Infinity Son

Tried the preview. Verdict: Not for me.

I originally added this book to my list before it was ever released because everyone loves Silvera's books so much. Me? I'm not much of a fan of contemporaries and I rather dislike YA contemporaries. So, when I realized that he was writing a fantasy, I thought I'd finally get to see what the fuss was all about.

As I watched that star rating drop more and more - and as I realized that this is urban fantasy, not epic fantasy - it stayed on my list out of pure stubbornness and a curiosity if it was as much of a train wreck as so many people say.

I feel it is.

I mean, the first problem I had was some of the grammar used. Not even while people are talking, but thoughts and such. This is part of the reason I tend to dislike contemporary: it's too casual for me.

Then, our world building is:

‘No one really knows how far back celestials have existed or how they first received their powers, but all signs throughout history point to their connection with the stars. Like maybe their eldest ancestors fell out of the sky.‘

What.

'[...]ever since the Blackout - the worst attack New York has seen in my lifetime - people have been treating celestials like terrorists.‘

...Attack of what?

‘I fight back an epic cringe as I remember how up until two years ago we owned some for fun, completely clueless as to how sacred the capes are until out best friend, Pruedencia, explained the traditions.‘

Why? And, if they are such celestials fan boys, how?

This book feels like a sequel. Sequels don't have to explain anything because you already understand the world. I don't understand this world and I dislike the writing style just enough to make me not want to stick around long enough to understand the world. (If this style of writing is at all indicative of Silvera's usual writing style, I've made a wise decision to stay away from his contemporaries.)

THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD!!!!

- THE PLOT TWISTS OMG
- EMIL IS MARIBELLE'S DAD????
- ATLAS NOOOOOOOOOO
- EMIL AND NESS KISS ALREADY
- THE ENDING AHHHH

Well, that was fantastic! I do have a few issues, such as the writing sometimes makes certain actions seem unclear, as I feel like there's not enough description about it to give the reader time to comprehend it, like when the Halo Knight kills her husband, or when Gravesend is about to hatch. Other than that, I loved it!! I need the sequel!

Le iba a dar dos estrellas, pero le doy tres porque el último 20% del libro sí ha conseguido engancharme y ahora tengo ganas de leerme la segunda parte.

3.5 stars

So, I was hesitant going into this book because I have heard pretty much nothing but negative things about it. Luckily, I ended up liking it more than I thought I would but I did still have some issues with it. Overall I enjoyed reading this. I never felt like I was getting too much information at once and I never felt confused by the magic system. My issue with this book is that it felt like it was trying hard not to be a typical fantasy book and it just didn't quite work for me. I don't know how to explain it any other way. I definitely want to read the next book in the series. 

I saw the negative reviews, I knew what reviewers said about Infinity Son, and I refused to believe them.

This book alone should bump all of the books I have reviewed up by a single star because of how much of a mess it was. I hated it. I hated every second of reading this.

The worldbuilding is a mess. Setting a fantasy novel in the present day is a tough cookie to crack which is why a lot of stories (like Silvera's beloved Harry Potter) resort to hidden worlds/communities. Silvera did not and it crumbled on page freaking three.

The characters are boring, uninteresting, and lame with the exception of Ness and Emil but them being somewhat interesting is offset by how much of a douchebag Brighton (yes, there is a character whose name is Brighton in a book about phoenixes...I sighed every time his name came up).

Then we have the worst part of the book, the dumbest, the most awful part of any fantasy book and it's so perfectly summed up in the following quote:

“Maybe this war can be removed from the streets and won online.”

Why is this [expletive] in a fantasy book ? Why is Buzzfeed, YouTube, and Instagram mentioned in a fantasy book? Why a main character, in this fantasy book, obsesses over social media?

Nope.

I finish all book series that I start reading (eventually) but the chances of me picking up Infinity Reaper are pretty much zero.

CAWPILE Breakdown:
Characters: 5
Atmosphere: 2
Writing: 4
Plot: 2
Intrigue: 6
Logic: 2
Enjoyment: 5

This had the potential to be great but fell incredibly flat. For me, this is another case of an author who writes really good contemporary novels attempting to write a fantasy novel and failing. I will continue reading Adam Silvera novels but only his contemporary novels.

Way too much going on and yet I feel like nothing happened? Very shaky world building, too many character perspectives with confusing transitions, very difficult to build empathy for these characters. Some serious cringe. I would see this author's other works instead and skip this entirely if you were looking for a fantasy. Sorry

3 stars

Predictable conclusion

Rtc. 2.5 stars

Too much Instagram, not enough character development. Emil monologued for the better part of the book. Brighton was downright annoying. Ness' storyline is more interesting than everybody else's combined.

Make your own rules fantasy. Seriously, way too much Instagram! Would not recommend