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mweir710's review
The concepts within Brittle are promising and I did overall enjoy reading Overmyer's book. I just felt a little lost sometimes with the plot and didn't always love the more formal grammar used throughout. My general thoughts:
What I liked -
I liked Fenn's character and I also really enjoyed the growth of our FMC, Verve, I love the power given where it wasn't expected and the magic system taught to both Verve and the reader. For me, Brittle was a light read and a good palate cleanser between heavier books.
What I didn't like as much -
I'm not a fan of Insta-love, but I am a fan of the guy falling first, so this was a 50/50 for me. I understand the author's intent with the use of more formal grammar, but the formal "one" was used too often in my opinion. It was hard for my brain to interpret phrases such as, "As one mesmerized,..." or "As one in a dream" rather than not using the extremely formal tone. Although this was an easy read, the plot felt loose and had too many holes. The King is mentioned quite a bit, we only meet him once, and just like that, his story is over with no real explanation as to why the King may have been disliked or what he wanted with immense power. That felt like a very large hole, that was supposed to be important to the main plot line. Lastly, I can't say the ending has me sitting on the edge, waiting for the second book to come out. It was a pretty good twist, but it moved far too fast and it isn't as compelling as I think Overmyer was hoping it would be.
Overall, it was a pretty easy read and I would recommend it if you're looking for something simple in your TBR!
What I liked -
I liked Fenn's character and I also really enjoyed the growth of our FMC, Verve, I love the power given where it wasn't expected and the magic system taught to both Verve and the reader. For me, Brittle was a light read and a good palate cleanser between heavier books.
What I didn't like as much -
I'm not a fan of Insta-love, but I am a fan of the guy falling first, so this was a 50/50 for me. I understand the author's intent with the use of more formal grammar, but the formal "one" was used too often in my opinion. It was hard for my brain to interpret phrases such as, "As one mesmerized,..." or "As one in a dream" rather than not using the extremely formal tone. Although this was an easy read, the plot felt loose and had too many holes. The King is mentioned quite a bit, we only meet him once, and just like that, his story is over with no real explanation as to why the King may have been disliked or what he wanted with immense power. That felt like a very large hole, that was supposed to be important to the main plot line. Lastly, I can't say the ending has me sitting on the edge, waiting for the second book to come out. It was a pretty good twist, but it moved far too fast and it isn't as compelling as I think Overmyer was hoping it would be.
Overall, it was a pretty easy read and I would recommend it if you're looking for something simple in your TBR!
writingandwhimsy's review
4.5
4.5/5
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
The worldbuilding and magic system: 4/5
I don’t have much to say about the worldbuilding; it was pretty decent but it wasn’t outstanding. However, I did particularly like the concept of different faerie’s magic having different scents. It isn’t a new concept, but I did enjoy seeing it implemented, and the way the scents were described, and how that actually posed a few problems for the characters,
The characters: 4/5
The characters were pretty good, but after rethinking it, I’ve decided to bump down my rating of them a bit, because while it’s only been a few days since I finished reading this, I can’t recall much of their personalities. They aren’t particularly memorable, but I did enjoy reading about them. I did, however, like how the trope of “faerie prince/noble kidnaps a human girl and they fall in love” was kind of turned on its head. Like, she DIDN’T immediately fall in love just because he’s hot and she DOES recall the fact that he literally injured and kidnapped her? Revolutionary. I’m not going to say too much more about it because obviously spoilers, but it didn’t turn out how I expected at all. In a good way, of course.
The plot: 4.5/5
The plot was very romance focused, and had some growing action towards the latter half. I’m assuming it will become more action focused over the course of the series. At this point, I’m not complaining - I do like the love interest though I’m not overly attached to him either. The plot was enjoyable to read, and it kept my attention nearly the entire time. There were a couple of interesting plot twists that I hadn’t predicted, and one, while not exactly predictable, was kind of a cliche of the genre. It wasn’t bad, though, but was slightly of a let-down because I would’ve preferred something a bit more subversive.
The only real complaint I have is the total fade to black…I mean I’m by no means a smut reader. In fact I was happy to see that this book wasn’t that spicy…but NO spice at all? Really? I just found that scene a little jarring to read, and like if you’re going to write a fast-paced romance, at least have a little spice to keep me interested.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
The worldbuilding and magic system: 4/5
I don’t have much to say about the worldbuilding; it was pretty decent but it wasn’t outstanding. However, I did particularly like the concept of different faerie’s magic having different scents. It isn’t a new concept, but I did enjoy seeing it implemented, and the way the scents were described, and how that actually posed a few problems for the characters,
The characters: 4/5
The characters were pretty good, but after rethinking it, I’ve decided to bump down my rating of them a bit, because while it’s only been a few days since I finished reading this, I can’t recall much of their personalities. They aren’t particularly memorable, but I did enjoy reading about them. I did, however, like how the trope of “faerie prince/noble kidnaps a human girl and they fall in love” was kind of turned on its head. Like, she DIDN’T immediately fall in love just because he’s hot and she DOES recall the fact that he literally injured and kidnapped her? Revolutionary. I’m not going to say too much more about it because obviously spoilers, but it didn’t turn out how I expected at all. In a good way, of course.
