meoreyn's reviews
117 reviews

I want to preface this with the fact that this book does very well what it intends to do. It's a good young adult romance fantasy. Also, I am pretty sure I am not the intended audience and I have opinions. Maybe teenage me would have had a different approach, but alas, that person leveled up a bit and here we are.

I was on page two when I first rolled my eyes. It was not the last. Throughout the rest of the book I noticed a pattern for the eye-rolling, and I found the culprit for my unexpected eye muscle workout. I was the romance. While I know this is one of the main aspects of the story, it was my least favorite part of it. It has friggin insta-love. Like, come on. I also discovered while reading this book another love-trope that I don't like, which is

Spoiler

"I loved you in another life, that's why I instantly love you now"

. But I never heard anybody else complain about this trope, so that might not be something that bothers others people. The only positive thing I can say about this whole part is that there is no love triangle, which, at least, is a silver lining. And that's all I am going to say about the romance. Another thing that I didn't really enjoy, was the writing itself. While in the second half it got better, the first half was really annoying sometimes, with the metaphors and flowery prose, especially when describing things *ahem, Akiva, ahem*. For everyone who knows me, they should know that I live for purple prose; my favorite books are pretentious to the point of exhaustion. But I also think that it has a time and a place, that you either commit to it or leave it alone. This book took the road less traveled, a weird halfway path filled with weeds and mud, and emerged on the other side still dirty from the hike and without having seen any of the sights. But then again, I think exactly these parts are the ones that made people love the book, so who am I to say?
And now about the part that I really liked. The world building is the best part of this story and I am really looking forward to learn more in the next books about Elsewhere, with everything that entails. While the last third of the book gave some more details about it, it was in flash-back form (a thing that I know irks some people, so here you go, I mentioned it), so I am still waiting for more. In all fairness, I think I would really like a more mature story in this setting, because I can see big potential in it. But I can not really fault a YA book for being a YA book, can I?
All in all, the story was interesting enough to not put down after the first few pages which didn't really grip me and I am curious where it goes. It's a fast read despite it's size, easy enough to get trough even after a long day at work (or school, it you are more age appropriate while reading this) and interesting enough to delay your bed time a bit.

My life is blood because my world is beasts.

If you are audio booking it, it gives the experience of a high two stars, but I am pretty sure that if I would have had to read this with my own two eyes, it would have been a DNF or an excruciatingly long read. Also, mild SPOILERS ahead, but it really doesn't make a difference.
Now I've got to say that I knew what was I getting myself into, having read all those comments saying that this is just a LoTR ripoff. And that is not the reason that I gave it such low of a rating. If anything, I think it's problem was not copying Tolkien enough, cause then at least it would be better written. This book reads like a Dungeons and Dragons premade story, played out by first time players who forgot that their party needs a caster and a first time Dungeon Master who forgets that fucking with players is a thing. In more academical terms, this story is so streamlined, that I felt nothing during the whole book. A problem arose, and then it was swiftly dealt with. A problem arose, and then it was swiftly dealt with. There were no real stakes anywhere. The Big Bad Evil Guy was defeated with a mirror and a tickle, for goodness sake. It's bad, man. Speaking of bad things: character work? Never heard of her. Each one of them has the same exact personality which is "righteous Man". No growth happens between the beginning and the end. But be at ease, even though I could not tell you almost anything relevant (or differentiating) about any of the characters, I will have forever etched in my brain which one comes from where, isn't that right, highlander Menion Leah?
Speaking of Menion, there are a few things that I liked about this book, and by things I mean characters, and by characters I mean the only two people who are always called by their full name, for whatever reason. I also have to add that the audio book narrator sometimes gave both of them a sliiiight scottish accent which I thought was funny, but that's only just a piece trivia for you, who made it this far into this rambling nonsense masquerading as a review. So. Back to Menion Leah and Panamon Creel, the only good characters in this story. In fact, I think Panamon Creel is the only one who has somewhat of a character development, if you count not having time to steal anything a step up from being a thief. Even so, I may have liked them just because they are the type of character that I usually love: the righteous thief and the tortured king, but it felt worth mentioning.
I don't know. It had a few good bits, with a few good ideas. Also it was not a good book. But it was not the worst thing I listened to, and I guess that if this is THE first fantasy book that you read in your life, it could be worse. But for anyone who read at least a decent fantasy, then you should turn around now. Friendly advice. Oh, and also not making Shea and Menion canon: coward move.

There was a madness in the scheme of life that men were forced to accept either with resigned fury or blunt indifference.