Ingrid Seymour

A lot of books seem to be shadowing the success of ACOTAR hoping to break out of that shadow to find their own success. While there have been many tries in the past, none have come as close to success.

Now I have not read ACOTAR yet (they are on my TBR and I am hoping to read it during next month) so I cannot offer a comparison between them. I have only seen and heard from reviews that this book is trying to gain its own success by means of taking things from the ACOTAR series.

And while I can see some points that have been brought up, I cannot let such things cloud my judgment. This would be unfair to both the author and any future readers who may enjoy the book for what it is.

Each book should be judged on its own merits, not on how closely it resembles another book. Authors are constantly inspired by other works and it is natural for elements to seep into their own writing. It is up to the author to put their own spin on it and make it unique to their story.

I do not have personal feelings or judgments, but it is important for readers to keep an open mind and not stereotype books based on their similarities. Similarities between books can be an opportunity for readers who like ACOTAR to find and enjoy a new book, or for authors to connect to readers who enjoyed ACOTAR. We should celebrate diverse voices and stories that capture our hearts and imaginations, regardless of their similarities or differences.

So, what are my opinions on this book?

I am on the fence with this particular book. While there is potential for the world and its characters to grow and improve, I just could not find a single connection to the cast. Dani is literally cornered in the first scene of the book, told that their boss needs her, and carts her off with them. When she arrives, none of them bother to tell her why she is there. I can understand why Dani would want to flee from this group. If they had been clear with her being there, I think the situation would have gone differently and things would have progressed much better than it had been since the beginning.

To not tell your hostage - would she be considered a hostage? - why she is there really does not endear yourself or your problem to the reader. It makes you and your situation less likable. Even any connection the reader wants to make with the male becomes difficult because the lack of transparency creates a feeling of deceit. Additionally, not revealing the reason for the character's captivity can lead to confusion and frustration for the reader, which can ultimately lead to disinterest in the story. It's important for the male lead to have a clear and understandable motivation in order for the reader to sympathize and engage with their journey.

There did not seem to be any world-building. If there was, it was minuscule at best and not very noticeable. Now this could be due that this series is connected to another series and I have not read it nor did I even know of it. So, the world-building to that series might be a bit more detailed than it is here. It could be possible that we could see more of the world-building in the next portions of the series which could give us a much bigger picture of this world.

Final Thought:

Overall, the ending of this book was not particularly notable. I think it would have been a bit more realistic if the communication had been there. I will be reading the second book in this series to see how the plot plays out.… (más)

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Marci has always been a bit different. But there's something inside of her she can't explain. She sometimes feels like there are shadows inside of her head that she has to fight against. Clearly, she knows this is crazy. But when Marci and her best friend stumble across an underground group known as IgNiTe, she learns she may not be as crazy as she thinks and something far more sinister that affects the whole human race may be afoot...

What an intriguing world that the author has created. There's a unique richness to the characters, the setting, and the story that I really appreciated as a reader. Furthermore, there's some refreshing originality in the way the plot rolls out that I felt was a bit different than other YA sci-fi. (Yes, there is still the whole cliche of the female protagonist having romantic angst, but at least it didn't end up becoming the sole focus of Marci's motivation here as has been the larger trend of late.)

Overall, I found this to be a very interesting read. It was quick for its length and easy to understand. It wasn't difficult to get immersed in this world, either. Recommended for YA sci-fi fans, for sure.… (más)

Never fear... Charlie is here!💖

Suffice to say this series just continues to get better and better. Charlie and her friends are once more drawn into more than one crazy and dangerous adventure. Tragedy befall her loved ones once more, and deception on a whole other level takes place. Someone within the Academy walls is working on the side of evil. Can Charlie and her pals figure out what's going on? Expect a few jaw dropping surprises along the way. Through it all, Charlie keeps her huge heart and will to protect those she loves. Definitely read the previous books first if you've not yet read them. Otherwise relationships and events within the book won't make sense. I for one can't wait for SENIOR YEAR to come out 💖😊. This series never disappoints with the amount of action, adventure and surprises along the way!… (más)