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kelleemoye's review against another edition
4.0
*An action-packed, mythology-based YA novel that keeps you on your toes. What an adventure!
faithl's review against another edition
3.0
Review was originally posted on my blog: here
My Rating:
I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick, smooth read that swept me away in whatever was going on. But what really drew me was the cover, though. THE COVER IS SO PRETTY. The whole black feathers and the fact that the cover is kind of furry was awesome. Actually, I think half the time I was supposed to be reading, I was actually stroking the book.
Nevertheless, this book was a great, entertaining read filled with a HOT love interest and some awesome mythical politics. This book started quite slow for me. I didn't know what was going on, I was kind of confused on all the terminology like Vaettir and Aethereal during the beginning of the book. It only struck me halfway through the book what all those words actually meant.
And from there, the book really begun to pick up. Other than that minor confusion, the whole plot of this book was very interesting. This book surrounded Greek mythology and I LOVE Greek Mythology and I have to say that it does that very well. There's heaps of interesting background information and tangled politics which I found fascinating. Hera is a super bitchy goddess who we all know to be thanks to Percy Jackson and she has a group of minions which kills everyone she wants to be killed. And Hermes kind of a sweet dude who dressed himself extremely well. *wink*
Most of the characters were kind of annoying and bland. The book tried to sustain throughout the novel that Zephyr was a bad-ass character with heaps of power combined with a short temper. Instead, the impression I got was a bratty, doubtful girl who wanted things her way a lot of times. She overreacted over simple situations all the time and the fact that she could only be calmed down by the love interest, Tallon made everything cliched for me.
She was pretty much like this:
Tallon was sweet and HOT (just saying) but I wanted more out his character. I wanted more communication and banter between him and Zephyr and when there was banter, it was either fun or they were snapping at each other.
So, good book. Definitely a book, anyone who love paranormal and Greek Mythology will enjoy. The ending and final epic battle was a bit rushed but despite that, still a satisfying read for anyone who needs to get out of a book hangover.
kristid's review against another edition
3.0
I think this one is maybe more 2.5/3 stars.
I like the story but wasn't a big fan of the main character. She drove me crazy, she was the biggest brat and insanely selfish for what seemed like the entire novel. Totally did not feel the romance between her and Tallon.
Story line, pretty cool. Characters not so much. Though I did love Blue and Cass.
I like the story but wasn't a big fan of the main character. She drove me crazy, she was the biggest brat and insanely selfish for what seemed like the entire novel. Totally did not feel the romance between her and Tallon.
Story line, pretty cool. Characters not so much. Though I did love Blue and Cass.
rmpenny247's review against another edition
2.0
This started out stronger than it ended. By the last 50 or so pages, I just wanted it to be over. I loved all the Greek mythology and I learned a lot more about that than I previously knew.
It was definitely super fast paced. Too fast paced. I think maybe the author was trying to fit everything into one book? The action of the story always went from a 1, straight to a 10, and then back to a 1. Never in between. It felt like a fanfiction that was written before much thought was properly put into it.
On top of that, I could predict pretty much everything that was going to happen. So many of the lines were so cliche, or used so often in other stories, that I found myself rolling my eyes or sighing several times.
Even though the characters were supposed to be 18+ years old, some of them read like 13 years old or younger. Especially Zephyr. She threw way too many temper tantrums. I wouldn't recommend this book unless the person was really passionate about Greek mythology and was willing to look over the cliche, overused, rushed writing.
It was definitely super fast paced. Too fast paced. I think maybe the author was trying to fit everything into one book? The action of the story always went from a 1, straight to a 10, and then back to a 1. Never in between. It felt like a fanfiction that was written before much thought was properly put into it.
On top of that, I could predict pretty much everything that was going to happen. So many of the lines were so cliche, or used so often in other stories, that I found myself rolling my eyes or sighing several times.
