hgranger's review against another edition
3.0
I love Richelle Mead and I wanted to love this book but it was just ok. Mead is so creative and usually pulls me right in but for some reason the story was lacking, Fei was sort of washed out as a character and I couldn't bring myself to care much about her village. The bad guys were one-dimensional. Finally, the pixius swooping in at the end reeked of deus ex machina - no mention of magic until the last chapter and then tada, all is suddenly better.
So why 3 stars and not 2? I liked the supporting characters; Li Wei, the sister, and the retired soldier's daughter. And master Chen. I didn't hate Fei - I just wanted to know her better. I liked the setting. (Again, give me more background and history!) And I liked the idea itself. Very creative.
So why 3 stars and not 2? I liked the supporting characters; Li Wei, the sister, and the retired soldier's daughter. And master Chen. I didn't hate Fei - I just wanted to know her better. I liked the setting. (Again, give me more background and history!) And I liked the idea itself. Very creative.
kcoccia's review against another edition
3.0
Definitely different...
It's alright but gets a little boring and there's really nothing special about anyone. And the main character is so naive and stupid it's upsetting.
It's alright but gets a little boring and there's really nothing special about anyone. And the main character is so naive and stupid it's upsetting.
ffilippa's review against another edition
2.0
nephelila's review against another edition
2.0
As much as I wanted to like this book, it felt like everything about it was rushed. As if the author did not bother doing deep research and just threw very little Chinese folklore and culture elements to it. And not only: there is close to no character development and world building. It could have been a beautiful story, but it sadly was not good enough for me.
geo_ix's review against another edition
3.0
High 3.5 stars to low 4 stars. (On a side not addition, I do actually love Asian movies like this. This 100% would have been a better foreign film movie, and if you don't particularly like them (slow paced, not always super realistic and blushing characters with subtle romance and such) this won't ever be fore you, but I sit up on weekends watching stuff like this on SBS so it was kind of amazing for me.
I legitimately don't think this is as bad as everyone seems to think it is. In the beginning I could understand because it's very slow and I WAS bored, which is why I took a star off, and also I didn't like the ending but sure, go from normal to paranormal for the last 10 pages or whatever.
I think the main problem in the start was the lack of hearing. Because no one can hear it's a very different type of book. Personally, I would have put the signing in talking marks because I think he whole book, no one speaks (well, that she can understand so there's no words in speech marks) because the thoughts were also in italics and I got confused sometimes. I also got irritated when there was the word 'said' used, because I kept thinking someone was speaking, and I understand signing IS a language, and you're definitely saying something but it confused me so yeah.
Once they travel down the mountain I was really enjoying it. I read the last 50% in one go until now, 4am (it's Easter and a weekend so I'll be sleeping in anyway).
I DO think the end wasn't how it should go, )I'll just put it in a spoilers tag anything that's involving the plot really):
I legitimately don't think this is as bad as everyone seems to think it is. In the beginning I could understand because it's very slow and I WAS bored, which is why I took a star off, and also I didn't like the ending but sure, go from normal to paranormal for the last 10 pages or whatever.
I think the main problem in the start was the lack of hearing. Because no one can hear it's a very different type of book. Personally, I would have put the signing in talking marks because I think he whole book, no one speaks (well, that she can understand so there's no words in speech marks) because the thoughts were also in italics and I got confused sometimes. I also got irritated when there was the word 'said' used, because I kept thinking someone was speaking, and I understand signing IS a language, and you're definitely saying something but it confused me so yeah.
Once they travel down the mountain I was really enjoying it. I read the last 50% in one go until now, 4am (it's Easter and a weekend so I'll be sleeping in anyway).
I DO think the end wasn't how it should go, )I'll just put it in a spoilers tag anything that's involving the plot really):
Spoiler
there's mentions of the mythical creatures but I really just wanted it to BE a myth. Nope, that shits real as fuck and only comes in right at the end. I loved the fighting and soldiers and stuff, and I was genuinely angry for the villagers when they could have been free long ago, but I also guessed it very quickly into the book. Mainly because if the King wanted them down, he'd have made a better zip line and gotten them down! And I never actually thought about the toxins from the mines making them deaf and blind... And after that came out I guessed she got it back because of her time painting as she's the top painter and knows medicinal qualities and such, but no, we had to go for some griffin like creature instead of something that could be realistic and logical. Damn.jessicatamm92's review against another edition
5.0
*I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
4.5 stars
REALLY, Really enjoyed this book! I thought the Chinese Folklore was really interesting. Also reading about these character's senses or lack there of was super interesting. Richelle Mead is an incredible author and I'm sure it wasn't easy to write a book where none of the characters could hear and they all used sign language. She did it beautifully though!
4.5 stars
REALLY, Really enjoyed this book! I thought the Chinese Folklore was really interesting. Also reading about these character's senses or lack there of was super interesting. Richelle Mead is an incredible author and I'm sure it wasn't easy to write a book where none of the characters could hear and they all used sign language. She did it beautifully though!
ellenpenleysmith's review against another edition
2.0
Soundless was good. It wasn't great, it wasn't horrible, but it was good. Underwhelming at times with a severe case of love without explanation, Soundless was enjoyable and easy to read in the end.
I have loved the majority of Mead's work. She writes effortlessly, her characters are hilarious, and the world's are interesting and different. There was none of that but the writing here. My biggest issue is probably our narrator Fei who in simple terms is boring. There was no humour in this book, and was basically carried by two characters, Fei and her love interest whom's name I cannot even remember cause he was boring too so it wasn't the most exciting of reads even though I did finish it in a couple of days.
I have loved the majority of Mead's work. She writes effortlessly, her characters are hilarious, and the world's are interesting and different. There was none of that but the writing here. My biggest issue is probably our narrator Fei who in simple terms is boring. There was no humour in this book, and was basically carried by two characters, Fei and her love interest whom's name I cannot even remember cause he was boring too so it wasn't the most exciting of reads even though I did finish it in a couple of days.
nakedsushi's review against another edition
3.0
A deaf society in China, mythological creatures, a badass heroine -- what else could I ask for? Unfortunately, the book didn't deliver as I had hoped, but being that this is a Richelle Mead book, it was a decent YA book with a bit of teen-romance thrown in. I am glad that this is a stand-alone book and that she didn't try to stretch this into another series.
katherinebel's review against another edition
2.0
La verdad ha sido una lectura ligera, sencilla, pero no me llegó a gustar. La historia tenía mucho potencial y creo que sólo por eso le puse 2 estrellas, pero la protagonista se me hizo más de lo mismo, súper cliché. De hecho ni siquiera pude visualizar a ningún personaje en mi mente. No hay descripción de personajes, NADA! No hay una creación clara del mundo en el que se desarrolla, el final fue pobre, conveniente y penoso. Este libro no es de fantasía, yo lo clasificaría más como distopía, de las cuales ya estoy cansadisima. Quedé con gusto a poco. Si buscan algo rápido de leer y sin mucho que digerir, es ideal, pero a mi no me dejó nada.
kelz31's review against another edition
3.0
Disappointed to say I wasn't completely thrilled with this book. I was excited to read it ever since I heard the concept, which is fantastic. However, I feel like it doesn't completely succeed at being a fantasy, adventure story, or a romance. I felt slightly let down when I finished reading. It's a good length and I like that it's a standalone, but ultimately it could have been better.