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rey_therese07's review against another edition
1.0
Update: I'm changing my rating to 1 star, there was literally nothing I liked about it.
2 Stars: This reminded me of my experience reading The Wren Hunt by Mary Watson. I spent majority of the book expecting something exciting to happen, but nothing did. I found the protagonistwho remains nameless throughout the entire novel to be weak and annoying. She doesn't develop at all through the course of the novel, she remains silent and cowardly all through the book, never falling through with her decisions. I won't be reading the next book, which is a shame since the synopsis made the book sound very appealing.
2 Stars: This reminded me of my experience reading The Wren Hunt by Mary Watson. I spent majority of the book expecting something exciting to happen, but nothing did. I found the protagonistwho remains nameless throughout the entire novel to be weak and annoying. She doesn't develop at all through the course of the novel, she remains silent and cowardly all through the book, never falling through with her decisions. I won't be reading the next book, which is a shame since the synopsis made the book sound very appealing.
aravenandawritingdesk's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.5
booking_along's review
3.0
2.5 stars
I liked the summery and the idea behind the book. The shy girl, the unsure girl, the one that is always overlooked having to learn step up, fight and survive because there is no other choice. And managing it because if that. It's one of my favorite type of book plots.
And to a very basic extent the author did do that.
But it really is scratching at the outer edges of actually being a book about a girl that learns to survive on her own.
Which is fine. If the rest of the book would have made up for it.
But it kind of didn't? I mean in a way it did but also not really?
Does that make sense? I think not, but the book kind of didn't as well. So that fits?
Let's start out with my explanation in saying that the author really took a huge, huge a,punt of the story from [b:The Maze Runner|6186357|The Maze Runner (Maze Runner, #1)|James Dashner|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1375596592s/6186357.jpg|6366642] because no matter how you try to turn or slice it, the actual plot of this book is basically the one of the maze runner, only different? It's from the point of view of a girl.
But the rest? All there! Kids that get thrown into a maze without real explanation or actual means to survive, they fight monsters, find a way to make a safe place for them and build a form of society were their own group is split into people that keep their safe place working and those that go into the maze.
Now hear me out, I am not saying this is a bad thing.
I don't mind books behing similar to others, and the author did put her own spin on it, so that wasn't that bad. And I actually enjoyed the maze runner so those parts where all good. Just something to note because if you hated the maze runner I am pretty sure you will not enough this book that much, because you know as I just said enough times, similarities are screamingly obvious.
But That was fine for me.
What I didn't like about this book was
- the main character didn't even have a name. Which just... yeah no thank you, give the person the book is told from a freaking name!
- the main character had no personality at all. And I don't mean that she was underdevelopment (even though I guess eh kind of was) but that she really seemed incapable of actually thinking and deciding things for herself. She also says about ten words in total throughout the entire book. Might be a slight underestimation but honestly? Not by much.
So that was just strange, not horrible but it made the book feel like I was watching something I wanted to step into and just help the person because it became too sad to be able to watch. I just wanted to hear her speak up! Step up and voice -literary!!!!- what she was thinking and feeling and finally just step up for herself!
Instead she kept her mouth shout and I kind of wanted to slap her for it.
So clearly main character didn't work for me.
- the world developmet
Was there one?
Did I miss it?
I wanted to get a real explanation and not a myth retold and then get thrown it I a maze with murderous mosters and other kids that have no clue what is going on and leave me completely clueless as to what the heck is going on in the book and the story.
-the other kids
One as crazy, and I mean really just CRAZY capital letters needed, and the others where assholes. That word is needed as well since no is anywhere near bad enough to describe how horrible they are and treat others I know the MC lied about her name. But at least give her a chance to explain. Also can we jut say that hey just all assumed that she was THE Clara without even really asking here if she as that person? How can you just is your sister simply because of the name? I can't be that unique! I mean come on! And then tossing her out on her ass with a little girl they all aprorenlty love but have no problems literary throwing At the monsters because they want to get two "traitors" out of their home? Asshole behavior for the gold metal! Also throwing someone out simply because he tries to defend a person that clearly is to shy to speak up for herself makes them all even bigger assholes!
-the writing
Some it was fantastic! Some of it wasn't.
Which is strange, and I can't really explain it and I don't know if that is just a personal thing for me but some parts of the book were great and so nicely written that I really enjoyed them and kind of forgot the parts that bothered me up until that point. And then I turned the page and he writing kind of took a dive of the deep end and flatlined for a good while until it perked up again for a few pages only to die on me again?
So some parts were fantastic and some parts where.... Not.
Also the ending?
