lolasreviews's review
3.0
I got a copy in exchange for an honest review
It was quite some time ago that I read the first book in this series, so when I started this book I had some difficulties getting into the story. There was some recap of the events in the past book so I quickly understood again where the story was, but I had most difficulties remembering who the characters where and what their personalities where.
The story starts off pretty slow and nothing really seemed to be happening. The characters are running for the Tycoons, but they don't seem to be getting anywhere or making progress. It took some time before the story picked up a bit. I did enjoy the story and I read it in a little less than one day, but this book seemed to have second-book-syndrome. It just felt a bit like a fill up book, without any big plot twists or events. The character grew a bit and learned a bit more, but nothing really big seemed to happen until the ending. From halfway through, the story became more interesting and towards the end there where some action filled scenes. The overal plot just seemed to lack some direction and it felt like a bit of a fill-up book. There are some important things that happened, but not a lot. Mostly they are just hiding and biding their time before taking actions and when they finally do take actions, it was the end of the book already.
I also had some issues with the characters, they just seemed to run around and they made some dumb descisions and everyone was keeping secrets from each other. They jumped to conclusions really fast and didn't seem to really think things through. I didn't really connect with any of the characters in this book, maybe also in part because I couldn't remember much about them from the first book. I did remember the most about London, a bit about Rye, but hardly anything about Zen, Kim and Tora. Their actions in this books also made it hard to like them, they all seemed to act so hastly or without thought.
I did like all the interactions in the Astral world and how their Otherborns and their normal selves got more intertwined. There did seem more focus on the Astral in this book and they learned a lot of new things about their powers and the Astral. That was one of the things I enjoyed most about this book, the progress they made with their powers, they finally seemed to get a sense of what exactly they are capable off. There are some cool scenes where their powers got them out of a difficult situation and this book seemed to lean a bit more towards the fantasy than the dystopia spectrum. I also liked the part about the Dream sickness, it just fit this world where they lived in. Although it seemed a bit weird the government could just get away with what they did.
The ending was weird, it was a cliffhanger, but it just felt off. And London did something pretty stupid at the end. Finally when things started getting interesting, it got weird again and then just ended. It does make me wonder how this series can continue after this.
There was some world building in this book too, the main world building is already done in the first book, but in this book it get's expanded. There is so much about their powers and the Astral the characters didn't know and that get's added in this book. Although I did found some concepts a bit hard to grasp. The Astral is a weird place and that's probably why the explanations are a bit weird too, but it was just difficult to really 'get it' because everything was so vague. There is so much possible, but there doesn't seem to be a clear rule or such for what is and what isn't possible. It is just all a bit vague and mysterious, although I assume that's part of the author's intent, it did make it difficult to fully understand the Astral. I just wanted to understand the world and that just didn't seemed really possible in this book.
To conclude: I had some trouble getting into this book, I forgotten a lot from the first book and couldn't connect with the characters due to that. There was enough recap of events to help with remembering the plot. There seemed to be a lot of running around in this book and the pace was a bit slow till halfway through, nothing really seemed to happen. I also got annoyed at some of the things the characters did, like making hatsy or dumb descisions and keeping so many secrets. All in all I enjoyed the first book in this series a lot more, but this was still an enjoyable read. I finished this in a little more than a day, so that's saying something. I am curious how the next book wil continue after the ending of this one.
It was quite some time ago that I read the first book in this series, so when I started this book I had some difficulties getting into the story. There was some recap of the events in the past book so I quickly understood again where the story was, but I had most difficulties remembering who the characters where and what their personalities where.
The story starts off pretty slow and nothing really seemed to be happening. The characters are running for the Tycoons, but they don't seem to be getting anywhere or making progress. It took some time before the story picked up a bit. I did enjoy the story and I read it in a little less than one day, but this book seemed to have second-book-syndrome. It just felt a bit like a fill up book, without any big plot twists or events. The character grew a bit and learned a bit more, but nothing really big seemed to happen until the ending. From halfway through, the story became more interesting and towards the end there where some action filled scenes. The overal plot just seemed to lack some direction and it felt like a bit of a fill-up book. There are some important things that happened, but not a lot. Mostly they are just hiding and biding their time before taking actions and when they finally do take actions, it was the end of the book already.
I also had some issues with the characters, they just seemed to run around and they made some dumb descisions and everyone was keeping secrets from each other. They jumped to conclusions really fast and didn't seem to really think things through. I didn't really connect with any of the characters in this book, maybe also in part because I couldn't remember much about them from the first book. I did remember the most about London, a bit about Rye, but hardly anything about Zen, Kim and Tora. Their actions in this books also made it hard to like them, they all seemed to act so hastly or without thought.
