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adelle_bookworm's review against another edition
4.0
Něco mezi 3/5 a 4/5. Moje druhá kniha od Wen Zhao a v podstatě dopadla úplně stejně - je to kreativní, není to vždycky jen černobílé, ale zároveň... je to občas takové nijaké.
Upřímně, moc se mi nelíbí to popření komunistické historie a variace na ruskou kulturu; worldbuilding, který probíhá hlavně stylem, že všemu dáme názvy velmi podobné určitému jazyku, zrovna v lásce nemám. Ale budiž. Hlavní postavy jsou skutečně na stupních šedi, jak se i samy popisují, a to je fajn, ale Ana mi lezla na nervy. Že je postava cíleně hloupá, aby prošla vývojem, to je jasný, a říkala jsem si, že když jde o trilogii, třeba jí to prostě bude trvat déle, ale autorka opakuje v podstatě stejné scény a Ana se pořád chová úplně stejně. A co mi lezlo krkem maximálně, byla deus ex machina zjevení, která absolutně nedávala smysl a byla tam jenom proto, aby se děj posunul. Uf.
Celkově jsem od toho čekala krapet víc, ale do pokračování určitě půjdu.
Upřímně, moc se mi nelíbí to popření komunistické historie a variace na ruskou kulturu; worldbuilding, který probíhá hlavně stylem, že všemu dáme názvy velmi podobné určitému jazyku, zrovna v lásce nemám. Ale budiž. Hlavní postavy jsou skutečně na stupních šedi, jak se i samy popisují, a to je fajn, ale Ana mi lezla na nervy. Že je postava cíleně hloupá, aby prošla vývojem, to je jasný, a říkala jsem si, že když jde o trilogii, třeba jí to prostě bude trvat déle, ale autorka opakuje v podstatě stejné scény a Ana se pořád chová úplně stejně. A co mi lezlo krkem maximálně, byla deus ex machina zjevení, která absolutně nedávala smysl a byla tam jenom proto, aby se děj posunul. Uf.
Celkově jsem od toho čekala krapet víc, ale do pokračování určitě půjdu.
drymming's review
2.0
The beginnning was interesting and then i heard there was no real character growth and when i found out it was an anastasia retelling it fell flat because at the moment i am not really interested in an anastasia retelling. Maybe it's all about the wrong time for this one... Also the name RAMSON for a love interest was a no for me.
nanzi38's review against another edition
4.0
My rate is actually 4.5. I loved the Authors take on magic and that Ana’s was extremely rare. I’m excited to see what happens in the next two books and see how Ana and Ramson’s relationship grows but also how she wins her kingdom back!
witcheep's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I got more out of analysing the characters than from the plot; the plot doesn't offer anything very new to a reader who consumes a lot of fantasy. The magic system is built upon affinities of different kinds of magic and has the potential to be interesting, but unfortunately it is left somewhat vague. The big plot lines are quite predictable, but the smaller nuances and the intertwining of different plot lines is entertaining and at some points even surprising.
In the beginning of the book the main character Ana is an annoyingly naive, impulsive and irrational person who sees the world as black and white, divided clearly into good and evil. She has always regarded the world from the perspective of a vastly privileged aristocratic heir, which skews her thinking. Suddenly Ana is framed for the murder of her father, the emperor. Ana flees to avoid execution, but struggles to change her attitude and view of the world, even when her new position of no privileges forces her to face a whole new side to the world. I almost DNF'd the Blood Heir because how annoying Ana was, especially with her friend May.
Ramson's character is what saved the story for me and kept me reading. He is introduced as a crime lord, but it is revealed that he is actually more like ahenchman, altough high in the hierarchy, and comes from a more morally noble background . His world views include thinking everyone as some shade of gray, the choises and actions defining people rather than them being just good or bad. It is a little disappointing that he isn't written as a properly bad character.
Ana and Ramson don't always get along, but they get friendly with each other in their own ways even if they make mistakes along the way. It is fun reading her and Ana's bickering. Ramson's views on gray morality and defining choises rub on Ana as well, and she begins to try to think for herself a little more (and while doing so, slowly sheds the naivety and impulsiveness a little, yay! ). This impact to Ana is also resiprocated, since Ana makes Ramson question his morality and motivations as well. That is what I enjoyed the most in the book. I always seem to enjoy seeing characters having an impact in each other's way of thinking and acting, especially when it offers both of them something that makes them more contented with themselves.
In the beginning of the book the main character Ana is an annoyingly naive, impulsive and irrational person who sees the world as black and white, divided clearly into good and evil. She has always regarded the world from the perspective of a vastly privileged aristocratic heir, which skews her thinking. Suddenly Ana is framed for the murder of her father, the emperor. Ana flees to avoid execution, but struggles to change her attitude and view of the world, even when her new position of no privileges forces her to face a whole new side to the world. I almost DNF'd the Blood Heir because how annoying Ana was, especially with her friend May.
Ramson's character is what saved the story for me and kept me reading. He is introduced as a crime lord, but it is revealed that he is actually more like a
Ana and Ramson don't always get along, but they get friendly with each other in their own ways even if they make mistakes along the way. It is fun reading her and Ana's bickering. Ramson's views on gray morality and defining choises rub on Ana as well, and she begins to try to think for herself a little more (
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Torture, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Grief, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, and Slavery
Minor: Death of parent and Sexual assault
kmar2726's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It was a nice book, think the ending was a bit, idk, unsatisfying. It’s like they needed to somehow make it all go wrong again so the second book could come out.
kalipsiya's review against another edition
3.0
Read for the Asian readathon 2020, prompt 2: Reed a book featuring an Asian character or written by an Asian author who you can relate to.
This book was a let down for me. The world felt empty and generic, the magic system was interesting but never properly explored, characters were introduced to be plot devices and/or to be just killed off so we can move on to the next character we never got to know or care about. The romance was boring and it just seemed to come from no where. I wanted to dnf but I pushed through. The story was also quite repetitive and in every act I felt like I already knew what would happen.
This book was a let down for me. The world felt empty and generic, the magic system was interesting but never properly explored, characters were introduced to be plot devices and/or to be just killed off so we can move on to the next character we never got to know or care about. The romance was boring and it just seemed to come from no where. I wanted to dnf but I pushed through. The story was also quite repetitive and in every act I felt like I already knew what would happen.
girlbeneathsea's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
emilye3's review
5.0
4.5 Even though it took me half a month to read this book because of my reading slump I still really enjoyed it. This book had my emotions all over the place. Sadness, anger, happy, laughing, loving, shocked. The overall plot is similar to others but the characters and the setting set it apart. I really enjoyed this and can’t wait to read the next book!
djembedancer's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25