sarahjunebooks's review against another edition
3.0
Compiling my thoughts and then I will post a full review! I am also a stop on the blog tour so you can catch the review on my blog coming soon!
You can find my blog at www.sarahjuneblog.com!
You can find my blog at www.sarahjuneblog.com!
sarag19's review against another edition
1.0
***ARC received through NetGalley for review, much appreciated***
1. 5 out of 5 stars
This book has the possibilities to be good. There is an interesting backstory regarding messing with genetics of embryos that create people that have control of the elements. It just never pans out into what it has the potential to be and that happens for a variety of reasons, in fact at the beginning of the book I thought I may have picked up the second book in a series in error.
This comes down mainly to the characters. We are introduced to the Foster and her adopted mother Cora as they show up in a small town in Missouri or Misery as Foster so cleverly refers to it, cause thats what Foster is. That clever special above everything cause everything is beneath her. She is rude, selfish and no, shes not an introvert shes a jerk. Especially to Tate, she constantly belittles him laughing at his public education and his compassionate attitude. He watched his parents be killed, his town be destroyed and multiple people from the town hurt, which in a small town is more than likely just an extended family to him and when he expresses pain or wants to go back and help Foster blows up at him. Because only she is allowed to feel pain or experience loss cause shes special that way. She gets moderately better as the book goes along but only moderately and not by much.
I think Tate tries to be better but it would be nice, that good old boy who is a feminist yet calls Foster a bitch more than once. Nice feminist right there. I think out of all the character, I liked Charlotte the most, how come she couldn't be the primary female lead, even if she is a little one noted. The Core Four are not much better. They are all supposed to be older but sometimes they act like bickering children. I'm sure they are trying to tie their attitude to their elements but wouldn't be nice to have sometimes that controls fire to be calm and level headed, a little twist on that element but no. For all the possibilities there isn't much creativity in this. Although it is a diverse set of characters even if they are the secondary characters are a little one noted or straight up stereotypes. Even Tate's grandfather turns into a stereotype, the ruff and tough old man, who calls current football for "pussies" despite the fact that his grandson appears to be a star QB for his football team. Real nice, g-pa...
There are other parts that are just as frustrating. Things are convenient that way as they are the rest of the plot. Foster and Tate make it to Sauvie Island (please don't call it Sauvie...) and trigger a funnel cloud because of their emotions and afterwards, they just go have s'mores like its no big deal and there is no aftermath. We don't get much crazy weather like this in Oregon and the local media would have descended on that like crazy top story for days, people would have been recording it and it should have dragged the Four right to their door but no... Suspend your believes cause what you think should happen, doesn't. This is common throughout the entire book and it is so frustrating how frustratingly stupid all the characters.
A solid pass from start to finish and I have no interest in seeing where the characters go.
1. 5 out of 5 stars
This book has the possibilities to be good. There is an interesting backstory regarding messing with genetics of embryos that create people that have control of the elements. It just never pans out into what it has the potential to be and that happens for a variety of reasons, in fact at the beginning of the book I thought I may have picked up the second book in a series in error.
This comes down mainly to the characters. We are introduced to the Foster and her adopted mother Cora as they show up in a small town in Missouri or Misery as Foster so cleverly refers to it, cause thats what Foster is. That clever special above everything cause everything is beneath her. She is rude, selfish and no, shes not an introvert shes a jerk. Especially to Tate, she constantly belittles him laughing at his public education and his compassionate attitude. He watched his parents be killed, his town be destroyed and multiple people from the town hurt, which in a small town is more than likely just an extended family to him and when he expresses pain or wants to go back and help Foster blows up at him. Because only she is allowed to feel pain or experience loss cause shes special that way. She gets moderately better as the book goes along but only moderately and not by much.
I think Tate tries to be better but it would be nice, that good old boy who is a feminist yet calls Foster a bitch more than once. Nice feminist right there. I think out of all the character, I liked Charlotte the most, how come she couldn't be the primary female lead, even if she is a little one noted. The Core Four are not much better. They are all supposed to be older but sometimes they act like bickering children. I'm sure they are trying to tie their attitude to their elements but wouldn't be nice to have sometimes that controls fire to be calm and level headed, a little twist on that element but no. For all the possibilities there isn't much creativity in this. Although it is a diverse set of characters even if they are the secondary characters are a little one noted or straight up stereotypes. Even Tate's grandfather turns into a stereotype, the ruff and tough old man, who calls current football for "pussies" despite the fact that his grandson appears to be a star QB for his football team. Real nice, g-pa...
