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lmgentry21's review
5.0
Interesting twist!
Ms. Davis created a wonderful and inventive world that kept me turning page after page. Trying to connect the dots between each point of view and where they would all meet up was fascinating and enjoyable!
Ms. Davis created a wonderful and inventive world that kept me turning page after page. Trying to connect the dots between each point of view and where they would all meet up was fascinating and enjoyable!
myaddiction's review
4.0
Surprisingly good. I even bought the second book. Hope it lives up to the first.
angelaann88's review against another edition
4.0
I'm excitee to explore the magic system Davis is building. There are still a lot of questions I have about the spirits and elemental magic. I also can't wait to see what happens next with Jinji and Rhen. This story was a great start, and I will be picking up the next one.
crenashtou's review against another edition
4.0
I easily give the author's talent 5 stars, I HATE how she chooses to end the books.
Both the novella (A Golden Cage) and the 1st book in her series (The Shadow Soul) end in cliff hangers- which I hate.
I see it being more of a Sell tactic than Kaitlyn Davis allowing her talent take hold and allow you to finish the book with a satisfied feeling.
When I finished The Shadow Soul I was just left hanging with a "you have got to be kidding me" aggravated empty attitude. I had already bought the rest of the series she had out because I loved how she told the story and how vivid everything was. She is a great and talent writer. Now, after finishing everything (the novella and the 1st book in the series) I've read by her, I'm just disappointed. Her talent sold the series to me before the cliff hanger ending did and if i knew before that was going to be her selling tactic or her writing style I never would have purchased them.
Both the novella (A Golden Cage) and the 1st book in her series (The Shadow Soul) end in cliff hangers- which I hate.
I see it being more of a Sell tactic than Kaitlyn Davis allowing her talent take hold and allow you to finish the book with a satisfied feeling.
When I finished The Shadow Soul I was just left hanging with a "you have got to be kidding me" aggravated empty attitude. I had already bought the rest of the series she had out because I loved how she told the story and how vivid everything was. She is a great and talent writer. Now, after finishing everything (the novella and the 1st book in the series) I've read by her, I'm just disappointed. Her talent sold the series to me before the cliff hanger ending did and if i knew before that was going to be her selling tactic or her writing style I never would have purchased them.
the_reading_lobster's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
anne37's review
1.0
It's a naive book, full of soap-opera dramatics and pathos, I guess it would be ok to read for a 13-14-year old, but for a more mature reader it would be torture, also because sometimes common sense and logic actions are lacking in the plot.
In the short story about Leena, before she became a rider - she and her lover have the "genius" idea to hide their entire "runaway" pack with clothes, food and weapons UNDER HER BED. Come on, she is a princess with a tyrannical father who likes to control everyone and everything, the servants clean and search everything everyday, she is always watched. WHY would you hide those things there? It lacks common sense and logic. Why did they not hide the things in HIS bedroom, he is a guard, no one would look through HIS things, he's nobody. Throughout the story there are more similar instances that drove me mad.
I have a very visual imagination, when I read, I imagine everything as it is described, so I think you would understand my skittishness, when the girl "throws herself into his chest. I immediately imagined a scene from "Alien".
The series is rife with above mentioned "faults", but as I said, not every reader requires from a book that everything (or almost everything) is "logicproof".
One more thing that upset me, is that they pitched this series as a combo of "Song of Ice and Fire" with "Graceling" and some other book. Well, let me tell you that the "Dance of Dragons" has nothing in common with "Graceling" and "Song of Ice and Fire". Those books are GOOD.
Trust me, no one in "Graceling" is as sappy as the characters in "Dance of dragons".
In the short story about Leena, before she became a rider - she and her lover have the "genius" idea to hide their entire "runaway" pack with clothes, food and weapons UNDER HER BED. Come on, she is a princess with a tyrannical father who likes to control everyone and everything, the servants clean and search everything everyday, she is always watched. WHY would you hide those things there? It lacks common sense and logic. Why did they not hide the things in HIS bedroom, he is a guard, no one would look through HIS things, he's nobody. Throughout the story there are more similar instances that drove me mad.
