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The Mastering
Zia Floyd remembers a time when her legs still worked before her spine was shattered during a beating. She remembers a time when she had more hope about escaping her prison and finding home--whatever that is. She remembers not feeling this helpless. What Zia can't remember is who she is, or why the mere flash of lightning sends her into a panic. So when heroes emerge from the shadows in desperate attempts to bring their comrade home, Zia's at a loss as to who they are. But they promise a better life; a life Zia once knew...a life without fear.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 27, 2014
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
March 9, 2016
2.5 stars. I am very conflicted about this book.
Let me make this clear: I enjoyed the heckies out of this story. It was a fun read with a great premise and so much potential.
But I think it was premature. As a writer and as someone who has obsessed over dozens of drafts of the same novel, I can see what this book could be if it was allowed the time it needs to mature. It's an okay book now, but I think with a few more drafts it could have been a great book.
There were easily fixed slip-ups in phrasing (I'm pretty sure "war mongrels" should be "war mongers") that indicate the need for a little more work, and there were larger issues, such as a hefty lack of subtlety and moderation in prose, themes, and characterization.
There were times that dozens of scenes in a row were so emotionally raw that they lost their power, in the same way that too many plot twists in one movie makes every plot twist less important and interesting. Very little was left up to the interpretation for the reader as character development was spelled out in detail and subtext was always explained. The themes or lessons behind the main story were often heavy-handed.
Essentially, the story lacked the nuance that comes with creative maturity. But with so much raw potential, I feel sure this author is going to be back for more and will continue to grow.
Some of the lines, or entire sections of prose or dialogue, were not only beautiful but profound. There were themes and aspects of this story that I have been LOOKING FOR in YA for so long, and boy was it nice to finally see them. Some examples: great female friendships, a healthy treatment of romantic and sexual relationships--especially regarding how religion affects these relationships, and how even loving relationships are affected by rape culture. The characters were greatly developed and felt very real, aside from the few times their interactions lacked that subtlety I was talking about.
I'm tempted to rate this book on what I know it could be, but as a writer I can't do it. I will certainly be back for more when (because I know it's a 'when,' not an 'if') they put more stories out into the world.
Let me make this clear: I enjoyed the heckies out of this story. It was a fun read with a great premise and so much potential.
But I think it was premature. As a writer and as someone who has obsessed over dozens of drafts of the same novel, I can see what this book could be if it was allowed the time it needs to mature. It's an okay book now, but I think with a few more drafts it could have been a great book.
There were easily fixed slip-ups in phrasing (I'm pretty sure "war mongrels" should be "war mongers") that indicate the need for a little more work, and there were larger issues, such as a hefty lack of subtlety and moderation in prose, themes, and characterization.
There were times that dozens of scenes in a row were so emotionally raw that they lost their power, in the same way that too many plot twists in one movie makes every plot twist less important and interesting. Very little was left up to the interpretation for the reader as character development was spelled out in detail and subtext was always explained. The themes or lessons behind the main story were often heavy-handed.
Essentially, the story lacked the nuance that comes with creative maturity. But with so much raw potential, I feel sure this author is going to be back for more and will continue to grow.
Some of the lines, or entire sections of prose or dialogue, were not only beautiful but profound. There were themes and aspects of this story that I have been LOOKING FOR in YA for so long, and boy was it nice to finally see them. Some examples: great female friendships, a healthy treatment of romantic and sexual relationships--especially regarding how religion affects these relationships, and how even loving relationships are affected by rape culture. The characters were greatly developed and felt very real, aside from the few times their interactions lacked that subtlety I was talking about.
I'm tempted to rate this book on what I know it could be, but as a writer I can't do it. I will certainly be back for more when (because I know it's a 'when,' not an 'if') they put more stories out into the world.
Displaying 1 of 1 review