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A review by narteest
Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead
4.0
3.8 to 4 stars!
This is a futuristic scifi crime mystery novel. There's a bit of romance. But it's not at ALL like Richelle Mead's other books. I've only read her [b:Vampire Academy|18660669|Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, #1)|Richelle Mead|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1381459853s/18660669.jpg|335933] and [b:Bloodlines|8709527|Bloodlines (Bloodlines, #1)|Richelle Mead|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1297199431s/8709527.jpg|13582374] series, and had my reservations about her writing, but always, always, I enjoyed the story I read. Her Age of X series is looking to be something very, very different to those two.
Firstly, there is a lot more detail in comparison. Secondly, it's told from switching povs. Thirdly, it's more Adult Fiction than YA.
WHAT I LIKED
I liked a lot about this. See, while I was reading this, I was also reading [b:A Court of Thorns and Roses|16096824|A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #1)|Sarah J. Maas|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1460846517s/16096824.jpg|21905102], and for those who care, and wonder why I ranted just a little about Maas' worldbuilding abilities over in ACOTAR, this is why. My absolute favourite part of Gameboard of the Gods, is the worldbuilding. It's complex. Each detail is finely tuned. You aren't just thrown a bunch of terms, you are assimilated into it. And it's wonderful. I loved it. It was just to detailed. I have seen more complex worldbuidling, but Mead seems to do really well with creating her worlds. Even in Vampire Academy, the worldbuilding was pretty strong. Maybe if I'd read a different book at the same time, one with even stronger worldbuilding, then I might have thought this was pretty weak, since a lot of terms are thrown at you and explained later. But it also, felt more real. See that's the thing with language, it should come naturally, and naturally doesn't mean info-dumping asap. SO I liked Mead's approach. (Though I won't lie, it could get a little confusing).
I liked Mae. She's so kickass, yet she's vulnerable at the same time. She's beautiful and strong, and I like that she's more discomforted by her perfect genetic structure because of how much attention it attracts, than the fact that it makes her uncomfortable. She's a supersoldider by choice, and she's not just faux strong, she's really strong.
I loveeeed Justin. Well, when he's not mooning over how perfect Mae is (though it was completely understandable in the beginning) and he's slips into being more normal around her. He's awesome. He's like the ideal debauching, smartarse, really clever love interest/main male character. But he debauches a lot, so that to some could be off-putting. He's not bad looking either which is even better haha.
I also love the diversity - but this is kind of expected, we are talking about a futuristic world where genes are mixed etc.
Tessa was a cute side character.
Other characters were great. Not much to say, because I'd have to list them all and there are too many to list! But I have my suspicions about Dominic, and I think I'm right lol.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
There's not much to say here. Except maybe what I didn't like was Justin's mooning over Mae at the start?
And also, although I got to see a bit of Mae's history, I feel just a tad bit unsatisfied with how things ended with Mae and Porfiro.
ANYWAY, a fuller, more detailed review later. Favourite highlight: Worldbuilding! But if you're expecting something like Vampire Academy or Bloodlines, then you won't get it. If you're expecting a heavy romance, this isn't it either. But if you want a science fiction, futuristic world, with mystery and a strong hint of romance, then this is your book :).
This is a futuristic scifi crime mystery novel. There's a bit of romance. But it's not at ALL like Richelle Mead's other books. I've only read her [b:Vampire Academy|18660669|Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, #1)|Richelle Mead|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1381459853s/18660669.jpg|335933] and [b:Bloodlines|8709527|Bloodlines (Bloodlines, #1)|Richelle Mead|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1297199431s/8709527.jpg|13582374] series, and had my reservations about her writing, but always, always, I enjoyed the story I read. Her Age of X series is looking to be something very, very different to those two.
Firstly, there is a lot more detail in comparison. Secondly, it's told from switching povs. Thirdly, it's more Adult Fiction than YA.
WHAT I LIKED
I liked a lot about this. See, while I was reading this, I was also reading [b:A Court of Thorns and Roses|16096824|A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #1)|Sarah J. Maas|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1460846517s/16096824.jpg|21905102], and for those who care, and wonder why I ranted just a little about Maas' worldbuilding abilities over in ACOTAR, this is why. My absolute favourite part of Gameboard of the Gods, is the worldbuilding. It's complex. Each detail is finely tuned. You aren't just thrown a bunch of terms, you are assimilated into it. And it's wonderful. I loved it. It was just to detailed. I have seen more complex worldbuidling, but Mead seems to do really well with creating her worlds. Even in Vampire Academy, the worldbuilding was pretty strong. Maybe if I'd read a different book at the same time, one with even stronger worldbuilding, then I might have thought this was pretty weak, since a lot of terms are thrown at you and explained later. But it also, felt more real. See that's the thing with language, it should come naturally, and naturally doesn't mean info-dumping asap. SO I liked Mead's approach. (Though I won't lie, it could get a little confusing).
I liked Mae. She's so kickass, yet she's vulnerable at the same time. She's beautiful and strong, and I like that she's more discomforted by her perfect genetic structure because of how much attention it attracts, than the fact that it makes her uncomfortable. She's a supersoldider by choice, and she's not just faux strong, she's really strong.
I loveeeed Justin. Well, when he's not mooning over how perfect Mae is (though it was completely understandable in the beginning) and he's slips into being more normal around her. He's awesome. He's like the ideal debauching, smartarse, really clever love interest/main male character. But he debauches a lot, so that to some could be off-putting. He's not bad looking either which is even better haha.
I also love the diversity - but this is kind of expected, we are talking about a futuristic world where genes are mixed etc.
Tessa was a cute side character.
Other characters were great. Not much to say, because I'd have to list them all and there are too many to list! But I have my suspicions about Dominic, and I think I'm right lol.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
There's not much to say here. Except maybe what I didn't like was Justin's mooning over Mae at the start?
And also, although I got to see a bit of Mae's history, I feel just a tad bit unsatisfied with how things ended with Mae and Porfiro.
ANYWAY, a fuller, more detailed review later. Favourite highlight: Worldbuilding! But if you're expecting something like Vampire Academy or Bloodlines, then you won't get it. If you're expecting a heavy romance, this isn't it either. But if you want a science fiction, futuristic world, with mystery and a strong hint of romance, then this is your book :).