Didn't not feel like a standalone, or if it really is one it's a clear open door for the possibility of more books in this manner. since we didn't get any answers, not real ones at least, we have no idea what the main character will do know, and we still don't even have a name only that she is going to do this with her own name! So to me a that felt all like the first book Ina series not a standalone!
Which sounds as if I didn't enjoy the book.
I did
It was okay, but it wasn't anywhere near what it could have been.
There is all this potential. All those ideas and mentions of something more and more interesting, but the author doesn't take it there, at least she didn't to me.
I loved the ideas of angels and people believing you could become one after completing a trail. I always loved that myth, I loved the idea that this book took to the myth.
I would have enjoyed the book more with an actual main character that has a character. And more explanation.
That being said if you love maze books and a different spin on a myth. If are NOT character driven, but more interested in other parts of the book, this might be perfect for you, so definelty give it a try!
*thanks to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for giving me a ecopy of this book in exchange for a free and honest review.*
I liked the summery and the idea behind the book. The shy girl, the unsure girl, the one that is always overlooked having to learn step up, fight and survive because there is no other choice. And managing it because if that. It's one of my favorite type of book plots.
And to a very basic extent the author did do that.
But it really is scratching at the outer edges of actually being a book about a girl that learns to survive on her own.
Which is fine. If the rest of the book would have made up for it.
But it kind of didn't? I mean in a way it did but also not really?
Does that make sense? I think not, but the book kind of didn't as well. So that fits?
Let's start out with my explanation in saying that the author really took a huge, huge a,punt of the story from [b:The Maze Runner|6186357|The Maze Runner (Maze Runner, #1)|James Dashner|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1375596592s/6186357.jpg|6366642] because no matter how you try to turn or slice it, the actual plot of this book is basically the one of the maze runner, only different? It's from the point of view of a girl.
But the rest? All there! Kids that get thrown into a maze without real explanation or actual means to survive, they fight monsters, find a way to make a safe place for them and build a form of society were their own group is split into people that keep their safe place working and those that go into the maze.
Now hear me out, I am not saying this is a bad thing.
I don't mind books behing similar to others, and the author did put her own spin on it, so that wasn't that bad. And I actually enjoyed the maze runner so those parts where all good. Just something to note because if you hated the maze runner I am pretty sure you will not enough this book that much, because you know as I just said enough times, similarities are screamingly obvious.
But That was fine for me.
What I didn't like about this book was
- the main character didn't even have a name. Which just... yeah no thank you, give the person the book is told from a freaking name!
- the main character had no personality at all. And I don't mean that she was underdevelopment (even though I guess eh kind of was) but that she really seemed incapable of actually thinking and deciding things for herself. She also says about ten words in total throughout the entire book. Might be a slight underestimation but honestly? Not by much.
So that was just strange, not horrible but it made the book feel like I was watching something I wanted to step into and just help the person because it became too sad to be able to watch. I just wanted to hear her speak up! Step up and voice -literary!!!!- what she was thinking and feeling and finally just step up for herself!
Instead she kept her mouth shout and I kind of wanted to slap her for it.
So clearly main character didn't work for me.
- the world developmet
Was there one?
Did I miss it?
I wanted to get a real explanation and not a myth retold and then get thrown it I a maze with murderous mosters and other kids that have no clue what is going on and leave me completely clueless as to what the heck is going on in the book and the story.
-the other kids
One as crazy, and I mean really just CRAZY capital letters needed, and the others where assholes. That word is needed as well since no is anywhere near bad enough to describe how horrible they are and treat others
-the writing
Some it was fantastic! Some of it wasn't.
Which is strange, and I can't really explain it and I don't know if that is just a personal thing for me but some parts of the book were great and so nicely written that I really enjoyed them and kind of forgot the parts that bothered me up until that point. And then I turned the page and he writing kind of took a dive of the deep end and flatlined for a good while until it perked up again for a few pages only to die on me again?
So some parts were fantastic and some parts where.... Not.
Also the ending?
Didn't not feel like a standalone, or if it really is one it's a clear open door for the possibility of more books in this manner.
Which sounds as if I didn't enjoy the book.
I did
It was okay, but it wasn't anywhere near what it could have been.
There is all this potential. All those ideas and mentions of something more and more interesting, but the author doesn't take it there, at least she didn't to me.
I loved the ideas of angels and people believing you could become one after completing a trail. I always loved that myth, I loved the idea that this book took to the myth.
I would have enjoyed the book more with an actual main character that has a character. And more explanation.
That being said if you love maze books and a different spin on a myth. If are NOT character driven, but more interested in other parts of the book, this might be perfect for you, so definelty give it a try!
