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Catalyst
JADE. A criminal. A liar. The best dressed. She’s got plans and they don’t include love, magic, or the potential end of the world. DIAN. The ambitious Legionnaire, a rising star, molded for success since birth. His life is under control and going exactly as planned. But is it a life he even wants?ALDON. His only means to be useful is behind a desk. A young politician with an earnest sense to do what is right. If he only had the means.FEL. A powerful chanter who’s getting real tired of terrorism. Where do you go when the world fears your power? Join the villains, I guess.HAVINNIA High Queen of Vacua. Her word is not to be questioned. Except that she has very little control over what she can say. The pressure might kill her before the apocalypse does.Enter Liore, a world of enchantments and secrets. Enchantment is a science and the real magic is the chanters, a powerful new breed of human viewed with fear and suspicion. Liore is spiraling toward ruin and the five nations have tough choices to make. It’s the beginning of the end. Can anyone hold on to their goals? Will they want to?
- GenresFantasy
311 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 21, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 19, 2020
Thank you to BookSirens, for providing me with a free e-reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
2.5 stars
I found this book to be fast paced and fun. I rarely had to wait for the action to start. With that being said, during certain sections I felt like the writing and pacing were rushed. However, I did often feel like I was waiting for something better to happen, like maybe I was confused.
I thought the characters were interesting, but they also seemed like archetypes in someway. For example, I didn’t think there was anything about Jade that made her feel more dimensional or less conventional than many other female protagonists with a confident exterior, but a heart of gold personality. Same goes for characters like Dian. He seemed like the classic straight laced brooding type. I would’ve like more complexity where the characters were concerned.
I thought the world building and magic system were very interesting and unique, but sometimes the writing was rushed, and caused me to feel somewhat confused about the magic system. For a while there, I wasn’t completely sure what a “chanter” even was.
The romance wasn’t exactly anything to write home about. I found it to be pretty standard and bland. I would’ve appreciated more complexity and a better slow burn. Right off the bat things felt somewhat forced romantically. I think that slowing down, and adjusting the nuances of it all, could really help.
I think this is a strong debut. I’ve read lots of debuts that are far worse than this, and plenty of works from other authors, that have several books under their belts, that aren’t even this good. I think Solstice Locke will be a writer to watch in the coming years.
2.5 stars
I found this book to be fast paced and fun. I rarely had to wait for the action to start. With that being said, during certain sections I felt like the writing and pacing were rushed. However, I did often feel like I was waiting for something better to happen, like maybe I was confused.
I thought the characters were interesting, but they also seemed like archetypes in someway. For example, I didn’t think there was anything about Jade that made her feel more dimensional or less conventional than many other female protagonists with a confident exterior, but a heart of gold personality. Same goes for characters like Dian. He seemed like the classic straight laced brooding type. I would’ve like more complexity where the characters were concerned.
I thought the world building and magic system were very interesting and unique, but sometimes the writing was rushed, and caused me to feel somewhat confused about the magic system. For a while there, I wasn’t completely sure what a “chanter” even was.
The romance wasn’t exactly anything to write home about. I found it to be pretty standard and bland. I would’ve appreciated more complexity and a better slow burn. Right off the bat things felt somewhat forced romantically. I think that slowing down, and adjusting the nuances of it all, could really help.
I think this is a strong debut. I’ve read lots of debuts that are far worse than this, and plenty of works from other authors, that have several books under their belts, that aren’t even this good. I think Solstice Locke will be a writer to watch in the coming years.
July 22, 2020
This. Was. Excellent.
It's a rare debut novel, especially of the self-published variety, that is able to convince me so quickly and effortlessly of its author's talents.
Combining steampunk, fantasy and a hint of romance in a fastpaced, absolutely riveting plot containing everything from airship pirates and enchantments to court intrigues and potentially world-ending doom, this series opener sucked me in pretty much right from the start. The characters are already well developed and are bound to become more so in subsequent volumes - and may I just say, I love the diversity included among the cast! Not every author has the skill to juggle so many different POVs, but Solstice Locke manages it well, displaying an instinctive grasp of when and how often to switch POVs to keep the story moving at the perfect pace.
Now, while I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I do have a couple of things to get nitpicky about.
