backshelfbooks's review against another edition
5.0
This was, hands down, my favorite YA Fantasy since the Hunger Games. This has gone up on my favorite-books-ever shelf, actually.
The main two characters, Cyra and Akos, are just SO GOOD. The growth of their friendship and relationship is believable, and such a good slow burn. Cyra is a really awesome, tough as nails character, and I really related to both the way she deals with her pain and her struggle with guilt and shame. Akos is strong and steady, but also compassionate and kind, making him a perfect foil to Crya. The side characters are also amazing. Cisi, Teka, and Jorek were all standout characters on their own which was amazing.
There's a fascinating magic system, although it isn't fully explained. The scenery is gorgeous, and I love the difference between the worlds.
The audiobook is excellent. The print book is, of course, also excellent. All in all, 5 star read for me.
The main two characters, Cyra and Akos, are just SO GOOD. The growth of their friendship and relationship is believable, and such a good slow burn. Cyra is a really awesome, tough as nails character, and I really related to both the way she deals with her pain and her struggle with guilt and shame. Akos is strong and steady, but also compassionate and kind, making him a perfect foil to Crya. The side characters are also amazing. Cisi, Teka, and Jorek were all standout characters on their own which was amazing.
There's a fascinating magic system, although it isn't fully explained. The scenery is gorgeous, and I love the difference between the worlds.
The audiobook is excellent. The print book is, of course, also excellent. All in all, 5 star read for me.
mariacblazquez's review against another edition
2.0
no me ha gustado.
sólo lo he leído porque el libro llevaba desde que salió hace años en mis estanterías y estoy leyéndome mi tbr física, si no, no lo hubiera leído.
me parece que la idea tiene mucho potencial pero ha sido completamente desaprovechado. había momentos en los que estaba súper confusa porque me daba la sensación de que habían pasado cosas que no estaban escritas y no me estaba enterando de nada. además el principio es súper confuso, hasta que te empiezan poco a poco a explicar un poco sobre el mundo.
hay muchas otras cosas de las que podría quejarme pero prefiero olvidar esta experiencia y empezar con mi siguiente lectura…
sólo lo he leído porque el libro llevaba desde que salió hace años en mis estanterías y estoy leyéndome mi tbr física, si no, no lo hubiera leído.
me parece que la idea tiene mucho potencial pero ha sido completamente desaprovechado. había momentos en los que estaba súper confusa porque me daba la sensación de que habían pasado cosas que no estaban escritas y no me estaba enterando de nada. además el principio es súper confuso, hasta que te empiezan poco a poco a explicar un poco sobre el mundo.
hay muchas otras cosas de las que podría quejarme pero prefiero olvidar esta experiencia y empezar con mi siguiente lectura…
stygianvixen's review against another edition
3.0
Did anyone else see a resemblance to Graceling? Katniss is graced with fighting ability and used by her uncle to torture and intimidate his people while she feels guilty for the things she is forced to do. She ends up guiding the revolution. I kept thinking this the whole way through the book.
I must say I am surprised at all the people saying there is a lot of racism in the book after reading. Maybe it was the confusion I found in the first hundred pages or so but I thought of Akos as pale and almost Albino as he bruised so easy. The languages I thought of as the harsher German vs a lyrical Italian almost? I pictured Cyra as golden skinned with long loose curls and dark eyes. Teka is Shotet described with golden hair covering her eye. Ryzek is described as pale at one point. I didn't see them really being racist towards each other, the struggle I saw was a power struggle and the Shotet fighting for recognition for how strong, even brutal they became. I didn't read it as focusing on the appearances of the characters to the point I couldn't get a clear image of them obviously. I felt that the way the people behaved was obviously stereotypical but it was to show why there was going to be a war. Again this could be from the confusion I felt while reading. I enjoyed the book otherwise.
I must say I am surprised at all the people saying there is a lot of racism in the book after reading. Maybe it was the confusion I found in the first hundred pages or so but I thought of Akos as pale and almost Albino as he bruised so easy. The languages I thought of as the harsher German vs a lyrical Italian almost? I pictured Cyra as golden skinned with long loose curls and dark eyes. Teka is Shotet described with golden hair covering her eye. Ryzek is described as pale at one point. I didn't see them really being racist towards each other, the struggle I saw was a power struggle and the Shotet fighting for recognition for how strong, even brutal they became. I didn't read it as focusing on the appearances of the characters to the point I couldn't get a clear image of them obviously. I felt that the way the people behaved was obviously stereotypical but it was to show why there was going to be a war. Again this could be from the confusion I felt while reading. I enjoyed the book otherwise.
hotkoolaidpotato's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
bookshop_b's review against another edition
4.0
I feel like I'd forgotten what a great writer and storyteller Veronica Roth is after the train wreck movie series that was Divergent.
