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smilesgiggle's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
This is not the first book I've read by Chima. Her later writing is breathtaking.
It was a good story - loved the tie in with family history.
This is not the first book I've read by Chima. Her later writing is breathtaking.
It was a good story - loved the tie in with family history.
tmsiu's review against another edition
2.0
It was a fun book, but lots of things didn't make sense in it, which really bothered me.
milksoup's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
a very quick read, like a knife cutting through soft butter. a bit chaotic at times, sometimes you really have to suspend your disbelief, but overall its very enjoyable and sweet. i like that even though its a series, the book can be treated as a standalone.
emachinescat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
jurassicreads's review against another edition
4.0
This was an exciting fantasy novel about a young boy who is, by his birth right, to be a warrior. However, as you come to find out, he has absolutely no idea about it.
I found this book to be really fun and fast-paced, and with just the right amount of romance. It didn't once slow down and I found myself having to read it in big chunks so that I could find out what happens next.
Characterization was mostly spot-on, but at times I felt like the people in the novel weren't acting as they had been formed (aka they were acting unexpectedly, even more so than human nature dictates).
World-building was interesting, although at times I felt like I was growing frustrated with the slow pace at which Chima tells you about what is really going on. As the reader, you are forced to take the back seat to the events that are going on and must be patient in understanding the entire back story that is going on.
Click Here for my full video review.
I found this book to be really fun and fast-paced, and with just the right amount of romance. It didn't once slow down and I found myself having to read it in big chunks so that I could find out what happens next.
Characterization was mostly spot-on, but at times I felt like the people in the novel weren't acting as they had been formed (aka they were acting unexpectedly, even more so than human nature dictates).
World-building was interesting, although at times I felt like I was growing frustrated with the slow pace at which Chima tells you about what is really going on. As the reader, you are forced to take the back seat to the events that are going on and must be patient in understanding the entire back story that is going on.
Click Here for my full video review.
sberk0612's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
irismens's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
2.75⭐️
This was just okay.
I found the lack a basic communication and explanation bothersome, but that seems to be a common thing in YA fantasy.
The story is pretty predictable.
This was just okay.
I found the lack a basic communication and explanation bothersome, but that seems to be a common thing in YA fantasy.
The story is pretty predictable.
thelilbookwitch's review against another edition
2.0
I can see this book doing really well when it first came out, and people absolutely loving it then (and some probably now!) but the setting references make it dated even though the author tried to make it sound like an "anytime" setting thanks to payphones, unironic references to the "Tomb Raider" game franchise, and thinly veiled gameboy placement.
I had a hard time following the plot and forced myself through 100 pages with little ability to have a sense of the main character (who I still keep forgetting is named "Jack") or any of the side characters.... as well as the unique decision to refer to the protagonist's mother by her first name, or his aunt/god-mother only by her name.
I have no doubt this author's work has since improved and will absolutely give something more recent a try.
I had a hard time following the plot and forced myself through 100 pages with little ability to have a sense of the main character (who I still keep forgetting is named "Jack") or any of the side characters.... as well as the unique decision to refer to the protagonist's mother by her first name, or his aunt/god-mother only by her name.
I have no doubt this author's work has since improved and will absolutely give something more recent a try.
cindyc's review against another edition
4.0
"Maybe that's how they convince young men to go to war, Jack thought. You're just swept along until you find yourself looking death in the face, and you wonder how it ever happened."
Jack Swift, a sixteen-year-old resident of Trinity, lives a very normal life. The only unusual thing is the medicine that he must take daily and the star-shaped scar on his chest above his heart. Jack's mother is very strict about the drug, because, when Jack was little he almost died of a heart condition. The drug supposedly makes sure that he stays healthy.
But one day Jack accidentally forgets to take his medicine. He immediately feels a lot better, stronger, more militant and more confident than he has ever felt. Jack feels great, until he loses control of his own strength and nearly injures a fellow soccer player.
Shortly after this accident, he discovers the truth about his scar, his medicine and his heritage. Jack is Weir Lind, a group of magically gifted people who live among the general population (or Anaweir). There are several Guilds: Wizards, Soothsayers, Enchanters, Warriors and Sorcerers. The Wizards are supremely powerful and are constantly fighting each other to secure the prime position in the Counsel. The two prominent participants in this power struggle are the White Rose and Red Rose. The way they obtain their position is not by fighting each other however ... The families recruit Warriors who fight against each other to the death during "The Game". The family with the winning Warrior is, until the next battle, head of the Counsel and rules all the other Guilds and the lesser Wizard families.
