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kalie_universe_pristineprose's review against another edition
Between the negative views on religion this author seems to have and the promiscuous main characters this story isn't for me. Sad because it seems like a really good fantasy story.
laslus's review against another edition
4.0
I never do reviews with gifs, but at the end the author thanked every reader who do it, so I will bc i seek validation.
So. My understanding was that this would be about gay pirates. It isn't. We have pirates, we have gay, we even have gay pirate, but this is not what the book is about. I won't hold it agaisnt it, because my own expectations are not the book's fault, but I think you all should know.
So. If not gay pirates what IS "These Rebel Waves" about? Well. It's about a child of a revolution trying her best to avoid another Civi War, even if that means siding with a raider (a pirate), and its about a prince realizing that his country and everyone he knows are standing on the wrong side of history.
This book has a little of a tone issue. It tries to be Young Adult, but it has very little Young Adult vibes. The characters teenagers or young adults, yes, but the three main characters are vitims of a war, in their own way. They already cary their scars of growing up in violence, being they as visible as Vex eye (or lack of), or invisible trauma as both Ben and Lu carry on their sholders. This make them very... unlike most YA protagonists. they are war and abuse survivors, but the tone of the story isn't in sinchrony with that.
This tone problem carries itself throght two thirds of the book. It isn't bad, but it was frustating reading something you KNEW had potencial to be brillant being just "good".
but in the last 100 pages? Sara Raasch finds whatever she was missing from the other 200. It becomes this perfect narrative, I could feel my heart beating harder as those plot twists unraveled and we see those characters interact in the best way possible. The second that book ended i was in such a state i had to take a moment before writting this review (otherwise i would just give it a 5 star and scream HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT in panic as I hold myself back from buying the second).
That being said, the begning isn't bad. As as said, its frustating to read something you can smell the potencial and yet it taking so long to get there. But the characters? The characters are so good I could forgive anything.
Lu is just this amazing spy/politician, who is willing to do anything to save her home. I love her and i love how she deals with pain and grief and trauma in such a loving and caring way, despite her being a huge badass.
Vex is the love of my live. He is the perfect asshole with the heart of gold i need in a book. He is never too much of an asshole, so I'm never angry at him, but he is still enough of an asshole that i can hear his sarcams on his lines. Also, I'm in love with how he relates to his crew? He is the best captain, thats it.
Ben is a soft baby i MUST protect. The fact that it takes so long for Ben to meet with Lu and Vex killed me, because i was so involved in his narrative and his investigations i NEEDED MORE OF HIM. Of all of the three, his grow is what i felt prider of.
i love all of them.
I also love the whole cast of secundary characters. They are complicated and well written and it's always fun to be a little wary of which characters you can and cannot trust.
Anyways, i recommend this book, but I have high hopes for the second instalment being a little more like the last 100 pages of this.
So. My understanding was that this would be about gay pirates. It isn't. We have pirates, we have gay, we even have gay pirate, but this is not what the book is about. I won't hold it agaisnt it, because my own expectations are not the book's fault, but I think you all should know.
So. If not gay pirates what IS "These Rebel Waves" about? Well. It's about a child of a revolution trying her best to avoid another Civi War, even if that means siding with a raider (a pirate), and its about a prince realizing that his country and everyone he knows are standing on the wrong side of history.
This book has a little of a tone issue. It tries to be Young Adult, but it has very little Young Adult vibes. The characters teenagers or young adults, yes, but the three main characters are vitims of a war, in their own way. They already cary their scars of growing up in violence, being they as visible as Vex eye (or lack of), or invisible trauma as both Ben and Lu carry on their sholders. This make them very... unlike most YA protagonists. they are war and abuse survivors, but the tone of the story isn't in sinchrony with that.
This tone problem carries itself throght two thirds of the book. It isn't bad, but it was frustating reading something you KNEW had potencial to be brillant being just "good".
but in the last 100 pages? Sara Raasch finds whatever she was missing from the other 200. It becomes this perfect narrative, I could feel my heart beating harder as those plot twists unraveled and we see those characters interact in the best way possible. The second that book ended i was in such a state i had to take a moment before writting this review (otherwise i would just give it a 5 star and scream HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT in panic as I hold myself back from buying the second).