*thanks to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for giving me a ecopy of this book in exchange for a free and honest review.*
sincerelysara22's review
4.0
Thanks to Switch Press for sending me a copy of this book!
This book surprised me in many ways. I was expecting a dystopian-like society where they send their children into a labyrinth for some evil reason, I was expecting a love triangle, I was expecting a race to find the door that leads out of the labyrinth, but this is something entirely different. Something more mature than the YA book I was expecting. This book is hard; it thrusts you into this world with little explanation and you have to figure it out for yourself, much like characters in the book.
The action is intense, the monsters are terrifying, and the people at Fates could be cruel. This all makes for a very interesting story. This labyrinth is strange and gruesome and no one is coddled. Everyone lives day by day and it made me think about what living in this giant maze would be like, living this bleak life.
However, it annoyed me to no end that the main character has no name (why???) and that for 75% of the book she does nothing to stand up for herself and barely talks. I know she's scared and I know I would be, but come on! She lets herself be humiliated and yelled at because she was too afraid to talk. I know I have some social anxiety, but parts of the book made me want to scream.
For a book based on the tale of Icarus, I didn't find much connection to it or Greek mythology. I'm not very familiar with the story, but I thought this book was going to be based more on mythology than it was.
The ending was fascinating and it made me want to know more. If there is a second book, I would definitely read it to see what happens.
This book surprised me in many ways. I was expecting a dystopian-like society where they send their children into a labyrinth for some evil reason, I was expecting a love triangle, I was expecting a race to find the door that leads out of the labyrinth, but this is something entirely different. Something more mature than the YA book I was expecting. This book is hard; it thrusts you into this world with little explanation and you have to figure it out for yourself, much like characters in the book.
The action is intense, the monsters are terrifying, and the people at Fates could be cruel. This all makes for a very interesting story. This labyrinth is strange and gruesome and no one is coddled. Everyone lives day by day and it made me think about what living in this giant maze would be like, living this bleak life.
However, it annoyed me to no end that the main character has no name (why???) and that for 75% of the book she does nothing to stand up for herself and barely talks. I know she's scared and I know I would be, but come on! She lets herself be humiliated and yelled at because she was too afraid to talk. I know I have some social anxiety, but parts of the book made me want to scream.
For a book based on the tale of Icarus, I didn't find much connection to it or Greek mythology. I'm not very familiar with the story, but I thought this book was going to be based more on mythology than it was.
The ending was fascinating and it made me want to know more. If there is a second book, I would definitely read it to see what happens.
norees_sophie's review
3.0
This book was not at all what I was expecting. It was very dark and gritty, and I couldn't really connect with any of the characters. It was a unique choice to have a main character that remains nameless throughout the entire book, but it didn't work for me. Check out my full review on my blog https://noreadstoogreat.wordpress.com/2017/09/17/review-children-of-icarus/
peachesaregreat's review
4.0
SPOILERS!
I freaking loved the book! The evolution of the main character is amazing and so is the plot. I’m not much of a crier but when the executioner and her daughter died, I just lost it ;-; I cried a loads.
The evolution of the characters are so cool, especially the main’s. However this books has very gruesome descriptions and is very dark (so I don’t recommend it to people who hate dark stuff)
I loved it regardless, I’m trying to buy the sequel now ;-;
I freaking loved the book! The evolution of the main character is amazing and so is the plot. I’m not much of a crier but when the executioner and her daughter died, I just lost it ;-; I cried a loads.
The evolution of the characters are so cool, especially the main’s. However this books has very gruesome descriptions and is very dark (so I don’t recommend it to people who hate dark stuff)
I loved it regardless, I’m trying to buy the sequel now ;-;
angek98's review
3.0
I was provided with an ARC of this book from Netgalley.
Is it just me or is anybody else annoyed that there are so many books inspired by Greek Mythology but all the characters names are so Anglo. Pls. Give me some cultural names.
Children of Icarus is confusing, unreliable, and weird. It is inspired by Greek Mythology (I had a lot of fun trying to determine which characters was inspired by Greek gods), and its similar to a lot of the YA dystopian novels like Hunger Games. Except it is much bloodier, more graphic than what is usually seen.
The concept of this story is so good. So. So good. But I felt like it could have been better as a series. Every break in the story could have been extended and could have been turned into an individual novel. It would have done wonders for the world building, amd the character development.
Our unnamed protagonist is an outsider looking in. She is quiet, scared, and she has no motivation. She needs to survive, but she relies on other people to help her to survive. This is what seperates this character from so many others, she is not determined, she is not tough. She's confused and she just wants to survive, upset about the death of her friend.