For one thing, a proofreader needs to go over the text with a fine-tooth comb, because a number of slip-ups a spell-check programme wouldn't have picked up on caught my eye ("more" instead of "born", lead/led, quite/quiet, ensuring/assuring, Vauca/Vacua...) as well as some misplaced commas, all of which disturbed the flow of otherwise skilfull writing.
For another, my nitpicky mind takes issue with the mention of "whiskey and scotch" in the very first chapter, because A) Scotch is short for "Scotch whisky" and therefore doesn't really require a separate mention, and B) its mention doesn't make sense anyway, because how can you have Scotch (= Scottish) anything in a fantasy world in which Scotland doesn't exist?
Also, I would dearly like to know who precisely the characters depicted on that (admittedly gorgeous) cover are - Dian and Jade would make sense, but last I checked, Jade was described as platinum blonde. Caprice is a redhead, but why would she be on the cover? I'm puzzled by this.
Aside from those few fairly minor complaints - this was a wonderfully entertaining read that leaves me eagerly anticipating its sequel. Definitely looking forward to seeing where this story is going.
*** I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. ***
It's a rare debut novel, especially of the self-published variety, that is able to convince me so quickly and effortlessly of its author's talents.
Combining steampunk, fantasy and a hint of romance in a fastpaced, absolutely riveting plot containing everything from airship pirates and enchantments to court intrigues and potentially world-ending doom, this series opener sucked me in pretty much right from the start. The characters are already well developed and are bound to become more so in subsequent volumes - and may I just say, I love the diversity included among the cast! Not every author has the skill to juggle so many different POVs, but Solstice Locke manages it well, displaying an instinctive grasp of when and how often to switch POVs to keep the story moving at the perfect pace.
Now, while I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I do have a couple of things to get nitpicky about.
For one thing, a proofreader needs to go over the text with a fine-tooth comb, because a number of slip-ups a spell-check programme wouldn't have picked up on caught my eye ("more" instead of "born", lead/led, quite/quiet, ensuring/assuring, Vauca/Vacua...) as well as some misplaced commas, all of which disturbed the flow of otherwise skilfull writing.
For another, my nitpicky mind takes issue with the mention of "whiskey and scotch" in the very first chapter, because A) Scotch is short for "Scotch whisky" and therefore doesn't really require a separate mention, and B) its mention doesn't make sense anyway, because how can you have Scotch (= Scottish) anything in a fantasy world in which Scotland doesn't exist?
Also, I would dearly like to know who precisely the characters depicted on that (admittedly gorgeous) cover are - Dian and Jade would make sense, but last I checked, Jade was described as platinum blonde. Caprice is a redhead, but why would she be on the cover? I'm puzzled by this.
Aside from those few fairly minor complaints - this was a wonderfully entertaining read that leaves me eagerly anticipating its sequel. Definitely looking forward to seeing where this story is going.
*** I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. ***
August 21, 2020
Spheres flickered along the walls casting wavering shadow…Fel paused, and stared at the spheres. Who the fuck had enchanted them to do that? It was unnecessarily dramatic.
Wow! I can't believe this was a debut book, and a self-published debut book. It surprised me greatly: the plot, the world-building and the characters were so extremely well-done, especially the characters. I fell in love with the well-rounded, diverse set of protagonists and secondary characters, especially with Jade, Liam and Fel. The relationship between Jade and Liam, especially, was heartwarming, funny and beautiful in a very unique way, and was what made me love this book so much. It is so rare to find such friendship in books, were you can actually feel their love, and it's even rarer to find female-male friendships with this natural dynamic.
What I did not enjoy as much as I expected was the romance between the two main characters. I both loved Jade and Dian, and their first interactions were funny and interesting to read, but the fast development of their relationship was a big no for me. I think a slow-burn romance would have worked so much better for them, especially for a series where there is time to work with.
Another thing that made me itchy was that I don't think the concept of war and slavery were given the importance they should have. Those are not light topics and, while there were mentions of how horrific these things are, I think we got more lines discussing how a relationship with a subordinate is immoral than we got about literal slavery. This is a very delicate topic and I do hope to find more discussions on the next books.
Back to the things I liked, besides the friendship of Liam and Jade, I also loved Kirst and Gideon! And ah, the diversity in this book guys! Skin colours, physical disabilities, sexualities... there was so much care in all of the characters, and I loved how these things were handled in their storyline as a part of them, but never the biggest, most important one.
