lizbusby's review
3.0
Background: I am a huge Brandon Sanderson fan, but was disappointed with the conclusion of Calamity, the final volume of the original Reckoner's triology. It's interesting to see Sanderson expanding his ability to get books out by teaming up with other authors. Anything that gets more Sanderson out into the universe is a positive to me.
Lux was a mixed bag. The first third of the book focused a lot on the main character's training to become a Reckoner. I had a hard time getting through it. What I loved about the original Reckoner's series was the lore behind the Epics, how their backstories related to their powers and weaknesses, and the creative ways the Reckoners turned these against them. This was completely absent for about 40% of the book.
Once you hit part 2 & 3, things started feeling more like the original Reckoner's novels to me. I guessed the main Epic's weakness pretty early on, which made part of the puzzle pretty boring to me. However, I definitely enjoyed this part of the novel more than the first third. Overall, I have to give this three stars because of the uneven quality. I will continue with the series in hopes that the initial training sequence won't be necessary in future books, and so I will enjoy them more.
Lux was a mixed bag. The first third of the book focused a lot on the main character's training to become a Reckoner. I had a hard time getting through it. What I loved about the original Reckoner's series was the lore behind the Epics, how their backstories related to their powers and weaknesses, and the creative ways the Reckoners turned these against them. This was completely absent for about 40% of the book.
Once you hit part 2 & 3, things started feeling more like the original Reckoner's novels to me. I guessed the main Epic's weakness pretty early on, which made part of the puzzle pretty boring to me. However, I definitely enjoyed this part of the novel more than the first third. Overall, I have to give this three stars because of the uneven quality. I will continue with the series in hopes that the initial training sequence won't be necessary in future books, and so I will enjoy them more.
wanderlustlover's review against another edition
4.0
Winter 2021 (December);
Fiction Bingo Board ~ A book set in your home state
Rating: 3.5
A new Reckoner's novel, with a whole brand new set of Reckoners down in Texas. I definitely wasn't sure what to expect when I went into this novel. I loved the new set of people, and it was nice not to have the overblown metaphors being used by our main character from the first trilogy. I definitely squealed at the first appearance of Prof, references to the main Reckoners crew, and then definitely when Calamity vanished (telling us exactly where in the timeline everything matched up to).
I'm not sure how I feel about
Fiction Bingo Board ~ A book set in your home state
Rating: 3.5
A new Reckoner's novel, with a whole brand new set of Reckoners down in Texas. I definitely wasn't sure what to expect when I went into this novel. I loved the new set of people, and it was nice not to have the overblown metaphors being used by our main character from the first trilogy. I definitely squealed at the first appearance of Prof, references to the main Reckoners crew, and then definitely when Calamity vanished (telling us exactly where in the timeline everything matched up to).
I'm not sure how I feel about
Spoiler
the girl having the problem in her head again, because that felt way too much like it was paralleling our last trilogy, so I'm hoping this goes a whole new way, given the voice is some other kind of presence. Just #LetTheGirlRescueHerself #NotTheboy.readerturnedwriter's review against another edition
5.0
This was a fun addition to the reckoners world!
I really enjoyed the characters and the world building. Lux and the epic in charge was an interesting idea. I also found another epic who is one of my favorite characters!
The audio was great as well, though I still look forward to the day they do a print copy.
I really enjoyed the characters and the world building. Lux and the epic in charge was an interesting idea. I also found another epic who is one of my favorite characters!
The audio was great as well, though I still look forward to the day they do a print copy.
sheilabmcc's review against another edition
5.0
I liked this, but talk about a bummer. I don’t think I’ve ever read something something that’s had me think repeatedly, “okay, just give up and die now.” The world really is filled with despair and it certainly shows.
It’s hard to say if I would have enjoyed this more as a physical book.
More random thoughts - I need to reread the Steelheart series. It’s been a while.
It’s hard to say if I would have enjoyed this more as a physical book.
More random thoughts - I need to reread the Steelheart series. It’s been a while.
jharkey4's review against another edition
3.0
This was a really fun return to the Reckoners world.
So we've seen Brandon collaborate before, but this is the first time for a novel that's part of an existing series, if that makes sense? Reckoners was *Brandon's thing* and now here we have another author pulled in to help write one. So that's some interesting context. I was really curious to see what that would *mean*... I'm not sure if they've said precisely what the collaboration looked like, but Brandon has been plenty busy this year with his own projects. That gives me the impression that this was primarily written by Bohls (after some initial outlining and plotting together).
Whatever the case may be, I honestly would have assumed this book was written by Sanderson if I didn't know otherwise going in. It felt like Sanderson. It felt like Reckoners. There was maybe a VERY subtle feel here and there that someone else was involved. Especially the chapters from an antagonist's perspective. A tone that occasionally felt just a BIT different than I anticipated? But this could all be in my head.
Overall, the tone was just a BIT more serious than the previous Reckoners books, which I appreciated. I think this is mainly just a case of the main character being a bit more serious and competent?
Of course, part of what added to the seamlessness was the return of the original trilogy's audiobook narrator. Lux is audio-only for now, which suits me just fine. I read the original trilogy on audiobook, and I thought it was good there. The narrator (MacLoed) was even better than I remembered, or maybe he's just become more skilled over the years. He knocked this one out of the park, giving all of the characters a distinctive and fitting voice. Fantastic narration on this one. 5/5 stars.
