Scan barcode
chai_latte_auroras's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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
4.75
This book was so fun to read. It has a Hunger Games meets Divergent feel with the special gifts of the main characters and the constant fighting to survive in the woods. There’s also a fated-mates(or as they call it, rendering) romance.
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence and Cannibalism
tania_mybookishsecret's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
oliviaporter's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Cannibalism
ging090803's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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? No
4.0
It is a reread. I remembered really liking this serie when it first came out around 2012.
Now that I have reread it… I can understand younger me but it doesn’t deserve a super-freaking 5 stars as I would have said at that time.
It is cringe. Perry and Arya being “enemy” than not so much after just a little while.
Except that, the story was good. I liked how there were two worlds in one : outside and the reverie. How they had to start understanding each other. also, I really liked how Arya was changing and adapting to her environment. Slowly, we see her being more an outsider. It was really cool”
The first book was good. Roar and Arya were funny. The development was good.
It wasn’t a 5 stars because the book screamed “2010 dystopia”. Even if it was an era to remember, it was cringey and “under the never sky” didn’t escape from it
Now that I have reread it… I can understand younger me but it doesn’t deserve a super-freaking 5 stars as I would have said at that time.
It is cringe. Perry and Arya being “enemy” than not so much after just a little while.
Except that, the story was good. I liked how there were two worlds in one : outside and the reverie. How they had to start understanding each other.
The first book was good. Roar and Arya were funny. The development was good.
It wasn’t a 5 stars because the book screamed “2010 dystopia”. Even if it was an era to remember, it was cringey and “under the never sky” didn’t escape from it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cannibalism and Death of parent
ninascozydayreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
When it comes to a dystopian novel, or even a sci-fi novel, I expect it to be a comment on the world we're currently living in; usually, society is doomed due to humanity's failings. The Hunger Games, for example, provides commentary on materalistic behaviour. The way Panem is shaped is due to Climate Change. The Earthseed Chronicles by Octavia E. Butler take it even further, also making it a discussion of race and gender. This book severely lacked that. It wasn't bad, don't get me wrong. I quite liked it. I liked the characters, they were grumps forced to spend time together and slowly warming up to each other; that’s a very good romantic trope. I actually did find myself squealing when they showed signs of caring for each other when one of them get hurt. But I wouldn’t classify this as a sci-fi or dystopian or any kind of speculative fiction. Sure, it’s set in a world where normal life has been destroyed, the earth barely habitable. People live in pods, where there experiences are rooted in simulations and virtual reality.
Maybe at best it’s comment on the internet, but even that felt glorified. Aria kept looking for a way back to that virtual world that kept her safe. But it was extremely focussed on the romance, and the evolving relationship between Perry and Aria. This is the sci-fi equivalent of a romantasy. In terms of story, I thought it was quite enjoyable. It wasn’t very action-packed, but it was also never dull. The worldbuilding was very well done too, and though the magic system might be a bit farfetched, I actually quite liked it. The one qualm I have with the story is that the stakes weren’t high enough for me. Sure, Aria wants to get back and that’s a good stake especially for a first book, but where’s the rebellion, where’s the corrupt government? Truly, that’s what I want in novels like these and I’m missing that fight. The last thing that I want to touch upon in this review is the character of Peregrine, and that is more as a warning for anyone who maybe is interested in this book. Peregrine is an outsider, often called a “savage”. Though I cannot find any proof of skin colour, a new cover art has revealed that he is at least darker than Aria. Aria is explicitly white. If Peregrine is dark-skinned, and often times called a “savage”, then I hope I don’t have to explain why that might be problematic. However, Peregrine’s description remains a bit unclear, but I just wanted to have that pointed out.
Maybe at best it’s comment on the internet, but even that felt glorified. Aria kept looking for a way back to that virtual world that kept her safe. But it was extremely focussed on the romance, and the evolving relationship between Perry and Aria. This is the sci-fi equivalent of a romantasy. In terms of story, I thought it was quite enjoyable. It wasn’t very action-packed, but it was also never dull. The worldbuilding was very well done too, and though the magic system might be a bit farfetched, I actually quite liked it. The one qualm I have with the story is that the stakes weren’t high enough for me. Sure, Aria wants to get back and that’s a good stake especially for a first book, but where’s the rebellion, where’s the corrupt government? Truly, that’s what I want in novels like these and I’m missing that fight. The last thing that I want to touch upon in this review is the character of Peregrine, and that is more as a warning for anyone who maybe is interested in this book. Peregrine is an outsider, often called a “savage”. Though I cannot find any proof of skin colour, a new cover art has revealed that he is at least darker than Aria. Aria is explicitly white. If Peregrine is dark-skinned, and often times called a “savage”, then I hope I don’t have to explain why that might be problematic. However, Peregrine’s description remains a bit unclear, but I just wanted to have that pointed out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and Abandonment