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A review by ketreads
Green Rider by Kristen Britain
adventurous
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.0
I'm a bit conflicted with my feelings over this book.
On the one hand, I LOVED reliving my horse-girl phase. A phase I remember very vividly after reading the book Silverhorse by Lene Kaaberbøl and falling in love with the idea of adventuring with my own horse, magical or otherwise!
Green Rider manages to capture that magic of adventure and draws you in as a reader. The main character of Karigan is just the right amount of naive but capable, which keeps the story a challenging adventure for all involved.
I also feel it worth mentioning but the seemingly random inclusion of threats of sexual violence towards Karigan and another woman at the mid-way point felt very inappropriate. The book up until that point read as a gentle coming-of-age with dangers but never sexual in nature. This inclusion really put me off, especially as it's never seen before or again.
The pacing could definitely be improved. I haven't read any of Britain's other works, but this did seem to jump straight into adventuring mishaps that felt way over our main character's head a bit too soon. It left her being, understandably, incapable of using her brain or learnt skills as she'd literally just begun her journey. It would have been more effective to see this as a gradual learning curve, as by the end Karigan definitely does seem more capable.
I had a few issues with the side characters. While the adventure itself felt quite meandering, and often backtracked in some places, the relationship Karigan forms with those around her, and those on screen when she isn't around, felt developed at a break-neck pace. By the end of the book we're supposed to feel Karigan's continuing adventure as a 'leaving home again' sort of sadness which doesn't feel earned.
Overall, I enjoyed it but aren't sure I'll continue with the series.
Though, ironically, I did actually enjoy the sneak peek chapter of book 2. Damnt!!!!
On the one hand, I LOVED reliving my horse-girl phase. A phase I remember very vividly after reading the book Silverhorse by Lene Kaaberbøl and falling in love with the idea of adventuring with my own horse, magical or otherwise!
Green Rider manages to capture that magic of adventure and draws you in as a reader. The main character of Karigan is just the right amount of naive but capable, which keeps the story a challenging adventure for all involved.
I also feel it worth mentioning but the seemingly random inclusion of threats of sexual violence towards Karigan and another woman at the mid-way point felt very inappropriate. The book up until that point read as a gentle coming-of-age with dangers but never sexual in nature. This inclusion really put me off, especially as it's never seen before or again.
The pacing could definitely be improved. I haven't read any of Britain's other works, but this did seem to jump straight into adventuring mishaps that felt way over our main character's head a bit too soon. It left her being, understandably, incapable of using her brain or learnt skills as she'd literally just begun her journey. It would have been more effective to see this as a gradual learning curve, as by the end Karigan definitely does seem more capable.
I had a few issues with the side characters. While the adventure itself felt quite meandering, and often backtracked in some places, the relationship Karigan forms with those around her, and those on screen when she isn't around, felt developed at a break-neck pace. By the end of the book we're supposed to feel Karigan's continuing adventure as a 'leaving home again' sort of sadness which doesn't feel earned.
Overall, I enjoyed it but aren't sure I'll continue with the series.
Though, ironically, I did actually enjoy the sneak peek chapter of book 2. Damnt!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
Minor: Rape