Some of the characters were a bit bland for me. The plot was... fine? The structure felt a little odd to me. There were a few moments where the whole plot kind of turned about in a new direction in a way that felt kind of blunt?
I think I'd give this a 3.5/5 stars, so 3 is a little unfair. It just doesn't quite hook me strongly enough to be a 4 star book. It's as good as the original Reckoners books--maybe a little better. Very fun, but nothing *particularly* special.
So we've seen Brandon collaborate before, but this is the first time for a novel that's part of an existing series, if that makes sense? Reckoners was *Brandon's thing* and now here we have another author pulled in to help write one. So that's some interesting context. I was really curious to see what that would *mean*... I'm not sure if they've said precisely what the collaboration looked like, but Brandon has been plenty busy this year with his own projects. That gives me the impression that this was primarily written by Bohls (after some initial outlining and plotting together).
Whatever the case may be, I honestly would have assumed this book was written by Sanderson if I didn't know otherwise going in. It felt like Sanderson. It felt like Reckoners. There was maybe a VERY subtle feel here and there that someone else was involved. Especially the chapters from an antagonist's perspective. A tone that occasionally felt just a BIT different than I anticipated? But this could all be in my head.
Overall, the tone was just a BIT more serious than the previous Reckoners books, which I appreciated. I think this is mainly just a case of the main character being a bit more serious and competent?
Of course, part of what added to the seamlessness was the return of the original trilogy's audiobook narrator. Lux is audio-only for now, which suits me just fine. I read the original trilogy on audiobook, and I thought it was good there. The narrator (MacLoed) was even better than I remembered, or maybe he's just become more skilled over the years. He knocked this one out of the park, giving all of the characters a distinctive and fitting voice. Fantastic narration on this one. 5/5 stars.
Some of the characters were a bit bland for me. The plot was... fine? The structure felt a little odd to me. There were a few moments where the whole plot kind of turned about in a new direction in a way that felt kind of blunt?
I think I'd give this a 3.5/5 stars, so 3 is a little unfair. It just doesn't quite hook me strongly enough to be a 4 star book. It's as good as the original Reckoners books--maybe a little better. Very fun, but nothing *particularly* special.
barb_d's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
While the story is ok, it's not exciting. Somehow, I don't connect with thr characters in the Reckoners - of course, probably mostly because this is not written for my age group. The protagonist in this story is too similar to David from the main series in many aspects (orphan, prodigy, has a crush on a girl etc) and that makes the story feel not too... fresh?
davesw's review
2.0
This was at times a 3.5 star book, but by the end it was 2.5 or less. I'm not sorry I listened to it, but I can't imagine listening to it again.
Many parts felt long and drawn out past the point of my interest. Some cool ideas and plot points, but the ending really lost me. Didn't feel like a true Sanderson, and wasn't nearly as good as the other Reckoners. The main character Jax was too similar to David in the main series.
Don't currently feel the need to continue with future books in this series. As a Sanderson fanboy, that's saying a lot.
Many parts felt long and drawn out past the point of my interest. Some cool ideas and plot points, but the ending really lost me. Didn't feel like a true Sanderson, and wasn't nearly as good as the other Reckoners. The main character Jax was too similar to David in the main series.
Don't currently feel the need to continue with future books in this series. As a Sanderson fanboy, that's saying a lot.
ruhlen's review
4.0
I really enjoyed Lux. If ever there were a Sanderson series written for big screen (or small screen), it would be the Reckoners series. The characters are rich and likeable (or hateable), every scene has meaning and most of them are action-packed, the setting is well developed and you can envision living in a post-Calamity world.
Lux is a great semi-standalone addition to the Reckoners' series. I was very entertained the entire time, but I wasn't deeply connected with any of the characters - and I feel like this was true for the first Newcago Reckoners stories as well. What was a little off-putting was the structure of the story which really made it feel like 2 books mushed into one. It just requires the reader to shift mental gears pretty hard right after the intro and about halfway through. There are also a few side scenes that felt like their own short stories, again asking the reader to set aside the main story for a little while to indulge in a little backstory or character arc. Overall though, this didn't have a huge impact on my enjoyment of the story.
The audiobook was also masterfully done. After learning that the first series was read by the same narrator, now I want to go back and listen to the original series! I read them the first time, but MacLeod Andrews does an amazing job and I know one of these 4 stars is just for his performance. I would highly recommend giving this one a listen for an action packed story.
Lux is a great semi-standalone addition to the Reckoners' series. I was very entertained the entire time, but I wasn't deeply connected with any of the characters - and I feel like this was true for the first Newcago Reckoners stories as well. What was a little off-putting was the structure of the story which really made it feel like 2 books mushed into one. It just requires the reader to shift mental gears pretty hard right after the intro and about halfway through. There are also a few side scenes that felt like their own short stories, again asking the reader to set aside the main story for a little while to indulge in a little backstory or character arc. Overall though, this didn't have a huge impact on my enjoyment of the story.
The audiobook was also masterfully done. After learning that the first series was read by the same narrator, now I want to go back and listen to the original series! I read them the first time, but MacLeod Andrews does an amazing job and I know one of these 4 stars is just for his performance. I would highly recommend giving this one a listen for an action packed story.