Even though the characters were supposed to be 18+ years old, some of them read like 13 years old or younger. Especially Zephyr. She threw way too many temper tantrums. I wouldn't recommend this book unless the person was really passionate about Greek mythology and was willing to look over the cliche, overused, rushed writing.
heather4994's review against another edition
3.0
This was an okay story, not as good as Vengeance Bound but the ending was wrapped up way too quickly and neatly and left me with major questions. I liked the main character, but she had a bit of the "why me?" Attitude. But when she understood who she was, she was badass!! That is what I like about Justina Ireland's main characters, so far of the two YA books I've read, the female characters are definitely seekers of justice and they aren't reserved about doing it even though a greater force takes over them to seek justice. Still, I love Greek mythological female monsters righting wrongs in the real world!!!
tartbarbie's review against another edition
4.0
Zephyr isn’t the strongest or best harpy but she has survived for the first 17 but everything is about to change. Knowing that she doesn’t have what it takes to be a half-god assassin she expects to end up living the rest of her life as a human but things go horribly wrong. Her sister is murdered for having a relationship with an Exalted and Zephyr has to use a forbidden power to save herself from joining her. Suddenly Zephyr is being hunted for killing the unkillable. Thankfully she isn’t put to death for her crime but sent off to Tartarus where the Gods hope to figure out how she did it.
After a visit form Hermes Zephyr is sent to see Hades who asks her the same questions that the Etheral councils questions. It’s after her visit with Hades who reveals that her sister is not in the afterlife that Zephyr decides she needs to escape. With the help of her only friend they attempt to escape but run into a rescue part from her childhood friend. The four of them escape to the mortal world and Zephyr learns that she is the Nyx the one who will save all the half-gods. With the help of unlikely friends Zephyr will have to use her powers to save those and challenge the ones who is intent on seeing her death.
I wanted to love Zephyr right from the start but I found her a little on the frustrating side after all she’s a harpy assassin but as the book progresses she gets better. I liked Cass right from the start even those the others didn’t trust her and in the end she was what Zephyr expected. I also Liked Tallon I think he works for Zephyr after all she’s had a connection with him since she was a kid plus they both have a thing for the dark side.
I’ve had Promise of Shadows on my kindle for months but just haven’t gotten the mythology bug till this week. I was instantly captivated by Zephyr’s story it’s a fast paced fantasy novel that kept me on the edge of my seat till the end. Promise of Shadows is one of those stories that I had a hard time putting down I just had to know what was going to happen to Zephyr and Tallon. I was able to connect with Zephyr she’s one of those characters who has issues but she grows as the book progresses. The author has taken the mythology idea of harpy’s and put an exciting new twist creating an engaging story. I really enjoyed the author’s writing style it flows smoothly from start to finish and she’s done an awesome job telling Zephyr’s story. A clean story while there is romance it’s not overwhelming so teens as well as adults will enjoy the novel. If you’re a mythology fan I highly recommend that you check it out plus the cover is beautiful. While it doesn’t say that it’s a series anywhere I could see the author telling more about either Zephyr and Tallon or other characters in the novel. I really enjoyed Promise of Shadows it’s a fun read.
After a visit form Hermes Zephyr is sent to see Hades who asks her the same questions that the Etheral councils questions. It’s after her visit with Hades who reveals that her sister is not in the afterlife that Zephyr decides she needs to escape. With the help of her only friend they attempt to escape but run into a rescue part from her childhood friend. The four of them escape to the mortal world and Zephyr learns that she is the Nyx the one who will save all the half-gods. With the help of unlikely friends Zephyr will have to use her powers to save those and challenge the ones who is intent on seeing her death.
I wanted to love Zephyr right from the start but I found her a little on the frustrating side after all she’s a harpy assassin but as the book progresses she gets better. I liked Cass right from the start even those the others didn’t trust her and in the end she was what Zephyr expected. I also Liked Tallon I think he works for Zephyr after all she’s had a connection with him since she was a kid plus they both have a thing for the dark side.