I have a very visual imagination, when I read, I imagine everything as it is described, so I think you would understand my skittishness, when the girl "throws herself into his chest. I immediately imagined a scene from "Alien".
The series is rife with above mentioned "faults", but as I said, not every reader requires from a book that everything (or almost everything) is "logicproof".
One more thing that upset me, is that they pitched this series as a combo of "Song of Ice and Fire" with "Graceling" and some other book. Well, let me tell you that the "Dance of Dragons" has nothing in common with "Graceling" and "Song of Ice and Fire". Those books are GOOD.
Trust me, no one in "Graceling" is as sappy as the characters in "Dance of dragons".
kellyosreads's review
2.0
The prequel or novella at the beginning of this book was captivating and enjoyable, I wanted more...
The rest of the book? Pure confusion... I was continuously lost and confused, often losing interest. Glad to be done with it.
The rest of the book? Pure confusion... I was continuously lost and confused, often losing interest. Glad to be done with it.
kerveros's review
4.0
Disclaimer: I got this book free and was asked to review it in return.
I really enjoyed this 'series starter' and look forward to reading more by this author.
This starter pack provides you with a prequel novella - which I liked (I am not a novella fan and usually dislike them), and although it takes a while to tie into the main book I think having the prequel there provides you with necessary back story. If we hadn't I would be wondering why certain people acted the way they do - the main book does make it clear enough that you wouldn't struggle without the novella but I like the greater depth.
Our 'leads' are all interesting - I wish we had a bit more time with those in the prequel - hopefully there will be a larger role later on in the series. Jin and Rhen are the focussed upon leads and they're all right - they are motivated without being contrived and I like the way the friendship between them develops - even if a lot of it is 'off page' it seems natural. The romance aspects of this... somewhat obvious, but as it is quite minor that was okay.
The storyline is also one where, although I am not desperate to find out what happens next, I do want to read on and find out. I shall definitely be checking out the remaining books of the series.
I really enjoyed this 'series starter' and look forward to reading more by this author.
This starter pack provides you with a prequel novella - which I liked (I am not a novella fan and usually dislike them), and although it takes a while to tie into the main book I think having the prequel there provides you with necessary back story. If we hadn't I would be wondering why certain people acted the way they do - the main book does make it clear enough that you wouldn't struggle without the novella but I like the greater depth.
Our 'leads' are all interesting - I wish we had a bit more time with those in the prequel - hopefully there will be a larger role later on in the series. Jin and Rhen are the focussed upon leads and they're all right - they are motivated without being contrived and I like the way the friendship between them develops - even if a lot of it is 'off page' it seems natural. The romance aspects of this... somewhat obvious, but as it is quite minor that was okay.
The storyline is also one where, although I am not desperate to find out what happens next, I do want to read on and find out. I shall definitely be checking out the remaining books of the series.
goodbyepuckpie's review
3.0
Not entirely sure how I felt about this one; it's certainly competently written fantasy, and clearly trying to do right by the non-white characters from an indigenous culture in the fantasy kingdom, but there's something about starting a book off with the massacre of all-but-one person of their culture that made me uncomfortable. I am curious about how the narrative will go from this first book, but that was a plot choice I'd rather give people a heads-up on to brace for. The second half of the book was a lot stronger/more gripping than the beginning, and I did enjoy the way that Rhen and Jinji slowly grew to know and respect each other through the book. (Leena, who was briefly in book one and the protagonist of the novella preceding it was really neat and I would definitely like to know more about her.)
prationality's review
4.0
My reviews will be posted on each story individually, links to be added later.
Overall I became intrigued by the first book about 25% of the way in. Davis seemed to find the right balance for her characters at this point and began driving the plot more firmly.
Overall I became intrigued by the first book about 25% of the way in. Davis seemed to find the right balance for her characters at this point and began driving the plot more firmly.
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