In general, I really liked this book. I'm intrigued by what is going to happen now, and very attached to all the characters, so I can't wait for the second part!
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you <3
September 1, 2020
I first want to thank BookSirens for giving me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
To be honest, there were some things that felt a little unpolished. A few times a paragraph would start seeming to be told from one character's point of view but then halfway change without a clear indication. Certain aspects of the timeline felt hard to follow - there are multiple view points that the book switches between and there was a sense maybe only a day or two had passed, but when it changed to another character it was stated that several weeks had passed. There were also some descriptions of actions that were hard to follow clearly.
However, this book is still a 4 star book to me. I was totally intrigued by the world Locke has built and the way that things work. I personally liked how some of the characters started off kind of 2D and caricature like in the beginning but as the story unfolds and more information is revealed they become more complex and real. I was also delighted to find that the story is more than just a fun adventure. Locke really seems to be setting up to say something much more deep about our world and was starting to make me think more about so many things at the close of this first in the series.
I will also say there are some things that do not seem to fully connect or make sense concerning the plot and reasoning for some characters actions, but they are things that could become clear in later books.
Finally, I did really appreciate the range of representation. There were characters who had differing physical abilities but were presented as just as capable as all the other characters and who on the whole were not looked at as less or less capable by others - though those experiences were still there for some. It was also nice to be immersed in a world where women in power doesn't seem odd or unusual and that same sex relationships are just so obviously as normal and natural as relationships between people of the opposite sex.
To be honest, there were some things that felt a little unpolished. A few times a paragraph would start seeming to be told from one character's point of view but then halfway change without a clear indication. Certain aspects of the timeline felt hard to follow - there are multiple view points that the book switches between and there was a sense maybe only a day or two had passed, but when it changed to another character it was stated that several weeks had passed. There were also some descriptions of actions that were hard to follow clearly.
However, this book is still a 4 star book to me. I was totally intrigued by the world Locke has built and the way that things work. I personally liked how some of the characters started off kind of 2D and caricature like in the beginning but as the story unfolds and more information is revealed they become more complex and real. I was also delighted to find that the story is more than just a fun adventure. Locke really seems to be setting up to say something much more deep about our world and was starting to make me think more about so many things at the close of this first in the series.
I will also say there are some things that do not seem to fully connect or make sense concerning the plot and reasoning for some characters actions, but they are things that could become clear in later books.
Finally, I did really appreciate the range of representation. There were characters who had differing physical abilities but were presented as just as capable as all the other characters and who on the whole were not looked at as less or less capable by others - though those experiences were still there for some. It was also nice to be immersed in a world where women in power doesn't seem odd or unusual and that same sex relationships are just so obviously as normal and natural as relationships between people of the opposite sex.
July 1, 2020
I received a free copy of this book via BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I have to admit what caught my attention and made want to read this book was the cover, which I find very beautiful, but I still can't tell who the characters depicted are... And that's probably my only "complaint", I genuinely enjoyed the story from start to finish.
It was easy to follow and understand, a mix of fantasy and steampunk that a part of me always needed. At first I feared I'd be lost among all the different characters, but I was happy to be proved wrong. I might've not remembered everyone's name during the first chapters, but the way each character talked and acted was unique and soon I was able to identify everyone easily.
There are characters with disabilities and characters who are interested in people of the same sex as them, which I honestly loved! I believe this is my favourite thing about this book, how inclusive it feels. It was really interesting seeing how in the book's world homosexuality and disability are perceived.
What I didn't enjoy as much as I hoped I would was the romance between the two main characters. Let me be clear, I did like their interactions, but it wasn't my favourite part of the book as I had expected. I'm sure I'll enjoy their relationship more in the sequel, as I believe in this book only the foundation was built. Speaking of the sequel, I'm really curious how things will turn out and would love to read it when I get the chance.
In my opinion it is a great book, one I hope gets more attention.
I have to admit what caught my attention and made want to read this book was the cover, which I find very beautiful, but I still can't tell who the characters depicted are... And that's probably my only "complaint", I genuinely enjoyed the story from start to finish.
It was easy to follow and understand, a mix of fantasy and steampunk that a part of me always needed. At first I feared I'd be lost among all the different characters, but I was happy to be proved wrong. I might've not remembered everyone's name during the first chapters, but the way each character talked and acted was unique and soon I was able to identify everyone easily.