That being said, the begning isn't bad. As as said, its frustating to read something you can smell the potencial and yet it taking so long to get there. But the characters? The characters are so good I could forgive anything.
Lu is just this amazing spy/politician, who is willing to do anything to save her home. I love her and i love how she deals with pain and grief and trauma in such a loving and caring way, despite her being a huge badass.
Vex is the love of my live. He is the perfect asshole with the heart of gold i need in a book. He is never too much of an asshole, so I'm never angry at him, but he is still enough of an asshole that i can hear his sarcams on his lines. Also, I'm in love with how he relates to his crew? He is the best captain, thats it.
Ben is a soft baby i MUST protect. The fact that it takes so long for Ben to meet with Lu and Vex killed me, because i was so involved in his narrative and his investigations i NEEDED MORE OF HIM. Of all of the three, his grow is what i felt prider of.
i love all of them.
I also love the whole cast of secundary characters. They are complicated and well written and it's always fun to be a little wary of which characters you can and cannot trust.
Anyways, i recommend this book, but I have high hopes for the second instalment being a little more like the last 100 pages of this.
katpavlikova's review
1.0
Upřímně? Kde jsou piráti a útěk z vězení, to už má automaticky nakročeno k úspěchu. Nechápu, jak se to autorce podařilo, ale i s těmito motivy se jí nepovedlo mě ani trochu zaujmout.
Uznávám, že první věc je hodně moc subjektivní a nakrkla mě čistě proto, že ji prostě nemám ráda. A jsem děcko, takže se to na vlně nelibosti už neslo celou dobu. Jedná se o páru. Piráti na parnících. To já prostě nehledala.
Chtěla jsem husté piráty na korábech, námořní bitvy na moži a oceánu, klobouky a yarrr! Dostala jsem posádku tří ťuňtů, kterým prostě nevěřím ty úspěchy. Děj se odehrává z velké části na pevnině. Pirátská knížka odehrávající se na pevnině. Halooo! I kdybych překousla ten zbytek problémů, přes tohle se prostě nepřenesu. Když to nebyla pevnina, bylo to jezero. Podle mapy bez měřítka neumím určit, jak je velké, ale podle popisů to další Kaspické moře není. Čtyři pirátské syndikáty na jezeře? Nevěřím. Navíc jsem z nich reálně necítila hrozbu. Vytříbená mluva moc nepomáhala.
Moc jsem nepobrala náboženství, to, jak funguje společnost. Asi jsem potřebovala víc informací. To ostatně platí o všem. Nějaké nápady nejsou k zahození, docela mě zaujala myšlenka magie - spočívá v bylinkách - ale nikde nejsou napsané mantinely a zdála se mi hodně neuchopitelná, neměla jsem pocit, že jí rozumím.
Navíc kupa nelogičností.
Postavy mě žádným způsobem neoslovily. Jsem si jistá, že pozítří nebudu znát její jména.
A styl psaní je další věc. To je totální nečitelný chaos. Fakt. Kompozičně to potřebuje tolik česání. Myšlenkové pochody postav a střídání úhlů pohledu (ve smyslu, co čtenář vidí), to mě tak rušilo. Pak je tam cyklení informací a repetitivnost - v rámci stránek i kapitol.
A ještě ke všemu to byla opravdu nuda.
Jak se může tolik akce tak moc táhnout?
Uznávám, že první věc je hodně moc subjektivní a nakrkla mě čistě proto, že ji prostě nemám ráda. A jsem děcko, takže se to na vlně nelibosti už neslo celou dobu. Jedná se o páru. Piráti na parnících. To já prostě nehledala.
Chtěla jsem husté piráty na korábech, námořní bitvy na moži a oceánu, klobouky a yarrr! Dostala jsem posádku tří ťuňtů, kterým prostě nevěřím ty úspěchy. Děj se odehrává z velké části na pevnině. Pirátská knížka odehrávající se na pevnině. Halooo! I kdybych překousla ten zbytek problémů, přes tohle se prostě nepřenesu. Když to nebyla pevnina, bylo to jezero. Podle mapy bez měřítka neumím určit, jak je velké, ale podle popisů to další Kaspické moře není. Čtyři pirátské syndikáty na jezeře? Nevěřím. Navíc jsem z nich reálně necítila hrozbu. Vytříbená mluva moc nepomáhala.
