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thelitraccoon's reviews
86 reviews
Daughter of Shadows and Ash by Ember Johnson
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
I really wanted to like this book, but unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me.
The story throws you straight into a fantasy world with almost no context, leaving me confused about the setting, timeline, and characters. I know this is the first book in a trilogy, but I really wish there had been a stronger foundation for the world-building and a clearer introduction to what’s going on.
Another issue for me was the narration. It kept jumping between past and present tense without any clear reason, which made it hard to stay focused and follow the flow of the story.
I also had a tough time connecting with the FMC. Her personality felt one-dimensional, and her "not like other girls" attitude came across as repetitive and frustrating. Lines like, “No one wanted a wife who could gut a deer or fight like a man” and “They were all so beautiful and dainty, not the type to scrap with men or hunt in the woods” felt overused and made her difficult to relate to.
The biggest struggle for me, though, was the writing style. It felt unpolished, with a lot of repetitive phrasing and awkward descriptions, like “I looked up at the edge of the roof, it was just beyond my reach. I jumped up, attempting to grip the hard edge of the rooftop with my fingertips. The edge slipped my grasp.” and “After barely eating anything last night, I didn’t expect to feel famished. But this morning, my hunger is an angry wench this morning.” Unfortunately, this style wasn’t a one-off but continued throughout the book, which made it hard to stay engaged.
That said, I do think the story has potential. With more polish, better pacing, and deeper world-building, this series could become something really enjoyable. For me, though, it wasn’t quite there yet.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ember Johnson for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story throws you straight into a fantasy world with almost no context, leaving me confused about the setting, timeline, and characters. I know this is the first book in a trilogy, but I really wish there had been a stronger foundation for the world-building and a clearer introduction to what’s going on.
Another issue for me was the narration. It kept jumping between past and present tense without any clear reason, which made it hard to stay focused and follow the flow of the story.
I also had a tough time connecting with the FMC. Her personality felt one-dimensional, and her "not like other girls" attitude came across as repetitive and frustrating. Lines like, “No one wanted a wife who could gut a deer or fight like a man” and “They were all so beautiful and dainty, not the type to scrap with men or hunt in the woods” felt overused and made her difficult to relate to.
The biggest struggle for me, though, was the writing style. It felt unpolished, with a lot of repetitive phrasing and awkward descriptions, like “I looked up at the edge of the roof, it was just beyond my reach. I jumped up, attempting to grip the hard edge of the rooftop with my fingertips. The edge slipped my grasp.” and “After barely eating anything last night, I didn’t expect to feel famished. But this morning, my hunger is an angry wench this morning.” Unfortunately, this style wasn’t a one-off but continued throughout the book, which made it hard to stay engaged.
That said, I do think the story has potential. With more polish, better pacing, and deeper world-building, this series could become something really enjoyable. For me, though, it wasn’t quite there yet.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ember Johnson for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Metal Slinger by Rachel Schneider
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I am lost for words. I am broken. I will never trust again.
To anyone reading this, stop it, read the book instead.
To anyone reading this, stop it, read the book instead.