A’s review of Contest of Queens (The Frean Chronicles #1) > Likes and Comments
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Excellent review, A. Looks like the author got the characters and themes right but didn't work enough on the setting. A fantasy needs a strong setting. Hope your current read is much better.
urrrf, and with such a dazzling cover. 🤷♂️
I'm also a sucker for great fantasy world building, so I can totally relate. Fair review, A Mac.
Gorgeous cover! I honestly would have picked up the novel just for that. But a fantasy read with little world building is going to make this novel a no-go.
Nice review, A! It's good to see the reversal of typical gender norms, but what is a Fantasy read without great worldbuilding? I do love the cover though. Striking!
Ohhhh I love the trope where two people bond over writing letters to each other through the years🥺 i don’t even know why but something about it is so wholesome to me hahah
Too bad this one was lacking, terrific review A!
ooh sorry this was disappointing! but in a ya fantasy, world-building truly is pretty essential, haha. great review <3
Ugh fail!! Sorry this was a dud!!
Srivalli wrote: "Excellent review, A. Looks like the author got the characters and themes right but didn't work enough on the setting. A fantasy needs a strong setting. Hope your current read is much better."
Absolutely - a detailed setting and meaningful worldbuilding probably could have gotten this to a 4 or 5 star read easily. Thank you, Srivalli!
Berengaria wrote: "urrrf, and with such a dazzling cover. 🤷♂️"
I know....I got tricked by the cover again!
Thibault wrote: "I'm also a sucker for great fantasy world building, so I can totally relate. Fair review, A Mac."
Thank you, Thibault!
Coco wrote: "Gorgeous cover! I honestly would have picked up the novel just for that. But a fantasy read with little world building is going to make this novel a no-go."
I know, I had one look at that cover and requested it almost instantly haha
Rosh [busy month; will catch up soon!] wrote: "Nice review, A! It's good to see the reversal of typical gender norms, but what is a Fantasy read without great worldbuilding? I do love the cover though. Striking!"
Indeed, this one really wanted to work, but a lack of worldbuilding will get you every time.
Imme wrote: "Ohhhh I love the trope where two people bond over writing letters to each other through the years🥺 i don’t even know why but something about it is so wholesome to me hahah"
Me too! This is the second book I've read recently that does that, and it's quickly become a new favorite of mine!
Kay ⋆☘⋆ wrote: "Too bad this one was lacking, terrific review A!"
Thanks so much, Kay!
Heather Adores Books wrote: "Fair review, A."
Thank you, Heather!
lila ✧ wrote: "ooh sorry this was disappointing! but in a ya fantasy, world-building truly is pretty essential, haha. great review <3"
You're 100% correct there. Thank you, Lila ❤️
Kendall wrote: "Ugh fail!! Sorry this was a dud!!"
I know, such a bummer!
A queendom sure sounds like a nice break from the normal fantasy YA. Sad so much potential got wasted in a overly long unexplained world. Great review Mac!
Federico wrote: "A queendom sure sounds like a nice break from the normal fantasy YA. Sad so much potential got wasted in a overly long unexplained world. Great review Mac!"
Absolutely, hopefully the author steps it up in the second book. Thanks, Federico!
I'm trying to say this in a way that doesn't say "I like to argue with people on the internet" but it seems we disagree on the definition of the term "world building," and I'm wondering if you could say more on that just so that folks who like a book with a unique system of government, an elucidated class system, and a reasonable medieval fantasy setting won't think that this book has absolutely none of that.
Sirah, I could kiss you. While I appreciate what A Mac has said in most of their review, I've been confused about this complaint re: world building for years <3
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Srivalli
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Mar 11, 2023 06:22AM
Excellent review, A. Looks like the author got the characters and themes right but didn't work enough on the setting. A fantasy needs a strong setting. Hope your current read is much better.
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urrrf, and with such a dazzling cover. 🤷♂️
I'm also a sucker for great fantasy world building, so I can totally relate. Fair review, A Mac.
Gorgeous cover! I honestly would have picked up the novel just for that. But a fantasy read with little world building is going to make this novel a no-go.
Nice review, A! It's good to see the reversal of typical gender norms, but what is a Fantasy read without great worldbuilding? I do love the cover though. Striking!
Ohhhh I love the trope where two people bond over writing letters to each other through the years🥺 i don’t even know why but something about it is so wholesome to me hahah
Too bad this one was lacking, terrific review A!
ooh sorry this was disappointing! but in a ya fantasy, world-building truly is pretty essential, haha. great review <3
Ugh fail!! Sorry this was a dud!!
Srivalli wrote: "Excellent review, A. Looks like the author got the characters and themes right but didn't work enough on the setting. A fantasy needs a strong setting. Hope your current read is much better."Absolutely - a detailed setting and meaningful worldbuilding probably could have gotten this to a 4 or 5 star read easily. Thank you, Srivalli!
Berengaria wrote: "urrrf, and with such a dazzling cover. 🤷♂️"I know....I got tricked by the cover again!
Thibault wrote: "I'm also a sucker for great fantasy world building, so I can totally relate. Fair review, A Mac."Thank you, Thibault!
Coco wrote: "Gorgeous cover! I honestly would have picked up the novel just for that. But a fantasy read with little world building is going to make this novel a no-go."I know, I had one look at that cover and requested it almost instantly haha
Rosh [busy month; will catch up soon!] wrote: "Nice review, A! It's good to see the reversal of typical gender norms, but what is a Fantasy read without great worldbuilding? I do love the cover though. Striking!"Indeed, this one really wanted to work, but a lack of worldbuilding will get you every time.
Imme wrote: "Ohhhh I love the trope where two people bond over writing letters to each other through the years🥺 i don’t even know why but something about it is so wholesome to me hahah"Me too! This is the second book I've read recently that does that, and it's quickly become a new favorite of mine!
Kay ⋆☘⋆ wrote: "Too bad this one was lacking, terrific review A!"Thanks so much, Kay!
Heather Adores Books wrote: "Fair review, A."Thank you, Heather!
lila ✧ wrote: "ooh sorry this was disappointing! but in a ya fantasy, world-building truly is pretty essential, haha. great review <3"You're 100% correct there. Thank you, Lila ❤️
Kendall wrote: "Ugh fail!! Sorry this was a dud!!"I know, such a bummer!
A queendom sure sounds like a nice break from the normal fantasy YA. Sad so much potential got wasted in a overly long unexplained world. Great review Mac!
Federico wrote: "A queendom sure sounds like a nice break from the normal fantasy YA. Sad so much potential got wasted in a overly long unexplained world. Great review Mac!"Absolutely, hopefully the author steps it up in the second book. Thanks, Federico!
I'm trying to say this in a way that doesn't say "I like to argue with people on the internet" but it seems we disagree on the definition of the term "world building," and I'm wondering if you could say more on that just so that folks who like a book with a unique system of government, an elucidated class system, and a reasonable medieval fantasy setting won't think that this book has absolutely none of that.
Sirah, I could kiss you. While I appreciate what A Mac has said in most of their review, I've been confused about this complaint re: world building for years <3