There are characters with disabilities and characters who are interested in people of the same sex as them, which I honestly loved! I believe this is my favourite thing about this book, how inclusive it feels. It was really interesting seeing how in the book's world homosexuality and disability are perceived.
What I didn't enjoy as much as I hoped I would was the romance between the two main characters. Let me be clear, I did like their interactions, but it wasn't my favourite part of the book as I had expected. I'm sure I'll enjoy their relationship more in the sequel, as I believe in this book only the foundation was built. Speaking of the sequel, I'm really curious how things will turn out and would love to read it when I get the chance.
In my opinion it is a great book, one I hope gets more attention.
July 23, 2020
Catalyst is a fun story bringing fantasy, steam-punk and magic together. There was some fantastic world building and the characters were fresh and interesting. This book is the first of more to come and is a great point for building the foundation of a promising series.
*I received this book free from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review
*I received this book free from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review
August 5, 2020
Thank you to BookSirens for the copy of this book.
This was an original and gripping fantasy novel! The fantasy world Liore is well-developed, and I know that we’ll learn so much more about it in the next books in the series. The five main characters are each flawed and complicated, with their own distinctive voices that shine through. I felt that this story took a while to gain momentum, and I wasn’t sure what was going on until like 40% of the way through. However, once the story picked up speed, and once I got a good grasp of the plot, I couldn’t wait to read what happened next.
The queer representation in this book is great; being queer is entirely normalized. I mean, these characters have a lot more important things to worry about than who’s dating who. Each romance/relationship in the story, straight and queer alike, touched my heart and left me wanting more.
This book had a fair share of editing issues (sentence structure errors, typos, misplaced words, etc), but weren’t so terrible as to dampen my enjoyment much.
I’ll be looking out for book 2!
This was an original and gripping fantasy novel! The fantasy world Liore is well-developed, and I know that we’ll learn so much more about it in the next books in the series. The five main characters are each flawed and complicated, with their own distinctive voices that shine through. I felt that this story took a while to gain momentum, and I wasn’t sure what was going on until like 40% of the way through. However, once the story picked up speed, and once I got a good grasp of the plot, I couldn’t wait to read what happened next.
The queer representation in this book is great; being queer is entirely normalized. I mean, these characters have a lot more important things to worry about than who’s dating who. Each romance/relationship in the story, straight and queer alike, touched my heart and left me wanting more.
This book had a fair share of editing issues (sentence structure errors, typos, misplaced words, etc), but weren’t so terrible as to dampen my enjoyment much.
I’ll be looking out for book 2!
September 3, 2020
3.5 Stars
Thank you to BookSirens for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
“The air crackled with energy and the gauges glowed a faint green before going out. The engine roared to life”.
Five centuries ago, The Founders created Loire’s five nations after the world was ripped apart. Enchantments run rapidly to keep everyday active and plentiful for all, but the radiation expelled from Glint manufacturing is causing the world to crumb once again. Meanwhile there seems to be another perceived threat to Loire. A new part of society, known as Chanters, who do not need Glint to enchant begin to rise instilling fear. But nothing is ever as it seems and secrets will always reveal themselves in time.
“People were quick to throw differences into labeled boxes and quicker to bolt the box closed with warning signs”.
The book had me hooked! Flying a pirate ship and fight scene along with an epic adventure? I'm totally in! Dashes of humor, notes on slavery and an overall theme of morality in unexpected places. Things were picking up fast in this mix of fantasy and steampunk, and I was along for the ride. New characters being introduced sporadically and juxtaposed to the current one’s we've come to know. One adventure leads into a whole other debacle. The give and take of suspense felt overwhelming but then lost its balance for me. I was extremely glad that the romance was in the back room instead of center stage plot wise. The electrifying sexual tension was there and if prolonged into the second book would have grasped me more. Overall, it was an enjoyable and impressive debut book with unique aspects.
“...his breathing turning into ragged, almost gagging spams. He didn’t know how long he had, but there was no stopping it now. His entire perception of the world has been executed”.
