Dae
Beautifully written, could've read a hundred more pages.
BUT THAT ENDING THOUGH?!? OMG.
Beautifully written, could've read a hundred more pages.
BUT THAT ENDING THOUGH?!? OMG.
An interesting start.
It's not quite what I expected from the blurb and tags I saw while doing my preliminary research (before purchasing). I went in expecting more horror and wound up in a thriller-dystopian mash up.
The main character can be a bit dry and cold, but then you realize that's exactly what she's supposed to be. She's not out for peace and love, she's there for very serious reasons. She has the motivation and means to be a problem for people, and so she's going to fulfill that promise. Some might even call her kind of monstrous, but she's got plans to see through and little to no reason to stop before they're done.
There are certainly a lot of political issues in this world that don't start getting unpacked until the latter third of the book. (And they probably come more to the forefront in book 2). But overall the world building is good. The magic? - some of it sounds silly but makes sense. Some of it is more realistic and other bits lean heavier into fiction. It's a mixed bag.
(Undecided yet on whether or not to continue this trilogy.)
An interesting start.
It's not quite what I expected from the blurb and tags I saw while doing my preliminary research (before purchasing). I went in expecting more horror and wound up in a thriller-dystopian mash up.
The main character can be a bit dry and cold, but then you realize that's exactly what she's supposed to be. She's not out for peace and love, she's there for very serious reasons. She has the motivation and means to be a problem for people, and so she's going to fulfill that promise. Some might even call her kind of monstrous, but she's got plans to see through and little to no reason to stop before they're done.
There are certainly a lot of political issues in this world that don't start getting unpacked until the latter third of the book. (And they probably come more to the forefront in book 2). But overall the world building is good. The magic? - some of it sounds silly but makes sense. Some of it is more realistic and other bits lean heavier into fiction. It's a mixed bag.
(Undecided yet on whether or not to continue this trilogy.)
A lovely, cozy slow burn romance! (So slow in fact that you may scream, "just kiss already!!" at the characters like I did. Several times. But trust me, it's worth it!)
Noah is, to put it bluntly, a mess - and you soon realize why - but he's also trying his best to find his own truth and life. A struggle I think many people can resonate with. And Alex, the living embodiment of a golden retriever puppy, is endearingly oblivious to even his own growing obsession as he tries to make Noah his "friend".
And while Noah & Alex are certainly the stars of the show, it would be a disservice not to mention the friends/supporting cast. (Especially Yatesy! Whom my bff and I cannot wait to read about in the future.) All of them are the type of friends you might wish for; wise, funny, and most of all supportive.
The only thing I would say garners a deduction is that the Big Thing (tm) that seems to be a major hang up for Noah, and one of the hinges of the story (his own father) seems to get sort of hand-waved off and thinned to the point of hardly making an impact at all. There's no confrontation or repercussions to this apparent threat that has been dangling over Noah's head for the majority of the story. It all just..goes away. I think it could've been character affirming for Noah, who is shown to change and grow as he branches out, to at least have said he was done with his father to his face.
A lovely, cozy slow burn romance! (So slow in fact that you may scream, "just kiss already!!" at the characters like I did. Several times. But trust me, it's worth it!)
Noah is, to put it bluntly, a mess - and you soon realize why - but he's also trying his best to find his own truth and life. A struggle I think many people can resonate with. And Alex, the living embodiment of a golden retriever puppy, is endearingly oblivious to even his own growing obsession as he tries to make Noah his "friend".
And while Noah & Alex are certainly the stars of the show, it would be a disservice not to mention the friends/supporting cast. (Especially Yatesy! Whom my bff and I cannot wait to read about in the future.) All of them are the type of friends you might wish for; wise, funny, and most of all supportive.
The only thing I would say garners a deduction is that the Big Thing (tm) that seems to be a major hang up for Noah, and one of the hinges of the story (his own father) seems to get sort of hand-waved off and thinned to the point of hardly making an impact at all. There's no confrontation or repercussions to this apparent threat that has been dangling over Noah's head for the majority of the story. It all just..goes away. I think it could've been character affirming for Noah, who is shown to change and grow as he branches out, to at least have said he was done with his father to his face.