The plot: 4.5/5
The plot was very romance focused, and had some growing action towards the latter half. I’m assuming it will become more action focused over the course of the series. At this point, I’m not complaining - I do like the love interest though I’m not overly attached to him either. The plot was enjoyable to read, and it kept my attention nearly the entire time. There were a couple of interesting plot twists that I hadn’t predicted, and one, while not exactly predictable, was kind of a cliche of the genre. It wasn’t bad, though, but was slightly of a let-down because I would’ve preferred something a bit more subversive.
The only real complaint I have is the total fade to black…I mean I’m by no means a smut reader. In fact I was happy to see that this book wasn’t that spicy…but NO spice at all? Really? I just found that scene a little jarring to read, and like if you’re going to write a fast-paced romance, at least have a little spice to keep me interested.
trogers71's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
2.5
story_singer_101's review
4.0
This book was a delightful mix of Little Women, Beauty and the Beast, and fae lore with a wholesome romance thrown in for good measure. I’m looking forward to the next book’s release!
bookwolftams's review
adventurous
challenging
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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
firefox's review
2.0
(Arc)
'Brittle' by Beth Overmyer has such a gorgeous cover, I was excited to read the book but sadly.. the cover was better than the writing. It just fell flat for me and I just didn't enjoy it as much as I expected to. I feel like other people's reviews go into such detail as to why it wasn't the greatest but for me, the world building and the characters just weren't my cup of tea.
'Brittle' by Beth Overmyer has such a gorgeous cover, I was excited to read the book but sadly.. the cover was better than the writing. It just fell flat for me and I just didn't enjoy it as much as I expected to. I feel like other people's reviews go into such detail as to why it wasn't the greatest but for me, the world building and the characters just weren't my cup of tea.
kebyrne2's review
3.0
I would give this a 3.5. The plot picked up quickly and kept me very intrigued. The ending felt rushed and clunky.
It is going to be a series and I am excited to see where this will go. I think the next book will be interesting or very confusing.
I think the author could have made this a stand alone if they made it longer as the ending felt like it came together to then just not come together.
It is going to be a series and I am excited to see where this will go. I think the next book will be interesting or very confusing.
I think the author could have made this a stand alone if they made it longer as the ending felt like it came together to then just not come together.
ladynightwolf's review
4.0
Brittle was a surprising novel. I’m not sure if there will be another installment, but I enjoyed reading it and finished it in a few short days.
Verve has always tried to be the responsible middle child, and has also always been close to her father, who is away at war. However, when he returns in the middle of the night to talk to her and tells her that there is a secret hidden war being fought and not to trust anyone, not even those she knows without verifying who they are, she’s a little stunned. He tells her he will explain and to meet her at a neighboring farm. When she follows his instructions, she finds herself face to face with her father’s dead body in the barn, which disappears before she can bring anyone else to the spot.
Soon, strange events begin to happen, and neighbors and family become…something else. And when Verve is taken far from home and into another realm entirely, it appears that the secrets that her father imparted upon her may reveal a dangerous, fae-killing weapon at the center of a tremendous power struggle.
As she works out a way to escape this strange land and strange, ever changing mansion she finds herself in, she realizes that her captor may be interesting in more than just the secrets that Verve is hiding. Fae fall in love quickly, and it seems he is no exception. But he’s not the only one interested in her and what she’s hiding, and she soon finds herself stuck between warring factions.
She may be the key to victory for either side, but her survival and family mean far more to her. She must keep her head in the game and her heart far away if she’s going to come out on top…but that may be harder than she thought.
This was a totally different fae romantasy than I am used to. The romance was not the prominent theme, and it was far more on the lore and the fight than it was on matters of the heart. This one's not high on the romance scale, but for a dark fantasy story, it's very well done!
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book in exchange for this review. The opinions are entirely my own. To be posted on 7/25/23
Verve has always tried to be the responsible middle child, and has also always been close to her father, who is away at war. However, when he returns in the middle of the night to talk to her and tells her that there is a secret hidden war being fought and not to trust anyone, not even those she knows without verifying who they are, she’s a little stunned. He tells her he will explain and to meet her at a neighboring farm. When she follows his instructions, she finds herself face to face with her father’s dead body in the barn, which disappears before she can bring anyone else to the spot.
Soon, strange events begin to happen, and neighbors and family become…something else. And when Verve is taken far from home and into another realm entirely, it appears that the secrets that her father imparted upon her may reveal a dangerous, fae-killing weapon at the center of a tremendous power struggle.
As she works out a way to escape this strange land and strange, ever changing mansion she finds herself in, she realizes that her captor may be interesting in more than just the secrets that Verve is hiding. Fae fall in love quickly, and it seems he is no exception. But he’s not the only one interested in her and what she’s hiding, and she soon finds herself stuck between warring factions.