The world building is breathtakingly beautiful. The reader feels enveloped in the different nations of Loire, each which displays an unique personality. It was as if I could smell the wild flowers on the outskirts of Vacua’s Ravencross. Not only is there a dazzling landscape, the characters presented are diverse such as LGBTQ+ and individuals with physical disabilities. Liam was the character I gravitated towards the most. He was adaptable, intelligent, covert and dynamic. The friendship he has with Jade is pure and genuine. As much as I love Liam and a strong heroine, I couldn't relish in Jade as much as I expected. She comes off a bit too vain, childish and impulsive for my liking.
“They slipped into the silence of friends who’ve been around each other too often to ever feel uncomfortable”.
Multiple perspectives in a book is something I really adore and I amend Locke for giving the reader so many of them! With that being said, the formatting was an issue for me. It took a bit to fully apparehend whose perspective was in each section. I think the reader would benefit from the chapter titles converted to book sections/parts and each character’s perspective sections converted to chapter titles with their name to avoid this confusion.
Recommended for people who liked ... Boneshaker & Airborn
Thank you to BookSirens for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
“The air crackled with energy and the gauges glowed a faint green before going out. The engine roared to life”.
Five centuries ago, The Founders created Loire’s five nations after the world was ripped apart. Enchantments run rapidly to keep everyday active and plentiful for all, but the radiation expelled from Glint manufacturing is causing the world to crumb once again. Meanwhile there seems to be another perceived threat to Loire. A new part of society, known as Chanters, who do not need Glint to enchant begin to rise instilling fear. But nothing is ever as it seems and secrets will always reveal themselves in time.
“People were quick to throw differences into labeled boxes and quicker to bolt the box closed with warning signs”.
The book had me hooked! Flying a pirate ship and fight scene along with an epic adventure? I'm totally in! Dashes of humor, notes on slavery and an overall theme of morality in unexpected places. Things were picking up fast in this mix of fantasy and steampunk, and I was along for the ride. New characters being introduced sporadically and juxtaposed to the current one’s we've come to know. One adventure leads into a whole other debacle. The give and take of suspense felt overwhelming but then lost its balance for me. I was extremely glad that the romance was in the back room instead of center stage plot wise. The electrifying sexual tension was there and if prolonged into the second book would have grasped me more. Overall, it was an enjoyable and impressive debut book with unique aspects.
“...his breathing turning into ragged, almost gagging spams. He didn’t know how long he had, but there was no stopping it now. His entire perception of the world has been executed”.
The world building is breathtakingly beautiful. The reader feels enveloped in the different nations of Loire, each which displays an unique personality. It was as if I could smell the wild flowers on the outskirts of Vacua’s Ravencross. Not only is there a dazzling landscape, the characters presented are diverse such as LGBTQ+ and individuals with physical disabilities. Liam was the character I gravitated towards the most. He was adaptable, intelligent, covert and dynamic. The friendship he has with Jade is pure and genuine. As much as I love Liam and a strong heroine, I couldn't relish in Jade as much as I expected. She comes off a bit too vain, childish and impulsive for my liking.
“They slipped into the silence of friends who’ve been around each other too often to ever feel uncomfortable”.
Multiple perspectives in a book is something I really adore and I amend Locke for giving the reader so many of them! With that being said, the formatting was an issue for me. It took a bit to fully apparehend whose perspective was in each section. I think the reader would benefit from the chapter titles converted to book sections/parts and each character’s perspective sections converted to chapter titles with their name to avoid this confusion.
Recommended for people who liked ... Boneshaker & Airborn
June 20, 2020
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received Catalyst (The Second Cycle Book 1) from BookSirens. I expected a High Fantasy story with flying ships and air pirates, but Catalyst is a bit more than that. There is almost a steampunk feel, with a taste of Post Apocalyptic disaster tossed in the mix.
Catalyst is a fun mix of fantasy, steampunk, magic, and low technology. Few authors can blend magic and technology well, but the author did a good job. The author is talented and writes well; her dialogue and action scenes are easy to follow. I never found myself skipping back pages to figure out who was doing what, when and where.
I would not have purchased Catalyst, and even though it was a decent read, it is not really my cup of tea. I am not into the romantic angst all through the book between Dian and Jade. I found the enemies to lovers angle in Catalyst stretched too thin. I just wanted Dian and Jade to screw and get on with the story.
