A review by lolasreviews
Smoke and Daemons by Candice Bundy
4.0
I got a copy for review in exchange for an honest review.
This is a really good story, I liked the world Candice has created. The story was fast paced, but there were also some slower paced parts. The characters were nice, but overal I would've liked getting to know them better.
The story was really good and fast paced and I just wanted to keep reading to see what would hapen next. I really liked the strong beginning, it immediately pulled me into the story and I already thought that this would be an awesome book. The story really was the strong point of this book, with so much happening and after one thing was resolved there was already something else. The pacing was a bit off at times, with some things happening a bit too fast and other going a bit too slow. Also I thought the ending of the book was a bit strange and I think an earlier ending would've been better, there was a point were I thought the ending would be and then realized there were some 30-40 pages more. So after that point there was a new problem introduced about which we hear more in the next book. I think this introduction would've fit better at the start of the next book.
Something that bothered me was the focus on lust instead of romance. In this book lust took a more prominent role than romance and even though I got that they were attracted to each other I didn't really feel their love, only later in the story there is more attention for the love aspect. Also I thought the sex scenes weren't that interesting or well done, just my opinion.
The characters are likeable, although I did feel at times I didn't really got to know them. I did like Meri and quite soon I got a good sense of who she was, but this wasn't the case with the other characters. They seemed a bit flat and I would've liked to see more of their personalities, motives and personal goals. Also Meri is the kind of stubborn character who thinks she knows what is best and makes a few mistakes because of that, but she did stay really true to her character. Also some descisions in the first part of the book are taken a bit too fast and this wasn't really believeable. Also it is mentioned often that meri is driven with vengeance, I didn't really feel this.
The world building is something I wish was done more elaborate. Only when I reached the glossary at the end did I understand when this story actually took place and a bit of what the Corporations actually are. So not only did the deamon part of the story lacked world building, also the human part did. Also we do get to know a bit about Deamons, but I still felt like there should've been more. What is hell like, how is it created, how are the deamons created, how many different type of main deamons are there (like lust and hate), what are the powers deamon can possess and what are the politics in the deamon rhealm are just a few of the question I was left with. The idea behind the world is really interesting and original, I just wished there was more world building so the world really would come alive.
To conclude: a really enjoyable story and I kept reading, because I wanted to know what would happen next. The side characters lacked a bit depth, but I did like the main character and got a good sense of who she is. There was a bit too much focus on lust and sex instead of romance and love, although at the end of the story this did get better. Also I think the book would've been better with more world building. The story is really good and even though I had some issues with this book I still really enjoyed it.
This is a really good story, I liked the world Candice has created. The story was fast paced, but there were also some slower paced parts. The characters were nice, but overal I would've liked getting to know them better.
The story was really good and fast paced and I just wanted to keep reading to see what would hapen next. I really liked the strong beginning, it immediately pulled me into the story and I already thought that this would be an awesome book. The story really was the strong point of this book, with so much happening and after one thing was resolved there was already something else. The pacing was a bit off at times, with some things happening a bit too fast and other going a bit too slow. Also I thought the ending of the book was a bit strange and I think an earlier ending would've been better, there was a point were I thought the ending would be and then realized there were some 30-40 pages more. So after that point there was a new problem introduced about which we hear more in the next book. I think this introduction would've fit better at the start of the next book.
Something that bothered me was the focus on lust instead of romance. In this book lust took a more prominent role than romance and even though I got that they were attracted to each other I didn't really feel their love, only later in the story there is more attention for the love aspect. Also I thought the sex scenes weren't that interesting or well done, just my opinion.
The characters are likeable, although I did feel at times I didn't really got to know them. I did like Meri and quite soon I got a good sense of who she was, but this wasn't the case with the other characters. They seemed a bit flat and I would've liked to see more of their personalities, motives and personal goals. Also Meri is the kind of stubborn character who thinks she knows what is best and makes a few mistakes because of that, but she did stay really true to her character. Also some descisions in the first part of the book are taken a bit too fast and this wasn't really believeable. Also it is mentioned often that meri is driven with vengeance, I didn't really feel this.
The world building is something I wish was done more elaborate. Only when I reached the glossary at the end did I understand when this story actually took place and a bit of what the Corporations actually are. So not only did the deamon part of the story lacked world building, also the human part did. Also we do get to know a bit about Deamons, but I still felt like there should've been more. What is hell like, how is it created, how are the deamons created, how many different type of main deamons are there (like lust and hate), what are the powers deamon can possess and what are the politics in the deamon rhealm are just a few of the question I was left with. The idea behind the world is really interesting and original, I just wished there was more world building so the world really would come alive.
To conclude: a really enjoyable story and I kept reading, because I wanted to know what would happen next. The side characters lacked a bit depth, but I did like the main character and got a good sense of who she is. There was a bit too much focus on lust and sex instead of romance and love, although at the end of the story this did get better. Also I think the book would've been better with more world building. The story is really good and even though I had some issues with this book I still really enjoyed it.