I’ve had Promise of Shadows on my kindle for months but just haven’t gotten the mythology bug till this week. I was instantly captivated by Zephyr’s story it’s a fast paced fantasy novel that kept me on the edge of my seat till the end. Promise of Shadows is one of those stories that I had a hard time putting down I just had to know what was going to happen to Zephyr and Tallon. I was able to connect with Zephyr she’s one of those characters who has issues but she grows as the book progresses. The author has taken the mythology idea of harpy’s and put an exciting new twist creating an engaging story. I really enjoyed the author’s writing style it flows smoothly from start to finish and she’s done an awesome job telling Zephyr’s story. A clean story while there is romance it’s not overwhelming so teens as well as adults will enjoy the novel. If you’re a mythology fan I highly recommend that you check it out plus the cover is beautiful. While it doesn’t say that it’s a series anywhere I could see the author telling more about either Zephyr and Tallon or other characters in the novel. I really enjoyed Promise of Shadows it’s a fun read.
djreads's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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
3.25
novelheartbeat's review against another edition
2.0
2.5/5
Man, did this book have wonderful potential. I wanted so badly to love this – it had fabulous mythology, originality, and I was in love with the fact that our main character is a Harpy. In the beginning I was rather enjoying it. The setting was awesome – Tartarus! – and there was a big monster thing called a Draken; and I thought it was awesome that the MC, Zephyr, was not only a Harpy with blue hair and wings, that could smell emotions, but she was also black. I can’t think of a single book I’ve read where the main character wasn’t white. It was refreshing!
But – did you sense that but coming? – the farther along the story went, the more it lost me. In the beginning this probably could have been a 3.5 or 4 star book for me, but with each chapter that went by my feelings about it slipped lower…and lower….and it got to the point where I just didn’t really care about it anymore. The awesome story and stellar mythology got lost somewhere as Zephyr started doubting and dwelling and just being an idiot in general.
I quite hated Zephyr, actually. That was my main issue with this book. I wanted to slap the crap out of her! She was childish and petulant, and what really ticked me off is she knew when she was wrong and either kept doing the same things or wouldn’t admit to anyone that she was wrong. Or apologize. She was also a coward – but it was almost like she tried to be a coward. In fact, she kept saying that she was a coward. Of course you are, if you keep believing that! A monster was chasing her and instead of taking the chance on jumping – which could either be safety or death if she didn’t make it – she just stood there and was going to let the thing eat her. She just gave up. If you’re resigned to death anyway, why not try to save yourself and have the chance at life?!
Her insecurity was annoying as hell. Insecurity is realistic, but she was insecure to the point that it was a redundant forethought, overshadowing the plot line. She was constantly berating herself for being a coward, saying how she wasn’t good enough, that she could never lead anybody to victory, that she wasn’t the Nyx because she wasn’t brave enough. She was never enough. It was always a pity party with her! Every time a female came into play, she had some snide remark about how pretty they looked in what they were wearing and how they made her look plain or unattractive. She was so damn vain it was disgusting. She was actually upset (she said it made her “nervous”…what?) because her best friend looked pretty. It was so irritating!! Plus she was hot and cold when it came to her strengths. She could wield the erebos like a badass one minute and be throwing a massive pity party about how useless she was the next. Here’s an example:
I’m not the Nyx.
My eyes meet Hera’s, and she grins at me. It’s a smile of triumph. “I thought you would be stronger.” Her words cut through me, unleashing something red and hot and angry. Her ridicule mingles with so many others’, and the bitterness from a lifetime of failing to live up to expectations rises within me.
I will show them all. I failed their Trials, but it means nothing. Because no matter what they say, I know who I am.
I am the Nyx.