Moc jsem nepobrala náboženství, to, jak funguje společnost. Asi jsem potřebovala víc informací. To ostatně platí o všem. Nějaké nápady nejsou k zahození, docela mě zaujala myšlenka magie - spočívá v bylinkách - ale nikde nejsou napsané mantinely a zdála se mi hodně neuchopitelná, neměla jsem pocit, že jí rozumím.
Navíc kupa nelogičností.
Postavy mě žádným způsobem neoslovily. Jsem si jistá, že pozítří nebudu znát její jména.
A styl psaní je další věc. To je totální nečitelný chaos. Fakt. Kompozičně to potřebuje tolik česání. Myšlenkové pochody postav a střídání úhlů pohledu (ve smyslu, co čtenář vidí), to mě tak rušilo. Pak je tam cyklení informací a repetitivnost - v rámci stránek i kapitol.
A ještě ke všemu to byla opravdu nuda.
Jak se může tolik akce tak moc táhnout?
dariusmortee's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
A fun read, nothing too special, but enjoyable.
sandra4444's review against another edition
3.0
*Real rating: 2.7 stars*
I definitely preferred to read about Lu and Vex over Ben, but overall I found certain parts of the book a bit slow or dragged out. However, the ending got me interested in reading the next book.
I definitely preferred to read about Lu and Vex over Ben, but overall I found certain parts of the book a bit slow or dragged out. However, the ending got me interested in reading the next book.
samtheowl96's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
l_kathome's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
eloraborealis's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
saltymango's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
I really enjoyed this book, I loved the plant magic and the world Raasch created.
Let me say upfront, if you are looking for a story about gay pirates and/or any kind of solid romantasy, this is NOT it. The main focus of this book are the politcal/religious conflicts and how the characters dealing with that.
The characters while their experiences may not be totally relatable, they have realistic reactions and mental states, that do make them relatable. Also I deeply appreciate that this girl with a violent past, isn't just fine and dandy with violence- it's refreshing and more realistic compared to alot of the novels with 'strong female leads' now. I am not someone who enjoys purely character driven stories, but I felt what Raasch gave us was just enough. All that being said, I find this mostly a plot driven book. I enjoyed the exploration of the complexities in different cultures and having this religious zealot ruler and also being post rebellion.
Some things I think could be better:
-the romantic relationship (A/V) felt a little sudden/forced. No chemistry really, or maybe just not enough time fleshing it out. Same with her bond with his crew.
- the pacing, or maybe just the way we are introduced to all the aspects of the conflict and the world. Raasch avoided info dumping, but then left us scrambling to make sense of everythinf introduced. I think this is why initially, even though I had found myself interested in the book, It wasnt a 'I-cant-put-this-down' type of read and took a while to get in to.
- world building: needed just a little MORE. Also, aspects that were supposed to probably be immersive, pushed me away and actually felt jarring or pulled me out of the story.
Overall, though I really enjoyed it and would reccommend.
Let me say upfront, if you are looking for a story about gay pirates and/or any kind of solid romantasy, this is NOT it. The main focus of this book are the politcal/religious conflicts and how the characters dealing with that.
The characters while their experiences may not be totally relatable, they have realistic reactions and mental states, that do make them relatable. Also I deeply appreciate that this girl with a violent past, isn't just fine and dandy with violence- it's refreshing and more realistic compared to alot of the novels with 'strong female leads' now. I am not someone who enjoys purely character driven stories, but I felt what Raasch gave us was just enough. All that being said, I find this mostly a plot driven book. I enjoyed the exploration of the complexities in different cultures and having this religious zealot ruler and also being post rebellion.
Some things I think could be better:
-the romantic relationship (A/V) felt a little sudden/forced. No chemistry really, or maybe just not enough time fleshing it out. Same with her bond with his crew.
- the pacing, or maybe just the way we are introduced to all the aspects of the conflict and the world. Raasch avoided info dumping, but then left us scrambling to make sense of everythinf introduced. I think this is why initially, even though I had found myself interested in the book, It wasnt a 'I-cant-put-this-down' type of read and took a while to get in to.
- world building: needed just a little MORE. Also, aspects that were supposed to probably be immersive, pushed me away and actually felt jarring or pulled me out of the story.
Overall, though I really enjoyed it and would reccommend.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, and War