The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! đ
stories's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Interesting worldbuilding, gradually doled out through the book. But thatâs really the only thing going for it, and the world building - elemental magic in a 4 years post âResurrectionâ dystopia - wasnât *that* good. (Primarily because as a consequence of the gradual doling, there was no real chance to explore the implications beyond surface level.Â
Pace was probably the biggest weakness. For all I wanted to understand the world, it was a drag of one thing after another after another. No âbreaksâ of hope were held up sincerely enough to allow for the impact of the next disaster and the rhythm of a narrative just wasnât there.Â
Add a cast of 2-dimensional characters, who individually and collectively show next to no growth across an entire 400 pages (does âsheâs now wearing a necklace with a symbol, but I donât ask where it came fromâ count as character growth?). Honestly, I could barely keep track of which major antagonist was which beyond one was ~confusing, creepy and super sexy~ while the other was only ~confusing and creepy~. They had the same goals, the same threats, the same behaviours.Â
I can see the sequel is a shorter book - maybe the prose tightened up, and the pacing is more polished. Too late for me Iâm afraid. Â Â
Pace was probably the biggest weakness. For all I wanted to understand the world, it was a drag of one thing after another after another. No âbreaksâ of hope were held up sincerely enough to allow for the impact of the next disaster and the rhythm of a narrative just wasnât there.Â
Add a cast of 2-dimensional characters, who individually and collectively show next to no growth across an entire 400 pages (does âsheâs now wearing a necklace with a symbol, but I donât ask where it came fromâ count as character growth?). Honestly, I could barely keep track of which major antagonist was which beyond one was ~confusing, creepy and super sexy~ while the other was only ~confusing and creepy~. They had the same goals, the same threats, the same behaviours.Â
I can see the sequel is a shorter book - maybe the prose tightened up, and the pacing is more polished. Too late for me Iâm afraid. Â Â
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Death, Sexual harassment, Gore, and Blood
Moderate: Body horror, Cannibalism, Genocide, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Child death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Slavery, and War
Minor: Kidnapping, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Animal death, Confinement, Deadnaming, Gun violence, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry
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