hannchilada's review against another edition
5.0
This book was a perfectly cooked and seasoned sunny-side up egg.
Because it was everything you could have asked for in a book, it was peppery in all the right places, it was salty, and the texture was extremely on point.
And then, the deeper you get into this egg, the runny part comes out combined with the fleshy part and soaks everything in its deliciousness.
You know what, I'm not actually as good at poor metaphors as David.
Firstly, we're going to talk about tone. I don't know what it was in this book, I couldn't put my finger on it, but it made every picture in my head tinted darker. So, kudos, because it really brought the world to life for me.
This also is related to the character of David. David was mainly static throughout this book, but over the series his overarching issues with Epics and who is to blame for their issues is beautiful. His characterization and cute little metaphors were constant. I can't tell you how many novels I've read in which a character is given a personality, and then in worldbuilding and plot punting the character fades into the hollow shell you use as a point of view. I found David. extremely realistic in his thought processes and emotions. For example:
Aww, look at that. Characters with actual emotions. How cute.
Other characters: Prof makes me happy. Prof makes me sad. Prof makes me want to jump off a burning building while singing and also sobbing b/c cute. His hero struggle is fascinating and fresh and new and very much alive. Jonathan Phaedrus's character got me attached. And anytime a writer can do that, it's gold.
Mizzy is adorable. Mizzy is me. Mizzy is a female novel character that is human and has emotions and isn't all that cliche.
But, she could have been explored a lot more. She was the most developed, but all the other background characters (Exel, Tia, and Val) were so underdeveloped it made me upset. There had to be something between that Sam guy and Val, right? One word: more.
Also, Dawnslight: Fab. But like, more.
Megan is a hot mess. And I guess emphasis on hot, because I adore her. I'm only going to say this once because it makes me sound like a psychopath:
Her emotional turmoil brings me a lot of joy.
But, like, in not a creepy way. Her character is very in-depth and is female, but not like Amazon warrior.
Come on, you know what I mean. I'm referring to the common idea in modern literature that for a female to be worth something she has to hate men and only kick people's butts.
That.
Speaking of turmoil, the moral ambiguity is strong with this one. Who's good? Is it the Reckoners? I mean, they're murdering people, but...Who's bad? Is it the Epics? I mean, they also murder people, but they can't really help it, right? Is it the giant man with fairy wings flaming up a storm there on the moon or something? Most likely! Maybe not! Am I evil? Who knows!
So, the plot as a whole was very enticing. Easy to read, suspenseful, and it's not often I find a book that literally makes me want to not put it down when it's two in the morning.
This time, it was the villain's motives that drove the story, which was a fun little guessing game, and let me tell you, the villain's motives were fabulous. A successor? What! Didn't see that coming. I also enjoyed Obliteration's character. The crazed religious maniac card is usually always enjoyable.
Speaking of: Plot twists got me like
Yeah. Those of you who've read this, you feel me. It was intense. It was fun. Unexpected, all of that jazz.
Speaking of plot points, though: WHAT THE SLAPAROONY IS WITH DAVID REJECTING POWERS?
-How
-What
-???
-He can have powers?
-Who is this child?
-I guess I know why he did it but
-HOW???
If this is not answered in the next book I will stage a formal protest. There will be signs and everything. Contact Hannah Johnson for more details.
Next point of discussion: the setting was kind of fun and interesting but downright hard to call up an image for me because it was kind of so out there. Not the worldbuilding, worldbuilding is fab, but the cityBabilar. It was...interesting. How did people get the ropes? How did they connect them? Riddle me that Batman! HUh! hUH!
Overall, this book was an all-time fave. No book is without flaws, but these flaws were pretty menial. I adored it.
Lastly, THE SIMILE SCENE. Thank you for that. Bless your soul, Brandon Sanderson. I had been actually planning on writing the fact that almost all his metaphors are similes in this review, but you saved me the trouble. Adorable.
I am anxiously anticipating Calamity. (Not an actual calamity, that would be psychopathic of...nevermind. You get it.)
Because it was everything you could have asked for in a book, it was peppery in all the right places, it was salty, and the texture was extremely on point.
And then, the deeper you get into this egg, the runny part comes out combined with the fleshy part and soaks everything in its deliciousness.
You know what, I'm not actually as good at poor metaphors as David.
Firstly, we're going to talk about tone. I don't know what it was in this book, I couldn't put my finger on it, but it made every picture in my head tinted darker. So, kudos, because it really brought the world to life for me.
This also is related to the character of David. David was mainly static throughout this book, but over the series his overarching issues with Epics and who is to blame for their issues is beautiful. His characterization and cute little metaphors were constant. I can't tell you how many novels I've read in which a character is given a personality, and then in worldbuilding and plot punting the character fades into the hollow shell you use as a point of view. I found David. extremely realistic in his thought processes and emotions. For example:
I thought about my part in all of this, and whether I'd pushed Prof too hard to become a hero. How much of this was my fault? Did it matter?
Aww, look at that. Characters with actual emotions. How cute.
Other characters: Prof makes me happy. Prof makes me sad. Prof makes me want to jump off a burning building while singing and also sobbing b/c cute. His hero struggle is fascinating and fresh and new and very much alive. Jonathan Phaedrus's character got me attached. And anytime a writer can do that, it's gold.
Mizzy is adorable. Mizzy is me. Mizzy is a female novel character that is human and has emotions and isn't all that cliche.