The sexual tension between the two MCs was well done, but it just isn’t something that I enjoy. I didn’t feel enough for the characters to want to purchase the next book. While I am curious as to what happens (and do Dian and Jade finally have sex?) my curiosity is not great enough to purchase the next book.
I was surprised how clean Catalyst is until about the middle of the book when the characters start cursing. There is no graphic sex, but a strong lesbian theme through the book with possible homosexual coupling as well. The only straight couple would be the MCs if they ever manage to get it on.
Even if I had KU I wouldn’t read the next book in the series, not because the author is terrible, but because she doesn’t write what I want to read. If I got the second book in this series as an ARC, I probably would read it.
I received Catalyst (The Second Cycle Book 1) from BookSirens. I expected a High Fantasy story with flying ships and air pirates, but Catalyst is a bit more than that. There is almost a steampunk feel, with a taste of Post Apocalyptic disaster tossed in the mix.
Catalyst is a fun mix of fantasy, steampunk, magic, and low technology. Few authors can blend magic and technology well, but the author did a good job. The author is talented and writes well; her dialogue and action scenes are easy to follow. I never found myself skipping back pages to figure out who was doing what, when and where.
I would not have purchased Catalyst, and even though it was a decent read, it is not really my cup of tea. I am not into the romantic angst all through the book between Dian and Jade. I found the enemies to lovers angle in Catalyst stretched too thin. I just wanted Dian and Jade to screw and get on with the story.
The sexual tension between the two MCs was well done, but it just isn’t something that I enjoy. I didn’t feel enough for the characters to want to purchase the next book. While I am curious as to what happens (and do Dian and Jade finally have sex?) my curiosity is not great enough to purchase the next book.
I was surprised how clean Catalyst is until about the middle of the book when the characters start cursing. There is no graphic sex, but a strong lesbian theme through the book with possible homosexual coupling as well. The only straight couple would be the MCs if they ever manage to get it on.
Even if I had KU I wouldn’t read the next book in the series, not because the author is terrible, but because she doesn’t write what I want to read. If I got the second book in this series as an ARC, I probably would read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2020
Before I begin my review I would personally like to thank Booksirens for gifting me this ARC for an honest review.
Six of Crows meets Daughter of the Pirate King in this exciting debut novel by Solstice Locke. Featuring a sassy thief who could almost give Aelin Galathynius a run for her money, a broodingly gorgeous do-gooder legionnaire, an unstable politician, a Queen who was not supposed to rule and a tatted up mute with illegal abilities, Catalyst is an astonishingly addictive adventure.
Catalyst features, but is not limited to, the following themes:
Enemies to lover
Multi POV
LGBT themes
Pirates
Sassy heroine
Thieves
Royals and politics
Legionnaires
Abduction
A secret mission
Magic
Steampunk
Forbidden love
Birth defects
Romance level: Ugh the angst is going to kill me! The romance was there and the kissing scenes sent my knees weak. I believe it was a great lead up to what I expect to be a steamy book 2.
My overall rating for Catalyst is...
4 stars!
As much as I have a thing for tall, dark and brooding male heroines, sassy, snarky and smart mouthed bitches? I worship them! I want to be them! And Jade? Her and Aelin Galathynius could almost be sisters! I love the diversity of the characters, some with birth defects and others in LGBT relationships. The style of writing was enchanting and I found myself eager to get back to my book when I wasn’t reading.
Overall I was thoroughly impressed with Solstice Locke’s debut novel and look forward to reading more of her work.
Catalyst is free to read on Kindle Unlimited!
August 7, 2020
Ok. Wow. Where do I begin?
This was a thoroughly enjoyable fantasy steampunk read with a hint of dystopian.
The characters were fun and each one had a distinct voice. Fel is such a cinnamon roll and needs to be protected at all costs. I also really appreciated the diversity of the cast, the representation, especially for physical disability and casual LGBTQ+.
The worldbuilding was intriguing with a great combination of magic and steampunk. And airship pirates!
I loved the witty writing (the chapter titles!!) with a good dose of humour. However, there were a few redundant lines and the occasional typo but neither really took away from the enjoyment.
As this book is the first in a series, there was a lot of set up and I felt like not a whole lot happened in the first half. I still had a great time with the characters though and I am excited to see where this story will go.
Overall, this is a great debut and I will definitely continue with the series.
