I wanted to love this, but I am just completely underwhelmed. It has so much potential to be amazing, but it falls flat by having no real action or plI wanted to love this, but I am just completely underwhelmed. It has so much potential to be amazing, but it falls flat by having no real action or plot or purpose, behind endless meandering and chatting. There’s just so much telling through tedious monologues. I wanted the damn book to show me something, instead of talk me to death.
Also, you promised me a monster hunter, and I barely get to see him, or get to see any monster hunting. That’s pretty disappointing. When we do see him, he’s just standing around, participating in long winded dialogue to tell backstory with another character. I wanted some more badass stuff, and goodness knows the story needed it, since the pacing sucks, and there’s just long stretch after long stretch of tedious and boring rambling.
Not to mention, that I’m not a huge fan of the way women are written and portrayed in this book. I don’t know how many times I just wanted to say yuck, really? I just wanted to see some strong and interesting female characters, but mostly they are all over-sexualized, for some reason obsessed with their own boobs in a way that no woman I know is, and incapable of doing anything of value at all when they get their periods. For the love of God. Fine, make them sexy, if you want, and I don’t care how many lovers they have. Women like sex, so that is all great. But JC, they don’t need to be simpering idiots in the process. I know this book isn’t brand new, but it’s also not that old.
I just shook my head and shook my head and shook my head until the book lulled me to sleep. Then I would wake up and start all over again, because it’s a book that just won’t end, even though very little seems to actually happen.
I’m giving it 2.5 stars, rounded to 3, because this had potential as a concept. It probably only deserves 2 stars, but it has moments that would completely captivate me. I don’t know if I should give more stars for that, or less, because he clearly had the ability to do better and didn’t. Yet there were moments when I felt all in.
It just doesn’t seem to work for me, and I’m very sad about that. I am not going to continue on with the books. This just failed to hold my attention and wasn’t worth it to me. Maybe the show will be better. ...more
I’m sad. I wanted so much more than this, as I loved SKY IN THE DEEP, but I could never really connect to the characters. Everything felt choppy, and I’m sad. I wanted so much more than this, as I loved SKY IN THE DEEP, but I could never really connect to the characters. Everything felt choppy, and the world building that existed tended to be confusing. It has a gorgeous ending, but most of the rest of the story I was bored or confused and couldn’t emotionally connect to anything. The prose is also beautiful, but unfortunately that just doesn’t result in a well told story....more
I enjoy the confusion that exists when bringing together two people from totally different worlds. I mean, I often think it is hard to understand men,I enjoy the confusion that exists when bringing together two people from totally different worlds. I mean, I often think it is hard to understand men, and we're the same damned species, from the same damned planet.
I liked the variety with how this story started, but I confess, there's still something more that I'm wanting from this series. I can't seem to put myI liked the variety with how this story started, but I confess, there's still something more that I'm wanting from this series. I can't seem to put my finger on it, but I think it's in relation to the overall world building.
Okay, the world is starting to develop a bit more, but I still have a lot of questions that I was hoping to get more answers to. This is not quite as Okay, the world is starting to develop a bit more, but I still have a lot of questions that I was hoping to get more answers to. This is not quite as compelling and addictive as the Ice Planet Barbarians series, but I'm not giving up.
This was an interesting start to the series, though just a bit slow at times. I'm hoping if I continue onward, there will be just a bit more world buiThis was an interesting start to the series, though just a bit slow at times. I'm hoping if I continue onward, there will be just a bit more world building in the next book.
I have to confess that due to the cartoonish/homemade feel of the cover, I did not expect great things from this book. That being said, the concept caI have to confess that due to the cartoonish/homemade feel of the cover, I did not expect great things from this book. That being said, the concept caught my attention enough that I decided I would just start it, and if it sucked, then I would DNF.
Obviously, I didn't DNF, and there were a lot of things I really enjoyed about this one, enough that when book 2 comes out, I will definitely give it a go, as well.
The world building is fascinating. It's basically like a fantasy novel, except for that it has no magic system, which to me = not a true fantasy novel. It's that weird new sub-genre of fantasy that as of yet remains unlabeled but for which most of us hardcore fantasy lovers also enjoy, due to the rich settings, unique world building, and usually an action-packed or adventurous plot.
Long story short, I liked it, far more than I expected to, and it's a good reminder not to let a bad cover completely deter me from giving a book a try.
This was such a unique read. It's like a fantasy western novel impregnated a paranormal dystopian novel, and the result was this story.
I really enjoyThis was such a unique read. It's like a fantasy western novel impregnated a paranormal dystopian novel, and the result was this story.
I really enjoyed the large cast of female characters. I was hooked from the start, and I enjoyed the way the character development unfolded as the story progressed. I can't wait to see what comes next! ...more
Somehow, I screwed up and thought I was reading the second novella, but I was reading this one. It was interesting but did some wandering. I’m curiousSomehow, I screwed up and thought I was reading the second novella, but I was reading this one. It was interesting but did some wandering. I’m curious to see what comes next when I dive into the first full novel. ...more
Well, I just really enjoyed this YA fantasy novel, with a bit of a viking feel about it (minus the ocean). Lots of cool monsters and battle scenes. ExWell, I just really enjoyed this YA fantasy novel, with a bit of a viking feel about it (minus the ocean). Lots of cool monsters and battle scenes. Excellent character development. I enjoy that it is a standalone novel, but I'm also a bit sad, as I would like some more of this world. ...more
I do like this series a lot, but you have to pay really close attention, or else you miss important things. Since I listened to the audiobook, I foundI do like this series a lot, but you have to pay really close attention, or else you miss important things. Since I listened to the audiobook, I found myself slowing down the speed and rewinding far more than usual, just to make sure I was focused and fully understood the world building and storyline.
I think of all of Sarah Fine's books, of which I have read many, this one has the worst character building, which is disappointing. Now, I say worst, and I mean worst for Fine, because she still does better character building that other authors I have read. However, I'm used to really becoming invested in not only the main characters but also the side characters, which seems much harder to do with this series. There is lots of action, but it seems to have misplaced some of the character development, which I don't enjoy as much.
Still the concept is stellar, and the pacing for the plot seems good. I just think there's a little something missing, in terms of the characters, their relationships, and their emotions. I'm two books in and still can't keep some of the side characters straight. That is leaving me feeling just a bit more disconnected that I usually feel when reading a Fine book. Regardless, I'm powering onward, as I want to know how it all works out.
This is such a unique concept and fascinating world.
The only reason it gets 4 stars is that sometimes there is so much world building at once that itThis is such a unique concept and fascinating world.
The only reason it gets 4 stars is that sometimes there is so much world building at once that it is just information overload, and I found myself backing up to reread a lot in those sections, hoping the information would stick with me better. Otherwise, it’s a pretty solid fantasy/paranormal blend.
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