A review by allioth
Stone Sword by Diana T. Hunter

adventurous emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5


˗ˏˋ꒰⭐⭐.5 ꒱

If the words “nothing burger” had a picture to come with its definition, that picture would be of this book.

I don't know how to feel about this book. Whether that's good or bad, I also don't know.

I'll try to organize my thoughts as coherently as possible, but don't expect too much from me lol.

If you don't read a lot of fantasy and want a story set in a medieval Europe-ish country with a chosen one protagonist, then this book is for you.

I don't think it does anything exceptionally bad, but also nothing exceptionally good either.

I couldn't bring myself to care for literally any of the characters (except Sashe, who is a cat, so it is to be expected). Bea, the MC, has depth to her; she's torn apart in her loyalties, she wants to please her family but also doesn't think the monarchy is as bad as it seems. However, she's so incredibly dumb that the only reason she has not been killed yet is thanks to the power of the script. She's also very rude toward the royalty, which you'd think would have real consequences for her actions, but naaaah, some talking here and there and everything's forgotten!

Prince Oscar, on the other hand, is good—great even. He's not a good person by any means, but he's also not as terrible as the first impression might suggest. He wants to learn and be better; he's reckless and stupid and suffers the ramifications of his actions. I found him so much more enjoyable than Bea, even at his worst.

The other characters are meh; I can't even bring myself to hate the ones I'm supposed to hate.

The romance isn't any different. I couldn't believe for a second any sort of relationship that the book wanted to sell to me. I don't think I need to say that the "betrayals" and "plot twists" felt as empty and boring as they seemed, for anyone who has read more than two fantasy books in their lifetime.

Aaaand the plot...

I am really trying hard to think of something interesting to say about it without resorting to the cheap "here's a copy and paste of the blurb written on the back of the book that I am intending to pass off as my own original thoughts" technique.

It's boring, that's how I would describe it. I don't think there's anything wrong with using an overused series of clichés or plotlines, as long as you bring something new to the table.

This book didn't do that.

It was a cut-and-dry story about a (very bad) spy trying to overthrow the government, with a love triangle involved and plain-as-hell characters. The most interesting part, Bea's connection to Sashe, is so secondary that it is almost infuriating, and that's the most emotion I've ever felt reading this.

I'll still read the second book, Flare Bound, because I think Ronan has potential, even when he's predictable and boring as gods know what.

I have a lot of nitpicks though (
like how Bea technically dated her stepbrother, or how her mother married her father's murderer and she doesn't think a lot of it until it's required by the story, or how Bea's brother is mentioned so little that I forgot he even existed when he is supposed to be important??
) that I honestly think could've been solved with a little more world-building and time with the Egals. I would say that's one of the problems of book series, but it really isn't, as more books should give you more time to introduce the world you built in the first book. But oh well...

An overall meh if there's ever been one. Maybe I would've given this 3 stars if I didn't know better about the genre.




Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange of an honest review!
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