Really, you had that revelation in the span of a paragraph (after denying it the ENTIRE book), just because someone makes an observation? *shakes head*
Zephyr’s treatment of Alora really pissed me off, too. Sure, Alora acted a little condescending sometimes, but Zephyr was flat out mean to her just because she was threatened by her and jealous of her. When Alora has an actual lead to help them, Zephyr acted like a complete child and ripped up the note with directions on it so that they would have to stay where they were. She degraded Alora and brushed her off, saying that she didn’t trust her, when she’d never really done anything wrong.
The ‘romance’ was my second major problem. It was perpetual mental whiplash with Zephyr and Tallon. One minute they were almost kissing, the next they were barely speaking. Or angry with each other for some unfathomable reason. It drove me CRAZY. Especially Zephyr! She was such an idiot about it. It was clear when Tallon was angry that he was jealous, but she would walk away from him and then get pissy when he was around anything remotely female, making catty remarks about those females. If you won’t make a move on him because you’re too “scared,” you have NO right to get upset about him being in the company of another female.
She also kept giving Tallon the cold shoulder and then she was angry at him for it. She kept saying that he was a jerk, but I never thought he acted like one. Like I said, the few times he acted angry (like, twice) it was clearly jealousy. But he never treated her like crap or anything, he just didn’t really speak to her. And when he was the voice of reason, telling her she needed to pull it together and do her duty, she got angry and yelled at him for it. Um, it’s called responsibility.
The majority of the book was focused on Zephyr’s insecurity about being the Nyx as well as her dwelling over not being able to have Tallon (HER fault, not his); and also moping over things and acting wounded. I found it disgusting how quickly she forgot about finding her sister’s shade in favor of pining for Tallon. And instead of pining from a distance and getting angry at him for not making a move (when she wouldn’t do it either), she could have talked to him about it, you know, like an adult. Instead of a 12-year-old.
I struggled a bit in the beginning with the world building, because the term ‘vættir’ is just kind of thrown at you with no explanation. Eventually, we learn that they are half Æthereal (Gods, basically) and half human, but I feel like it should have been explained immediately to avoid that confusion. Same thing with erebos, and I never did quite grasp the term ‘Exalted.’ After the intro, we get information about the vættir’s and Æthereal’s backgrounds, but it’s in the form of an info dump. While it was interesting, I had a bit of trouble processing it because it was all explained at once.
Notice that the feels for this book are 0.5/5. That’s because I felt nothing.
Spoiler
A main character died and I didn’t even feel a blip of sadness over it. Absolutely nothing.Spoiler
“Zephyr Mourning, I am your father.”*snorts* Easy there, Darth.
Another minor complaint: Use of the word ‘snarled.’ Is that the only way the author knows how to describe something that’s tangled? I think the only way that Harpy hair and the Strands were ever described was snarled. It was used so often it actually got on my nerves. Okay, Zephyr’s hair is a tangly blue mess, I get it…
Blue was supposedly a dragon, but we never got any dragon action! I really wanted dragon action. :(
Despite all that negativity, I truly did love the mythology and the background behind it. That was by far my favorite part, and that’s the only reason this book still got 2.5 heartbeats. Like I said, great potential. If it weren’t for Zephyr being so hateful and the “romance” being so hot and cold, I probably would have loved this book. At the same time, if it weren’t for the intriguing world and back story, this book probably would have scored no higher than 1/5 heartbeats.
ASSESSMENT
Plot: 2.5/5
Premise: 5/5
Writing style: 3/5
Originality: 4.5/5
Characters: 1.5/5
World-building: 3.5/5
Pace: 3.5/5
Feels: 0.5/5
Cover: 5/5
greylandreviews's review against another edition
4.0
First of all around of applause for this cover *claps and cheers*. This book was basically a cover buy and maybe because it there would be harpies in here. I love harpies, Kaia is female book crush who is a kick ass chica and happens to be the lover of my man book crush for the rest of time, Strider. This book had me wanting more, but it did have it's points like, no insta-love, gave some background into this world, and some surprises I didn't see coming. Like who Tallon father is and that Blue is I give this book 4 stars and a spot in my Beautiful covers 2014 edition.