The Raging Ones

DNF - PG 39

Why?

I'm trying to remember why I added this book to my TBR. I can't. I added this to my TBR before it was ever released and, honestly, I think I thought it was a poly story. So...that's on me. I didn't do my proper research then.

Now, thought, I think I must have thought that I had a good reason for it being on here. ... I just can't imagine what it was.

I've never read anything by the Ritchie sisters, up until this book. They, apparently, write NA contemporary romance and are pretty popular. Their genre preference shows. I love sci-fi and fantasy. I love YA sci-fi and fantasy. This book has a lot more in common with NA contemporary romance than it does YA spec fiction. (That can be, depending on your preference, a good thing or a bad thing. For me, it was a bad thing because I don't like NA, and I don't much like contemporary romances.)

These characters are hard, bitter, they fit in to the standard NA formula quite well, in my experience. I universally dislike them. Franny is...honestly, I would be quite happy to never spend one more moment with her, ever. I truly cannot stand her. Court and Mykal...I dislike both, though not quite as stridently as Franny. They way they react to each other, I do not like the idea of them being a couple and their ‘link' is somewhat off putting to me.

The writing style isn't what I expect from sci-fi and fantasy. Not even YA sci-fi and fantasy. It feels contemporary. That's both from the structure of the writing and, save a few oddities, the word choices. (I once tried to read a sci-fi book that everyone claimed was written like an urban fantasy. It was because I couldn't stand the main character and I could not read the book.) The way a story is told is important. For me, this did not work.

There is a lot of attention put on emotions and, especially, the relationship between Court and Mykal. That's fine, but this level of intensity this early one leaves me feeling cold because I have no connection to them so I do not care. I ‘read' (listened, really) to the first three chapters, one from each of the main character's and...Mykal's - who was the third perspective - was all about the relationship and link between him and Court. Fine. For me, it happens way to early in the book. I do not care. (And I don't think their relationship is going to be very healthy, honestly. Partially because of the link - how could it be? - but I'm not thrilled with the way they treat each other, either.)

Finally, I am slightly curious about the world building. I would like to have answers about death days and how all this is possible and why and what's up with their frozen country? But, I am a character reader - I've heard that these authors are character authors (and that they struggle with plot which does not make me confident at all) so, if I already can't stand the people, why should I bother trying to read any more?