lizzy25d's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-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? It's complicated
3.75
weaverl13's review
3.0
This is a 3.5, which I think is mostly as it was quite short, and I usually read longer books where everything has time to develop and I get emotionally invested.
"He was very much like them, acting as if the current moment was the most important, not what would come beyond."
Having read and really enjoyed The Potential of Forgetting , I was really excited to get this ARC (thank you to A C Ward and Book Sirens for it!). As I've said, this book is shorter than what I usually read, with the plot happening over one day. Nevertheless, it was entertaining, with the plot moving along at a good pace. There were a lot of action scenes and the battles felt tense, you weren't fully sure who would survive and what injuries there would be.
The setting with the mysterious island and the God-like kami was fascinating. I particularly liked the rock kami and them liking being patted, but not touched for a long time. They seemed quite cute to me!
Masaru seemed a really interesting character, I'm looking forward to seeing how he develops in future books. I'm glad this is a series, as I know seeing characters develop I will get more invested, and probably give higher ratings. Shou is a fighter which I like! Makato...I don't know how I feel. He seemed too possessive of Shou, yet he did help her...
I would have liked more backstory to the characters, and explanation about the prophecy to help it all feel more real to me. Also the cursed line: "she let out the breath she didn't know she'd been holding" was used.
Overall, I would recommend this as a quick read with interesting plot, that will keep you hooked throughout. I read it in one sitting!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
"He was very much like them, acting as if the current moment was the most important, not what would come beyond."
Having read and really enjoyed The Potential of Forgetting , I was really excited to get this ARC (thank you to A C Ward and Book Sirens for it!). As I've said, this book is shorter than what I usually read, with the plot happening over one day. Nevertheless, it was entertaining, with the plot moving along at a good pace. There were a lot of action scenes and the battles felt tense, you weren't fully sure who would survive and what injuries there would be.
The setting with the mysterious island and the God-like kami was fascinating. I particularly liked the rock kami and them liking being patted, but not touched for a long time. They seemed quite cute to me!
Masaru seemed a really interesting character, I'm looking forward to seeing how he develops in future books. I'm glad this is a series, as I know seeing characters develop I will get more invested, and probably give higher ratings. Shou is a fighter which I like! Makato...I don't know how I feel. He seemed too possessive of Shou, yet he did help her...
I would have liked more backstory to the characters, and explanation about the prophecy to help it all feel more real to me. Also the cursed line: "she let out the breath she didn't know she'd been holding" was used.
Overall, I would recommend this as a quick read with interesting plot, that will keep you hooked throughout. I read it in one sitting!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
ktorr009's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
judeisanicon's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
kpsiegel1's review
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.25
viselik's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Injury/Injury detail
marilys's review against another edition
3.0
This book although very short was really good, the beginning was a little confused but we understand as the book continues. I really liked the character of shou, from the universe of divinities, the Kami, as a fan of mythology, I never heard of the Japanese one and I was served.
keeperofthesheets's review against another edition
4.0
This book was good, I enjoyed reading it.
I loved the Japanese Mythology in it and you can see the author did some researches on it.
The concept with the kami was really interesting.
My favorite character was Yusuke (why isn't he a main character
I loved the Japanese Mythology in it and you can see the author did some researches on it.
The concept with the kami was really interesting.
My favorite character was Yusuke (why isn't he a main character
kseftila's review against another edition
3.0
The one that does not fight can never win
2.5
I don't really know how to make a synopsis about this books so without spoilers so: The main characters are Shou and Masaru.Japan.Kami.A tengu.Historical fiction.The end.
First of all,I really liked the writing.I could feel that the author loved writing every piece of it and loved crafting the entire world so we stan that.
My main issue is the relationship between the two main characters.The most part of the book takes place in a day(I think) and it seemed to me that they developed a friendship waaaayyyyy to fast than it takes,especially for Shou,a girl who has spent the most part of her life on an island surrounded by kami and away from humans.
Also,I didn't really like Masaru's thoughts towards women but from what I understood he has a reason behind these thoughts and it was normal for this time of period to think like that????I don't remember exactly but I have a feeling he'll turn into the greatest simp the world has ever knew
AAHH something else that i forgot:I would have preferred Shou wasn't for the most part a damsel in distress...because she grew up training and surviving on an island away from civilisation and and and and you'd think that she'd be a better fighter than the samurais but they are always there for her aid.Thankfully she stands up for herself towards the end and rejects Masaru's protection but it'd be nice to see her fight with her vines without someone (*coughs* Masaru) having her back or something.
Here's something irrelevant: For some reason,I imagined Shou as Mumei and Kurusu(plus an eye patch) from KIF
2.5
I don't really know how to make a synopsis about this books so without spoilers so: The main characters are Shou and Masaru.Japan.Kami.A tengu.Historical fiction.The end.
First of all,I really liked the writing.I could feel that the author loved writing every piece of it and loved crafting the entire world so we stan that.
My main issue is the relationship between the two main characters.The most part of the book takes place in a day(I think) and it seemed to me that they developed a friendship waaaayyyyy to fast than it takes,especially for Shou,a girl who has spent the most part of her life on an island surrounded by kami and away from humans.
Spoiler
I think it'd be much more interesting if Makoto had brainwashed Shou that humans were vile and evil,causing her to doubt herself if she must save Masaru and all that.I think it went too fast for my tasteAlso,I didn't really like Masaru's thoughts towards women but from what I understood he has a reason behind these thoughts and it was normal for this time of period to think like that????I don't remember exactly but I have a feeling he'll turn into the greatest simp the world has ever knew
AAHH something else that i forgot:I would have preferred Shou wasn't for the most part a damsel in distress...because she grew up training and surviving on an island away from civilisation and and and and you'd think that she'd be a better fighter than the samurais but they are always there for her aid.Thankfully she stands up for herself towards the end and rejects Masaru's protection but it'd be nice to see her fight with her vines without someone (*coughs* Masaru) having her back or something.
Here's something irrelevant: For some reason,I imagined Shou as Mumei and Kurusu(plus an eye patch) from KIF
honeybeeleereviews's review
4.0
Rating 4 ⭐️ I was lucky enough to win the Kindle copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway. So happy that I won this one. The story starts off dropping the reader right into the action. From there it is a quick read that will keep you hooked. The world building was good for being the first in a series. There was a few parts that I would have liked just a wee bit more information on so that way I could fully understand the story. However, this did not stop me from enjoying this read. There is not much on this series on Goodreads surprisingly. But from what I read I would say this is definitely Young Adult, Fantasy and maybe even a bit of Historical Fiction. If you are looking for a good read not a lot of people know about then I highly recommend this one.