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Corrosion
WHAT IS LEGACY IF NOT ENDLESS BURDEN?
Chol Sul couldn't be more different from his mischief-loving sister, Jen. Left in charge of the family farm for the season, Chol wants nothing more than to prove his worth to his parents, whereas Jen spends her time daydreaming atop the Ankori, stone guardians that once protected their valley. Chol truly believes there is nothing worse than his snide sister's antics getting in his way... until an unforeseen attack shatters their simple livelihoods forever.
In the blink of an eye, the Sul farm is reduced to ash. Masked raiders tear down the guardians, burn the fields, and take Jen. With the help of the sole remaining Ankori, a strange girl with too many questions, and an insane hunch, Chol will defy all odds to find Jen and take revenge against the raiders.
... But as the search for Jen stretches on and Chol's own sanity begins to slip, he'll learn just how tricky the world beyond the farm really is.
Chol Sul couldn't be more different from his mischief-loving sister, Jen. Left in charge of the family farm for the season, Chol wants nothing more than to prove his worth to his parents, whereas Jen spends her time daydreaming atop the Ankori, stone guardians that once protected their valley. Chol truly believes there is nothing worse than his snide sister's antics getting in his way... until an unforeseen attack shatters their simple livelihoods forever.
In the blink of an eye, the Sul farm is reduced to ash. Masked raiders tear down the guardians, burn the fields, and take Jen. With the help of the sole remaining Ankori, a strange girl with too many questions, and an insane hunch, Chol will defy all odds to find Jen and take revenge against the raiders.
... But as the search for Jen stretches on and Chol's own sanity begins to slip, he'll learn just how tricky the world beyond the farm really is.
367 pages, Paperback
Published August 18, 2023
6 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
About the author
Adrienne Renick
5 books19 followersAuthor also writes under Adrienne Stephens and A. Renick
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 14, 2024
Yes, the cover and title makes this look like a horror or YA horror. It is not.
YA Fantasy/Science Fiction - Strong worldbuilding, creating a unique magic system.
But like the Kor, the uniqueness of the worldbuilding gets twisted in a dozen directions and yet never really seen and understood. Several scenes skip connections like Ankori, so while the overall story is visible, the narrative holes between the scenes, and within a scene, get disconcerting. Characters don't develop but flip from one emotion to another like kor changing seasons.
I especially didn't like the main character, Chol, whose stunted emotional growth had him exploding again and again in anger against everyone he meets - first his sister, then Alo, then Rok. He constantly apologizes, but then again attacking with the words and emotional damage against those he loves and depends on a moment later. So he is young and he is living by his fathers non-emotional example (except - anger and rage are emotions), but it gets old really quick. Apologies mean nothing is one doesn't make an effort to change behavior.
His anger is a plot point later, and he does show some minuscule growth by the end (although it is more tell than show (telling us his anger is under control rather than showing us other emotions or his actions maturing his control of his rage)).
I pulled through to the end because the world itself is fascinating, but I thought of quitting several times. This is the second published book by the author, and I can see with more practice the author developing into a YA author to be reckoned with. But this one would have been a trunk book in the days before self-publishing. That isn't to say it is a bad book, it just isn't a good one.
YA Fantasy/Science Fiction - Strong worldbuilding, creating a unique magic system.
But like the Kor, the uniqueness of the worldbuilding gets twisted in a dozen directions and yet never really seen and understood. Several scenes skip connections like Ankori, so while the overall story is visible, the narrative holes between the scenes, and within a scene, get disconcerting. Characters don't develop but flip from one emotion to another like kor changing seasons.
I especially didn't like the main character, Chol, whose stunted emotional growth had him exploding again and again in anger against everyone he meets - first his sister, then Alo, then Rok. He constantly apologizes, but then again attacking with the words and emotional damage against those he loves and depends on a moment later. So he is young and he is living by his fathers non-emotional example (except - anger and rage are emotions), but it gets old really quick. Apologies mean nothing is one doesn't make an effort to change behavior.
His anger is a plot point later, and he does show some minuscule growth by the end (although it is more tell than show (telling us his anger is under control rather than showing us other emotions or his actions maturing his control of his rage)).
I pulled through to the end because the world itself is fascinating, but I thought of quitting several times. This is the second published book by the author, and I can see with more practice the author developing into a YA author to be reckoned with. But this one would have been a trunk book in the days before self-publishing. That isn't to say it is a bad book, it just isn't a good one.
July 24, 2023
Chol Sul is expected to take over his family farm when he would rather be carefree like his little sister Jen. When his mother and father have to leave the farm for a family matter Chol is left in charge and needs to prove his worth to his parents.
After coming back to the farm from a festival the farm was on fire and Jen was kidnapped by masked raiders.
