole thing to then be actually pretty irrelevant and unneeded.
-Story. The story was really unengaging.
kpeet's review against another edition
3.0
**I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
**3 stars**
Gates of Thread and Stone was an interesting read. The premise seemed to resemble that of Incarceron, but once I started the book, I realized it was really quite different. Kai lives in the slums with her adoptive brother, Reev, who found her on a riverbank when she was 8. She remembers nothing before that time, and any inquiries into Reev's life before her are brushed aside. Kai represents a fundamental urge we all have inside - the desire to know who we are. And does Kai figure out who she is?
Sort of.
Kai does get some answers, but also doubles her amount of questions. This of course follows as the result of an extended period spent in the Void, a vast, barren wasteland outside the city. My mind felt like it was in a void, too. Because while there, Kai and Avan are conveniently fed, housed, and trained to fight by the mysterious Black Rider who has supposedly been stealing citizens as part of his army. They make friends, they are protected from the vicious gargoyles, and are even thrown a surprise going-away party when it's time for them to leave. Yep, they trek all the way out to the Void, only to be told what they seek lies right where they started. Talk about wasting your time (and filling pages).
The suggested romance between Kai and G-10, a trainer in the Void, was really awkward and made me feel uncomfortable. For me, scenes between them conjured up images of a barista being hit-on by that older, creepy guy who has had a few too many. Exactly like that shuddering feeling when you get touched by slimy guys. Not that G-10 is old or slimy, just...uncomfortable. The real romance between Kai and Avan was quite a bit more enjoyable. It felt like a natural progression from friendship into something more. Avan came across as a little shy, and Kai as oblivious. Because of her narrow focus on finding Reev, she missed a lot of little things. Once she realizes how he feels, their interactions are reminiscent of two 16-year-olds with crushes on each other. It's adorable.
Overall I felt I wanted MORE. The very beginning led me to believe Death herself played a much larger role than she actually did. I was kind of excited to see a badass female executioner wreaking havoc on poor, unsuspecting subjects. That didn't happen. There were those pieces of a fantasy element that really kept me in the story, but it wasn't enough to make me happy. WHY COULDN'T THERE BE MORE?? In addition, the last 15% of the book was just a race to the finish line. Everything I thought I was getting in this book and everything I wanted to get in this book happened during then, in a very squished fashion. Whereas the beginning, the journey, and the Void stretched on endlessly, the ending came and went much too quickly.
Summary
Incorporating more of the powers and magic into the story would've given this book at least 1 more star. While definitely an enjoyable read, it felt much more like an adventure than a fantasy. The main romance was sweet, the plot twists were nice, but there was a large chunk in the middle that seemed to serve no purpose except to double the length of the book.
**3 stars**
Gates of Thread and Stone was an interesting read. The premise seemed to resemble that of Incarceron, but once I started the book, I realized it was really quite different. Kai lives in the slums with her adoptive brother, Reev, who found her on a riverbank when she was 8. She remembers nothing before that time, and any inquiries into Reev's life before her are brushed aside. Kai represents a fundamental urge we all have inside - the desire to know who we are. And does Kai figure out who she is?
Sort of.
Kai does get some answers, but also doubles her amount of questions. This of course follows as the result of an extended period spent in the Void, a vast, barren wasteland outside the city. My mind felt like it was in a void, too. Because while there, Kai and Avan are conveniently fed, housed, and trained to fight by the mysterious Black Rider who has supposedly been stealing citizens as part of his army. They make friends, they are protected from the vicious gargoyles, and are even thrown a surprise going-away party when it's time for them to leave. Yep, they trek all the way out to the Void, only to be told what they seek lies right where they started. Talk about wasting your time (and filling pages).
The suggested romance between Kai and G-10, a trainer in the Void, was really awkward and made me feel uncomfortable. For me, scenes between them conjured up images of a barista being hit-on by that older, creepy guy who has had a few too many. Exactly like that shuddering feeling when you get touched by slimy guys. Not that G-10 is old or slimy, just...uncomfortable. The real romance between Kai and Avan was quite a bit more enjoyable. It felt like a natural progression from friendship into something more. Avan came across as a little shy, and Kai as oblivious. Because of her narrow focus on finding Reev, she missed a lot of little things. Once she realizes how he feels, their interactions are reminiscent of two 16-year-olds with crushes on each other. It's adorable.
Overall I felt I wanted MORE. The very beginning led me to believe Death herself played a much larger role than she actually did. I was kind of excited to see a badass female executioner wreaking havoc on poor, unsuspecting subjects. That didn't happen. There were those pieces of a fantasy element that really kept me in the story, but it wasn't enough to make me happy. WHY COULDN'T THERE BE MORE?? In addition, the last 15% of the book was just a race to the finish line. Everything I thought I was getting in this book and everything I wanted to get in this book happened during then, in a very squished fashion. Whereas the beginning, the journey, and the Void stretched on endlessly, the ending came and went much too quickly.
Summary
Incorporating more of the powers and magic into the story would've given this book at least 1 more star. While definitely an enjoyable read, it felt much more like an adventure than a fantasy. The main romance was sweet, the plot twists were nice, but there was a large chunk in the middle that seemed to serve no purpose except to double the length of the book.
ace_writes_words's review against another edition
4.0
maxlk's review against another edition
2.0
Not terrible...not great either...less gay than expected.