I did like all the interactions in the Astral world and how their Otherborns and their normal selves got more intertwined. There did seem more focus on the Astral in this book and they learned a lot of new things about their powers and the Astral. That was one of the things I enjoyed most about this book, the progress they made with their powers, they finally seemed to get a sense of what exactly they are capable off. There are some cool scenes where their powers got them out of a difficult situation and this book seemed to lean a bit more towards the fantasy than the dystopia spectrum. I also liked the part about the Dream sickness, it just fit this world where they lived in. Although it seemed a bit weird the government could just get away with what they did.
The ending was weird, it was a cliffhanger, but it just felt off. And London did something pretty stupid at the end. Finally when things started getting interesting, it got weird again and then just ended. It does make me wonder how this series can continue after this.
There was some world building in this book too, the main world building is already done in the first book, but in this book it get's expanded. There is so much about their powers and the Astral the characters didn't know and that get's added in this book. Although I did found some concepts a bit hard to grasp. The Astral is a weird place and that's probably why the explanations are a bit weird too, but it was just difficult to really 'get it' because everything was so vague. There is so much possible, but there doesn't seem to be a clear rule or such for what is and what isn't possible. It is just all a bit vague and mysterious, although I assume that's part of the author's intent, it did make it difficult to fully understand the Astral. I just wanted to understand the world and that just didn't seemed really possible in this book.
To conclude: I had some trouble getting into this book, I forgotten a lot from the first book and couldn't connect with the characters due to that. There was enough recap of events to help with remembering the plot. There seemed to be a lot of running around in this book and the pace was a bit slow till halfway through, nothing really seemed to happen. I also got annoyed at some of the things the characters did, like making hatsy or dumb descisions and keeping so many secrets. All in all I enjoyed the first book in this series a lot more, but this was still an enjoyable read. I finished this in a little more than a day, so that's saying something. I am curious how the next book wil continue after the ending of this one.
jasmyn9's review
5.0
This was a fantastic sequel. The story picks up as London and her friends are on the run from New Eden, the tycoon paradise. After discovering a betrayal, they are all a little out of sort and quite confused about what to do next. There is tons of drama and excitement all the way through, and lots of development for the story line and the characters.
London's Otherborn skills need some work, but once she puts her mind to maxing out her abilities, she accomplishes some pretty amazing things. The Otherborn "disease" of dreaming seems to be spreading, but the tycoons are dead set on stopping it and preserving their way of life. London plays quite a key role and so much is going on that it's hard to really talk about it without giving away key parts of the story.
I love that the author isn't afraid to have her characters go through some pretty drastic changes. It made them all so very real and at the end it gave me an enormous surprise (along with a cliffhanger)!! Be prepared to read this book quickly, you won't want to put it down.
- See more at: http://hotofftheshelves.blogspot.com/2014/09/review-astral-tide-otherborn-2-by-anna.html#sthash.pmXGHWlU.dpuf
London's Otherborn skills need some work, but once she puts her mind to maxing out her abilities, she accomplishes some pretty amazing things. The Otherborn "disease" of dreaming seems to be spreading, but the tycoons are dead set on stopping it and preserving their way of life. London plays quite a key role and so much is going on that it's hard to really talk about it without giving away key parts of the story.
I love that the author isn't afraid to have her characters go through some pretty drastic changes. It made them all so very real and at the end it gave me an enormous surprise (along with a cliffhanger)!! Be prepared to read this book quickly, you won't want to put it down.
- See more at: http://hotofftheshelves.blogspot.com/2014/09/review-astral-tide-otherborn-2-by-anna.html#sthash.pmXGHWlU.dpuf
nogenreleftbehind's review
5.0
This was a fantastic sequel. The story picks up as London and her friends are on the run from New Eden, the tycoon paradise. After discovering a betrayal, they are all a little out of sort and quite confused about what to do next. There is tons of drama and excitement all the way through, and lots of development for the story line and the characters.
London's Otherborn skills need some work, but once she puts her mind to maxing out her abilities, she accomplishes some pretty amazing things. The Otherborn "disease" of dreaming seems to be spreading, but the tycoons are dead set on stopping it and preserving their way of life. London plays quite a key role and so much is going on that it's hard to really talk about it without giving away key parts of the story.
I love that the author isn't afraid to have her characters go through some pretty drastic changes. It made them all so very real and at the end it gave me an enormous surprise (along with a cliffhanger)!! Be prepared to read this book quickly, you won't want to put it down.
- See more at: http://hotofftheshelves.blogspot.com/2014/09/review-astral-tide-otherborn-2-by-anna.html#sthash.pmXGHWlU.dpuf
London's Otherborn skills need some work, but once she puts her mind to maxing out her abilities, she accomplishes some pretty amazing things. The Otherborn "disease" of dreaming seems to be spreading, but the tycoons are dead set on stopping it and preserving their way of life. London plays quite a key role and so much is going on that it's hard to really talk about it without giving away key parts of the story.
