alex_wordweaver's review
4.0
Loved it the story, loved all the nonbinary peeps in it, loved the alternate history, the twisting and turning of the plot was awesome... Will have to throw this at many of my friends and tell them, "Take it! Read!"
jessseadoesstuff's review
3.0
Well.... That was a book alright.
There was A LOT of good here. The world building. Religion. Family dynamics. But I always felt like I playing catch up on the world and knowledge. It needed a stronger introduction and foundation. I can easily look back on the opening and it makes a lot of sense. But I shouldn't have to read half the book for that to happen.
I considered making this a DNF but I was so intrigued on where the plot was going even if I had concerns about the execution. Honestly this wants so many places I did not expect.
I also went back and forth several times debating if the gender stuff was transphobic or not? I was here for four genders. Then it got weird and then got empowering and then got insanely messed up and then maybe okay again? I just don't know.
There was A LOT of good here. The world building. Religion. Family dynamics. But I always felt like I playing catch up on the world and knowledge. It needed a stronger introduction and foundation. I can easily look back on the opening and it makes a lot of sense. But I shouldn't have to read half the book for that to happen.
I considered making this a DNF but I was so intrigued on where the plot was going even if I had concerns about the execution. Honestly this wants so many places I did not expect.
I also went back and forth several times debating if the gender stuff was transphobic or not? I was here for four genders. Then it got weird and then got empowering and then got insanely messed up and then maybe okay again? I just don't know.
bookjockey's review
4.0
Temper was not what I expected. From the cover it looks like a typical urban fantasy book, but that doesn't begin to describe it. Fans of urban fantasy might enjoy it, but it's not the standard fare. I was reminded most strongly of [b:The Library at Mount Char|26892110|The Library at Mount Char|Scott Hawkins|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1453225113s/26892110.jpg|42797715] with the school scenes being mildly reminiscent of [b:The Name of the Wind|186074|The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #1)|Patrick Rothfuss|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1515589515s/186074.jpg|2502879].
I'm not one to shy away from violence and brutality in my literature, but even though the descriptions were not particularly more graphic than I'm used to, I spent a lot of this book thinking "Please don't go there..." and it never went quite as far as I feared, but there were some uncomfortable moments.
The plot took a lot of turns I didn't expect and at times felt like it turned into an entirely different book. As such, I don't think all of the ideas and characters got to be explored as in depth as might have been interesting, but it made for an interesting journey. It will probably be among the books that I enjoy having read more than I enjoyed reading it.
I'm not one to shy away from violence and brutality in my literature, but even though the descriptions were not particularly more graphic than I'm used to, I spent a lot of this book thinking "Please don't go there..." and it never went quite as far as I feared, but there were some uncomfortable moments.
Spoiler
I was really afraid that every female character would be raped, which... I guess there was never actually a rape scene? Maybe an implied several the first night Icy Blue was loose alone? Still it disturbed me more than I expected it to. Also I'm glad we didn't get too far into twinsest. Godly or not.The plot took a lot of turns I didn't expect and at times felt like it turned into an entirely different book. As such, I don't think all of the ideas and characters got to be explored as in depth as might have been interesting, but it made for an interesting journey. It will probably be among the books that I enjoy having read more than I enjoyed reading it.
storytimed's review
3.0
Book was interesting and worldbuilding was unique but the plot was a little overly iddy . Like, "actually these persecuted woobie underdogs are OBJECTIVELY BETTER than their popular cool kid siblings!" is probably very emotionally satisfying to some people, but to me it just kind of read as someone's made-up, overdone, and-then-everyone-clapped revenge fantasy. It doesn't help that the final third of the book throws twist after untelegraphed twist at us until we have no idea what's even happening in the plot anymore.
The book was very compelling up until mid-novel twist. I liked the idea of a "good twin" and "bad twin" who are nonetheless incredibly devoted to each other, I liked seeing Auben struggling against the demon that gave him strength and Kasim's dealing with maybe being the messiah. But at the end instead of deconstructing the binary we got "actually the good twin is BAD and the bad twin is GOOD". It's just... simplistic.
I feel like Drayden's later novels are probably going to be better. The prose is decent. The worldbuilding is interesting. She just needs a little more restraint.
The book was very compelling up until mid-novel twist. I liked the idea of a "good twin" and "bad twin" who are nonetheless incredibly devoted to each other, I liked seeing Auben struggling against the demon that gave him strength and Kasim's dealing with maybe being the messiah. But at the end instead of deconstructing the binary we got "actually the good twin is BAD and the bad twin is GOOD". It's just... simplistic.
I feel like Drayden's later novels are probably going to be better. The prose is decent. The worldbuilding is interesting. She just needs a little more restraint.
jerseygrrrl's review
4.0
Crazy, uninhibited, weird, and wonderful. I liked it even more than Prey of Gods. Written with confidence and a sense of humor, Temper takes the reader on a wild ride. Drayden goes where no writer has gone before and it's simply fabulous.
srharris's review
4.0
I was a little hesitant going into this because it has the one thing that I am not a fan of and that is extremely long chapters, but it actually works in this book.
I think people will either like this or hate it, I don't think there will be a middle ground. I, myself, found this whole story fascinating. The concept was extremely real, even though it takes place in a fictional setting. I was drawn in right from the beginning, the idea that everyone is born with a twin and between them they share seven vices and virtues written on their skin for society to see, with the twin with the most vices being considered the "lesser" twin.
The plot twists kept the story from becoming boring, every time I thought I knew where the story was going, it went somewhere I didn't expect, although the clues are there if you pay attention.
I should have seen the ending because Auben's actions were never one of a blood thirsty devil, all he ever wanted was to be love and accepted, my heart broke for him throughout the story.
I was happy that they were able to set things right at the end, although I do wish there was an epilogue, I would like to have known if Kasim and Auben's relationship ever goes back to normal, and I would have like to have seen what happened to their mother.
I think people will either like this or hate it, I don't think there will be a middle ground. I, myself, found this whole story fascinating. The concept was extremely real, even though it takes place in a fictional setting. I was drawn in right from the beginning, the idea that everyone is born with a twin and between them they share seven vices and virtues written on their skin for society to see, with the twin with the most vices being considered the "lesser" twin.
The plot twists kept the story from becoming boring, every time I thought I knew where the story was going, it went somewhere I didn't expect, although the clues are there if you pay attention.
I should have seen the ending because Auben's actions were never one of a blood thirsty devil, all he ever wanted was to be love and accepted, my heart broke for him throughout the story.
I was happy that they were able to set things right at the end, although I do wish there was an epilogue, I would like to have known if Kasim and Auben's relationship ever goes back to normal, and I would have like to have seen what happened to their mother.
tangiblereads's review
Temper was not for me and I did not finish (got to page 80). Too many immature characters and abstract concepts, rich/poor people talking mess to each other, ghosts/hearing things, just too much going on. Not what I thought it was and wasn’t invested in Auder’s plight of proximity. Interesting concept of the lesser and higher twin though.
mojostdennis's review
3.0
I don't think I've ever said this about a sci-fi novel before, and I didn't expect to say it about this one, but: I think this book was just a little too weird for me.
raforall's review
4.0
I reviewed this for my ALA Annual 2018 Booklist Read ’N’ Rave Panel. Details: http://raforall.blogspot.com/2018/06/ra-for-all-roadshow-visited-ala-annual.html