Reviews

The Name-Bearer by Natalia Hernandez

autumnadair13's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.25

It's really slow at the beginning but I promise you it'll pick up the pace and it'll be amazing. I like the book and will be reading the second book. 

tlaynejones's review

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slow-paced

3.0

I wonder if this audiobook was narrated by AI? I know it has a human narrator’s name but I understand AI companies have purchased the rights/ vocal sound to some human narrators… there were some very weird pronunciations by this narrator. They did not seem connected to a human’s accent or lack of understanding (common words) but seemed as if they were read phonetically, as if by an AI who didn’t know better. The errors were confident and exactly the same each time that word came up… 
idk 🤷‍♀️
Otherwise, the book’s pretty good. Definitely YA. Two big drawbacks, the first is that it is quite slow. There are exciting sections scattered through, and the MC and the world are both interesting, so it mostly kept my attention. But it’s slow. The second BIG issue with the story is that it doesn’t finish. At All. It just stops with nothing in any way resolved. As if a longer book was just ripped in half at a random place and the first bit sold as ‘book 1’. 

jackireadsthings's review

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inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

She doesn't know her family, she doesn't know where she came from, she doesn't even know the name her parents gave her. After being trained for over a decade as the Name Bearer, she doesn't know what to do when the Flowers refuse to name the new heir to the throne. For fear of execution she must go into exile for ten years until she can search for the Unnamed Prince and fulfill the prophecy.

Hernandez did a fantastic job of following the span of ten years over the course of a few chapters. I was able to connect with each of the characters, but it also did not feel like time was being drawn out. Most people will be able to relate to our main character's imposter syndrome and feeling uncomfortable in your own skin. 

I am genuinely excited to see where our main character goes and if she is able to grow the love she might have found in a childhood friend. 

eemillers15's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

ernestoneto's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I’m drawn into the story and characters and this new world but 2 things hold me back from truly accepting this “universe” 
1. The translation of the Spanish used is maddening! As a Chicano, I understand the why but I still hate the idea that the author is willing to “sell out” in order to make the story more palatable to basic English readers. 
2. The completely out of place, at times random, “European” phrases and items that have made their way into the story make it hard for me to stay in the world created. They make me immediately exit the story and remind myself that this is a book written by someone that hasn’t let go of our world and it’s history in this attempted new world creation.
Both things don’t stop me from wanting more just simply disappoint me of Natalia Hernandez’s work. 

kristinamj's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging medium-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

4.5

bisexualwentworth's review against another edition

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This book is quite good. Unfortunately, the audiobook narrator kept pronouncing words incorrectly to the point where it was extremely distracting. Will continue later in a different format.

katherineguild35's review against another edition

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Way too much description for me.

glitterdemon's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

danandsaurus's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0