This book is fine. I think the sequel has potential to be much better.
I really wanted to like this book, and maybe if I wasn't so hopped on the idea of it the bar wouldn't have been so high and maybe I would have enjoyed it more. Love the idea of the two authors working together and how much that helped bring a diverse cast of characters together. The split POV and Houses have a very Game of Thrones vibe to it, but much much much more muted for the YA crowd.
The two main characters, Darling and Talon are likable enough; however, as Darling develops, Talon seems flat. Caspian is interesting but the emphasis on his chaotic nature doesn't really allow him to develop either.
The world building is lacking. There's all these rich territories and they even start travelling to several of them, but aside from some descriptive narrative, there's not much that really differentiates them. Some history is hinted out but only specific parts that really make guessing the "twists" at the end really obvious so it doesn't have a punch or impact when it happens. It's like yeah, narratively, there's only this one way to go.
The story itself is engaging enough and Darling is interesting enough to see what happens next. My hope is that with all the exposition out of the way here, Gratton and Ireland can actually work on developing the characters and world more to create a more captivating narrative that hooks me and keeps me guessing a little more. The last scene is the best on in the book....so promise there.
I'll be reading the next one.
I really wanted to like this book, and maybe if I wasn't so hopped on the idea of it the bar wouldn't have been so high and maybe I would have enjoyed it more. Love the idea of the two authors working together and how much that helped bring a diverse cast of characters together. The split POV and Houses have a very Game of Thrones vibe to it, but much much much more muted for the YA crowd.
The two main characters, Darling and Talon are likable enough; however, as Darling develops, Talon seems flat. Caspian is interesting but the emphasis on his chaotic nature doesn't really allow him to develop either.
The world building is lacking. There's all these rich territories and they even start travelling to several of them, but aside from some descriptive narrative, there's not much that really differentiates them. Some history is hinted out but only specific parts that really make guessing the "twists" at the end really obvious so it doesn't have a punch or impact when it happens. It's like yeah, narratively, there's only this one way to go.
The story itself is engaging enough and Darling is interesting enough to see what happens next. My hope is that with all the exposition out of the way here, Gratton and Ireland can actually work on developing the characters and world more to create a more captivating narrative that hooks me and keeps me guessing a little more. The last scene is the best on in the book....so promise there.
I'll be reading the next one.