Jason
This is a tricky one to accurately rate. I loved it and easily rate it at least 4 stars, but I'm going to have to sit with my thoughts for a bit before deciding if that's where it should stay.
UPDATED REVIEW:
Let me start off by saying I am a sucker for dark academia, books about books, and gothic settings, so this book would have had to try hard to disappoint. I'm glad to say that wasn't the case. The decaying almost-haunted house atop a cliff setting was visceral, the enemies-to-lovers romance was incredibly satisfying, and the themes of institutional sexism in academia, the relationship between author and reader, and space for old-world beliefs in a modern world all worked wonderfully.
That said, I still can't help but feel like something was missing. Almost like a new partner tried cooking your favorite childhood dish and although the meal was absolutely delicious and filling in its own right, you can still tell an ingredient was missing‚ even if you can't tell which.
Perhaps that was the intention. This book is about questioning reality—not knowing who or what to believe—and perhaps that applies not just to the story, but to the author's actual writing as well. The story moves along quickly, almost conveniently, setting up only what needs to happen. As I was reading, I felt like key details were being omitted or perhaps happening just offscreen. I knew there was more—a larger world, a larger story—but I wasn't privy to it. At least not yet. Just like Effy, I had to question whether to believe what I was being told or believe what I knew I was seeing. I'm still questioning it. So, I guess in that regard, the book was successful.
Haunting and beautifully written, this book is something special.
Thanks to HarperCollins/HarperTeen and NetGalley for allowing me to read this digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Ugh, I loved this book so much! This is the kind of space scifi I love. The kind that gets into the minutiae of the science. Not necessarily large, complex concepts (which I do also enjoy), but the day-to-day details of what travelling among the stars would require and the author's imagination needed to make it make sense.
Also, Chambers has a way of writing characters and found families I can't even begin to put into words. They feel so real and you just care about them. The way she had Ari describe the group as a molecule instantly got me. I cared more about Ari and her crew in less than 200 pages than I have about other MCs over entire trilogies.
So good.
4.5 stars
This was a great book. I was immediately pulled into the story and enjoyed the wide range of characters. That said, and I'm not quite sure why, the book did start to slightly lose me in the second half. Not enough to really affect my overall enjoyment, but enough to prevent it being a full 5 star book.
I quite enjoyed Sanderson's writing style in this. It was very reminiscent of Pratchett's Discworld, Pratchett/Gaiman's Good Omens, or Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide. If you enjoy those stories, you'll probably easily enjoy this one as well. I've heard comparison to The Princess Bride, and while I haven't yet read the book, I can see similarities to the film.
All in all, it was an easy read, it was a fun read, and it was a great introduction to the Cosmere.
I had so much fun with this book! Is it weird to use the term “cozy” to describe a book about a necromancer? Because that is exactly the kind of vibes this book has.
Yes, this story had an engaging plot with enough of a mystery to keep me hooked. Yes, the solid world-building of this “mid-level” fantasy would make it appealing to both readers who enjoy diving into a new world as well as readers who appreciate something more recognizable. And yes, there was a nicely established magic system clearly infused with Ford's experience of playing TTPRGs. Yes, there is all of that, but ultimately the charming cast of characters is the real highlight of this book; led by the main character herself, Aelis. Aelis is immediately the type of character you can understand, want to root for and care about. She is capable, compassionate, eager, queer, and only just starting out on her hero's journey.
If I have one grievance, it's that this book ends on a cliffhanger, I prefer books in a series to have their own complete story arc (especially the first book of a new series) while still setting up things to come. That said, I had a great time listening to this audiobook and am looking forward to the next book in the series. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