There are other parts that are just as frustrating.
Spoiler
Core dies early in the story but she lives long enough to pass on everything.A solid pass from start to finish and I have no interest in seeing where the characters go.
annsbibliotherapy's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to love this, really I did, the concept was original, the author one I'd read and liked before, but I had to make myself finish it. I will say I'll most likely read the next I installment (I just wont be rushing to get it) just to find out how the characters do going forward. The artwork just kind of ruined this book for me, I like to see things in my head as I read not try and decipher drawings that dont always go with what's happening on the page. Over all it just had too many strikes against it for me to dig in and enjoy it, it was more frustrating than fun.
violetvenom's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ehier's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
crpettit's review against another edition
I found nothing unique or interesting and the characters were all supremely annoying.
illbefinealone's review against another edition
4.0
Click here for my review, as well as a chance to win one of twenty hardcover books.
*Copy received through NetGalley
*Rating: 4/5 stars
*Copy received through NetGalley
*Rating: 4/5 stars
raafia's review against another edition
2.0
I REALLY wanted to like it, but I guess it didn’t catch my attention. I received it as a birthday gift and was excited to read it because of the synopsis, but it just wasn’t good (very simply put). It’s a little disorganized and the way it’s written just didn’t catch my eye (visualizations, feelings... basically the five senses and the way it’s able to bring you into their world).
The way the characters switch is super cool, but other than that it was pretty boring. It didn’t make me jump with excitement or bite my nails due to being nervous. I feel like it was just...there. But I hope someone else enjoys/enjoyed it. I guess It just wasn’t my type of book.
The way the characters switch is super cool, but other than that it was pretty boring. It didn’t make me jump with excitement or bite my nails due to being nervous. I feel like it was just...there. But I hope someone else enjoys/enjoyed it. I guess It just wasn’t my type of book.
dreamerfreak's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Honestly would have enjoyed this more as a story from Mark's POV, I think.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Grief, Transphobia, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infertility, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, and Racism
thatlizhunter's review against another edition
1.0
Well, that was a book.
And honestly, if you've read my reviews for long, you know I really do hate writing negative reviews. Especially when a publisher is so kind as to send me a hardcopy ARC of their book. I want to enjoy what I read! And I don't think I'm THAT critical of a reviewer?
I look for a few simple things in books - well-rounded characters, engaging plot, and a great story. Unfortunately, the Dysasters just didn't have any of that.
The characters are very muddled and hard to udnerstand. The main characters remind me so much of City of Bones, from the way they're thrown together and the supposed chemistry, to their personality descriptions. A redheaded artistic main character? Clary 2.0. Sorry, but Foster just didn't have much going for her?
And the guy, Tate? He reminded me of an eggplant. There was just very little originality. His main selling point was he tried not to talk about Foster's boobs when the other guys were making locker room jokes. AND I DIDN'T WANT TO READ THOSE JOKES ON PAGE. I wanted to throw the book down when the boob talk happened in the second chapter.
While the plot was weird, the dialogue drove me up a wall. It was choppy and JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE. The directions conversations went just didn't flow. And that too a very weird plot and I was just lost.
Overall, I didn't have a clue what was happening. I was confused, annoyed, and bored. not exactly a great recipe for any book.
ARC provided by publisher for my honest review.
And honestly, if you've read my reviews for long, you know I really do hate writing negative reviews. Especially when a publisher is so kind as to send me a hardcopy ARC of their book. I want to enjoy what I read! And I don't think I'm THAT critical of a reviewer?
I look for a few simple things in books - well-rounded characters, engaging plot, and a great story. Unfortunately, the Dysasters just didn't have any of that.
The characters are very muddled and hard to udnerstand. The main characters remind me so much of City of Bones, from the way they're thrown together and the supposed chemistry, to their personality descriptions. A redheaded artistic main character? Clary 2.0. Sorry, but Foster just didn't have much going for her?
And the guy, Tate? He reminded me of an eggplant. There was just very little originality. His main selling point was he tried not to talk about Foster's boobs when the other guys were making locker room jokes. AND I DIDN'T WANT TO READ THOSE JOKES ON PAGE. I wanted to throw the book down when the boob talk happened in the second chapter.
While the plot was weird, the dialogue drove me up a wall. It was choppy and JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE. The directions conversations went just didn't flow. And that too a very weird plot and I was just lost.
Overall, I didn't have a clue what was happening. I was confused, annoyed, and bored. not exactly a great recipe for any book.
ARC provided by publisher for my honest review.