Chol goes on an adventure to rescue Jen but in doing so he learns about life outside of the farm and how hard it can actually be.
I enjoyed following Chol on his journey from being the oldest son who is going to take over the family business to worldly hero saving his sister.
The characters were written really well and I empathised with Chol. Jen was a typical little sister who got to do what she liked.
The lore and world building made me feel like I was right there with them.
I really enjoyed this book. Thank you Adrienne Renick for letting me read this as an ARC
After coming back to the farm from a festival the farm was on fire and Jen was kidnapped by masked raiders.
Chol goes on an adventure to rescue Jen but in doing so he learns about life outside of the farm and how hard it can actually be.
I enjoyed following Chol on his journey from being the oldest son who is going to take over the family business to worldly hero saving his sister.
The characters were written really well and I empathised with Chol. Jen was a typical little sister who got to do what she liked.
The lore and world building made me feel like I was right there with them.
I really enjoyed this book. Thank you Adrienne Renick for letting me read this as an ARC
August 29, 2023
Interesting
I was hooked from the start! I couldn't read fast enough to find out what happened next. Loved Rok and Alo characters. Great young author!
I was hooked from the start! I couldn't read fast enough to find out what happened next. Loved Rok and Alo characters. Great young author!
March 7, 2024
2.5 rounded up to 3
I really wanted to love this, but this is written in present tense with strange tense switch ups mid sentence. The action reads more as a ticking off of events rather than an immersive experience, and the character arc was pretty awful/nonexistent. And I can’t get behind that ending. Shock value just for the sake of shock value is so newbie writer coded, like please, it has to make sense in the narrative. As I’m writing this I’m actually realizing I want to downgrade my star rating. That’s not to say this is all bad, the beginning is actually quite strong, it’s only when things devolve into the messy action sequences that things lose traction. I’d be interested in checking out any future works from this author as I think there is a strong voice there, it would just be interesting to see it wielded with more confidence and skill, which can only come with time and ~please~ an editor.
I really wanted to love this, but this is written in present tense with strange tense switch ups mid sentence. The action reads more as a ticking off of events rather than an immersive experience, and the character arc was pretty awful/nonexistent. And I can’t get behind that ending. Shock value just for the sake of shock value is so newbie writer coded, like please, it has to make sense in the narrative. As I’m writing this I’m actually realizing I want to downgrade my star rating. That’s not to say this is all bad, the beginning is actually quite strong, it’s only when things devolve into the messy action sequences that things lose traction. I’d be interested in checking out any future works from this author as I think there is a strong voice there, it would just be interesting to see it wielded with more confidence and skill, which can only come with time and ~please~ an editor.
September 9, 2023
A Well-written Adventure
I thoroughly enjoyed Adrienne Renick's Corrosion! It's perfect for fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Battlestar Galactica, and Atlantis! The story follows Chol, a teenaged boy who finds himself thrust into manhood when insurgents attack his family farm and kidnap his younger sister, Jen. He launches on a quest to retrieve her, but stepping out of the comfort of his home opens his world up in a way that he never thought possible.
I absolutely adore the premise of this book! It raises questions of the morality and ethics of survival! Renick's clean writing style enhances the reader's experience, bringing her rich world to life.
If there were one thing that could have improved my reading experience, it would be more development of the antagonists. Our protagonists are well-developed with full lives while those on the other side operate under an umbrella-statement of motivation. It's just enough to make you understand their choices but not enough to see them as people.
Overall, Corrosion is a great read! I can't wait to see what Renick writes next!
I thoroughly enjoyed Adrienne Renick's Corrosion! It's perfect for fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Battlestar Galactica, and Atlantis! The story follows Chol, a teenaged boy who finds himself thrust into manhood when insurgents attack his family farm and kidnap his younger sister, Jen. He launches on a quest to retrieve her, but stepping out of the comfort of his home opens his world up in a way that he never thought possible.
I absolutely adore the premise of this book! It raises questions of the morality and ethics of survival! Renick's clean writing style enhances the reader's experience, bringing her rich world to life.
If there were one thing that could have improved my reading experience, it would be more development of the antagonists. Our protagonists are well-developed with full lives while those on the other side operate under an umbrella-statement of motivation. It's just enough to make you understand their choices but not enough to see them as people.
Overall, Corrosion is a great read! I can't wait to see what Renick writes next!