I really enjoyed this book but it took while for me to get used to the universe (I think this is because I don't read heaps of sci-fi) but when I finally did, I fell in love.
Minus all the corruption and everything Ryzek did, I really loved the Shotet culture. The whole 'carving the mark' thing was awesome!
And oracles?! (even though they're all dicks...) How cool!
But the names though.
Ugh.
I could not deal with the weird 'space' names everyone had. I swear half the time while reading this book I just made general noises in my head to distinguish the weird names.
The only name I was confident in was Akos. Legit - that was the only one!
Which is why I'm giving the book 4 stars.
But is you like strange names and a pretty hardcore, badass heroine (yaassss Cyra) you'll enjoy this book! I certainly did
I really enjoyed this book but it took while for me to get used to the universe (I think this is because I don't read heaps of sci-fi) but when I finally did, I fell in love.
Minus all the corruption and everything Ryzek did, I really loved the Shotet culture. The whole 'carving the mark' thing was awesome!
And oracles?! (even though they're all dicks...) How cool!
But the names though.
Ugh.
I could not deal with the weird 'space' names everyone had. I swear half the time while reading this book I just made general noises in my head to distinguish the weird names.
The only name I was confident in was Akos. Legit - that was the only one!
Which is why I'm giving the book 4 stars.
But is you like strange names and a pretty hardcore, badass heroine (yaassss Cyra) you'll enjoy this book! I certainly did
emilytheninth's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I enjoyed this book, but I’m not over the moon about it. I did however, really enjoy the audiobook narration with two narrators for the separate perspectives. I’m still suspicious of Ms. Veronica Roth after Divergent, but I might pick up the sequel in this duology. I am excited to have more Cyra and Akos, I enjoyed the slow burn romance.
tassiereads's review against another edition
4.0
I struggled so much to finish this book but I didn’t mind it in the end. It’s quite slow paced in my opinion and I’m someone who can’t read something unless there’s romance in it. There wasn’t much of that but when there was, it was fluffy & cute.
Even though the characters had their fates and “powers” they didn’t have much to them, it would’ve been nice to know more about them.
It’s 4 stars for me because I still enjoyed this book, it just wasn’t enough for me to read in a couple days.
Even though the characters had their fates and “powers” they didn’t have much to them, it would’ve been nice to know more about them.
It’s 4 stars for me because I still enjoyed this book, it just wasn’t enough for me to read in a couple days.
roguette's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
5.0
Love, love, LOVE this duet!
taylorreadsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
If I have learned anything from my 20+ years of reading it is this: If the book is written from 2 POVs that gives the author free reign to off either one of the MCs whenever she feels like it. I learned this valuable lesson from none other then Veronica Roth..
This book is written with 2 POVs however one is written in first person and the other in third person. I'm not sure I have ever come across this format before, it was interesting, and while this book didn't hook me and draw me in like Divergent did it was still a really good read. Veronica Roth is really good at her world building. I loved the reversed gender rolls -tough warrior girl and gentle sensitive guy- but some of the made up names/words really turned me off. If I hadn't read this in one day I think it would have taken me a while to get back into the language of her world which to me as a reader is kind of annoying. I did love the MCs and the world and I am anxious for the next book.
Also I would like to thank Ms. Roth for not ending on a cliff hanger as evil as Insurgent's.
This book is written with 2 POVs however one is written in first person and the other in third person. I'm not sure I have ever come across this format before, it was interesting, and while this book didn't hook me and draw me in like Divergent did it was still a really good read. Veronica Roth is really good at her world building. I loved the reversed gender rolls -tough warrior girl and gentle sensitive guy- but some of the made up names/words really turned me off. If I hadn't read this in one day I think it would have taken me a while to get back into the language of her world which to me as a reader is kind of annoying. I did love the MCs and the world and I am anxious for the next book.
Also I would like to thank Ms. Roth for not ending on a cliff hanger as evil as Insurgent's.