But the Warriors are almost extinct because of this horrible tradition, and whenever a family gets its hands on a new Warrior, the others do everything in their power to murder him or her.
Jack is one of the last living Warriors and must do everything in his power to stay out of the grasp of the Wizards who want to recruit him for the tournament and those who’d rather see him dead, than in the hands of the other families.
I am a very big fan of the Seven Realms series of Chima and have therefore decided to also read her first series, The Heir Chronicles. The Warrior Heir was the debut of Chima and although the atmosphere and the setting is completely different from Seven Realms, I devoured this book in just one day. In one way or another Chima knows how to hold my attention.
If I have to make a comparison with Seven Realms, then I still might prefer the latter, but that is probably due to my personal preference for a certain "historical" aspect of a story.
Yet this is a very strong start to Chima's career. The characters are clearly drawn, the story has some surprising twists and the secret world that she created this time is perhaps not entirely original, but still has a sort of new brilliance.
Although here and there a technicality does ring an alarm bell, I'm more than happy to ignore it. The story itself is strong and overshadows any shortcomings in sequence or writing style.
I would also like to say a word about the covers. Usually I am drawn to mysterious, beautifully drawn / engineered covers, as you might have noticed in the "Artwork" section of this blog. Yet I have developed a special love for the covers of The Heir Chronicles. I think this is the perfect example of a simple, yet very beautiful cover. The three books also look very nice when you put them next to each other. Good choice!
Visit my Fantasy bookblog http://draumrkpa.blogspot.be/ for more reviews, new releases,...
Jack Swift, a sixteen-year-old resident of Trinity, lives a very normal life. The only unusual thing is the medicine that he must take daily and the star-shaped scar on his chest above his heart. Jack's mother is very strict about the drug, because, when Jack was little he almost died of a heart condition. The drug supposedly makes sure that he stays healthy.
But one day Jack accidentally forgets to take his medicine. He immediately feels a lot better, stronger, more militant and more confident than he has ever felt. Jack feels great, until he loses control of his own strength and nearly injures a fellow soccer player.
Shortly after this accident, he discovers the truth about his scar, his medicine and his heritage. Jack is Weir Lind, a group of magically gifted people who live among the general population (or Anaweir). There are several Guilds: Wizards, Soothsayers, Enchanters, Warriors and Sorcerers. The Wizards are supremely powerful and are constantly fighting each other to secure the prime position in the Counsel. The two prominent participants in this power struggle are the White Rose and Red Rose. The way they obtain their position is not by fighting each other however ... The families recruit Warriors who fight against each other to the death during "The Game". The family with the winning Warrior is, until the next battle, head of the Counsel and rules all the other Guilds and the lesser Wizard families.
But the Warriors are almost extinct because of this horrible tradition, and whenever a family gets its hands on a new Warrior, the others do everything in their power to murder him or her.
Jack is one of the last living Warriors and must do everything in his power to stay out of the grasp of the Wizards who want to recruit him for the tournament and those who’d rather see him dead, than in the hands of the other families.
I am a very big fan of the Seven Realms series of Chima and have therefore decided to also read her first series, The Heir Chronicles. The Warrior Heir was the debut of Chima and although the atmosphere and the setting is completely different from Seven Realms, I devoured this book in just one day. In one way or another Chima knows how to hold my attention.
If I have to make a comparison with Seven Realms, then I still might prefer the latter, but that is probably due to my personal preference for a certain "historical" aspect of a story.
Yet this is a very strong start to Chima's career. The characters are clearly drawn, the story has some surprising twists and the secret world that she created this time is perhaps not entirely original, but still has a sort of new brilliance.
Although here and there a technicality does ring an alarm bell, I'm more than happy to ignore it. The story itself is strong and overshadows any shortcomings in sequence or writing style.
I would also like to say a word about the covers. Usually I am drawn to mysterious, beautifully drawn / engineered covers, as you might have noticed in the "Artwork" section of this blog. Yet I have developed a special love for the covers of The Heir Chronicles. I think this is the perfect example of a simple, yet very beautiful cover. The three books also look very nice when you put them next to each other. Good choice!
Visit my Fantasy bookblog http://draumrkpa.blogspot.be/ for more reviews, new releases,...
kaoden39's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this book. The writing style of Ms. Chima is entertaining and she takes you on a wild ride. I was able to relate to the characters because they were human and therefor infalable. Be sure and check it out and then read the other two.