She may be the key to victory for either side, but her survival and family mean far more to her. She must keep her head in the game and her heart far away if she’s going to come out on top…but that may be harder than she thought.
This was a totally different fae romantasy than I am used to. The romance was not the prominent theme, and it was far more on the lore and the fight than it was on matters of the heart. This one's not high on the romance scale, but for a dark fantasy story, it's very well done!
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book in exchange for this review. The opinions are entirely my own. To be posted on 7/25/23
booksbybindu's review
4.0
‘Brittle’ is a brilliant start to a new fantasy series that I hope will continue for many books! I found it to be well written, with a great protagonist who was spiky and realistic to her situation!
Now I don’t read reviews of books before I pick them up as I like to take them on face value and I thought I few times that this book was fleeting similar to A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas. I then read reviews when I finished and realised that the author has mentioned that she took inspiration from ACOTR whilst writing the book. Indeed there are similar themes but it is not a direct copy at some people have alluded to in their reviews - it’s a homage. I find it pretty hypocritical of people criticising an author for homage when ACOTR is also a homage to Beauty and the Beast! Authors take inspiration for their work in various ways and nowadays there is going to be no book that doesn’t have similar aspects to others. But there is a lot of differences as well and that what makes the book for me and there is one aspect of the book that is definitely unique to me as a reader!
I really liked Verve who is the female protagonist is this story. She was loyal, strong and intelligent in some aspects. But she was also realistic - who wouldn’t be overwhelmed, angry and volatile if you have been kidnapped into a fae land where everything is brand new to you! You would need some adjustment time for sure.
There were a few aspects which I did feel need a bit more exploration and explanation. The death of her father for instance and some more background about Finn’s origins. I felt the world building was well done as I just accepted it straight away which is always a good sign in my eyes. The unique aspects of the wielders of magic and their identification was especially creative as it definitely unique to me as a fantasy reader! The book definitely picks up its pace in the final third and I was left wanting to dive straight into the next book but alas I will need to wait for that to happen. But I will definitely be keeping an eye out for it as I believe there is great potential in this series.
Let me know if you pick this one up!
Now I don’t read reviews of books before I pick them up as I like to take them on face value and I thought I few times that this book was fleeting similar to A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas. I then read reviews when I finished and realised that the author has mentioned that she took inspiration from ACOTR whilst writing the book. Indeed there are similar themes but it is not a direct copy at some people have alluded to in their reviews - it’s a homage. I find it pretty hypocritical of people criticising an author for homage when ACOTR is also a homage to Beauty and the Beast! Authors take inspiration for their work in various ways and nowadays there is going to be no book that doesn’t have similar aspects to others. But there is a lot of differences as well and that what makes the book for me and there is one aspect of the book that is definitely unique to me as a reader!
I really liked Verve who is the female protagonist is this story. She was loyal, strong and intelligent in some aspects. But she was also realistic - who wouldn’t be overwhelmed, angry and volatile if you have been kidnapped into a fae land where everything is brand new to you! You would need some adjustment time for sure.
There were a few aspects which I did feel need a bit more exploration and explanation. The death of her father for instance and some more background about Finn’s origins. I felt the world building was well done as I just accepted it straight away which is always a good sign in my eyes. The unique aspects of the wielders of magic and their identification was especially creative as it definitely unique to me as a fantasy reader! The book definitely picks up its pace in the final third and I was left wanting to dive straight into the next book but alas I will need to wait for that to happen. But I will definitely be keeping an eye out for it as I believe there is great potential in this series.
Let me know if you pick this one up!
scarlet_hart's review
4.0
So! First thing's first, the first chapter drew me in incredibly well and I loved that interesting hook. Verve is a character willing to give up everything for her family while her father is out at war, but doesn't realize that the war has likely just started. For people who liked ACOTAR, I feel like they will like Brittle. It has similar elements. There are misdirects about who is good and who is bad, there is intrigue, there are interesting uses of glamour (one of my favorite fae abilities), and a love triangle that honestly is more a greater than sign. While I feel like the ending was rather rushed. I enjoyed Fenn's character and how he always listened to what Verve had to say and tried to reassure her. In contrast, Dacre drove me nuts after the first little bit with him because of how controlling and i know best he tried to be. I'm not sure where the series is going to go next, and I am curious about it, but I'm not sure what conflict we're going to hit in the next book. Other than the little tidbit left at the end that I won't share.
There are times in the book where it slows down quite a bit and Verve, at times, can be a little annoying. But who wouldn't be in this situation? So I felt that was a really relatable and kind of reminded me of Nesta from ACOTAR. If you like Fae stories, like dramatic misdirects and prophecies, then give Brittle a try!
There are times in the book where it slows down quite a bit and Verve, at times, can be a little annoying. But who wouldn't be in this situation? So I felt that was a really relatable and kind of reminded me of Nesta from ACOTAR. If you like Fae stories, like dramatic misdirects and prophecies, then give Brittle a try!