What I liked:
- The concept
- The unreliability of the narrator
- The Executioner
- The explicitness
-The weaving of Greek Mythology
- Lack of romance
What I didnt like:
- Lack of world building
- Felt like a summary of a series of books that never existed
Is it just me or is anybody else annoyed that there are so many books inspired by Greek Mythology but all the characters names are so Anglo. Pls. Give me some cultural names.
Children of Icarus is confusing, unreliable, and weird. It is inspired by Greek Mythology (I had a lot of fun trying to determine which characters was inspired by Greek gods), and its similar to a lot of the YA dystopian novels like Hunger Games. Except it is much bloodier, more graphic than what is usually seen.
The concept of this story is so good. So. So good. But I felt like it could have been better as a series. Every break in the story could have been extended and could have been turned into an individual novel. It would have done wonders for the world building, amd the character development.
Our unnamed protagonist is an outsider looking in. She is quiet, scared, and she has no motivation. She needs to survive, but she relies on other people to help her to survive. This is what seperates this character from so many others, she is not determined, she is not tough. She's confused and she just wants to survive, upset about the death of her friend.
What I liked:
- The concept
- The unreliability of the narrator
- The Executioner
- The explicitness
-The weaving of Greek Mythology
- Lack of romance
What I didnt like:
- Lack of world building
- Felt like a summary of a series of books that never existed
novalunosis_pride's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Child death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Murder, and Pregnancy
thatlibrarynerd's review
1.0
There were some better aspects to this book, like the world-building and monsters were interesting, but the world-building was pretty much limited to glimpses and allusions. For the most part it's awful. It reads like the author wanted to write a prequel but only had material for about half of a prequel, so half the book is about a girl being demeaned and abused and being too passive to do literally anything.
The main character annoyed me, but I was aware this was only because she wasn't strong enough to stand up to other characters who kept her in this role. She's resented and abused for not pulling her weight by people who never made any effort to teach her what's expected in their society; they basically decide from the start she's worthless so it's okay to mistreat her, so when it culminates in her being put on display and Collin basically deciding which of his friends will get to rape her first, there's a sense of "this is too far but also basically how our society functions".
Not to mention the fact that after going to great lengths to describe how filthy she is even compared to everyone else, apparently the character is still irresistibly sexy while being demeaned. It also makes her confusion about Gina seem... stupid. Just stupid. "How could she be here? She's too young to be sent into the labyrinth!" Geez with this many teenagers around I was surprised there weren't more little kids! Most teenagers know what sex is.
The writing is odd, with a habit of describing what happened rather than showing it. This strengthened the feeling that the middle half of the book was thrown in as filler. What's especially frustrating is that when something actually *happens* the writing is good! This is a capable writer who clearly needed a good deal more guidance than she received on plotting and making characters who were more than either abusers or enablers.
The main character annoyed me, but I was aware this was only because she wasn't strong enough to stand up to other characters who kept her in this role. She's resented and abused for not pulling her weight by people who never made any effort to teach her what's expected in their society; they basically decide from the start she's worthless so it's okay to mistreat her, so when it culminates in her being put on display and Collin basically deciding which of his friends will get to rape her first, there's a sense of "this is too far but also basically how our society functions".
Not to mention the fact that after going to great lengths to describe how filthy she is even compared to everyone else, apparently the character is still irresistibly sexy while being demeaned. It also makes her confusion about Gina seem... stupid. Just stupid. "How could she be here? She's too young to be sent into the labyrinth!" Geez with this many teenagers around I was surprised there weren't more little kids! Most teenagers know what sex is.
The writing is odd, with a habit of describing what happened rather than showing it. This strengthened the feeling that the middle half of the book was thrown in as filler. What's especially frustrating is that when something actually *happens* the writing is good! This is a capable writer who clearly needed a good deal more guidance than she received on plotting and making characters who were more than either abusers or enablers.
sarahshoo's review
2.0
Until the last few pages of this book, I thought it would be a five-star book. And I do understand cliffhangers, but this book has no closure at all. There is no resolution. It's just a gimmick to make readers pick up the next in a series, and they should want to do that because they're invested in the characters or the worlds created by the author. But the world in this one wasn't fleshed out thoroughly, and I'd hoped to see the character develop more.
I also think the depiction of women was problematic. The majority of the scavengers were men, braving the wild, while the women (all but one) stayed at home and tended the home and children.
Disappointing.
I also think the depiction of women was problematic. The majority of the scavengers were men, braving the wild, while the women (all but one) stayed at home and tended the home and children.
Disappointing.