orionoconnell's review against another edition
2.0
The premise of this book, from the way it was described both by publisher and author drew me in. It sounded like an amazing adventure story full of found-family and a diverse cast of leads that would render me emotionally compromised.
But, honestly, it didn't tick any of the boxes I'd hoped for as a reader. The characters kind of blended together, and while I'm a little hesitant with switching-POVs to begin with, the only thing that I looked forward to when changing POVs was that it meant I was a chapter closer to finishing the book. I didn't connect with any of the main characters, really. They all just fell flat and had plotlines that seemed very pushed together. The romances were also very one-dimensional to me. Haidee and Arjun being a better buildup still than Lan and Odessa (though both were not without fault). The sex was unnecessary for me, because the relationships themselves were not built up properly it all just seemed kind of forced. And spoiler: with Odessa and Lan, it kinda was.
The book has a great deal of action sequences, admittedly also not my thing. The world-building kind of fell short for me, and descriptions just left me confused, as though I'm supposed to discern these things about this world without never being shown or adequately told. It seemed a bit lackadaisical of the author. I feel like there were things that we should have been 'shown' but we were just told with what seemed like very little enthusiasm. Same issue with the 'gates'. Not what I look for in a novel dealing with world-building.
I am a pretty quick reader, but this one I could only tolerate in 50 page a day increments, and that was pushing it. I couldn't get invested. I was bored with the characters, bored with the journey, bored and a little confused about the world I was looking so forward to exploring. Perhaps the world-breaking would have been a more interesting novel to start with? The fall of the world? I don't know. I just...struggled with almost every aspect of this one.
It feels like the book was all set up to be brilliant, and it just somehow fell short in all the ways it needed to come together.
I do hope that other readers enjoy it, but it wasn't for me.
Trigger Warnings for this Book: Sexual Assault, Mentions of Rape, Graphic Violence, Cannibalism Mentions, PTSD, Sexual Content (non-descriptive).
But, honestly, it didn't tick any of the boxes I'd hoped for as a reader. The characters kind of blended together, and while I'm a little hesitant with switching-POVs to begin with, the only thing that I looked forward to when changing POVs was that it meant I was a chapter closer to finishing the book. I didn't connect with any of the main characters, really. They all just fell flat and had plotlines that seemed very pushed together. The romances were also very one-dimensional to me. Haidee and Arjun being a better buildup still than Lan and Odessa (though both were not without fault). The sex was unnecessary for me, because the relationships themselves were not built up properly it all just seemed kind of forced. And spoiler: with Odessa and Lan, it kinda was.
The book has a great deal of action sequences, admittedly also not my thing. The world-building kind of fell short for me, and descriptions just left me confused, as though I'm supposed to discern these things about this world without never being shown or adequately told. It seemed a bit lackadaisical of the author. I feel like there were things that we should have been 'shown' but we were just told with what seemed like very little enthusiasm. Same issue with the 'gates'. Not what I look for in a novel dealing with world-building.
I am a pretty quick reader, but this one I could only tolerate in 50 page a day increments, and that was pushing it. I couldn't get invested. I was bored with the characters, bored with the journey, bored and a little confused about the world I was looking so forward to exploring. Perhaps the world-breaking would have been a more interesting novel to start with? The fall of the world? I don't know. I just...struggled with almost every aspect of this one.
It feels like the book was all set up to be brilliant, and it just somehow fell short in all the ways it needed to come together.
I do hope that other readers enjoy it, but it wasn't for me.
Trigger Warnings for this Book: Sexual Assault, Mentions of Rape, Graphic Violence, Cannibalism Mentions, PTSD, Sexual Content (non-descriptive).
riverbarret's review against another edition
2.0
I just KNOW that Rin Chupeco is going to be one of my favorite authors. I JUST KNOW IT. But this didn’t work for me, sadly.
tiamark's review against another edition
3.0
I was really disappointed with this book. I was super excited to read it. The concept is super cool the execution is lackluster. The love story's aren't really built up at all they are just happening. One minute one thing is happening and the next something else completely different is happening. It's just ehh . I don't regret reading it but I wouldn't read the sequel.
junghoseok's review against another edition
Much thanks to the publisher and Goodreads for hosting the giveaway of this book
DNF @ pg. 130ish
In all honesty I probably shouldn't have read this book right now because nothing's capturing my interest, but I won this in a giveaway back in October or something and felt bad that I hadn't read it or written a review yet, so this is me trying.
I think the concept is pretty cool, but there was just SO MUCH going on worldbuilding-wise that it was hard to keep straight and I didn't try (blame my lazy brain I guess). I didn't care much for the characters or their relationships either, though I think the day goddess and the dude with her would have been an interesting storyline eventually.
I may give it another shot down the road, but one of the things I want to change about myself this year is the need to finish books I'm not enjoying, so I'm stopping. I think I'll donate my copy to the library so it can find someone or many someones who enjoy it.
DNF @ pg. 130ish
In all honesty I probably shouldn't have read this book right now because nothing's capturing my interest, but I won this in a giveaway back in October or something and felt bad that I hadn't read it or written a review yet, so this is me trying.
I think the concept is pretty cool, but there was just SO MUCH going on worldbuilding-wise that it was hard to keep straight and I didn't try (blame my lazy brain I guess). I didn't care much for the characters or their relationships either, though I think the day goddess and the dude with her would have been an interesting storyline eventually.
I may give it another shot down the road, but one of the things I want to change about myself this year is the need to finish books I'm not enjoying, so I'm stopping. I think I'll donate my copy to the library so it can find someone or many someones who enjoy it.
arinreads's review against another edition
dnf @ 22% because the writing is just not my thing
faehistory's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ireallywantobeareader's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
urban_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
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
Review and rating to come soon!
clare_39's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars because while I enjoyed reading it, the story didn't move me and I forgot most of the story as soon as I was done with the book. The cliffhanger peaked my interest just not enough for me to want to jump into the sequel