elliephantx's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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? No
5.0
The world building in this book was amazing. I loved everything about the book minus a few exceptions. Even the twists were mind blowing. Can't wait to continue the series!
alex_wordweaver's review against another edition
2.0
I don't know what to say about this one. I really wanted to be thrilled because Angels are My Jam and there are so few decent books about Angels/the Nephilim, but...yeah, that's not what happened.
Whole thoughts below:
Getting this out of the way: I have the second edition version of the book and know between mass production and human error people miss things, but ffs, the editor really missed some basic grammar/spelling stuff. On a related note, I'm not sure if it's just because it's first person POV and the MC Scarlett just has a weird voice, or because it's two authors or if it's just one of the authors over the other, but the entire book felt very disjointed sentence-wise. Especially when it came to how characters speak to each other. One minute Ye Olde Timey no-contractions speak, then the next they're back to using contractions. Please pick one; this just makes my brain hurt trying to figure out if they use them or not, especially considering they're supposed to be in the States. Far into the dystopian future, sure, but c'mon.
On that thought, another thing that drove me nuts: WHAT. YEAR. IS IT? I know it's explained in the book that they stopped keeping dates the same way we do after The Cataclysm, but WHEN. WAS. THAT? The only context I have for a date is that it's at least post-1945, because Einstein is reference and well dead by then, and a hint near the end of the book that American Society As We Know it maybe survive into...the early 2010s, maybe, considering tablet and flat-screen-like items exist, as well as eGlasses, which I cannot stop thinking of as looking like DBZ Scanners. I was constantly waiting for the MC to ask the device's AI about her opponents' power levels. Also, Scarlett makes a reference to TV and movie tropes and the Internet somehow survived The Cataclysm that sent people back to a monarchical society. Which, yeah. The Internet still exists, but is mostly for the upper class (patricians), and the Catholic Church and the Knights Templar/Hospitalier/Teutonic are still/remade as a thing. As is the not-Spanish Inquisition (didn't see that coming, huh?)
Which brings me to my feelings on transitions. They hardly existed and it made the timeline even more difficult to follow. It felt like I was reading a comic series in which I'd missed several intervening issues when the chapters would jump forward some unspecified amount of time. The only real transitions we get are in Scarlett's flashbacks, which make up about the first third/almost half of the book. I would have to try to lay out the timeline visibly in front of myself to even begin trying to follow it.
I can also see the love triangle they're trying to set up between Jax, Scarlett, and Andriy. I see it and dump water on all three of them. None of these three seem ready for any kind of relationship. With anyone.
Last point is, well, I don't know how to feel about the Zeniths and Nephilim and how they're described in canon. I mean, it tracks that Angels have Phenomenal Cosmic Power, and their direct offspring, Nephilim, would too, and that the Zenith, being even further descended and thus more genetically mixed, would have Some But Not All Especially Potent Sorts of Powers. But the Nephilim are also vampires in this, in a way, and can make more of themselves that way, but don't because the last one who did that was a Horrible Bastard Man who forced people into it and those Nephilim mostly all died a little after killing him. So now there's currently only two. There's probably more in hiding somewhere, but I don't want to read more to find out.
Final point that is more of a pet peeve of mine in general that I wish more people would undestand: Nephilim is *plural.* The word itself is plural. Nephil is the singular you are looking for. Say it with me now. It *clap* is *clap* plural. *clap*
Tl;dr: 2/5-like a condiment sandwich, it got me through work, but wasn't very filling or especially tasty.
Whole thoughts below:
Getting this out of the way: I have the second edition version of the book and know between mass production and human error people miss things, but ffs, the editor really missed some basic grammar/spelling stuff. On a related note, I'm not sure if it's just because it's first person POV and the MC Scarlett just has a weird voice, or because it's two authors or if it's just one of the authors over the other, but the entire book felt very disjointed sentence-wise. Especially when it came to how characters speak to each other. One minute Ye Olde Timey no-contractions speak, then the next they're back to using contractions. Please pick one; this just makes my brain hurt trying to figure out if they use them or not, especially considering they're supposed to be in the States. Far into the dystopian future, sure, but c'mon.