August 18, 2023
I enjoyed this. I was pretty engaged in the relationship between the two main characters. I really liked that Chol cared so deeply for his sister. I personally really enjoy sibling relationships in books so when we didn’t see her for the majority of the novel, I was a little disappointed. One thing readers should know is that this book is written in present tense which can be jarring to read for some people. However, getting into reading this novel was pretty easy because there’s a lot of vivid imagery and exceptional writing at the beginning of the novel. Things start to get a little more difficult later on because imagery and action are less vivid than they were at the beginning, and sometimes felt more like a play by play of events instead of the vivid showing in the beginning of the novel. My least favorite thing was that Chol had some really good character growth only for it to regress later on when he was reintroduced to major conflict. My favorite thing was Chol’s relationships with the other characters; however, this has some drawbacks sometimes. Characterization is a focus of the novel but sometimes the focus is too centered on it which causes some of the scenes to feel a little isolated.
August 17, 2023
Adrienne Renick's novel Corrosion is a labour of pure love, and it shows through every single chapter she has written. I had the absolute privilege of beta-reading this novel and - although it was quite a stark departure from my usual read - I enjoyed the experience immensely.
Renick has drafted a Bildungsroman of cosmic proportions; with a well-written protagonist (Chol Sul), a thrilling journey through an intricate otherworld, and supporting characters that are as hilarious as they are vital to the narrative as a whole. I adore this author's writing style - it has a refreshing comedic tone throughout which sets it somewhat apart from more angsty, sensually-charged YA novels. If you prefer plot and character growth over romance, then this one's for you.
I really hope to see more of this world and these characters in the future but, if not, the novel very much holds its own as a stand-alone piece.
Renick has drafted a Bildungsroman of cosmic proportions; with a well-written protagonist (Chol Sul), a thrilling journey through an intricate otherworld, and supporting characters that are as hilarious as they are vital to the narrative as a whole. I adore this author's writing style - it has a refreshing comedic tone throughout which sets it somewhat apart from more angsty, sensually-charged YA novels. If you prefer plot and character growth over romance, then this one's for you.
I really hope to see more of this world and these characters in the future but, if not, the novel very much holds its own as a stand-alone piece.
August 27, 2023
Did it take me a while to finish this book? Yes. Is it because it’s YA (a genre I don’t typically read) and in present tense (a tense I don’t usually enjoy reading from)? Probably. But damn am I glad I read this book. Instant five stars for being able to make me cry, which hasn’t happened a lot recently. The writing is great. It does seem to be stronger at the beginning of the book, but the quality is still there throughout. The characters are the best part of this book. They are complex and interesting and enjoyable. The storyline is unique, which is saying something since everything tends to feel the same these days. The ending is bittersweet and I enjoy the character growth and seeing Chol and his sister’s relationship evolve. Thank you, Adrienne Rennick for such a great story and for allowing me to arc read!
February 7, 2024
Corrosion is a Fun Fantasy Novel with a Compelling Sci-Fi twist
The story follows a young man named Chol, whose parents leave him to tend their ancestral farmlands and protect his sister, Jen, while they travel on errands.
Things go wrong when his farm is attacked by masked invaders and his sister is kidnapped. Now, Chol must travel through the surrounding jungles in a desperate attempt to rescue his lost sister.
Along the way he discovers ancient mysteries and the power and resolve to rescue his sister and family from the masked invaders.
Corrosion is a fun fantasy novel with a sci-fi twist and some epic action. I really enjoyed the cast of characters introduced by Adrienne Renick and the colorful world she has created. My favorite part of the story was near the end, so I’ll avoid spoilers and just call it epic.
The story follows a young man named Chol, whose parents leave him to tend their ancestral farmlands and protect his sister, Jen, while they travel on errands.
Things go wrong when his farm is attacked by masked invaders and his sister is kidnapped. Now, Chol must travel through the surrounding jungles in a desperate attempt to rescue his lost sister.
Along the way he discovers ancient mysteries and the power and resolve to rescue his sister and family from the masked invaders.
Corrosion is a fun fantasy novel with a sci-fi twist and some epic action. I really enjoyed the cast of characters introduced by Adrienne Renick and the colorful world she has created. My favorite part of the story was near the end, so I’ll avoid spoilers and just call it epic.
August 31, 2023
Atlantis meats Avatar meets ROK
Okay so I ventured out of my comfort zone with this book and took a leap of faith and it sent me on an AMAZING adventure! I’d say this book is more of a New Adult vs a young adult style. But at 30 it brought back great childhood memories. This author had me captivated by her writing style. The plot was awesome, and by far my favorite character was ROK. I was definitely NOT expecting the ending it was devastatingly beautiful and raw. I definitely feel like it reminded me of avatar/Atlantis and both have been favorites of mine in the past. The world building was on point and why it may yes start with a cliché start (first few lines) it’s for a reason and it’s perfectly done! I’m so happy I took the leap and read it for something different.
