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lix_kokoschka's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
amychant07's review against another edition
Speechless. How do I go on with normal life after that??!!!
rachael2114's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.5
reydeam's review against another edition
3.0
I am not sure what I think about this book. I did like it. I certainly enjoyed the storytelling especially in the beginning. I even stayed up into the wee hours reading the book—the night before work no less. I really liked Karou, and Brimstone fascinated me to no end. But then it started to veer off a bit for me, and due to that and couple other things, I gave this book 3/5 stars. But please, do know, 3 stars is NOT bad. I was VERY entertained. And I DID read each page with eagerness. It's just not 4-stars for me. It's a good story with some problems.
One of my issues was the plot direction change which I did not like. It seemed rather abrupt to me, and it changed the characters and how they interacted. I did not like the revelation of Karou's history. Even so, by the end of the book, I did recognize the revelation added depth to her character. By then, I understood it.
Karou and Avika provoked great interest and curiosity until the revelation, and afterwards I felt an unease. Not only that, I'm not sure I can reconcile Karou to Madrigal as well as to Avika. Brimstone, on the other hand, fascinated me and provoked great curiosity from the get go; I want to know the truth of Brimstone which I am sure is more than what has been allowed to be shown. I am hoping that the next book deepens the relationships and develops them further than what is found in this book.
As far as the seraphim and chimaera are concerned, they are suppose to be angels and demons. They do not feel that way to me. I do not read books involving demons—if this story felt like it then I would have closed the book. The seraphim and chimaera feel like two different races, and not at all how I view angels and demons. There is definitely animosity between them, as one comes to expect in books with two different races and cultures. I am curious how the animosity will be resolved if at all.
The writing itself is good and the pace is fantastic. The storyline held my attention even though I wasn't captured all that much with the last half of the book except for the ending. That part, the ending, did capture me and reignited my curiosity and left me intrigued.
All in all, this was a good story. I enjoyed it. I did have some issues but not enough to cause me to skim the story or close the book before it was done with its tale. I am curious about the next book, but I am not in a hurry to get to it.
One of my issues was the plot direction change which I did not like. It seemed rather abrupt to me, and it changed the characters and how they interacted. I did not like the revelation of Karou's history. Even so, by the end of the book, I did recognize the revelation added depth to her character. By then, I understood it.
Karou and Avika provoked great interest and curiosity until the revelation, and afterwards I felt an unease. Not only that, I'm not sure I can reconcile Karou to Madrigal as well as to Avika. Brimstone, on the other hand, fascinated me and provoked great curiosity from the get go; I want to know the truth of Brimstone which I am sure is more than what has been allowed to be shown. I am hoping that the next book deepens the relationships and develops them further than what is found in this book.
As far as the seraphim and chimaera are concerned, they are suppose to be angels and demons. They do not feel that way to me. I do not read books involving demons—if this story felt like it then I would have closed the book. The seraphim and chimaera feel like two different races, and not at all how I view angels and demons. There is definitely animosity between them, as one comes to expect in books with two different races and cultures. I am curious how the animosity will be resolved if at all.
The writing itself is good and the pace is fantastic. The storyline held my attention even though I wasn't captured all that much with the last half of the book except for the ending. That part, the ending, did capture me and reignited my curiosity and left me intrigued.
All in all, this was a good story. I enjoyed it. I did have some issues but not enough to cause me to skim the story or close the book before it was done with its tale. I am curious about the next book, but I am not in a hurry to get to it.
rubycoalbolt's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
daphx00's review against another edition
3.0
3.5, I think. I need some time to think this one over.
Review to come.
Review to come.
starrydreamer's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jessicajessica101's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
A story of love and death, of rebirth and sorrows.
This book was a strong first instalment for the Daughter of Smoke and Bones trilogy. Full of mystery, the story unveiled the world slowly as Karou navigated through what was happening and learned more about the world she kinda lived in, and the one she was half immersed in all her life. The first 75% of the book was really strong, with a lot of things happening, but from there, the book became a bit slow and lost momentum. I was a bit disappointed by the ending, I expected a massive betrayal, and I though Akiva's actions, in context, were not unreasonable at the time he did those. I get the betrayal aspect, but also I get why Akiva did what he did.
This book was a strong first instalment for the Daughter of Smoke and Bones trilogy. Full of mystery, the story unveiled the world slowly as Karou navigated through what was happening and learned more about the world she kinda lived in, and the one she was half immersed in all her life. The first 75% of the book was really strong, with a lot of things happening, but from there, the book became a bit slow and lost momentum. I was a bit disappointed by the ending, I expected a massive betrayal, and I though Akiva's actions, in context, were not unreasonable at the time he did those. I get the betrayal aspect, but also I get why Akiva did what he did.