I received an advance review copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into with thisI received an advance review copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into with this book. Having never read anything by Mercedes Lackey, I went to Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ to scope things out. I was disappointed by what I found. Most of the top reviewers didn’t even get a quarter of the way through the novel before they gave up. While that made me nervous, I found the synopsis intriguing enough to give it a shot. I am glad I did.
Hunter sucked me in immediately. The main character’s internal monologue is not only informative, but charming. The author used this time to establish her unique dysoptian/fantasy/sci-fi hybrid setting. Combing that world with Joyeaux’s modern teenage voice makes for a very engaging read. By the time the real action began I had a grasp on the world and could focus on the story instead of trying to puzzle out the setting.
I was disappointed in the story arch. The author chose to be vague about the identity of the antagonist, leaving the climax to feature a relatively unimportant character. It is clear that she has grand plans for the story over the life of the entire series, but she failed to establish enough in the debut book to keep readers hooked.
While I found the world to be interesting, the main character is not. Joy is your typical YA Heroine: young, smart, and the best in her field of study. She is a unique snowflake. I had hoped that she would develop into something more than a Mary Sue, but was disappointed. The more you read the more special she becomes.
This genre-bending debut may be lacking on several fronts, but I still found myself drawn in. I devoured the book as fast I could and even with a lackluster ending, I wanted the sequel. The concept for the world is just unique enough to make me want to see the author’s vision. And, I do believe she has one.
Recommended for: Readers who enjoyed the Divergent series by Veronica Roth and the Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi....more
“The universe owes you nothing, Kady. It has already given you everything, after all. It was here long before you, and it will go on long after you. T“The universe owes you nothing, Kady. It has already given you everything, after all. It was here long before you, and it will go on long after you. The only way it will remember you is to do something worth remembrance.�
Five years ago a friend loaned me a copy of House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski. I got a quarter of the way into the 700 page tome and decided it just wasn’t for me. I absolutely hated the non-traditional formatting the author used to tell his story. I considered taking scissors to the book in order to “correct� it a handful of times before I finally called it quits. I promised myself that I was done with “unique� formatting. My OCD simply couldn’t handle it.
I stuck with that promise until Christmas, when I asked for Illuminae. I couldn’t help it. I knew going in that the formatting was going to be interesting. I knew that I would probably hate it. The reviews were just too good to ignore. Plus, I can’t get enough space opera. So, I broke my promise and I read it. It took me a grand total of three days to blow through all 599 pages.
Guess what? I didn’t reach for my scissors once.
Illuminae is wonderful.
Kaufman and Kristoff took a risk with the storytelling and it really paid off. I was certain there would be issues with character development due to these decisions. I was wrong. Katy and Ezra were extremely well developed and easy to love. They even utilized IM chat speak in order to show the differences in personality. It was very well done (if a tad bit annoying at first).
This book was like reading a puzzle. The reader is constantly storing information provided in the dossier in order to piece together the entire story. It made the story more engaging. Nothing was obvious or predictable, and nothing was given away too soon. I found myself on the edge of my seat throughout most of the book.
To top it all off Illuminae is the most beautiful book I have ever owned. Each page is more visually stunning than the next. I can’t imagine the amount of work that went into creating this graphic masterpiece. It is truly stunning.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys Science Fiction or just wants to read something fun and attractive with a nice romance. My only suggestion would be to buy it in hardcover or paperback, as this book would be nearly impossible to read in ebook format. ...more
I meant for this to be a review of Prudence. I even started reading it. However, the first chapter made no sense. TReview originally posted at.
I meant for this to be a review of Prudence. I even started reading it. However, the first chapter made no sense. The second, even less. I decided I had to go back and read the Parasol Protectorate.
After my self-inflicted Prudence confusion, I didn’t have high expectations for Soulless. I worried that it would be equally confusing and I would have to trudge through it in order to write this review. Boy was I wrong. My only complaint was that chapter one, while witty, was a tad awkward. Carriger made up for this in chapter two and never looked back. Neither did I.
Soulless is a clever and witty combination of genres. Steampunk and Alternate History tend to go hand in hand, but tossing Urban Fantasy into the mix is unique. And it works well. Dandy vampires and werewolves in waistcoats work out beautifully. Add in a cute, occasionally rude romance and the book just sings.
Carriger’s mix of genres isn’t the only thing unique about Soulless. Her depiction of supernatural hierarchy and social integration is new and interesting. This isn’t the first series where supernaturals live openly in society. But this is the first one I have seen that explores their regulation and official involvement in government. I loved how well this was explored and look forward to seeing growth throughout the series.
All in all this is a cute and quirky novel that will have you hooked. I read the book in one sitting, finishing it in the wee hours of the morning. I just couldn’t put it down. Knowing that there are four more books left in the series, excites me to no end. Expect reviews of the entire series and Prudence in the very near future. I doubt I will be able to pace myself with this series....more
I don't know if I like this book better than the first, but I feel as if I do. It could be because I just finished reading it five minutes ago, and quI don't know if I like this book better than the first, but I feel as if I do. It could be because I just finished reading it five minutes ago, and quite literally devoured it.
The writing style still bugs me and I feel like this book had some serious issues with pacing, especially near the beginning, but that didn't stop me. I am really enjoying this series....more
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a pretty easy read (which is what's was looking for), yet still makes you think. How long is it before reality I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a pretty easy read (which is what's was looking for), yet still makes you think. How long is it before reality TV takes that horribly awful turn? I wonder.
The three star rating is based upon the writing style. I am not a huge fan of POV writing, and truly dislike things written in the present tense. BUT the story was compelling enough for me to ignore these this and absolutely devour the book.
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