What do you think?
Rate this book
305 pages, Hardcover
First published March 3, 2020
- while the plot and world-building is definitely unique, i dont feel the high-stakes intensity that should accompany some of the more ‘life altering’ situations that occur in this. i do think that will come later on in the series, now that an introduction has been made to how the world works, why it is what it is, and the appropriate players have been all set up. and while this is all good information to have, it doesnt feel crucial at this point in time.i mean, overall, this isnt a terrible book. it lays a pretty decent foundation and promises to be a pretty interesting series. there just isnt enough substance to this to merit a full-length novel, in my opinion.
- the characters have no depth to them. like, i can tell you their names and where they come from, but thats probably it. there just really isnt any in-depth characterisation present. the focus is definitely on the world-building, and while that is important, i just couldnt connect with any of the characters.
- the pacing is glacial. oh my goodness, its so slow. this is told in first person POV and its constant internal monologue. i would say its a 60/40 split between internal narration/description and dialogue (respectively). and as someone who prefers dialogue, this just seems to drag on and on.
This book is not for you if…
⤐ ... you consider it a drawback when the 'high stakes intensity', as jessica puts it so beautifully in her review, is not felt by the reader.
From the very beginning on I had trouble connecting to the thrill that came with the meeting at Havenfall and the chaos that ensued
⤐ ... a book is too short even if a hundret pages more could have made it that much better
⤐ ... plot twists, as crucial as they are to the story, do not touch you emotionally
⤐ ... you dislike multiverses
‘You have more happy memories than scary ones, don't you? Why give the scary ones so much space in your head?’