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A review by redcupbookclub
Northern Lights, Southern Stars by C.S. Johnson
1.0
This is supposed to be a Sleeping Beauty retelling of sorts. The only connections to fairytale is a mean, ugly stepmother, a mirror slave and a random apple. Beyond those two minor points, which both felt forced, I would argue furiously against any comparisons.
I have never read from C. S. Johnson before this book, so I was not prepared for the heavy Christian overtones. This would have been fine if it made sense to the story. As it was, the blatant preaching felt out of place and extremely forced.
The writing also gave me pause. It felt very staccato; with short, choppy sentences. I expected a story that leaned into fairytale to have a more whimsical rhythm to the writing.
The plot and the characters left me wanting. The plot, with its political machinations and opposing nations, could have had potential, but Johnson focused so heavily on the romance between Ebony and Rion, that the story felt like an afterthought. And speaking of Ebony and Rion, both characters were little more than cliche, biblical virtues personified. In fact, all of the characters felt at once overdone and devoid of substance.
I did not enjoy this read and would hesitate to pick up anything else by this author.
I have never read from C. S. Johnson before this book, so I was not prepared for the heavy Christian overtones. This would have been fine if it made sense to the story. As it was, the blatant preaching felt out of place and extremely forced.
The writing also gave me pause. It felt very staccato; with short, choppy sentences. I expected a story that leaned into fairytale to have a more whimsical rhythm to the writing.
The plot and the characters left me wanting. The plot, with its political machinations and opposing nations, could have had potential, but Johnson focused so heavily on the romance between Ebony and Rion, that the story felt like an afterthought. And speaking of Ebony and Rion, both characters were little more than cliche, biblical virtues personified. In fact, all of the characters felt at once overdone and devoid of substance.
I did not enjoy this read and would hesitate to pick up anything else by this author.