On that thought, another thing that drove me nuts: WHAT. YEAR. IS IT? I know it's explained in the book that they stopped keeping dates the same way we do after The Cataclysm, but WHEN. WAS. THAT? The only context I have for a date is that it's at least post-1945, because Einstein is reference and well dead by then, and a hint near the end of the book that American Society As We Know it maybe survive into...the early 2010s, maybe, considering tablet and flat-screen-like items exist, as well as eGlasses, which I cannot stop thinking of as looking like DBZ Scanners. I was constantly waiting for the MC to ask the device's AI about her opponents' power levels. Also, Scarlett makes a reference to TV and movie tropes and the Internet somehow survived The Cataclysm that sent people back to a monarchical society. Which, yeah. The Internet still exists, but is mostly for the upper class (patricians), and the Catholic Church and the Knights Templar/Hospitalier/Teutonic are still/remade as a thing. As is the not-Spanish Inquisition (didn't see that coming, huh?)
Which brings me to my feelings on transitions. They hardly existed and it made the timeline even more difficult to follow. It felt like I was reading a comic series in which I'd missed several intervening issues when the chapters would jump forward some unspecified amount of time. The only real transitions we get are in Scarlett's flashbacks, which make up about the first third/almost half of the book. I would have to try to lay out the timeline visibly in front of myself to even begin trying to follow it.
I can also see the love triangle they're trying to set up between Jax, Scarlett, and Andriy. I see it and dump water on all three of them. None of these three seem ready for any kind of relationship. With anyone.
Last point is, well, I don't know how to feel about the Zeniths and Nephilim and how they're described in canon. I mean, it tracks that Angels have Phenomenal Cosmic Power, and their direct offspring, Nephilim, would too, and that the Zenith, being even further descended and thus more genetically mixed, would have Some But Not All Especially Potent Sorts of Powers. But the Nephilim are also vampires in this, in a way, and can make more of themselves that way, but don't because the last one who did that was a Horrible Bastard Man who forced people into it and those Nephilim mostly all died a little after killing him. So now there's currently only two. There's probably more in hiding somewhere, but I don't want to read more to find out.
Final point that is more of a pet peeve of mine in general that I wish more people would undestand: Nephilim is *plural.* The word itself is plural. Nephil is the singular you are looking for. Say it with me now. It *clap* is *clap* plural. *clap*
Tl;dr: 2/5-like a condiment sandwich, it got me through work, but wasn't very filling or especially tasty.
gemhall's review against another edition
5.0
Had me from the start
Such a beautifully woven book that kept me engaged to the point I kept expecting it to end on a cliffhanger, but it just kept going. Onward to book 2!
Such a beautifully woven book that kept me engaged to the point I kept expecting it to end on a cliffhanger, but it just kept going. Onward to book 2!
iggyebab's review against another edition
3.0
Familiar story but not in a bad way. I clocked one of the “bad” guys early on.
melissasfandomworld's review against another edition
5.0
Great first book of a new series, can't wait to read the sequel!
Review will follow shortly!
Review will follow shortly!
coffeeornah's review against another edition
2.0
This was really disappointing book. It had all of the potential to be something fantastic, and took almost 14 chapters to really get into it. After all that was said and done it kinda left a sour taste to my mouth. The characters are not very thought out, the background of the story while has potential, is not that great. The paragraphs don't flow like they should (in my opinion) just over all disappointing. I will not be continuing the series.
keiko65's review against another edition
3.0
The book was good but it had so many parallels to the anime Code Geass that is kind of ruined the story for me.
1. Power of coercion that only works once on a person? Check.
2. An oppressed minority group that rebels are trying to liberate? Check.
3. MC is connected to the "ruling" class and determined to bring it down and gain power? Check.
4. Jax/Suzaku is a knight of the order but also one of the minority being oppressed and determined to change things from within the organization? Check.
