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A review by abrattebo
An Empress of Air & Chaos by Noelle Rayne
4.0
I have been meaning to write this review for FOREVER! So, on we go!
First and foremost, a very big congratulations to the author on this debut novel. I have been anxiously engaged in her journey as a writer and I think many reviewers forget is that each novel is that author’s baby. It takes courage, bravery, self-reflection, and for the author to go on a whole journey of days and nights devoted to telling a story. So thank you, for giving us this gift of yourself! I am inspired!
Now for my very honest review…
I did really enjoy this book. I remember absolutely loving the amount of snark and sarcasm that pass between the characters. And to be completely honest, their personalities really shone through. To me, I find that having that balance of serious but smart and quippy comebacks is so hard to find. I also love the fact that the main characters were so very well developed. I found myself falling in love with them (especially those brothers… but who wouldn’t? Am I right?).
I also very much enjoyed the plot and where this story was taking it. Now, my specialty is being able to see plots coming from miles away. It’s a game of mine to see if I can pick them apart. This particular book I managed to have the end goal sorted about midway. It didn’t detract at all from the story for me, as I was just curious to see how the author would weave the events together to get the exact ending. It was diverting and entertaining for sure.
I would say that my big critiques for this book are just a few. 1) I felt like the world building was a bit soft? Especially when trying to understand the home the MC grew up in and their seemingly small town, but then how you have the rich and influential pulling the strings. It didn’t feel quite as strong as some other aspects of the book. 2) Other characters outs side of the main MCs that you see every few pages were weak as well (i.e. the big fight scene in the forest, I felt like the wolves and their characters and relationships were really without much explanation. And I felt like more involvement of them in the story would’ve really helped to give the story some more depth). 3) This one I’m sure will come with time (and the next book…hint hint), but I’m looking forward to added depth to all the MCs. I felt like I saw a good chunk of them, that the layers were beginning to get peeled back on them, BUT I feel like we have somehow just scratched the surface.
Overall, I am excitedly looking forward to the sequel. Sign me up!
First and foremost, a very big congratulations to the author on this debut novel. I have been anxiously engaged in her journey as a writer and I think many reviewers forget is that each novel is that author’s baby. It takes courage, bravery, self-reflection, and for the author to go on a whole journey of days and nights devoted to telling a story. So thank you, for giving us this gift of yourself! I am inspired!
Now for my very honest review…
I did really enjoy this book. I remember absolutely loving the amount of snark and sarcasm that pass between the characters. And to be completely honest, their personalities really shone through. To me, I find that having that balance of serious but smart and quippy comebacks is so hard to find. I also love the fact that the main characters were so very well developed. I found myself falling in love with them (especially those brothers… but who wouldn’t? Am I right?).
I also very much enjoyed the plot and where this story was taking it. Now, my specialty is being able to see plots coming from miles away. It’s a game of mine to see if I can pick them apart. This particular book I managed to have the end goal sorted about midway. It didn’t detract at all from the story for me, as I was just curious to see how the author would weave the events together to get the exact ending. It was diverting and entertaining for sure.
I would say that my big critiques for this book are just a few. 1) I felt like the world building was a bit soft? Especially when trying to understand the home the MC grew up in and their seemingly small town, but then how you have the rich and influential pulling the strings. It didn’t feel quite as strong as some other aspects of the book. 2) Other characters outs side of the main MCs that you see every few pages were weak as well (i.e. the big fight scene in the forest, I felt like the wolves and their characters and relationships were really without much explanation. And I felt like more involvement of them in the story would’ve really helped to give the story some more depth). 3) This one I’m sure will come with time (and the next book…hint hint), but I’m looking forward to added depth to all the MCs. I felt like I saw a good chunk of them, that the layers were beginning to get peeled back on them, BUT I feel like we have somehow just scratched the surface.
Overall, I am excitedly looking forward to the sequel. Sign me up!