I love that the author isn't afraid to have her characters go through some pretty drastic changes. It made them all so very real and at the end it gave me an enormous surprise (along with a cliffhanger)!! Be prepared to read this book quickly, you won't want to put it down.
- See more at: http://hotofftheshelves.blogspot.com/2014/09/review-astral-tide-otherborn-2-by-anna.html#sthash.pmXGHWlU.dpuf
lifeandliterature's review
4.0
This needed to happen. The dreaming needed to come back. The Astral needed a way back into this world, and they had been it.
It had been quite some time since I read the first book in the Otherborn series, so when I first started reading Astral Tide it took me a little while to get a grasp on the story and remember how things played out and ended in Otherborn. But as I continued to read, things started to come back to me and I was able to immerse myself in the story.
After the shock of Rye being captured, London, Kim, Zen and Tora are still on the run from from the Tycoons and moving from camp to camp. London vows to return for Rye but as yet the opportunity hasn't presented itself. However it seems that at every turn, the enemy is getting closer. What will the outcome be when there is nowhere left to run?
London felt the darkness creep in on her like a childhood nightmare, returning with all the fears she could forget in the light of day. And the space of him, where he was, where he'd just been, pulled at her like a vacuum in his absence. Her heart folded in on itself, crumpling like paper, withering inside her without him. Wilting like a plant without water.
London was just as quick to speak her mind this time around. She is still quite opinionated but at the same time she was able to compromise and listen to her companions when it was called for. London is dealing with a lot of emotions and conflicting feelings this time around. Her love for Rye is just as strong, but it's been months since she's seen him. She's not even sure what's become of him. And then there is Zen, who is caring and protective, and he's started looking at her differently. There's something in his eyes that tells her how much he cares. London is finding it more and more difficult to believe that they are just friends. Will the guilt she feels over her feelings for Zen allow that friendship to go to the next level?
I found that I enjoyed the second half of the book much more than the first. I think because there was much more action and I felt the characters were finally working towards something, where as in the first half I felt there there was more running and hiding than facing things head on.
I loved the trips to the Astral and the journey of the characters learning exactly what they are capable of and what abilities they possess. This was definitely where most of the character development centred.
The first book really had it's stand out characters to me, whereas this time around I didn't feel that anyone stood out more than the other. Each character had their part to play. Despite this being told from London's point of view there was lots of time with the other characters so I felt that I knew them all fairly well by the end.
Astral Tide is just as well written as the first book in the series and the story was engaging throughout. It ended in somewhat of a cliffhanger, but nothing that will have you tearing your hair out in frustration. However it will leave you eager to see what is next in store for London and her group of friends.
4/5 Zen Stars.
It had been quite some time since I read the first book in the Otherborn series, so when I first started reading Astral Tide it took me a little while to get a grasp on the story and remember how things played out and ended in Otherborn. But as I continued to read, things started to come back to me and I was able to immerse myself in the story.
After the shock of Rye being captured, London, Kim, Zen and Tora are still on the run from from the Tycoons and moving from camp to camp. London vows to return for Rye but as yet the opportunity hasn't presented itself. However it seems that at every turn, the enemy is getting closer. What will the outcome be when there is nowhere left to run?
London felt the darkness creep in on her like a childhood nightmare, returning with all the fears she could forget in the light of day. And the space of him, where he was, where he'd just been, pulled at her like a vacuum in his absence. Her heart folded in on itself, crumpling like paper, withering inside her without him. Wilting like a plant without water.
London was just as quick to speak her mind this time around. She is still quite opinionated but at the same time she was able to compromise and listen to her companions when it was called for. London is dealing with a lot of emotions and conflicting feelings this time around. Her love for Rye is just as strong, but it's been months since she's seen him. She's not even sure what's become of him. And then there is Zen, who is caring and protective, and he's started looking at her differently. There's something in his eyes that tells her how much he cares. London is finding it more and more difficult to believe that they are just friends. Will the guilt she feels over her feelings for Zen allow that friendship to go to the next level?
I found that I enjoyed the second half of the book much more than the first. I think because there was much more action and I felt the characters were finally working towards something, where as in the first half I felt there there was more running and hiding than facing things head on.
I loved the trips to the Astral and the journey of the characters learning exactly what they are capable of and what abilities they possess. This was definitely where most of the character development centred.
The first book really had it's stand out characters to me, whereas this time around I didn't feel that anyone stood out more than the other. Each character had their part to play. Despite this being told from London's point of view there was lots of time with the other characters so I felt that I knew them all fairly well by the end.
Astral Tide is just as well written as the first book in the series and the story was engaging throughout. It ended in somewhat of a cliffhanger, but nothing that will have you tearing your hair out in frustration. However it will leave you eager to see what is next in store for London and her group of friends.
4/5 Zen Stars.
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