5. MC believes things must be changed by use of force and joins with the rebels while hiding her identity behind a mask? Check.
6. Jax/Suzaku about to be executed until MC shows up with rebels to save him but he still refuses to join them to save himself? Check.
Really, I could go on and on with the similarities. Might want to pass if you have already seen Code Geass.
1. Power of coercion that only works once on a person? Check.
2. An oppressed minority group that rebels are trying to liberate? Check.
3. MC is connected to the "ruling" class and determined to bring it down and gain power? Check.
4. Jax/Suzaku is a knight of the order but also one of the minority being oppressed and determined to change things from within the organization? Check.
5. MC believes things must be changed by use of force and joins with the rebels while hiding her identity behind a mask? Check.
6. Jax/Suzaku about to be executed until MC shows up with rebels to save him but he still refuses to join them to save himself? Check.
Really, I could go on and on with the similarities. Might want to pass if you have already seen Code Geass.
jasmyn9's review against another edition
5.0
This is an amazing introduction to a new series. The world building was fantastic and the history was very rich - something that I love in a series. There is a nice twist of real life incidents and organizations that have morphed into something new and different (and a bit scary). Scarlet is about to discover just what they are capable of.
Along the way she has to come to terms with the reality that she is changing. Not just her world view and personality, but her physical self as she becomes Nightfall. There were a lot of surprises along this journey and I loved that I never really knew what was going to happen next.
*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*
Along the way she has to come to terms with the reality that she is changing. Not just her world view and personality, but her physical self as she becomes Nightfall. There were a lot of surprises along this journey and I loved that I never really knew what was going to happen next.
*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*
mjluckett's review against another edition
5.0
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
I did not know what to expect with this book, I did not read the synopsis or any reviews... I like to be surprised... I was pleasantly surprised...
Scarlet Night has always dreamed of being a pilot, and was determined not to let her colorblindness stand in her way....
Then in one night her whole world changes...
I loved this book and am anxiously awaiting the next book....
Great Job Karpov Kinrade!!
I did not know what to expect with this book, I did not read the synopsis or any reviews... I like to be surprised... I was pleasantly surprised...
Scarlet Night has always dreamed of being a pilot, and was determined not to let her colorblindness stand in her way....
Then in one night her whole world changes...
I loved this book and am anxiously awaiting the next book....
Great Job Karpov Kinrade!!
amullen03's review against another edition
5.0
Wow I loved this book. It has been awhile since I have read a non romance book that captivated me so much. Scarlett has had her whole life flipped by lies and deciet. Scarlett is color blind and is trying to get her pilots license. But that night she finds out her parents are not who she thought. They die trying to protect a weapon that has been in their care for a long time. Scarlett dies trying to save her parents and the weapon. Or so she thought. Now she is something that has been told to be long gone.
Not only that but her friend and the order are not what she thought. She has to chose which side she is going to be on and what to fight for.
There are so many twist and turns that I spent most of the book going no way.
Karpov Kinrade do nothing but shock you and make you wanting more. I can not wait to see what comes next!
UPDATE
So I have reread this book because of all the changes. I have to say at first i wasn't sure what I thought. Alot changed and it seemed to start off slow. But the story evolved so much and has so much more of a back story. You feel that all questions are answered in time and you know their back story for the most part from the beginning. I loved getting back into this world and I can't wait to read more.
Not only that but her friend and the order are not what she thought. She has to chose which side she is going to be on and what to fight for.
There are so many twist and turns that I spent most of the book going no way.
Karpov Kinrade do nothing but shock you and make you wanting more. I can not wait to see what comes next!
UPDATE
So I have reread this book because of all the changes. I have to say at first i wasn't sure what I thought. Alot changed and it seemed to start off slow. But the story evolved so much and has so much more of a back story. You feel that all questions are answered in time and you know their back story for the most part from the beginning. I loved getting back into this world and I can't wait to read more.