CAWPILE rating: 7.8
I received a copy of this from the New Adult Book Club in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable fantasy steampunk read with a hint of dystopian.
The characters were fun and each one had a distinct voice. Fel is such a cinnamon roll and needs to be protected at all costs. I also really appreciated the diversity of the cast, the representation, especially for physical disability and casual LGBTQ+.
The worldbuilding was intriguing with a great combination of magic and steampunk. And airship pirates!
I loved the witty writing (the chapter titles!!) with a good dose of humour. However, there were a few redundant lines and the occasional typo but neither really took away from the enjoyment.
As this book is the first in a series, there was a lot of set up and I felt like not a whole lot happened in the first half. I still had a great time with the characters though and I am excited to see where this story will go.
Overall, this is a great debut and I will definitely continue with the series.
CAWPILE rating: 7.8
I received a copy of this from the New Adult Book Club in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
August 30, 2020
I received an advance review copy of this book for free, from booksiens.com and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The best part of this story was the characters, who were diverse which is always nice to read in a story.
Overall I enjoyed the plot and its fantasy exploration of the cost of our actions on ourselves and our world.
By the end, I lost a bit of my connection to the story. It felt like it was rushed at the end to end at a point that only existed to set up the next book. Some of the plot points that were randomly thrown in, just made me roll my eyes because they seemed to stand in opposition of the important exploration of the costs of our community's actions can have on ourselves, and our world, which was starting to be explored in earlier parts of the book.
The best part of this story was the characters, who were diverse which is always nice to read in a story.
Overall I enjoyed the plot and its fantasy exploration of the cost of our actions on ourselves and our world.
By the end, I lost a bit of my connection to the story. It felt like it was rushed at the end to end at a point that only existed to set up the next book. Some of the plot points that were randomly thrown in, just made me roll my eyes because they seemed to stand in opposition of the important exploration of the costs of our community's actions can have on ourselves, and our world, which was starting to be explored in earlier parts of the book.
August 19, 2020
Solstice Locke's intention of immersing their readers into a fantasy world that's a good mix of adventure and character-driven storytelling seemed like a good idea to me...at first.
I wanted myself to be gripped by the stories of the multiple POVs that were introduced in the book but it just didn't work out the way I wanted it to.
I found myself getting lost in the myriad of characters whose minds I had to tap into and in the end, it was all very lackluster to me.
Readers who may enjoy this are those who are looking for a host of voices that come from different backgrounds and identities who are in a very fast-paced, fantastical world.
I wanted myself to be gripped by the stories of the multiple POVs that were introduced in the book but it just didn't work out the way I wanted it to.
I found myself getting lost in the myriad of characters whose minds I had to tap into and in the end, it was all very lackluster to me.
Readers who may enjoy this are those who are looking for a host of voices that come from different backgrounds and identities who are in a very fast-paced, fantastical world.
June 13, 2020
An awesome tale of enemy turned lovers, lol there's a spoiler, not that it was hidden very well, anyway, I love the fun mix of steampunk, magic, and adventure. I hope I get book 2 as an ARC and will be buying the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 12, 2020
I really wanted to love this book but it was so hard for me to read. The story was hard for me to follow and at times I was lost as to what was going on. I felt that the story was dragging on without getting anywhere. I think that the plot was good but could not hold my interest. I will try other books by Solstice Locke as I always like to give a second chance to authors.
August 18, 2020
It is a book that has a mixture of magic and technology. It has queens, enchanters and pirates. It has been an ok reading although it is not really my cup of tea. The 2 main characters, Dian and Jade, although they are attracted to each other, they have not just reached the next level in their relationship.
May 5, 2025
I had a Hard time getting tru the first pages befour it Court My interest. But its a okay fantasy story. It just lacks the last bit of umf. Some Thing is missing for My taste, world swooning love, where you want to Mary the male after, here I forget his name. But for a debue book its okay, but not more.
August 10, 2020
While the plot of this book seemed right up my alley, it wasn’t keeping my interest. Usually I will devour a book like this, but nearly 200 pages in and it’s just not peaking my interest. I look forward to seeing what else this author has to offer as conceptually the ideas are great.
August 3, 2020
What a good book.
Definitely a must read....made me feel like part of the story.
cannot wait for more........
Definitely a must read....made me feel like part of the story.
cannot wait for more........
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