I think this will be one of my favorite books this Year. I went in dark to the plot the cover looked intriguing and it was available to borrow. I usually don't enjoy space sci-fi books but this was a very interesting introspection on what it me to be alive and the thriller elements kept the story tense and moving. For a ya book it went quite deep and dark at times but it was balanced well
Im really disappointed in this book, it feels like a step back into all the issues that I didn't like from the first and second in the series. Previously each book was getting better and everything feeling more fleshed out instead of a long TV episode. But this has gone straight back to that format it will be good when the TV show does it but that feels like it's only purpose. I had bought the first 2 and the second was better than the first and then when it was available at the library read the third and that was much better and I had hope for this one but based of this book on the rough description of the next book I will not be continuing the series.
This book has so much potential, but the writing style is closer to YA or middle grade. It also feels like an early draft with many good ideas, but nothing is built upon and any tension is over in 1 chapter; there is a significant amount of tell, not show, and a lot of repetition that should have been edited out. The comparisons to legends and Lattes and the Pumpkin Spice Cafe are misleading; the dragons seem to be more set dressing, and the romance reads like middle grade, minus the slightly “spicy” scene.
Also, if you don't like mouth noises, the male narration isn't for you for several chapters it was so distracting.
I enjoyed reading and the basic premise but I feel like the themes weren't fully developed ont going to the line and not going further. I can't help but feel it would be better to have Cory not realise she's being manipulated and be put in a vulnerable position by the Hades counter part until she's back with Emer- so that from the duel pov you've got the worried scared mother and then a girl in this dark forbidden romance and as the story prevails the reader switchs from being seduced with to be scared for Corey. It started out with this but by the last quarter the book I felt annoyed the My of Kelly felt wasted the relationship between Cory and Rolo didn't feel felshed out going from will they won't they and Rolo being “mildly predatory” to Cory being raped and this then not developed properly and moving on with her mother appearing and taking her away.
Side note I listened to the audiobook but I'm aware the text dies contain proper grammar like Sally Rooney books with our speech marks that personally put me off buying the book previously
I hate read this. The only redeeming factor is the illustrations. I had read the fairy tale version( all so rubbish) of this and was let down but when this was available at the library I had to look at it. its somehow worse, the stories are gender-bent using an algorithm which means there's no substance and nuance to the myths removing actual women from stories and creating women from problematic heroes without any commentary the authors themselves seem to think this great modern empowering and innovative when its a shitty, lazy cash grab (the physical book selling for £20)
I keep feeling I should love this book but there's always something in the way after 2 hours of listening I still don't care about the story and there's other book I want to read instead
I found the prose terrible the present first tense made Mary sound robotic and a caricature of nurodiversity and autism. Mary is either depicted as stupid or she has a perfect memory. Is really direct or so vague the person she speaking to doesn't understand. Regularly says that she finds it hard to understand people and for people to understand her because she's “strange and quirky” but nether asked clarifying questions when it's important for plot reasons
This was a library book so I'm fine dnfing. Had I bought it I probably would try to carry on but the lack of speech marks just confused me it felt all like one string of consciousness which after 10% still hasn't hooked me in to care