But, she could have been explored a lot more. She was the most developed, but all the other background characters (Exel, Tia, and Val) were so underdeveloped it made me upset. There had to be something between that Sam guy and Val, right? One word: more.
Also, Dawnslight: Fab. But like, more.
Megan is a hot mess. And I guess emphasis on hot, because I adore her. I'm only going to say this once because it makes me sound like a psychopath:
Her emotional turmoil brings me a lot of joy.
But, like, in not a creepy way. Her character is very in-depth and is female, but not like Amazon warrior.
Come on, you know what I mean. I'm referring to the common idea in modern literature that for a female to be worth something she has to hate men and only kick people's butts.
That.
Speaking of turmoil, the moral ambiguity is strong with this one. Who's good? Is it the Reckoners? I mean, they're murdering people, but...Who's bad? Is it the Epics? I mean, they also murder people, but they can't really help it, right? Is it the giant man with fairy wings flaming up a storm there on the moon or something? Most likely! Maybe not! Am I evil? Who knows!
So, the plot as a whole was very enticing. Easy to read, suspenseful, and it's not often I find a book that literally makes me want to not put it down when it's two in the morning.
This time, it was the villain's motives that drove the story, which was a fun little guessing game, and let me tell you, the villain's motives were fabulous. A successor? What! Didn't see that coming. I also enjoyed Obliteration's character. The crazed religious maniac card is usually always enjoyable.
Speaking of: Plot twists got me like
Yeah. Those of you who've read this, you feel me. It was intense. It was fun. Unexpected, all of that jazz.
Speaking of plot points, though: WHAT THE SLAPAROONY IS WITH DAVID REJECTING POWERS?
-How
-What
-???
-He can have powers?
-Who is this child?
-I guess I know why he did it but
-HOW???
If this is not answered in the next book I will stage a formal protest. There will be signs and everything. Contact Hannah Johnson for more details.
Next point of discussion: the setting was kind of fun and interesting but downright hard to call up an image for me because it was kind of so out there. Not the worldbuilding, worldbuilding is fab, but the cityBabilar. It was...interesting. How did people get the ropes? How did they connect them? Riddle me that Batman! HUh! hUH!
Overall, this book was an all-time fave. No book is without flaws, but these flaws were pretty menial. I adored it.
Lastly, THE SIMILE SCENE. Thank you for that. Bless your soul, Brandon Sanderson. I had been actually planning on writing the fact that almost all his metaphors are similes in this review, but you saved me the trouble. Adorable.
I am anxiously anticipating Calamity. (Not an actual calamity, that would be psychopathic of...nevermind. You get it.)
mnakka9's review against another edition
5.0
What to say???
Just one word AWESOME.... and i loved it..............
Just one word AWESOME.... and i loved it..............
aeonarin's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ryanbroadfoot's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
4.0
hquin's review against another edition
3.0
*3.75ish* Really did enjoy this but I felt like the plot was too cliche and a bit confusing in some parts. Please no more metaphors.
everthereader's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of sequels and they kind of intimidate me since not all are good. This was a great sequel. Now I must wait until February. This is what I get for reading the sequel right after the first. :(
abigcoffeedragon's review against another edition
5.0
This second novel in the Reckoners series does not disappoint.
For those who must read everything, you can read Mitosis, but I personally felt that it was a throw away, without much time or detail spent that make the Reckoners series something that I enjoy so much.
Like STEELHEART, the novel FIREFIGHT follows the point of view of David, our hero who has spent over half of his young life studying EPICS (super powered villains) to take them down, and return the world to that of the mortals.
When Brandon Sanderson plots, he plans Character, Setting, and Plot, and then writes a great novel. The characters are fun, and even though we only have the one point-of-view, we get to know the other character through dialog that makes everyone feel very real. The setting is fun because it is our world, after a super-power apocalypse changes the world. And the plot, though straight forward, has many twists and turns that even if you see something coming, something else will blind side you. That is what makes this series so fun for me. Fast paced, and a ton of action.
The depth of the novel is not there as most fantasy novels has, but this is geared towards younger readers, so it is about pace and action and fun, and not 100 characters with political agendas. The people who frown on the simplicity of the writing, are not getting into the story. This is a series about what happens when people all of a sudden gets super powers, and what happens when the power starts to corrupt them.
For those who must read everything, you can read Mitosis, but I personally felt that it was a throw away, without much time or detail spent that make the Reckoners series something that I enjoy so much.
Like STEELHEART, the novel FIREFIGHT follows the point of view of David, our hero who has spent over half of his young life studying EPICS (super powered villains) to take them down, and return the world to that of the mortals.
When Brandon Sanderson plots, he plans Character, Setting, and Plot, and then writes a great novel. The characters are fun, and even though we only have the one point-of-view, we get to know the other character through dialog that makes everyone feel very real. The setting is fun because it is our world, after a super-power apocalypse changes the world. And the plot, though straight forward, has many twists and turns that even if you see something coming, something else will blind side you. That is what makes this series so fun for me. Fast paced, and a ton of action.
The depth of the novel is not there as most fantasy novels has, but this is geared towards younger readers, so it is about pace and action and fun, and not 100 characters with political agendas. The people who frown on the simplicity of the writing, are not getting into the story. This is a series about what happens when people all of a sudden gets super powers, and what happens when the power starts to corrupt them.
shyanimal's review
adventurous
dark
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? Yes
5.0
schleis's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
bwkramer's review against another edition
4.0
Not quite as good as the first... but still really solid.