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cobaltbookshelf's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars
This isn't Rapunzel retelling but still world building was one things I liked enough. It read fast too but characters and romance are flat.
This isn't Rapunzel retelling but still world building was one things I liked enough. It read fast too but characters and romance are flat.
robotnik's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
When I read To Kill a Kingdom, it was probably one of my favourite fairy tale retellings of all time. Sure, it fumbled the climax a little, which was a disappointment, but the overall book was excellent. I was expecting more of the same for something that took place in the same world. That expectation was unfortunately never met.
First off, advertising this as part of the same world felt like a cheap ploy to get people who liked that book to give this one a try. Nothing I noticed about this related to it at all. It didn't even feel like the same world. If there was anything mentioned that related to it, it was so minute, that it never clicked.
Lira and Elian and everything about their enemies-to-lovers relationship was a pure chef's kiss. Neither Selestra nor Nox were remotely as interesting and both fell into very basic young adult protagonist archetypes. There was no spark in their relationship and they can barely even count as enemies-to-lovers as they're almost immediately on the same side with only the occasional "oh we're not allies" thoughts even thrown in between them.
The idea of the plot is pretty amazing, but the execution was a bore. About halfway through, it feels like barely any progress was made and, by the time of the trial, my brain was completely not interested anymore. It didn't help that the villain was a typical "hehe I'm Evil(tm)!!" villain with nothing to him, thus cheapening the writing.
The climax was a fumble in this like in To Kill a Kingdom. It's maybe the only thing these two books have in common.
The ending wasn't as good as the other book though. It was bland and unsatisfying.
It felt like this book started off on a bit of a strong note, but the writing could not do it justice whatsoever and it faltered immensely about midway through into being what it was.
Oh well.
First off, advertising this as part of the same world felt like a cheap ploy to get people who liked that book to give this one a try. Nothing I noticed about this related to it at all. It didn't even feel like the same world. If there was anything mentioned that related to it, it was so minute, that it never clicked.
Lira and Elian and everything about their enemies-to-lovers relationship was a pure chef's kiss. Neither Selestra nor Nox were remotely as interesting and both fell into very basic young adult protagonist archetypes. There was no spark in their relationship and they can barely even count as enemies-to-lovers as they're almost immediately on the same side with only the occasional "oh we're not allies" thoughts even thrown in between them.
The idea of the plot is pretty amazing, but the execution was a bore. About halfway through, it feels like barely any progress was made and, by the time of the trial, my brain was completely not interested anymore. It didn't help that the villain was a typical "hehe I'm Evil(tm)!!" villain with nothing to him, thus cheapening the writing.
The climax was a fumble in this like in To Kill a Kingdom. It's maybe the only thing these two books have in common.
The ending wasn't as good as the other book though. It was bland and unsatisfying.
It felt like this book started off on a bit of a strong note, but the writing could not do it justice whatsoever and it faltered immensely about midway through into being what it was.
Oh well.
nyahraine22's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-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? Yes
4.0
tamarie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? It's complicated
3.25
dia_arca_mina's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ninimin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
hanyentreletras's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
2.75
Acá tenemos un retelling de rapunzel (que tan rapunzel realmente no se siente pero bue), donde nuestra prota tiene el poder de presagiar la muerte de quien la toque.
Los personajes principales, y que importan, son Selestra y Nox. La primera desea descubrir qué se siente tener libertad y poder escoger tu camino en la vida, aparte de también añorar el amor materno que no tiene desde hace años (lit dos akjdkhasdk). Y Nox rige su vida gracias a su sed de venganza, aunque esta no lo deje pensar mucho.
El libro está chévere la cuestión es que por momentos lo sentí muy YA ¡PORQUE ES YA!, así que acá me jugo algo en contra ya mi edad.
Me entretuvo en mis caminos hacia el trabajo, mis apertura y mis pre siestas. Se lo recomendaría justamente a los preadolescentes y adolescentes, ofrece un mundo fantástico bueno, personajes con algo de profundidad y acción.
mi única queja es nuevamente el final, mi reina no se le da bien escribir batallas finales. Aunque esta es mucho mejor que la de Matar a un reino, pero el pre y el post batalla se siente super apresurado no sé
Los personajes principales, y que importan, son Selestra y Nox. La primera desea descubrir qué se siente tener libertad y poder escoger tu camino en la vida, aparte de también añorar el amor materno que no tiene desde hace años (lit dos akjdkhasdk). Y Nox rige su vida gracias a su sed de venganza, aunque esta no lo deje pensar mucho.
El libro está chévere la cuestión es que por momentos lo sentí muy YA ¡PORQUE ES YA!, así que acá me jugo algo en contra ya mi edad.
Me entretuvo en mis caminos hacia el trabajo, mis apertura y mis pre siestas. Se lo recomendaría justamente a los preadolescentes y adolescentes, ofrece un mundo fantástico bueno, personajes con algo de profundidad y acción.
mi única queja es nuevamente el final, mi reina no se le da bien escribir batallas finales. Aunque esta es mucho mejor que la de Matar a un reino, pero el pre y el post batalla se siente super apresurado no sé
bloodwitch's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
allyfir's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. This was a fun read, I loved that our characters were enemies working together!
syl_val15's review against another edition
2.0
Since this book is going to take place in the same world as 'To Kill a Kingdom' even if I wasn't a fan of that I'll give this one a go.