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victory_jo's review
5.0
I received an ARC for Master of the Arena.
Master of the Arena is a masterfully written prequel to Headspace. JD Edwin has a way of really drawing you in through detailed storytelling. I cannot wait to read the sequel!
Master of the Arena is a masterfully written prequel to Headspace. JD Edwin has a way of really drawing you in through detailed storytelling. I cannot wait to read the sequel!
lovelikewinter3's review
dark
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
Blessed with getting an ARC copy of this book, I couldn't put it down! It was an excellent deep dive into more of the universe of Headspace. The character development just kept me turning the pages, and the creativity and imagination that went into creating such a unique world just refused to let go.
On top of that, the layers upon layers of complexity and interweaving the world's and its characters evolution. Honestly, I wish I could read it again for the first time, just to experience the world and the story fresh.
On top of that, the layers upon layers of complexity and interweaving the world's and its characters evolution. Honestly, I wish I could read it again for the first time, just to experience the world and the story fresh.
procrastiwriter's review
5.0
There are some books that you expect to love.
Whether it’s a gorgeous cover with a blurb that hooks you from the first line or the latest release from your favorite word-wizard, you just KNOW that you are in for a treat.
Sometimes that book fails you. Miserably. But when it doesn’t? When that book you believe is great turns out to be better? It’s the best feeling.
And that is this book.
Master of the Arena is the much-anticipated prequel to Headspace centered around a young girl named Nasmi Kol. The girl who used to be a slave is now the champion who saved her world. But is there a future for her on her home planet? What is her purpose now?
It feels cliche to say that I loved everything. And perhaps, sometimes, that sentence is used as a cheap party trick to avoid the nitty-gritty details. But not today! And certainly not for a J.D. Edwin's story, okay? Because there's too much to love to fit into a single review (and I don't have the brain capacity or organizational prowess to pull off a series of reviews).
So…
I loved the storyline. I loved the characters. I loved the new worlds I got to catch glimpses of. I loved seeing how the game of Headspace works from the inside. But most of all, I love the fact that Master of the Arena made me root for the person I thought I could only hate.
There wasn't any point in the story that I felt lost or confused. So big win there! No matter how many worlds and cultures this book traveled through, the dialogue and plot kept me up to pace on what was going on.
This book was somehow better than Headspace. Which, a year ago, I wouldn't have believed possible.
So, basically, if you like reading fiction at all, BUY THIS BOOK!!!!
Whether it’s a gorgeous cover with a blurb that hooks you from the first line or the latest release from your favorite word-wizard, you just KNOW that you are in for a treat.
Sometimes that book fails you. Miserably. But when it doesn’t? When that book you believe is great turns out to be better? It’s the best feeling.
And that is this book.
Master of the Arena is the much-anticipated prequel to Headspace centered around a young girl named Nasmi Kol. The girl who used to be a slave is now the champion who saved her world. But is there a future for her on her home planet? What is her purpose now?
It feels cliche to say that I loved everything. And perhaps, sometimes, that sentence is used as a cheap party trick to avoid the nitty-gritty details. But not today! And certainly not for a J.D. Edwin's story, okay? Because there's too much to love to fit into a single review (and I don't have the brain capacity or organizational prowess to pull off a series of reviews).
So…
I loved the storyline. I loved the characters. I loved the new worlds I got to catch glimpses of. I loved seeing how the game of Headspace works from the inside. But most of all, I love the fact that Master of the Arena made me root for the person I thought I could only hate.
There wasn't any point in the story that I felt lost or confused. So big win there! No matter how many worlds and cultures this book traveled through, the dialogue and plot kept me up to pace on what was going on.
This book was somehow better than Headspace. Which, a year ago, I wouldn't have believed possible.
So, basically, if you like reading fiction at all, BUY THIS BOOK!!!!
alizasminilibrary's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Thank you JD Edwin for the review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This book is second in the Headspace series as a prequel. At the end of the first book we find out about Cheshire’ past and who they used to be before becoming the game master. This book allows us behind the scenes access to see what life is like after winning the games for the champions.
It has hard for me to fully review this book when explaining a lot of it will spoil the first in the series, however I will say seeing how the games became what they were by the first book was amazing and made everything become much clearer. As well as seeing how it all works, I never considered it before, the process they have to go through to pick where to stage the Arenas at and seeing how it all comes together was amazing.
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