Okay so I ventured out of my comfort zone with this book and took a leap of faith and it sent me on an AMAZING adventure! I’d say this book is more of a New Adult vs a young adult style. But at 30 it brought back great childhood memories. This author had me captivated by her writing style. The plot was awesome, and by far my favorite character was ROK. I was definitely NOT expecting the ending it was devastatingly beautiful and raw. I definitely feel like it reminded me of avatar/Atlantis and both have been favorites of mine in the past. The world building was on point and why it may yes start with a cliché start (first few lines) it’s for a reason and it’s perfectly done! I’m so happy I took the leap and read it for something different.
March 1, 2024
This was a beautiful fantasy! The writing was lyrical while staying on topic and the visuals were stunning. This gave me Ghost of Tsushima vibes. The lore and magic system was super cool and the characters were so on par with their behavior. Corrosion really hit on powerful topics such as the pressure of familial obligation, grief, and learning to fight not just for others but for oneself too. I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a fantasy/sci-fi that isn't too dense but carries a punch as far as plot goes.
October 1, 2024
Holy world-building, Batman! I enjoyed the unique magic system and rich creativity of this story. Even in the last few chapters there were extra details to make this world more real.
As far as the story is concerned, this is definitely a hero’s journey. It’s full of love, fear, and growth. I found this to be a quick read with plenty to enjoy.
There were two major story moments I wasn’t expecting, but was delighted to find. Get ready to feel some things, because this book knows how to use emotions.
As far as the story is concerned, this is definitely a hero’s journey. It’s full of love, fear, and growth. I found this to be a quick read with plenty to enjoy.
There were two major story moments I wasn’t expecting, but was delighted to find. Get ready to feel some things, because this book knows how to use emotions.
August 31, 2023
Adrienne paints such a beautiful picture with powerful world building and gripping characters. Her masterful plot carries you along the path of Chol Sul, as he turns from farmer into warrior. An incredible tale of what it means to find yourself, and find the courage to appreciate who you are, faults included. Remind me to bill the author for my next therapy session, this one will have you on your knees sobbing by the end. Well done!
August 16, 2023
3,5 stars!
An amazing story with a fantastic world building that will grip you from the start.
Great characters and a writing that paints a clear picture of the fantastic world and the Kor that binds it together.
Some twists along the way that you can’t see coming.
A good YA fantasy that’s like a mixture of Avatar and Disney’s Atlantis, yet something highly original at the same time.
An amazing story with a fantastic world building that will grip you from the start.
Great characters and a writing that paints a clear picture of the fantastic world and the Kor that binds it together.
Some twists along the way that you can’t see coming.
A good YA fantasy that’s like a mixture of Avatar and Disney’s Atlantis, yet something highly original at the same time.
August 19, 2023
Corrosion shocked me in a good way, through its unique style of magic, and it’s emotionally driven characters.
Rok carries the whole story with a full bundle of humour and sass, I love that collection of stones and magic!
Rok carries the whole story with a full bundle of humour and sass, I love that collection of stones and magic!
December 6, 2023
I loved it. It's not exactly within my favorite genre, but it's reasonably well written and tells a compelling story. I don't give spoilers so you're just going to have to read it to find out.
August 10, 2023
An enchanting and imaginative world with rich characters! At the heart of "Corrosion" lies an exploration of the unbreakable bond between siblings, set in a fantastic world. Chol is an emotive and compelling protagonist… but I love Rok, too! With promising talent on display already, I look forward to the new stories this author has to tell!
September 19, 2023
This book is a surreal fusion of pastoral fantasy and science fiction, unlike anything I've read this year. The setting felt like something from a Studio Ghibli film. Corrosion is a story about expectations at its core, and the moment Chol's sister disappears, he carries the weight of his father's expectations on his shoulders, as well as his own expectations of what his duty to his sister is. There's also a really fascinating contrast between the expectations of the family you're born with vs the way our connections to found families develop. The ending broke my heart, but it works perfectly. It's a hell of a debut, and I can't wait to see what Renick has for us next.
December 13, 2023
This book gave me all of the joy and nostalgia of reading a YA fantasy with a twist that really sets it apart! Chol's emotional journey through love, hate, and grief, and all of the confusion that comes with experiencing these emotions in adolescence was raw and compelling. Definitely worth a read!
June 14, 2024
An enjoyable narrative, with interesting characters. The writing is inconsistent - at times excellent and other times lacking, especially the dialogue. The book would benefit from an editor looking over it to correct confusing descriptions, one or two typos, and tense changes within sentences.
Overall I enjoyed it and would recommend it as a light YA fantasy akin to Avatar.
Overall I enjoyed it and would recommend it as a light YA fantasy akin to Avatar.
September 2, 2024
Renick is a master of emotional twists and this story about growing up and finding one’s place outside of familial expectations is no exception. Lyrical and haunting, Corrosion is a powerful example of fantasy used to better understand and appreciate the mundane world around us.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews