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Zenith Part 1
There is darkness sweeping across the stars.
Most know her as the Bloody Baroness, the captain of a fearsome glass starship called The Marauder. Androma and her crew strike terror in the hearts of those who cross them amongst the many corners of the Mirabel Galaxy.
When a routine mission goes rogue, the all-female crew is captured by a bounty hunter from Andi’s past and forced into a job that could, quite literally, start a war that will devour worlds.
Meanwhile, on the far side of the galaxy, the ruthless ruler Nor waits in the shadows of the planet Xen Ptera, biding her time. The final pieces are about to fall into place, liberating a plan that will tear Mirabel in two.
As the Marauder hurtles toward the unknown, there is one lesson that proves to be No one can be trusted in a galaxy that runs on lies and illusion.
From internet sensation Sasha Alsberg and multi-genre author Lindsay Cummings comes a new serialized space opera, full of action, intrigue, and steamy star-crossed romance.
Perfect for fans of Hugh Howie, Sarah J Maas, and Beth Revis.
Most know her as the Bloody Baroness, the captain of a fearsome glass starship called The Marauder. Androma and her crew strike terror in the hearts of those who cross them amongst the many corners of the Mirabel Galaxy.
When a routine mission goes rogue, the all-female crew is captured by a bounty hunter from Andi’s past and forced into a job that could, quite literally, start a war that will devour worlds.
Meanwhile, on the far side of the galaxy, the ruthless ruler Nor waits in the shadows of the planet Xen Ptera, biding her time. The final pieces are about to fall into place, liberating a plan that will tear Mirabel in two.
As the Marauder hurtles toward the unknown, there is one lesson that proves to be No one can be trusted in a galaxy that runs on lies and illusion.
From internet sensation Sasha Alsberg and multi-genre author Lindsay Cummings comes a new serialized space opera, full of action, intrigue, and steamy star-crossed romance.
Perfect for fans of Hugh Howie, Sarah J Maas, and Beth Revis.
62 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 21, 2016
65 people are currently reading
11083 people want to read
About the author
Sasha Alsberg
8 books64.8k followersI am the #1 NYT Bestselling author of The Androma Saga and Breaking Time Duology.
When I am not writing, reading or being a dog mom, you can find me over at Joffe Books where I am their Social Media Manager.
Represented by Joanna Volpe at New Leaf Literary.
When I am not writing, reading or being a dog mom, you can find me over at Joffe Books where I am their Social Media Manager.
Represented by Joanna Volpe at New Leaf Literary.
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August 26, 2016
EDIT: A lot of you already know this but if not, ZENITH has been picked up by a publisher! HarlequinTeen is going to be publishing the full novel in Fall 2017. This first part is what got it all started but I am happy that we get to go through part one again with an editor to make it the best it can be! Thank you for all your love and support, it truly means the world to Lindsay and I. Writing the rest of the novel has been amazing and really helped expand our world building and characters in a way that i'm very grateful for. Those who read part one when it came out are kind of like our Beta Readers if you think about it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts :)
Also, thank you to all who have sent us your love and support and my advice for those who didn't like Part 1 is to try the full novel, it will hopefully change your opinion and if not, no hard feelings. It means so much that anybody even picked it up and read it! <3
My love for this book is so strong, it is my pride and joy. I am so lucky I am able to create this galactic world with one of my best friends (Lindsay you are the best). Cannot wait for guys to read it! CHEERS!
Also, thank you to all who have sent us your love and support and my advice for those who didn't like Part 1 is to try the full novel, it will hopefully change your opinion and if not, no hard feelings. It means so much that anybody even picked it up and read it! <3
My love for this book is so strong, it is my pride and joy. I am so lucky I am able to create this galactic world with one of my best friends (Lindsay you are the best). Cannot wait for guys to read it! CHEERS!
July 27, 2016
If Zenith is considered an NYT Bestseller, then fuck it I'm running for president.
#Tikaforprez20whatever #bettertovoteformethanTrump
Shame On You Sugar Plum Fairies For Sugarcoating Everything. I don't believe in writing disclaimers. (Disclaimer: This does not include mature content, triggers, etc.) So you'll probably see why I don't understand the point of readers and reviewers writing a long heartfelt message about how they like Sasha's personality, how her hair reminds them of strawberry jello, or how her bookshelves are goals. All of that is A: Irrelevant as hell, and B. paired with, " I had some problems with this book, but I love Sasha's bubbly personality and her channel so I think . . . yadda, yadda, yadda. " makes the whole review sound like a bunch of bullshit. After reading so many reviews, I'm completely convinced that 95% of these readers didn't C. Read the book . . like at all, or that D. They're afraid of being the black sheep, so they sprinkle glitter over the negative parts of their review to instead showcase a love letter they've written to the booktuber turned author.
You guys do realize that even if you spray air freshener over a shit smell it still smells like shit right?
FYI: It's just scented shit at that point.
Oh and Lindsay wrote this book as well. Just a small reminder because it seems as if most of you have forgotten. Poor tink.
Galactica Yawn Fest. If you're going to sell me a book that's only 62 pages, make it the best 62 pages I've ever read in my entire life! Make it feel like the pages were written with holy water, that Rhysand himself came down from the Night Court and blessed the words with his beautifulness. I mean come on, you would think with a book being sold as a serial the authors would've gone the extra mile to blow us away right? Unfortunately no. One of the major problems I had with Zenith, was that it was incredibly boring. There's a load of info-dump in the very beginning of the book -- a hoopla of irrelevant information and details with little to no explanation, that served absolutely no purpose to me. I read the entire book in just under an hour I believe, and after finishing, I literally said to myself, " wait that's it? " Things happened, of course, introduction of characters, (oh boy I can't wait to spill the tea about this) a fight scene, (* nods off *) and I don't know some other things, everything was just so . . uneventful, bland, dry, boring.
BE YOU. Characters included. When I skimmed reviews and saw mentions that this book was " TOG in space, " I immediately knew I'd be annoyed, but honestly, they weren't lying. (And I don't mean that in a good way.) What's frustrating, (atleast for me) is that you have a seasoned reviewer and an established author with quite a few titles under her belt, yet both of them failed to deliver a story that wasn't a replica of something else. Zenith had ZERO personality, and this was all due to the fact that their entire crew of space people read like pre-existing characters from other stories, especially the main character. I don't know if Sarah J Maas was their inspiration, but it's one thing to be inspired, another to give me an exact replica of something that author has already done. When I say the MC, (such a shame that I can't remember her name, any of their names tbh) was a watered down version of Celaena I most certainly mean it. Down to the mannerisms, she read just like Ardalan's Assassin, even went as far as to deem herself " one of the most notorious criminals in all of Mirabel. " (* chuckles *) She was supposed to be the " Bloody Baroness " a ruthless killer with a squad of bad ass space pirates, and honestly it was all a joke. You have Celaena jr, some blue lady that reminded me way too much of Mystic from Xmen, some other chic, and a young girl that was said to be a complete pyscho, yet every time she was in a scene, I pictured her sitting Indian-style, humming a nursery rhyme while blowing hello kitty bubbles. There's also an ex-boyfriend of Celaena jr's in the picture, a Queen Levana wannabe lady, and some other folks. I can't think of a single thing about these characters that stood out and it's not due to poor memory, but to the fact that they just didn't read like themselves. Why did this feel like a novella that included my favorite characters written by other authors? Definitely not a good way to be remembered.
I think in the case of Zenith, the popularity of one of the authors is the reason why the hype skyrocketed as it did, unfortunately, the story wasn't strong enough to back it up. It was far too unoriginal for my tastes. This is my first time reading the story, yet it read with such familiarity. Then you have the weird case of the story being set in space, (with makes the possibilities endless IMO) yet someone came up with the bright idea to have no world-building. Like come on, it's space! How can you not have world-building IN SPACE?! (An asteroid shaped like a skull doesn't count either bruh.) The writing was okay, it was the redundant use of the word " FIKE " a substitute for the word " FUCK " that made all of the dialogue feel so damn childish. No one uses a word that much in one sentence ladies. If that wasn't enough, I was still left to sludge my way through a lackluster plot, praying to the bookish gods to keep me awake long enough to make it past the halfway point. (Which they did BTW) If these are qualities you're looking for in a book, then hey, knock it out trooper.
Unfortunately for me, reading this book was like drinking Koolaid with no sugar.
I think that sums up my experience good enough.
#Tikaforprez20whatever #bettertovoteformethanTrump
Shame On You Sugar Plum Fairies For Sugarcoating Everything. I don't believe in writing disclaimers. (Disclaimer: This does not include mature content, triggers, etc.) So you'll probably see why I don't understand the point of readers and reviewers writing a long heartfelt message about how they like Sasha's personality, how her hair reminds them of strawberry jello, or how her bookshelves are goals. All of that is A: Irrelevant as hell, and B. paired with, " I had some problems with this book, but I love Sasha's bubbly personality and her channel so I think . . . yadda, yadda, yadda. " makes the whole review sound like a bunch of bullshit. After reading so many reviews, I'm completely convinced that 95% of these readers didn't C. Read the book . . like at all, or that D. They're afraid of being the black sheep, so they sprinkle glitter over the negative parts of their review to instead showcase a love letter they've written to the booktuber turned author.
You guys do realize that even if you spray air freshener over a shit smell it still smells like shit right?
FYI: It's just scented shit at that point.
Oh and Lindsay wrote this book as well. Just a small reminder because it seems as if most of you have forgotten. Poor tink.
Galactica Yawn Fest. If you're going to sell me a book that's only 62 pages, make it the best 62 pages I've ever read in my entire life! Make it feel like the pages were written with holy water, that Rhysand himself came down from the Night Court and blessed the words with his beautifulness. I mean come on, you would think with a book being sold as a serial the authors would've gone the extra mile to blow us away right? Unfortunately no. One of the major problems I had with Zenith, was that it was incredibly boring. There's a load of info-dump in the very beginning of the book -- a hoopla of irrelevant information and details with little to no explanation, that served absolutely no purpose to me. I read the entire book in just under an hour I believe, and after finishing, I literally said to myself, " wait that's it? " Things happened, of course, introduction of characters, (oh boy I can't wait to spill the tea about this) a fight scene, (* nods off *) and I don't know some other things, everything was just so . . uneventful, bland, dry, boring.
BE YOU. Characters included. When I skimmed reviews and saw mentions that this book was " TOG in space, " I immediately knew I'd be annoyed, but honestly, they weren't lying. (And I don't mean that in a good way.) What's frustrating, (atleast for me) is that you have a seasoned reviewer and an established author with quite a few titles under her belt, yet both of them failed to deliver a story that wasn't a replica of something else. Zenith had ZERO personality, and this was all due to the fact that their entire crew of space people read like pre-existing characters from other stories, especially the main character. I don't know if Sarah J Maas was their inspiration, but it's one thing to be inspired, another to give me an exact replica of something that author has already done. When I say the MC, (such a shame that I can't remember her name, any of their names tbh) was a watered down version of Celaena I most certainly mean it. Down to the mannerisms, she read just like Ardalan's Assassin, even went as far as to deem herself " one of the most notorious criminals in all of Mirabel. " (* chuckles *) She was supposed to be the " Bloody Baroness " a ruthless killer with a squad of bad ass space pirates, and honestly it was all a joke. You have Celaena jr, some blue lady that reminded me way too much of Mystic from Xmen, some other chic, and a young girl that was said to be a complete pyscho, yet every time she was in a scene, I pictured her sitting Indian-style, humming a nursery rhyme while blowing hello kitty bubbles. There's also an ex-boyfriend of Celaena jr's in the picture, a Queen Levana wannabe lady, and some other folks. I can't think of a single thing about these characters that stood out and it's not due to poor memory, but to the fact that they just didn't read like themselves. Why did this feel like a novella that included my favorite characters written by other authors? Definitely not a good way to be remembered.
I think in the case of Zenith, the popularity of one of the authors is the reason why the hype skyrocketed as it did, unfortunately, the story wasn't strong enough to back it up. It was far too unoriginal for my tastes. This is my first time reading the story, yet it read with such familiarity. Then you have the weird case of the story being set in space, (with makes the possibilities endless IMO) yet someone came up with the bright idea to have no world-building. Like come on, it's space! How can you not have world-building IN SPACE?! (An asteroid shaped like a skull doesn't count either bruh.) The writing was okay, it was the redundant use of the word " FIKE " a substitute for the word " FUCK " that made all of the dialogue feel so damn childish. No one uses a word that much in one sentence ladies. If that wasn't enough, I was still left to sludge my way through a lackluster plot, praying to the bookish gods to keep me awake long enough to make it past the halfway point. (Which they did BTW) If these are qualities you're looking for in a book, then hey, knock it out trooper.
Unfortunately for me, reading this book was like drinking Koolaid with no sugar.
I think that sums up my experience good enough.
August 9, 2016
Update: I just learned that this got picked up by HarperCollins and is going to be published hardcover Fall 2017. I'm flabbergasted. Who made that decision? There are thousands of better writers who deserve to have their drafts be picked up, but Sasha and Lindsay get theirs chosen because of Sasha's YouTube notoriety? I'm sorry, but that just isn't right. And for the record, how does 62 pages of a lackluster novel become a NYT bestseller? I'm incredibly disappointed with HarperCollins and I personally want to apologize to all the better, more creative writers who got their drafts turned down by this publisher. Maybe if you become a popular Youtuber and copy characters from other peoples' novels, you'll get published one day.
-
I'm going to go easy on this because I know the book is being released in parts and this is only the first 62 pages. However, I cannot turn a blind eye to some of the faults I saw.
The main character (Androma) is very much Celaena Sardothien in space. You can argue against me on this, but I swear her appearance, badass vibe, backstory, and occupation just scream "Celaena." I'm not saying they're exact clones but that is what I felt while reading this.
There was a lot of telling rather than showing in these 60 pages with a lot of word dropping to give the idea of world building. Here's an actual paragraph from the book: "Five days ago, the girls had taken on a job to steal a star load of sealed BioDrugs from the planet Solera in the Tavina System, and deliver them to a satellite station just outside the planet Tenebris in the neighboring system of Prime."
... WHAT?
I'm sorry, but that's way too info dumpy for me. I mean, the paragraph includes 5 proper nouns dealing with the story and yet I have no idea what any of that is. That's not it, though - we also have Xen Ptera, Arcardius, Gollanta, Big Bang, Calamity, etc etc.
Now listen. I am a heavy fantasy/scifi reader - my favorite author is Brandon Sanderson, for goodness sake! And I understand how you need to create complete worlds with different planets and moons and all that jazz... But you can't info dump like that and expect readers to understand all the words. Brandon Sanderson writes 1000+ page long novels with intricate politics, a huge cast of characters, a heavy plot, unique magic systems, and still manages to explain the world building in an understandable and non-info dumpy way.
Now, I know many people will argue that this is Sasha's first book, and I'm proud of that. Writing a book is a dream of mine, too. But let's not forget the fact that she is working with an experienced author and there are many other debut authors that had to fight bigger battles to get their book published. Sasha is not immune to criticism because this is her first work and I will not listen to any keyboard warriors fighting that every review of this should be 5 stars.
With all that being said, I will continue to read the sections as they are released. The story does have me intrigued and I'm curious to see where the plot goes. Andi's crew is filled with what appear to be some enjoyable characters (60 pages isn't enough for me to fall in love with characters) and I would like to see how they develop. I also support Sasha and everyone in the book tube community, so of course I will pick up Zenith: Part Two.
-
I'm going to go easy on this because I know the book is being released in parts and this is only the first 62 pages. However, I cannot turn a blind eye to some of the faults I saw.
The main character (Androma) is very much Celaena Sardothien in space. You can argue against me on this, but I swear her appearance, badass vibe, backstory, and occupation just scream "Celaena." I'm not saying they're exact clones but that is what I felt while reading this.
There was a lot of telling rather than showing in these 60 pages with a lot of word dropping to give the idea of world building. Here's an actual paragraph from the book: "Five days ago, the girls had taken on a job to steal a star load of sealed BioDrugs from the planet Solera in the Tavina System, and deliver them to a satellite station just outside the planet Tenebris in the neighboring system of Prime."
... WHAT?
I'm sorry, but that's way too info dumpy for me. I mean, the paragraph includes 5 proper nouns dealing with the story and yet I have no idea what any of that is. That's not it, though - we also have Xen Ptera, Arcardius, Gollanta, Big Bang, Calamity, etc etc.
Now listen. I am a heavy fantasy/scifi reader - my favorite author is Brandon Sanderson, for goodness sake! And I understand how you need to create complete worlds with different planets and moons and all that jazz... But you can't info dump like that and expect readers to understand all the words. Brandon Sanderson writes 1000+ page long novels with intricate politics, a huge cast of characters, a heavy plot, unique magic systems, and still manages to explain the world building in an understandable and non-info dumpy way.
Now, I know many people will argue that this is Sasha's first book, and I'm proud of that. Writing a book is a dream of mine, too. But let's not forget the fact that she is working with an experienced author and there are many other debut authors that had to fight bigger battles to get their book published. Sasha is not immune to criticism because this is her first work and I will not listen to any keyboard warriors fighting that every review of this should be 5 stars.
With all that being said, I will continue to read the sections as they are released. The story does have me intrigued and I'm curious to see where the plot goes. Andi's crew is filled with what appear to be some enjoyable characters (60 pages isn't enough for me to fall in love with characters) and I would like to see how they develop. I also support Sasha and everyone in the book tube community, so of course I will pick up Zenith: Part Two.
June 16, 2021
Important note before review: I really enjoy Sasha’s videos (I LOVE THEM; abookutopia is one of my favourite channels), but that will not change the way I feel about a book. (I really shouldn’t even mention this. For instance, I love Cassandra Clare but I didn’t feel guilty about rating 3 stars to some of her books. But there are Sasha’s fangirls out there that insult people who give bad ratings to her book. So in order to avoid that, it is necessary to mention this. Happy? Well, then.)
Truth be told, I don´t know what to make of this. Even though this is a book written by a booktuber, I was still expecting to find a polished piece. I am fully aware that there were only 62 pages but it really says a lot in a book.
Issues I found:
-Too much description and too many complex invented words that were unnecessary and I still do not understand their meaning. The ironic part of this was that we went from complexity to repetitions: “said” “said” “said” “said” and “fike” (seriously?).
-There were moments I could tell that there were two people involved in the writing.
-I've been told that Andi was a bad copy of the main character of the Throne of Glass but I can’t tell cause I haven’t read it yet. Nevertheless, that is off-putting.
To conclude, I believe that Sasha hasn’t found her “voice” yet (I know this is a book, but you know what I mean). The style was too "rushed" in my opinion. I also believe it is sort of impractical to release one part of the book instead of the whole. Perhaps the writing gets better as the plot thickens but right now I can't tell.
Truth be told, I don´t know what to make of this. Even though this is a book written by a booktuber, I was still expecting to find a polished piece. I am fully aware that there were only 62 pages but it really says a lot in a book.
Issues I found:
-Too much description and too many complex invented words that were unnecessary and I still do not understand their meaning. The ironic part of this was that we went from complexity to repetitions: “said” “said” “said” “said” and “fike” (seriously?).
-There were moments I could tell that there were two people involved in the writing.
-I've been told that Andi was a bad copy of the main character of the Throne of Glass but I can’t tell cause I haven’t read it yet. Nevertheless, that is off-putting.
To conclude, I believe that Sasha hasn’t found her “voice” yet (I know this is a book, but you know what I mean). The style was too "rushed" in my opinion. I also believe it is sort of impractical to release one part of the book instead of the whole. Perhaps the writing gets better as the plot thickens but right now I can't tell.
October 9, 2023
There's something I need to say first before putting my review for Zenith out into the world... I've read a ton of reviews where people were bashing this book because one of the authors is a Youtube book reviewer. I want everyone to know that I never once took that into account when reading or reviewing this book. I actually really enjoy Sasha's reviews, and I loved The Murder Complex by Lindsey Cummings, so when it came to reading this book I put everything aside and just went into it like I would any other. Now on to the review.
I think that I'm going to write this review a little differently than others, because I find myself struggling to do a review in my usual fashion. Since this book is closer to a novella/short story, and will be released in parts, I think it's harder to write a bulk review. This is just going to be a list of what I found to be pros and cons for Zenith.
-The world is very different from anything else out there right now. It's interesting and for the most part fascinating. However, I found it lacking depth. This could change as the series continues, but as far as this first part went it was lacking that gripping factor.
-The synopsis of the book will pull you in, but the story doesn't back it up. The synopsis made this book sound so interesting and intense but the story itself was confusing.
-It's said to be around 62 pages, but it's more like 40.
-The world itself might sound interesting, but it lacks information. They tried to fit so much into such a small space, yet managed to be so vague about everything.
- The writing style was just a con for me. It felt like two different authors were writing it. It was lacking flow.
-The story lacked polish. Felt like Zenith was just a list of names.
-The Blood Baroness aka the most notorious criminals in all of Mirabel... Well, it wasn't very intimidating. She was just kind of all talk. Yeah, she killed a lot of people, but I was never scared.
-The plot-line is a bit recycled and feels like many things I've read before.
-I do have a feeling this story could become very likable with time and a little more effort. (Not saying the authors didn't put their heart into this, I just think they have more to offer, and hopefully with time this will show)
-A lot of the sentences and writing were just.... Awkward. (I don't know if that's the word I'm really looking for, but it's the one I'm going to use.) I found myself asking myself "What??" far too often.
“Breck shrugged. ‘Any money is good money, if it brings us more food stores.’
‘And ammo,’ Gilly said, cracking her knuckles like the soldier she was.
Andi inclined her head at Lira.
‘Thoughts?’
‘We will see where the stars lead us,’ Lira answered.
Andi nodded."
-There are a lot of mentioned but unanswered things about the plot... Talks of a war, but nothing about: who started it, who is involved, why it happened, etc. There's aliens? Well maybe. There's someone with green blood and someone with blue skin.
-Feel I was handed all these new worlds, races, species, and social systems and then basically told "here... now figure it out yourself".
“Marauder and her crew could lose a tail as fast as a Xen Pterran Darowak could fly.” ...
Ummm what the heck is a Xen Pterran Darowak?!?! Again, just fancy names were expected to just know. I get the authors don't want to give everything away right away, but you have to give us something!
-A big pro for me was diversity. Zenith is oozing with diversity.
-There's too much description without the descriptions.
-Andi being compared to Celaena Sardothien... Okay y'all; let's not do this. Andi isn't AT ALL like my girl Ce. Even though Celaena is a hired assassin I still feel like there is actual motivation behind her killings. There are reasons she does the things she does. Andi is killing people just for the Hell of it. She's a villain who they are trying to paint as something "good". These two characters, though both killers, are nothing alike. POINT BLANK.
-A possible interesting "ship" in the works???? I think the authors have a possible love interest brewing and I dig it! Think it might be a spoiler if I say who between them, but I did enjoy the love-hate aspect of it.
-The ending will definitely make you want to read the next one... BUT I just don't know if it's enough to get me to.
I think Sasha is just getting her footing into the writing world, and that Lindsey is doing the same when it comes to learning to CO-writer. Though my rating is low for this story, I strongly believe that these two can find a balance and make this series work in the future. Maybe when the series is fully released I'll be more motivated to go back to it.
I think that I'm going to write this review a little differently than others, because I find myself struggling to do a review in my usual fashion. Since this book is closer to a novella/short story, and will be released in parts, I think it's harder to write a bulk review. This is just going to be a list of what I found to be pros and cons for Zenith.
-The world is very different from anything else out there right now. It's interesting and for the most part fascinating. However, I found it lacking depth. This could change as the series continues, but as far as this first part went it was lacking that gripping factor.
-The synopsis of the book will pull you in, but the story doesn't back it up. The synopsis made this book sound so interesting and intense but the story itself was confusing.
-It's said to be around 62 pages, but it's more like 40.
-The world itself might sound interesting, but it lacks information. They tried to fit so much into such a small space, yet managed to be so vague about everything.
- The writing style was just a con for me. It felt like two different authors were writing it. It was lacking flow.
-The story lacked polish. Felt like Zenith was just a list of names.
-The Blood Baroness aka the most notorious criminals in all of Mirabel... Well, it wasn't very intimidating. She was just kind of all talk. Yeah, she killed a lot of people, but I was never scared.
-The plot-line is a bit recycled and feels like many things I've read before.
-I do have a feeling this story could become very likable with time and a little more effort. (Not saying the authors didn't put their heart into this, I just think they have more to offer, and hopefully with time this will show)
-A lot of the sentences and writing were just.... Awkward. (I don't know if that's the word I'm really looking for, but it's the one I'm going to use.) I found myself asking myself "What??" far too often.
“Breck shrugged. ‘Any money is good money, if it brings us more food stores.’
‘And ammo,’ Gilly said, cracking her knuckles like the soldier she was.
Andi inclined her head at Lira.
‘Thoughts?’
‘We will see where the stars lead us,’ Lira answered.
Andi nodded."
-There are a lot of mentioned but unanswered things about the plot... Talks of a war, but nothing about: who started it, who is involved, why it happened, etc. There's aliens? Well maybe. There's someone with green blood and someone with blue skin.
-Feel I was handed all these new worlds, races, species, and social systems and then basically told "here... now figure it out yourself".
“Marauder and her crew could lose a tail as fast as a Xen Pterran Darowak could fly.” ...
Ummm what the heck is a Xen Pterran Darowak?!?! Again, just fancy names were expected to just know. I get the authors don't want to give everything away right away, but you have to give us something!
-A big pro for me was diversity. Zenith is oozing with diversity.
-There's too much description without the descriptions.
-Andi being compared to Celaena Sardothien... Okay y'all; let's not do this. Andi isn't AT ALL like my girl Ce. Even though Celaena is a hired assassin I still feel like there is actual motivation behind her killings. There are reasons she does the things she does. Andi is killing people just for the Hell of it. She's a villain who they are trying to paint as something "good". These two characters, though both killers, are nothing alike. POINT BLANK.
-A possible interesting "ship" in the works???? I think the authors have a possible love interest brewing and I dig it! Think it might be a spoiler if I say who between them, but I did enjoy the love-hate aspect of it.
-The ending will definitely make you want to read the next one... BUT I just don't know if it's enough to get me to.
I think Sasha is just getting her footing into the writing world, and that Lindsey is doing the same when it comes to learning to CO-writer. Though my rating is low for this story, I strongly believe that these two can find a balance and make this series work in the future. Maybe when the series is fully released I'll be more motivated to go back to it.
June 6, 2018
Since I only wrote 50% of this book (sasha wrote the other 50%), I can rate her writing 5 stars ;) ;) ;)
Merged review:
5 stars for the best writing partner ever! WE DID A BOOK THING AHHH
Merged review:
5 stars for the best writing partner ever! WE DID A BOOK THING AHHH
August 8, 2016
UPDATE: Congratulations to HarperCollins for choosing to publish a guaranteed flop. I'm so angry at this because there are millions of drafts that are far better than this half-assed attempt at a book and all those books' authors get is a metaphorical slap in the face.
I swear to God if Sasha wasn't as big a booktuber as she is, whoever made the initial decision to publish this as an ebook wouldn't have even finished whatever draft was sent to him/her, let alone publish it.
It's like when Kendall and Kylie Jenner decided to 'write' a book.
They're not publishing it for how good it is or the quality of anything in this book, it's because they've got insurance that at least 20,000 people are going to buy this book and I hate that. I hate it so much.
God, I hate publishers.
UPDATE: I just realized something. When they do finish all the parts to this story and put it together, the overall structure of the book will be off.
If they plan to end every part the way they ended part 1, then when they put it all together, there will pretty much be an epilogue every 8-ish chapters.
I don't get how Sasha, Lindsay, the editor, and everyone involved in the publishing of this didn't realize this when they decided to only publish the first 50 pages. Besides the fact that story and the writing is way below average, the publishing method is stupid.
The whole 'parts' idea is stupid, the book put together will be stupid, and I'm still infuriated that I spent $2 on this. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind spending money on books, but if I'm going to spend $2 on every 50 pages of a book, they'd better be good.
God, the more I think about this book, the more pissed off I get because of it. It's terribly written, it's not in any way authentic, the plot is nonexistent, and it's way overpriced.
Ugh, rant.
UPDATE: This a New York Times bestseller now? This is seriously unbelievable.
This is an honest review. I won't give a bullshit review on something because of possible backlash or hate by a fanbase.
Actual rating: 0.5 stars
Nope.
Just nope.
I had really high hopes for this and I was so disappointed. I wouldn't call this a book - it is a prologue. I don't like the way this story is being published, in "parts"...? I can't enjoy the story, if you'll only give me a glimpse of it every once in a while.
Whatever story or world-building that was within this 62-page 'book' felt completely rushed, forced, and just unnatural. The story didn't flow and I felt that there was too much crammed into such a small number of pages.
I will most definitely not be reading the remaining parts of this story and, in all honesty, my opinion of Sasha and Lindsay as writers has completely degraded after reading this. Yes, it's Sasha's first 'book' and all but that doesn't make it at all acceptable to basically steal another author's character. Androma's character and appearance were far too similar to Celeana Sardothien's from the Throne of Glass series for it to be coincidence, and I will not, by any means, support such an act by buying or reading anymore of this saga.
'Be lenient, go easy on her, it's her first time, blah blah blah.' Sasha is an adult, and Lindsay is an experienced auhtor; writing and publishing a book is as much a responsibilty as it is a pleasure. You must know when you are - even unintentionally - copying someone else's work.
It's virtually impossible for any book to be 100% original these days, but this is unnacceptable.
It felt like ToG fanfiction with the main character in space.
Will not reccomend this to anyone.
I swear to God if Sasha wasn't as big a booktuber as she is, whoever made the initial decision to publish this as an ebook wouldn't have even finished whatever draft was sent to him/her, let alone publish it.
It's like when Kendall and Kylie Jenner decided to 'write' a book.
They're not publishing it for how good it is or the quality of anything in this book, it's because they've got insurance that at least 20,000 people are going to buy this book and I hate that. I hate it so much.
God, I hate publishers.
UPDATE: I just realized something. When they do finish all the parts to this story and put it together, the overall structure of the book will be off.
If they plan to end every part the way they ended part 1, then when they put it all together, there will pretty much be an epilogue every 8-ish chapters.
I don't get how Sasha, Lindsay, the editor, and everyone involved in the publishing of this didn't realize this when they decided to only publish the first 50 pages. Besides the fact that story and the writing is way below average, the publishing method is stupid.
The whole 'parts' idea is stupid, the book put together will be stupid, and I'm still infuriated that I spent $2 on this. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind spending money on books, but if I'm going to spend $2 on every 50 pages of a book, they'd better be good.
God, the more I think about this book, the more pissed off I get because of it. It's terribly written, it's not in any way authentic, the plot is nonexistent, and it's way overpriced.
Ugh, rant.
UPDATE: This a New York Times bestseller now? This is seriously unbelievable.
This is an honest review. I won't give a bullshit review on something because of possible backlash or hate by a fanbase.
Actual rating: 0.5 stars
Nope.
Just nope.
I had really high hopes for this and I was so disappointed. I wouldn't call this a book - it is a prologue. I don't like the way this story is being published, in "parts"...? I can't enjoy the story, if you'll only give me a glimpse of it every once in a while.
Whatever story or world-building that was within this 62-page 'book' felt completely rushed, forced, and just unnatural. The story didn't flow and I felt that there was too much crammed into such a small number of pages.
I will most definitely not be reading the remaining parts of this story and, in all honesty, my opinion of Sasha and Lindsay as writers has completely degraded after reading this. Yes, it's Sasha's first 'book' and all but that doesn't make it at all acceptable to basically steal another author's character. Androma's character and appearance were far too similar to Celeana Sardothien's from the Throne of Glass series for it to be coincidence, and I will not, by any means, support such an act by buying or reading anymore of this saga.
'Be lenient, go easy on her, it's her first time, blah blah blah.' Sasha is an adult, and Lindsay is an experienced auhtor; writing and publishing a book is as much a responsibilty as it is a pleasure. You must know when you are - even unintentionally - copying someone else's work.
It's virtually impossible for any book to be 100% original these days, but this is unnacceptable.
It felt like ToG fanfiction with the main character in space.
Will not reccomend this to anyone.
April 29, 2017
EDIT 29/04/17: the more I think about it, this is definitely a one star. Don't waste your $2. I also no longer watch Sasha's YouTube channel, so my comments on her have also changed. I do like Lindsay and her channel still, so maybe switch them.
EDIT 30/11/16: I decided to lower my rating from 4 stars to 2. This book isn't a book it's basically a chapter sampler. I will probably read the completed book but for now this is my rating. My thoughts in review have also changed.
EDIT 10/09/16: I keep thinking about this book and honestly; I would probably lower my rating. The more I think about it the more I feel I rated highly for no reason.
EDIT 05/07/16: both Lindsay and Sasha have liked this review, omg screaming.
EDIT 03/07/16: I just watched part of Sasha's snapchat story where she's speaking about how Lindsay and her wanted Andi to be cutthroat, feel no remorse and just be brutal. I'm sorry, but that's extremely not how they portrayed Andi. Several times in the short novella she's seen feeling remorse for the lives she's taken, marking them on her blade. I don't believe that is the sign of a cutthroat space pirate and if they would like her to be portrayed in the specific way of being a badass they should take a tad more care in the way they are writing Andi's thoughts. She came across as weak and unrealistic to me, and even more so it's unrealistic to see her as a badass. Sasha also states that Andi is meant to be brutal and gruesome which again was in no way highlighted during this novel. I hope these thoughts they have are explored more throughout the novels further releases, but for now I see this as wrong. This doesn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. I did enjoy this book, and I won't change my review, I just got infuriated during the snapchat story as its wrong (I'm sure Sasha and Lindsay may see Andi as cutthroat) these are just my opinions.
Zenith was one of my most anticipated books of this year since its announcement. I've loved Sasha on YouTube for years, and I may not have heard much about Lindsey but she had many glowing ratings on her solo books. I went into this book with low expectations though, not for any other reason then that I wanted to love it either way. I should have given Zenith more faith than that!
I've never been one to typically like science fiction, it's never interested me and space typically scares me. I forgot all this during this book though, diving into the world and absorbing every bit of information possible. I was planning on reading this book once I finished reading Falling Kingdoms but once I started I was suckered in from the prologue (I think that'd be correct) and there was no escaping the absolute beauty of this book.
I read a review comparing this book to Throne of Glass, but I honestly haven't read that series nor anything by the author. So, I was maybe able to enjoy this book in its entirety. I would, however, compare this book to Guardian's of the Galaxy.
In this book we follow Androma Racella, also known as both Andi and the Bloody Baroness, she's portrayed as "ruthless". In my opinion, ruthless is the unforgiving way of going about your life usually in a violent manner. Due to my personal opinion, I believe Andi doesn't represent the particular definition due to the remorse she feels to each life taken. Lira, Gilly, and Breck make up Andi's all female crew on her ship. As they fly on their ship they're encountered by a group of what I would call security guards of space, a battle commences and a deal is struck - thus creating the lead up to the next book.
Some complaints though, because not all is well in the world of my reviews. I didn't like the font of the ebook and for some reason I couldn't change it. Maybe it was iBooks but I found myself struggling to read it a few times because of the font, that could be me nitpicking though. The sentence structure as well got a tad jerky in some cases, which was infuriating in many circumstances it seemed 80% of sentences were three words or so. The opposite also happened too, some sentences seemed incredibly long and full of commas. Another complaint would be the length. I've been following Sasha's updates so I know that it's being released in parts but I'm just greedy and want the entire book like yesterday.
Overall, an easy and fast read that's left me dying to read more even if I did get confused by some concepts!
EDIT 30/11/16: I decided to lower my rating from 4 stars to 2. This book isn't a book it's basically a chapter sampler. I will probably read the completed book but for now this is my rating. My thoughts in review have also changed.
EDIT 10/09/16: I keep thinking about this book and honestly; I would probably lower my rating. The more I think about it the more I feel I rated highly for no reason.
EDIT 05/07/16: both Lindsay and Sasha have liked this review, omg screaming.
EDIT 03/07/16: I just watched part of Sasha's snapchat story where she's speaking about how Lindsay and her wanted Andi to be cutthroat, feel no remorse and just be brutal. I'm sorry, but that's extremely not how they portrayed Andi. Several times in the short novella she's seen feeling remorse for the lives she's taken, marking them on her blade. I don't believe that is the sign of a cutthroat space pirate and if they would like her to be portrayed in the specific way of being a badass they should take a tad more care in the way they are writing Andi's thoughts. She came across as weak and unrealistic to me, and even more so it's unrealistic to see her as a badass. Sasha also states that Andi is meant to be brutal and gruesome which again was in no way highlighted during this novel. I hope these thoughts they have are explored more throughout the novels further releases, but for now I see this as wrong. This doesn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. I did enjoy this book, and I won't change my review, I just got infuriated during the snapchat story as its wrong (I'm sure Sasha and Lindsay may see Andi as cutthroat) these are just my opinions.
Zenith was one of my most anticipated books of this year since its announcement. I've loved Sasha on YouTube for years, and I may not have heard much about Lindsey but she had many glowing ratings on her solo books. I went into this book with low expectations though, not for any other reason then that I wanted to love it either way. I should have given Zenith more faith than that!
I've never been one to typically like science fiction, it's never interested me and space typically scares me. I forgot all this during this book though, diving into the world and absorbing every bit of information possible. I was planning on reading this book once I finished reading Falling Kingdoms but once I started I was suckered in from the prologue (I think that'd be correct) and there was no escaping the absolute beauty of this book.
I read a review comparing this book to Throne of Glass, but I honestly haven't read that series nor anything by the author. So, I was maybe able to enjoy this book in its entirety. I would, however, compare this book to Guardian's of the Galaxy.
In this book we follow Androma Racella, also known as both Andi and the Bloody Baroness, she's portrayed as "ruthless". In my opinion, ruthless is the unforgiving way of going about your life usually in a violent manner. Due to my personal opinion, I believe Andi doesn't represent the particular definition due to the remorse she feels to each life taken. Lira, Gilly, and Breck make up Andi's all female crew on her ship. As they fly on their ship they're encountered by a group of what I would call security guards of space, a battle commences and a deal is struck - thus creating the lead up to the next book.
Some complaints though, because not all is well in the world of my reviews. I didn't like the font of the ebook and for some reason I couldn't change it. Maybe it was iBooks but I found myself struggling to read it a few times because of the font, that could be me nitpicking though. The sentence structure as well got a tad jerky in some cases, which was infuriating in many circumstances it seemed 80% of sentences were three words or so. The opposite also happened too, some sentences seemed incredibly long and full of commas. Another complaint would be the length. I've been following Sasha's updates so I know that it's being released in parts but I'm just greedy and want the entire book like yesterday.
Overall, an easy and fast read that's left me dying to read more even if I did get confused by some concepts!
June 30, 2016
I'm torn about this book. Sasha and a huge number of other bloggers have really been responsible for why a lot of bad writing and books with just pretty covers continue to sell. And the reason why a lot of plagiarised pots continue to circulate. They just hop on YouTube with a tone of makeup on and gush about how beautiful a boook is; notice how they're never really detaied. Plus she's pretty biased in her reviews because she reviews a lot of the books her agent (Joanna Volpe, New Leaf Literary, a woman who was able to resell The Hunger Games as Divergent - and you have to give the woman props; it scored a movie series that sure has bombed but, still...). And I have a feeling this won't feel very original.
June 23, 2016
**First off I just wanted to say that I really enjoy Sasha's videos but that hasn't at all effected my opinion of ZENITH PART ONE.**
Actual rating 2 1/2 stars.
LIKED:
- I enjoyed the fact that I couldn't tell who was writing what. Sasha's and Lindsey's voices flowed seamlessly (although there were a few times where it felt a little jilted).
- The characters were all different with their varying talents and personalities. I really liked Nor's character as well as Gilly's. Nor actually felt brutal, unlike some other characters where it just felt forced. Nor actually made me interested to read the next instalment; up until her chapter I was feeling a bit meh about the whole book.
- I'm excited to see where Andi and Dex's relationship leads. I know they hate each other at the moment but I definitely see a ship stirring in the distance that I can ship passionately. #ISHIP
- ZENITH PART ONE ends well. I'm not sure yet if I'll buy the next instalment but the ending was definitely a hooker!
DISLIKED:
How the word 'fuck' was swapped instead to 'fike'. It made ZERO sense and was bloody annoying to read. It also messed up the flow of the sentences because there is no way in HELL that you can make the word 'fike' flow. It's absolutely fine if you don't want to say 'fuck' in your books, but instead of changing it to another really awkward word like 'fike' (when it means exactly the same thing!) just don't use it full stop!
- I realllllly didn't like how Andi (the main character) just brutally went around killing innocent people/bystanders like it was nothing. I wouldn't feel so angry about this if it wasn't for the fact that she's made out to be THE GOOD GUY of the whole book. I felt like the authors were trying to get a real Celaena Sardothien vibe from her but it didn't work as Celaena doesn't kill innocents. Yes, Andi felt some guilt from the lives she took...just not enough to stop taking more innocent lives.
- Carrying on from the Celaena Sardothien comment above, Andi felt a lot like a cardboard cut out of Celaena, just in space. Honestly, from the whole description of Andi, it's like describing Celaena.
- The story idea is good, but the follow up lacks a little. I know though that ZENITH PART ONE is only 62 pages as well as just the beginning of the story, so I'm interested to see if build up follows in the parts to follow!
- I did not like Andi. I found her hard to click with and struggled to feel any emotion for her as she came off annoyingbrattish and needlessly arrogant rather then the super-cool space pirate mastermind she's made out to be.
- It all felt a bit unpolished. I really feel that if the authors had sat down and just given it another really thorough edit, the little kinks I noticed while reading it would've been smoothed out. However I couldn't distinguish between Sasha's and Lindsey's writing which shows that they work really well together!
- DESCRIPTION OVERLOAD. We get SO much info that makes absolutely NO sense at all dumped on you as soon as you start the first chapter! It carries on throughout the whole book and the whole time most of it doesn't make sense or isn't needed. Far to much telling and not enough showing.
- The writing is very pretty in places, full of lots of metaphors and such, but at times, like the more actiony scenes for example, the flowery writing against the action made the scenes feel imbalanced and grating.
- The word 'said' was used to often, especially in Andi's case. Pretty much every sentence she spoke ended in 'Andi said'! This was disappointing as the language flow from the other characters was a lot better, although still stilted at times.
- With all the talk of 'girl power crew' I was expecting more then the 3 girls that made up the whole of Andi's crew. Maybe more girls will join the crew as the book goes along, but I wasn't really sure how 4 girls could manage to be the most savage space pirates in the galaxy AND escape capture from the THOUSANDS of people in the space military.
ANOTHER COUPLE OF THOUGHTS OUTSIDE THE STORY:
- I found the font the book was written in SO irritating to read and I wish it had been in just a more normal one, say Times New Roman.
- ZENITH PART ONE was $2 to buy and I don't think, for only 62 pages that it should cost as much, or, that it was worth that much. There is supposedly going to be another 3 parts of ZENITH and if I buy all the next editions, in total the whole ebook will cost me $8. Other people might think differently, but I personally don't agree with it.
BASICALLY:
There were good things about ZENITH PART ONE, just unfortunately (for me) they were overshadowed often by not so good things. Overall though, I DID LIKE IT, I just wasn't wowed-wowed or really impressed. I'm interested to see where the next instalments go but I'm hesitant at the moment if I'll actually go and buy the next one.
Actual rating 2 1/2 stars.
LIKED:
- I enjoyed the fact that I couldn't tell who was writing what. Sasha's and Lindsey's voices flowed seamlessly (although there were a few times where it felt a little jilted).
- The characters were all different with their varying talents and personalities. I really liked Nor's character as well as Gilly's. Nor actually felt brutal, unlike some other characters where it just felt forced. Nor actually made me interested to read the next instalment; up until her chapter I was feeling a bit meh about the whole book.
- I'm excited to see where Andi and Dex's relationship leads. I know they hate each other at the moment but I definitely see a ship stirring in the distance that I can ship passionately. #ISHIP
- ZENITH PART ONE ends well. I'm not sure yet if I'll buy the next instalment but the ending was definitely a hooker!
DISLIKED:
How the word 'fuck' was swapped instead to 'fike'. It made ZERO sense and was bloody annoying to read. It also messed up the flow of the sentences because there is no way in HELL that you can make the word 'fike' flow. It's absolutely fine if you don't want to say 'fuck' in your books, but instead of changing it to another really awkward word like 'fike' (when it means exactly the same thing!) just don't use it full stop!
- I realllllly didn't like how Andi (the main character) just brutally went around killing innocent people/bystanders like it was nothing. I wouldn't feel so angry about this if it wasn't for the fact that she's made out to be THE GOOD GUY of the whole book. I felt like the authors were trying to get a real Celaena Sardothien vibe from her but it didn't work as Celaena doesn't kill innocents. Yes, Andi felt some guilt from the lives she took...just not enough to stop taking more innocent lives.
- Carrying on from the Celaena Sardothien comment above, Andi felt a lot like a cardboard cut out of Celaena, just in space. Honestly, from the whole description of Andi, it's like describing Celaena.
- The story idea is good, but the follow up lacks a little. I know though that ZENITH PART ONE is only 62 pages as well as just the beginning of the story, so I'm interested to see if build up follows in the parts to follow!
- I did not like Andi. I found her hard to click with and struggled to feel any emotion for her as she came off annoying
- It all felt a bit unpolished. I really feel that if the authors had sat down and just given it another really thorough edit, the little kinks I noticed while reading it would've been smoothed out. However I couldn't distinguish between Sasha's and Lindsey's writing which shows that they work really well together!
- DESCRIPTION OVERLOAD. We get SO much info that makes absolutely NO sense at all dumped on you as soon as you start the first chapter! It carries on throughout the whole book and the whole time most of it doesn't make sense or isn't needed. Far to much telling and not enough showing.
- The writing is very pretty in places, full of lots of metaphors and such, but at times, like the more actiony scenes for example, the flowery writing against the action made the scenes feel imbalanced and grating.
- The word 'said' was used to often, especially in Andi's case. Pretty much every sentence she spoke ended in 'Andi said'! This was disappointing as the language flow from the other characters was a lot better, although still stilted at times.
- With all the talk of 'girl power crew' I was expecting more then the 3 girls that made up the whole of Andi's crew. Maybe more girls will join the crew as the book goes along, but I wasn't really sure how 4 girls could manage to be the most savage space pirates in the galaxy AND escape capture from the THOUSANDS of people in the space military.
ANOTHER COUPLE OF THOUGHTS OUTSIDE THE STORY:
- I found the font the book was written in SO irritating to read and I wish it had been in just a more normal one, say Times New Roman.
- ZENITH PART ONE was $2 to buy and I don't think, for only 62 pages that it should cost as much, or, that it was worth that much. There is supposedly going to be another 3 parts of ZENITH and if I buy all the next editions, in total the whole ebook will cost me $8. Other people might think differently, but I personally don't agree with it.
BASICALLY:
There were good things about ZENITH PART ONE, just unfortunately (for me) they were overshadowed often by not so good things. Overall though, I DID LIKE IT, I just wasn't wowed-wowed or really impressed. I'm interested to see where the next instalments go but I'm hesitant at the moment if I'll actually go and buy the next one.
April 29, 2017
I feel like people only rate this good because of who the author is...
The main character is a carbon copy of celaena from the throne of glass series and is supposedly a "merciless killer" but there is nothing to really back that up and she is constantly regretting things and doubting herself, being emotional etc. and way too much info dump in the first 50 pages (the whole first part) which brings me to my next point, this book will be told in parts for 2 dollars each which I think is too much money. I think this book is WAY to over-hyped and believe some people only rate it good because they like Sasha.
Update: I can't fiking believe this is a New York Times best seller. The fact that some 5 star reviews are people saying "I have some problems with this book but I love Sasha and her bookshelves are goals!" is absolutely ridiculous. I have no problem with Sasha at all but she must know that her booktube channel has a lot to do with Zeniths success. I also find it a little weird and funny that Sasha and Lindsay rated their own book TWICE with 5 star ratings.
I don't know maybe I am just a hater. I saw that her sister was saying nasty things to people who didn't give all positive reviews and gave constructive criticism? Sasha really should have addressed. Another thing that bothered me was someone said and showed me that Sasha said she wasn't reading constructive criticism reviews, only positive ones and that puts up red flags and makes her look like she is only looking for praise.
The main character is a carbon copy of celaena from the throne of glass series and is supposedly a "merciless killer" but there is nothing to really back that up and she is constantly regretting things and doubting herself, being emotional etc. and way too much info dump in the first 50 pages (the whole first part) which brings me to my next point, this book will be told in parts for 2 dollars each which I think is too much money. I think this book is WAY to over-hyped and believe some people only rate it good because they like Sasha.
Update: I can't fiking believe this is a New York Times best seller. The fact that some 5 star reviews are people saying "I have some problems with this book but I love Sasha and her bookshelves are goals!" is absolutely ridiculous. I have no problem with Sasha at all but she must know that her booktube channel has a lot to do with Zeniths success. I also find it a little weird and funny that Sasha and Lindsay rated their own book TWICE with 5 star ratings.
I don't know maybe I am just a hater. I saw that her sister was saying nasty things to people who didn't give all positive reviews and gave constructive criticism? Sasha really should have addressed. Another thing that bothered me was someone said and showed me that Sasha said she wasn't reading constructive criticism reviews, only positive ones and that puts up red flags and makes her look like she is only looking for praise.
June 24, 2016
I will admit that I read this just to see how bad it was and unfortunately I wasn't disappointed. The dialogue feels off and there's such a bombardment of information that I got bored and didn't care about the characters or the plot. This whole section of the series was just one long chase scene! Sasha has potential to be a good writer, definitely better than myself, but she needed way more experience (and editing) before she released something. Hopefully if she sends this to publishers and it gets picked up they have her do some serious rewrites on it.
Honestly? The rating for this being at 4.5 stars is bloated by it having been given so many 5-star ratings months before it had been released simply because they like Sasha's booktube channel. Don't do that y'all, it ain't cool! It's hard to be an author and you need more than one year of experience before releasing something amazing, that's why authors generally aren't freshmen in college.
Side note, I'm curious to see how other book tubers will rate this! As of now, none have rated it and I feel like their review of this will show how legit their reviews/ratings are. There are cliches and issues in this book that most have complained about from other authors soooooooooo yeah
Honestly? The rating for this being at 4.5 stars is bloated by it having been given so many 5-star ratings months before it had been released simply because they like Sasha's booktube channel. Don't do that y'all, it ain't cool! It's hard to be an author and you need more than one year of experience before releasing something amazing, that's why authors generally aren't freshmen in college.
Side note, I'm curious to see how other book tubers will rate this! As of now, none have rated it and I feel like their review of this will show how legit their reviews/ratings are. There are cliches and issues in this book that most have complained about from other authors soooooooooo yeah
started
July 17, 2016I tried.
DNF.
DNF.
June 22, 2016
I'm actually pretty impressed with this. This book is co-written and, I'll be honest with you, the only reason I even preordered this was because one of the authors, Sasha, is big in the BookTube world. She always seems so genuine and sweet; I couldn't help but want to support her. I also think Sasha's knowledge of reviewing books to the masses really paid off, because she wrote a book that I think a lot of YA readers will actually really appreciate.
This first installment of the Androma Saga is surrounding four awesome space chicks running their own ship. I mean, that alone should somewhat hook you. The star of this story is Androma, AKA: the Bloody Baroness, and she and her crew fulfill different missions to make money. Some of them are not the most morally right, and killing always leaves Androma, and her dreams, feeling haunted.
Androma is captain of the Marauder and she has three lovely ladies on ship with her. First is Lira, Androma's Second in Command and the pilot of the Marauder. Then, we have Gilly, who is a very feisty thirteen year old. Lastly, Breck, who is a giantess from another planet and is very good with a gun. These three make up Androma's crew, and together they are pretty strong female characters that I can't wait to learn more about, because 62 pages are hardly enough to form a connection.
The story takes an abrupt turn when Androma is visited by two ghosts from her past. The first being the man that taught her everything she knows, who is now a bounty hunter in search of her. The second is Governor Cyprian, who offers Androma is deal she cannot refuse, but he is also a reminder of a past event that Androma has tried desperately to forget.
My main criticism is with the main character Androma. I like her, I do, but I couldn't help but feel like I've read this character before. Then Androma is physically described, and I just couldn't help but read the entirety of the book picturing Celaena Sardothien, from Throne of Glass. I'm not saying other books can't have white haired assassins, but I also can't help thinking this character was heavily influence from Sarah J. Maas and her popularity. I mean, have you seen the Crown of Midnight cover with the two swords/katanas? This book even has the master/prodigy sub-plot happening.
My only other criticism is I hated the made up swear word. Not only is "fike" used, it is used constantly. Every time it was used I felt like it pulled me out of the story. I feel like this book would have been so much better without the use/over use of it.
I do wish I could just get the full book instead of these smaller installments, because I seriously want more of this world, but I know that is beyond anyone's control. One prologue and nine chapters was not enough, but I'm very excited to continue on and see how this story develops.
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This first installment of the Androma Saga is surrounding four awesome space chicks running their own ship. I mean, that alone should somewhat hook you. The star of this story is Androma, AKA: the Bloody Baroness, and she and her crew fulfill different missions to make money. Some of them are not the most morally right, and killing always leaves Androma, and her dreams, feeling haunted.
Androma is captain of the Marauder and she has three lovely ladies on ship with her. First is Lira, Androma's Second in Command and the pilot of the Marauder. Then, we have Gilly, who is a very feisty thirteen year old. Lastly, Breck, who is a giantess from another planet and is very good with a gun. These three make up Androma's crew, and together they are pretty strong female characters that I can't wait to learn more about, because 62 pages are hardly enough to form a connection.
The story takes an abrupt turn when Androma is visited by two ghosts from her past. The first being the man that taught her everything she knows, who is now a bounty hunter in search of her. The second is Governor Cyprian, who offers Androma is deal she cannot refuse, but he is also a reminder of a past event that Androma has tried desperately to forget.
My main criticism is with the main character Androma. I like her, I do, but I couldn't help but feel like I've read this character before. Then Androma is physically described, and I just couldn't help but read the entirety of the book picturing Celaena Sardothien, from Throne of Glass. I'm not saying other books can't have white haired assassins, but I also can't help thinking this character was heavily influence from Sarah J. Maas and her popularity. I mean, have you seen the Crown of Midnight cover with the two swords/katanas? This book even has the master/prodigy sub-plot happening.
My only other criticism is I hated the made up swear word. Not only is "fike" used, it is used constantly. Every time it was used I felt like it pulled me out of the story. I feel like this book would have been so much better without the use/over use of it.
I do wish I could just get the full book instead of these smaller installments, because I seriously want more of this world, but I know that is beyond anyone's control. One prologue and nine chapters was not enough, but I'm very excited to continue on and see how this story develops.
“Hearts were pathetic things, too easily broken.”
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July 11, 2016
The purest shock spiked in Andi’s veins.
Then it melted into fury.
“You,” she hissed.
“Me,” Dex said with a shrug.
“You’re dead,” Andi whispered. “I left you…”
“Left me to die?” Dex lifted a brow.
OMG, I tried so hard with this book. The synopsis seemed so interesting and intense to me, but when I started reading the book, I felt so confused. I think my problem is the writing-style. To about 50% I was so confused and annoyed with the writing, but it got better and better after that.
And the plot was so vague to me! She put a lot of information in such a small part, I wanted to know more about people and the world, I had problems with imagining the world because of the massive vague information about it. It lacks depth.
But with all these issues, I can't judge the book as a whole, I hope it is getting better in the next parts and I can get more answers to my questions.
& I adore that cover!!
· Positive things about the book: "To be fair enough."
1- The world is so different for me, I found it so interesting but as I said it lacks depth, maybe that will change in the next parts.
2- I think one of the girls is alien, it had a different skin colour -blue maybe, I can't remember now!- she didn't tell much about the crew, though.
3- The book ending was good, and I feel the action will begin in the 2nd part.
Good luck with the next parts of the book, Sasha! I like your videos so much. :)
will-not-read
November 19, 2016"I know the book isn't even out yet but it seems like a book I've read before. Not gonna judge it right away but just an observation I had when reading the summary. Not trying to be rude, just putting my observation out there. I bet they are great writers!"
July 11, 2016
This was packed full of action and twists and turns. I have nothing negative to say about it, I just can't rate it any higher because it's not the completed story so I don't have all the info for a real rating yet. It's a promising start though!
August 1, 2016
Well this was boring and weird AF. ONE BIG MEH.
In theory this book sounded quite interesting, however the execution of the idea these two authors had wasn't exactly 'on point'. The main character is too contradictory for my taste and... well, nothing was ever explained the way it should have been. Just names and names, and even more names that mean nothing to the readers without a decent explanation. I may give the sequel a shot, since I would like to see if the authors' writing will get better and more neat. We shall see.
In theory this book sounded quite interesting, however the execution of the idea these two authors had wasn't exactly 'on point'. The main character is too contradictory for my taste and... well, nothing was ever explained the way it should have been. Just names and names, and even more names that mean nothing to the readers without a decent explanation. I may give the sequel a shot, since I would like to see if the authors' writing will get better and more neat. We shall see.
Want to read
March 25, 2016SASHA BABY MAKING HER DREAMS COME TRUE. Can't wait to read this and see the world Lindsay and Sasha have created!
August 19, 2016
Zenith, The Androma Saga, is a Young Adult Fantasy/Sci-fi serialisation that was co-authored by Lindsay Cummings and Sasha Alsberg. This serialisation will be released part by part, Part One released in June 2016. Additional releases are TBA.
This is not a vindictive review. This review is not designed to incite rage or petty irritation, as it most likely will to fans. This review is unbiased. If you do not agree, that is your choice. If you feel you're better off releasing anger, try releasing it by attempting to understand the definition of this, or attempt commenting in a partially civil manner below.
This is a truthful, unbiased review, in hopes that the co-authors can learn from this.
This review contains spoiler tags.
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Round One: Fike!
So heaps and heaps of people are going to love this book, or what's been released of it. That's fine. Lots of people are going to loathe this book, too. Again, it's fine. However, people need to understand that what was read of Zenith was not a complete piece of work. Personally, I think it's a stupid fiking idea to release a book like this part by part because:
1 Prologue.
9 Chapters.
It doesn't seem like much, but time flies when you're having fun. Try giving this a read and see how fiking fast time fiking flies.
Fike.
It becomes difficult for readers to remember all the little details about the book, especially since there are so many fiking things to remember due to info-dumping, such as:
'Tenebris'
'Solera'
'Tavina'
'Prime'
'Gollanta Asteroid Belt'
'Xen Pterra'
'Lunamere'
How am I, or anyone else, going to remember any of that? Especially in a few months!?
Nobody in a few months, or whenever Part Two is released, is going to remember any of these fiking terms... Seriously. Fike. I mean, it's just annoying, especially to those who, for whatever reason, actually enjoyed the storyline and want to finish it, but no, they have to wait (and hopefully realise it isn't worth actually pursuing).
The Storyline
So the entire storyline of what was read was pretty much written in a way that attempted to make us 'wow' and 'whoa' and 'oh my Godstars, what happens next?' Right? And did it? It did, right? Wrong. Fike.
I believe I actually, actually rolled my eyes at at least one or two different things on each fiking page. Whether it was something said, or the action(s), or the body language, or the terminology, or fike, anything, really, my eyes hurt from the inward, incessant rolling of. It reads like a childrens story, written by children who cannot seem to polish the writing. I mean, it seriously feels like it's a vomit draft. It'd be okay for kids. But Lindsay Cummings and Sasha Alsberg are not kids. Lindsay Cummings is an actual published author. Sasha Alsberg has a mass following on her Youtube channel Abookutopia. What happened?
The story in short:
This story reads awkward. The dialogue is awkward and horrible. The characters are awkward and horrible and recycled. The world-building is just awkward and horrible and recycled and nearly non-existent. I cannot understand how this storyline has made it into the reading world, let alone become a #1 New York Times Bestseller. And I'm not even fiking joking. #1. Truly, a fiking joke, and I didn't even laugh.
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The Crew
So not much to say on the crew, since I can't really remember any of them, other than from my notes, so I'll go off memory.
Androma Racella/Calaena Sardothien is dubbed the 'Bloody Baroness'. She kills heaps of people and has nightmares over it. Can't sleep, can't stay awake. She's a walking nightmare, but she's also a gentle lover, and she's also able to somehow dodge bullets from Mirabel Patrolmen, despite them standing in the exact same room as her.
And there's something horrifically upsetting about main characters that are perfect.
“But he could make out the rest of her: perfect curves beneath a sleek, skintight leather bodysuit…”
- Dex regarding Androma.
“For the first time in her pirating life, someone had bested her.”
- Androma regarding being captured.
Lira/Lir/Mystique from X-Men is the blue-skinned 'Adhiran' gal that pretty much single-handedly controls the entire glass ship on her own. Yeah, seems about right. She punches in codes and pushes buttons and literally kills people with her fists. She's bald, and Adhiran-esque (a stalker that somehow knows where Androma is all the time, despite the paradoxical err that the ship is made entirely of glass, but is isn't), and blue, and eats an apparently unhealthy amount of Moon Chew.
"Lira stood, eyes alight with the thrill of the fight, her blue fists dripping red blood.
She winked at Andi as she punched a guard in the temple and laughed as he crumbled at her feet."
Gilly/Rocket fiking Raccoon is a 13-year-old gunner, one of two gunners, with red hair. She's small, and is a vicious little "psychopath", but also has a sensitive side when she starts crying she's going to get caught for killing hundreds and hundreds of people.
Breck/Groot is a big fiking "tall, broad-shouldered" cliche that comes in any YA fiking Fantasy troupe. She's also a gunner, surprise surprise, and a bad attempt at dialogue, characterisation, description, and probably everything else in the future. This big idiot'll probably get shot off early in the series, and then get ressurected in a plant pot as a dancing sapling or something. Nah, I'm sure Ms. Big, Tall and Humongous will be around for the whole shebang: Part 1 - Part 5. She'll have a few near misses here and there, like all of these shoddy characters. Either way, I can't imagine Lindsay or Sasha killing off ANY of their belovedtwo-dimensional cameos ...two dimensional characters.
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The Marauder
So the Marauder is "a glimmering starship with walls made from the rare glass Varillium...". And it's "known for its devilish speed and agility". Okay. That's fair enough, but made from glass? A starship made from glass? I don't know if it's just me, but I can't seem to produce a visual image of this starship made from glass. If I saw the ship from afar would I see all sorts of machinery within the ship? Would I see a huge tank of ship fuel at the back? Would I see Androma Racella etching tallies into her dual swords and her blue Second-in-Command Lira popping Moon Chews into her mouth on the deck? Would I seeRocket Rac-
Would I see Gilly and Breck doing... nothing somewhere on the ship? I can't seem to connect to the visuals.
"Her Second always seemed to know where she was, what she was doing. It was one of the peculiar traits of Adhirans." So Lira, the Second-in-Command is an Adhiran, and she is ubiquitous. She always knows how to find Androma.
The ship is made of glass.
"Lira stepped into the starlit bay and raised a hairless brow." How is the bay starlit?
The ship is made of glass.
"Footsteps, moving through the narrow halls.
A man's voice, whispering a command, growing closer...
Andi saw the first man's head, as he came around the corner."
The ship is made of glass.
The Marauder is a starship made from glass. Everyone wants their hands on it. It's known to be a great flagship, one fast and versatile and agile and stealthy, and it's made of glass. But as soon as three Mirable Patrol ships get close it can't seem to outrun them at all. It brings me to my main question here: Why does everyone want this fiking ship?
The ship is made of glass.
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The Language
My Godstars, this was the worst part. The storyline and the way the story was told was pretty horrible, but oh my fiking Godstars, this was worse. I don't even need to explain it thoroughly for this one:
"Andi closed her eyes. Black holes ablazed, she was fiked."
"Fike, Andi."
"Fike, the irony stung."
"Fike!"
"The rest of you," Dex said, standing from his seat, voice rising to a roar, "will catch me that fiking ship!"
"Move the fike over!"
"The fiking hell I am!"
"Fike upon fike."
Just from reading this review, can you tell how annoying the word 'Fike' is? Now imagine reading that every so couple of lines. "Fike upon fike" sums it up for me, but there's more. A starload more.
Here I am, the ship seemed to say. Large and in charge and as slow as a rhinceratops.
"Gilly answered with a giggle sharp as a knife."
"What do we do?" Breck asked. "They'll kill us all."
"Not if we kill them first," Andi hissed.
"Damn their starshined tech."
"Well then," Lira said, grinning like a madwoman, "I think the stars will align for us, captain. Any last words?"
"It was a desert world a few planets over from Solera, where the wind blew as hot as a demon's backside..."
"As Second in Command," the figure said, her voice as smooth as the spiced rigna they drank last week.
What the fike is rigna and what does it sound like to be as smooth as it? I don't understand!
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The Reunion
It's him, said a small, frightened voice in her mind.
As if confirming her suspicions, he stepped out of the darkness like a demon emerging from hell.
The purest shock spiked in Andi's veins.
Then it melted into fury.
"You," she hissed.
"Me," Dex said with a shrug.
"You're dead," Andi whispered. "I left you..."
"Left me to die?" Dex lifted a brow.
Nah, that's alright.
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Info-Dumping
Can't have a serialisation without dumping a fikeload of information to attempt to get readers drawn in.
Five days ago, the girls had taken on a job to steal a starload of sealed BioDrugs from the planet Solera in the Tavina System, and deliver them to a satellite station just outside the planet Tenebris in the neighbouring system of Prime.
Their last meeting hadn’t exactly gone over well, what with the whole, Andi soaring away with Dex’s ship, leaving him bleeding and dying on a fire moon thing.
Then again, he had tried to sell her out to the Patrolman for her crimes. Love was all good and well, but it was money that was the true key to Dex’s heart.
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The Conclusion
It's like a test. A really starload of shit, fiking test. If you don't revise Part One for a few months you aren't gonna be able to pass Part Two, you little starshit.
This story should not be considered for New York Time Bestsellers at all. The story is unpolished, not thought out properly at all, and downright softcore plagiarism. Seriously. I read heaps and heaps of reviews the first day this thing came out (I read the whole thing in about two hours, tops) and people plastered the Goodreads wall with 5 star reviews, stating how amazing the writing was, how awesome the universe was, how clever the dialogue was, and how people, (I kid you fiking not) were inspired by Androma Racella. Fike.
People giving this thing 5 stars is one thing, but arguing and complaining about how people "didn't give the book a chance" and are "cruel for rating it 1 star" is just going above and beyond hyperspace. Seriously, are people really this stupid? Are they really that weak-minded and bigoted that they will praise someone they like as a Youtube personality a 5 star result purely for that? She could have written...
Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike.
...and it still would've made a 5-star-review-plastered page because of all the bigoted little fanboys and fangirls. It's unfair on those who have had a much more difficult experience trying to get their work published, unknown and in the shadows, and then Sasha, along with Lindsay (who might I say IS published and has several novels out already) prop this thing up and people flock to it blindly? No.
Sasha is a booktuber, not an author. She needs much, much more practice writing, thinking of good, original storylines before thinking she's an actual author. And co-authoring is a terrible way to make a mark in the writing world, especially for a first project. How do we know what her skill is? We don't, because it's a big fiking mess of skull-shaped asteroids, space junk floating about Mirabel, and a soppy Mary Sue-esque, purple and white-haired space pirate based off of Calaena Sardothien! Evidently. Thinking that teaming up with Lindsay would help her get ahead, I'm surprised this book is so riddled with discrepancies. I know well to stay away from any of Lindsay's other works, seeming as the writing style is apparently hard to tell apart the two writing styles.
To be fair, just, and final here,
FUCK BEING FAIR OR JUST. Just got word Zenith has been taken for publishing. Yes, an actual physical book and an audio book! This is happening because of all the little teenybopper idiots that rated this book for 5 stars and gave them satisfaction. To those who can actually see real talent when they see it, know you're in a minority. The quality of reading is tainted.
Fike Zenith and the whole crew.
This is not a vindictive review. This review is not designed to incite rage or petty irritation, as it most likely will to fans. This review is unbiased. If you do not agree, that is your choice. If you feel you're better off releasing anger, try releasing it by attempting to understand the definition of this, or attempt commenting in a partially civil manner below.
This is a truthful, unbiased review, in hopes that the co-authors can learn from this.
This review contains spoiler tags.
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-
Round One: Fike!
So heaps and heaps of people are going to love this book, or what's been released of it. That's fine. Lots of people are going to loathe this book, too. Again, it's fine. However, people need to understand that what was read of Zenith was not a complete piece of work. Personally, I think it's a stupid fiking idea to release a book like this part by part because:
1 Prologue.
9 Chapters.
It doesn't seem like much, but time flies when you're having fun. Try giving this a read and see how fiking fast time fiking flies.
Fike.
It becomes difficult for readers to remember all the little details about the book, especially since there are so many fiking things to remember due to info-dumping, such as:
'Tenebris'
'Solera'
'Tavina'
'Prime'
'Gollanta Asteroid Belt'
'Xen Pterra'
'Lunamere'
How am I, or anyone else, going to remember any of that? Especially in a few months!?
Nobody in a few months, or whenever Part Two is released, is going to remember any of these fiking terms... Seriously. Fike. I mean, it's just annoying, especially to those who, for whatever reason, actually enjoyed the storyline and want to finish it, but no, they have to wait (and hopefully realise it isn't worth actually pursuing).
The Storyline
So the entire storyline of what was read was pretty much written in a way that attempted to make us 'wow' and 'whoa' and 'oh my Godstars, what happens next?' Right? And did it? It did, right? Wrong. Fike.
I believe I actually, actually rolled my eyes at at least one or two different things on each fiking page. Whether it was something said, or the action(s), or the body language, or the terminology, or fike, anything, really, my eyes hurt from the inward, incessant rolling of. It reads like a childrens story, written by children who cannot seem to polish the writing. I mean, it seriously feels like it's a vomit draft. It'd be okay for kids. But Lindsay Cummings and Sasha Alsberg are not kids. Lindsay Cummings is an actual published author. Sasha Alsberg has a mass following on her Youtube channel Abookutopia. What happened?
The story in short:
This story reads awkward. The dialogue is awkward and horrible. The characters are awkward and horrible and recycled. The world-building is just awkward and horrible and recycled and nearly non-existent. I cannot understand how this storyline has made it into the reading world, let alone become a #1 New York Times Bestseller. And I'm not even fiking joking. #1. Truly, a fiking joke, and I didn't even laugh.
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The Crew
So not much to say on the crew, since I can't really remember any of them, other than from my notes, so I'll go off memory.
Androma Racella/Calaena Sardothien is dubbed the 'Bloody Baroness'. She kills heaps of people and has nightmares over it. Can't sleep, can't stay awake. She's a walking nightmare, but she's also a gentle lover, and she's also able to somehow dodge bullets from Mirabel Patrolmen, despite them standing in the exact same room as her.
And there's something horrifically upsetting about main characters that are perfect.
“But he could make out the rest of her: perfect curves beneath a sleek, skintight leather bodysuit…”
- Dex regarding Androma.
“For the first time in her pirating life, someone had bested her.”
- Androma regarding being captured.
Lira/Lir/Mystique from X-Men is the blue-skinned 'Adhiran' gal that pretty much single-handedly controls the entire glass ship on her own. Yeah, seems about right. She punches in codes and pushes buttons and literally kills people with her fists. She's bald, and Adhiran-esque (a stalker that somehow knows where Androma is all the time, despite the paradoxical err that the ship is made entirely of glass, but is isn't), and blue, and eats an apparently unhealthy amount of Moon Chew.
"Lira stood, eyes alight with the thrill of the fight, her blue fists dripping red blood.
She winked at Andi as she punched a guard in the temple and laughed as he crumbled at her feet."
Gilly/Rocket fiking Raccoon is a 13-year-old gunner, one of two gunners, with red hair. She's small, and is a vicious little "psychopath", but also has a sensitive side when she starts crying she's going to get caught for killing hundreds and hundreds of people.
Breck/Groot is a big fiking "tall, broad-shouldered" cliche that comes in any YA fiking Fantasy troupe. She's also a gunner, surprise surprise, and a bad attempt at dialogue, characterisation, description, and probably everything else in the future. This big idiot'll probably get shot off early in the series, and then get ressurected in a plant pot as a dancing sapling or something. Nah, I'm sure Ms. Big, Tall and Humongous will be around for the whole shebang: Part 1 - Part 5. She'll have a few near misses here and there, like all of these shoddy characters. Either way, I can't imagine Lindsay or Sasha killing off ANY of their beloved
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The Marauder
So the Marauder is "a glimmering starship with walls made from the rare glass Varillium...". And it's "known for its devilish speed and agility". Okay. That's fair enough, but made from glass? A starship made from glass? I don't know if it's just me, but I can't seem to produce a visual image of this starship made from glass. If I saw the ship from afar would I see all sorts of machinery within the ship? Would I see a huge tank of ship fuel at the back? Would I see Androma Racella etching tallies into her dual swords and her blue Second-in-Command Lira popping Moon Chews into her mouth on the deck? Would I see
"Her Second always seemed to know where she was, what she was doing. It was one of the peculiar traits of Adhirans." So Lira, the Second-in-Command is an Adhiran, and she is ubiquitous. She always knows how to find Androma.
The ship is made of glass.
"Lira stepped into the starlit bay and raised a hairless brow." How is the bay starlit?
The ship is made of glass.
"Footsteps, moving through the narrow halls.
A man's voice, whispering a command, growing closer...
Andi saw the first man's head, as he came around the corner."
The ship is made of glass.
The Marauder is a starship made from glass. Everyone wants their hands on it. It's known to be a great flagship, one fast and versatile and agile and stealthy, and it's made of glass. But as soon as three Mirable Patrol ships get close it can't seem to outrun them at all. It brings me to my main question here: Why does everyone want this fiking ship?
The ship is made of glass.
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The Language
My Godstars, this was the worst part. The storyline and the way the story was told was pretty horrible, but oh my fiking Godstars, this was worse. I don't even need to explain it thoroughly for this one:
"Andi closed her eyes. Black holes ablazed, she was fiked."
"Fike, Andi."
"Fike, the irony stung."
"Fike!"
"The rest of you," Dex said, standing from his seat, voice rising to a roar, "will catch me that fiking ship!"
"Move the fike over!"
"The fiking hell I am!"
"Fike upon fike."
Just from reading this review, can you tell how annoying the word 'Fike' is? Now imagine reading that every so couple of lines. "Fike upon fike" sums it up for me, but there's more. A starload more.
Here I am, the ship seemed to say. Large and in charge and as slow as a rhinceratops.
"Gilly answered with a giggle sharp as a knife."
"What do we do?" Breck asked. "They'll kill us all."
"Not if we kill them first," Andi hissed.
"Damn their starshined tech."
"Well then," Lira said, grinning like a madwoman, "I think the stars will align for us, captain. Any last words?"
"It was a desert world a few planets over from Solera, where the wind blew as hot as a demon's backside..."
"As Second in Command," the figure said, her voice as smooth as the spiced rigna they drank last week.
What the fike is rigna and what does it sound like to be as smooth as it? I don't understand!
-
-
-
The Reunion
It's him, said a small, frightened voice in her mind.
As if confirming her suspicions, he stepped out of the darkness like a demon emerging from hell.
The purest shock spiked in Andi's veins.
Then it melted into fury.
"You," she hissed.
"Me," Dex said with a shrug.
"You're dead," Andi whispered. "I left you..."
"Left me to die?" Dex lifted a brow.
Nah, that's alright.
-
-
-
Info-Dumping
Can't have a serialisation without dumping a fikeload of information to attempt to get readers drawn in.
Five days ago, the girls had taken on a job to steal a starload of sealed BioDrugs from the planet Solera in the Tavina System, and deliver them to a satellite station just outside the planet Tenebris in the neighbouring system of Prime.
Their last meeting hadn’t exactly gone over well, what with the whole, Andi soaring away with Dex’s ship, leaving him bleeding and dying on a fire moon thing.
Then again, he had tried to sell her out to the Patrolman for her crimes. Love was all good and well, but it was money that was the true key to Dex’s heart.
-
-
-
The Conclusion
It's like a test. A really starload of shit, fiking test. If you don't revise Part One for a few months you aren't gonna be able to pass Part Two, you little starshit.
This story should not be considered for New York Time Bestsellers at all. The story is unpolished, not thought out properly at all, and downright softcore plagiarism. Seriously. I read heaps and heaps of reviews the first day this thing came out (I read the whole thing in about two hours, tops) and people plastered the Goodreads wall with 5 star reviews, stating how amazing the writing was, how awesome the universe was, how clever the dialogue was, and how people, (I kid you fiking not) were inspired by Androma Racella. Fike.
People giving this thing 5 stars is one thing, but arguing and complaining about how people "didn't give the book a chance" and are "cruel for rating it 1 star" is just going above and beyond hyperspace. Seriously, are people really this stupid? Are they really that weak-minded and bigoted that they will praise someone they like as a Youtube personality a 5 star result purely for that? She could have written...
Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike. Fike.
...and it still would've made a 5-star-review-plastered page because of all the bigoted little fanboys and fangirls. It's unfair on those who have had a much more difficult experience trying to get their work published, unknown and in the shadows, and then Sasha, along with Lindsay (who might I say IS published and has several novels out already) prop this thing up and people flock to it blindly? No.
Sasha is a booktuber, not an author. She needs much, much more practice writing, thinking of good, original storylines before thinking she's an actual author. And co-authoring is a terrible way to make a mark in the writing world, especially for a first project. How do we know what her skill is? We don't, because it's a big fiking mess of skull-shaped asteroids, space junk floating about Mirabel, and a soppy Mary Sue-esque, purple and white-haired space pirate based off of Calaena Sardothien! Evidently. Thinking that teaming up with Lindsay would help her get ahead, I'm surprised this book is so riddled with discrepancies. I know well to stay away from any of Lindsay's other works, seeming as the writing style is apparently hard to tell apart the two writing styles.
FUCK BEING FAIR OR JUST. Just got word Zenith has been taken for publishing. Yes, an actual physical book and an audio book! This is happening because of all the little teenybopper idiots that rated this book for 5 stars and gave them satisfaction. To those who can actually see real talent when they see it, know you're in a minority. The quality of reading is tainted.
Fike Zenith and the whole crew.
June 21, 2016
Oh my God! <3
If I have to be completely honest, I did not expect much from this book. I even thought it would be just mediocre - just like all the other books written by you tubers.
But, oh boy, was I wrong!!!
This was such an epic and phenomenal start of an amazing book series! Kick ass female characters on an intergalactic epic adventure! Hell yeah!
The writing style is just so easy and comfortable to follow. It's like Sasha and Lindsay just blended in the most perfect narration ever!
Just go! GO AND READ IT! <3
If I have to be completely honest, I did not expect much from this book. I even thought it would be just mediocre - just like all the other books written by you tubers.
But, oh boy, was I wrong!!!
This was such an epic and phenomenal start of an amazing book series! Kick ass female characters on an intergalactic epic adventure! Hell yeah!
The writing style is just so easy and comfortable to follow. It's like Sasha and Lindsay just blended in the most perfect narration ever!
Just go! GO AND READ IT! <3
August 29, 2016
Pre-reading thoughts-Can this be anymore exciting!? I love Lindsay's writing style and know that the fabulous Sasha Alsberg will add a great amount to the story! I love you guys!
Post-reading thoughts-This book was honestly so much fun to read! It was so enjoyable and I can't wait to continue the series!
Post-reading thoughts-This book was honestly so much fun to read! It was so enjoyable and I can't wait to continue the series!
July 15, 2016
3.5 stars
A solid introduction to a serial! Definitely reads like the first episode of a TV show, which is what I was hoping for. Appreciated that the writing style was very visual and painted the scenes in my mind. Hoping to learn more about the characters (especially the girl gang) in the next installment.
A solid introduction to a serial! Definitely reads like the first episode of a TV show, which is what I was hoping for. Appreciated that the writing style was very visual and painted the scenes in my mind. Hoping to learn more about the characters (especially the girl gang) in the next installment.
July 9, 2016
Zenith is about Androma (Andi) a ruthless female pirate and her crew of women. On board the ship Maurader, they are captured by someone of her past and offered a job that could free them forever. A clean slate of their crimes.
I didn't find this book to be original, it reminded me of Throne of Glass by SJMaas but set in space. The last thing I needed was to compare between the books when the story should completely capture me.
*Throne of Glass Spoliers*
Some things that reminded me of TOG:
- Andi is described ruthless and terrifying, killing anyone without a second thought.
- Andi has a "master" who trained her to fight and kill.
- The "master" found Andi's younger self shivering and alone in the dark and decided to put her under his wing.
- The "King" striking a deal for his benefit in return for her freedom. Sound familiar? The only drastic difference is that it's set in space and Andi has friends.
The flow of the story wasn't executed the way I would have liked, starting with the writing. I wasn't a huge fan, I saw different writing styles and it bugged me.
I felt like the story was happening too quickly, chapters fell short and lacked the description and information I needed to better understand the world.
Andi & her crew didn't meet the expectations of "ruthless" characters. That really lacked for me and it didn't help that I disliked Andi's fighting scene. I found it unnecessary to the point where it felt like the authors put the scene in to show her "ruthless" side. I thought it was amateur and unrealistic. If a bunch of men are surrounding you with guns and you have a sword, who do you think will win? Men won't stand and wait to be killed, they will shoot. It was mentioned a few pages later that the men were capable of shooting if she took one step, yet the men earlier just stood there?
We don't know anything about Andi and how it all began. It could be mentioned in next part of the book, who knows, but as of now we are in the dark. Hopefully we'll get more info as the parts a released.
Overall, I don't think I'll be racing to get my hands on the next part. I do think this story has potential, I'm a Sci-fi fan and maybe the story will take a different route (hopefully) the last thing I want is to read a book and think of another. I don't want to stray anyone from reading this, so I do hope you give it ago. I'm happy that I was able to support both authors and I wish them the best of luck! :)
I didn't find this book to be original, it reminded me of Throne of Glass by SJMaas but set in space. The last thing I needed was to compare between the books when the story should completely capture me.
*Throne of Glass Spoliers*
Some things that reminded me of TOG:
- Andi is described ruthless and terrifying, killing anyone without a second thought.
- Andi has a "master" who trained her to fight and kill.
- The "master" found Andi's younger self shivering and alone in the dark and decided to put her under his wing.
- The "King" striking a deal for his benefit in return for her freedom. Sound familiar? The only drastic difference is that it's set in space and Andi has friends.
The flow of the story wasn't executed the way I would have liked, starting with the writing. I wasn't a huge fan, I saw different writing styles and it bugged me.
I felt like the story was happening too quickly, chapters fell short and lacked the description and information I needed to better understand the world.
Andi & her crew didn't meet the expectations of "ruthless" characters. That really lacked for me and it didn't help that I disliked Andi's fighting scene. I found it unnecessary to the point where it felt like the authors put the scene in to show her "ruthless" side. I thought it was amateur and unrealistic. If a bunch of men are surrounding you with guns and you have a sword, who do you think will win? Men won't stand and wait to be killed, they will shoot. It was mentioned a few pages later that the men were capable of shooting if she took one step, yet the men earlier just stood there?
We don't know anything about Andi and how it all began. It could be mentioned in next part of the book, who knows, but as of now we are in the dark. Hopefully we'll get more info as the parts a released.
Overall, I don't think I'll be racing to get my hands on the next part. I do think this story has potential, I'm a Sci-fi fan and maybe the story will take a different route (hopefully) the last thing I want is to read a book and think of another. I don't want to stray anyone from reading this, so I do hope you give it ago. I'm happy that I was able to support both authors and I wish them the best of luck! :)
July 19, 2016
Darling I think you made a typo... It's "fuck" not "fike."
Okay... so here we go. I was greatly debating on if I was going to publish a review or not because I was afraid of the great uproar/backlash I would receive from the community (which is horrific guys. Come On. Respect the opinion of your fellow readers. And if you're going to judge then I expect you to have read every single book in the world. Then you can truly judge all of us. And if you want to critique someone then please have at least read more than just YA. If we don't like the book then we don't like it. Not everyone likes Harry Potter. Not everyone like Sarah J Maas. Not everyone likes JRR Tolkien. Not everyone like John Green. Respect. Because if you don't respect the opinions of others than no one is going to respect yours.)
Before I begin I want to say that yes I have read Lindsay Cummings' books (The Murder Complex and the Fire of Calderon). In fact I bought both of them because I wanted to support Cummings and give her writing a chance. I have mixed opinions about her writing. I have also watched Sasha Alsberg's videos and for a while I enjoyed them. So yes. I have seen them.
However I tried to go into this book with a completely open mind. I'll admit I was suspicion by the fact that there were already many five star reviews WEEKS before the book was even released (don't do that guys. Seriously. Don't do it. Just mark it as "Want to Read" and then rate it when you're done. It's bad for two reason: It sets up unrealistic expectations and if the book is actually terrible, you will be incredibly disappointed and also it's not helpful at all to the writer. The writer needs honesty and if the book is awful, they need to know that. Your teacher doesn't give you a 100% before you even turn the project in. YOU HAVE TO EARN IT.) but I figured it's normal whatever. People get excited about new books.
On to the review:
It was okay. However, it was too similar to Throne of Glass for my liking. And knowing about Sasha's "love" of SJMaas books I can't help but wonder how much those books influenced the writing. And not necessarily that she did it on purpose. We imitate the writers we love (I know I do so with Lewis and Tolkien). However, recognizing how much we are doing it is the sign of a great writer. And the similarities between the two are too great to dismiss. I'm sorry guys. They just are. You have a heroine with near white hair who is a total "badass"... um... RED ALERT RED ALERT.
The writing was decent. Sometimes it felt like one of those AP Language essays you read in class where you just feel like the writers were trying a little TOO hard. However it is clear that these authors work well together as their writing flows well together. (For those of you wondering, they wrote it together... as in at the same time... as in no they did not trade off on chapters.) So that is what boosted it to a two star review. However, there were parts which needed to be edited... just little things here or there that need to be polished up. I can't help but wonder if there was any editing except between the authors while writing since it is self published.
So I work at a movie theater where we make caramel popcorn. When you make caramel popcorn you pour in the seeds and then pour in the caramel after it into the kettle. One day an employee forgot to pour in the caramel. We still had popcorn but it was the blandess thing I have ever had in my life. We had to throw it out and start all over. The characters were bland like the popcorn without caramel (except the villain does have great potential). Speaking of potential... man the "concept" had potential (like the Jim Henson "Labyrinth" film. Can we just talk about the freaking potential that concept had!) Space is unexplored in YA fiction. An all girls crew? Neat! But the execution was greatly flawed and the writers slipped into fulfilling the cliches of YA literature instead of doing something NEW and WILD. Just look at Joss Whedon's Firefly. The man took the concept of Space and turned it inside out and upside down. You don't have to settle to be like everyone else. If you do something new you become memorable. You become legendary. You don't become legendary by writing the same bullshit as everyone else. DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT! Break the mold. In fact don't just break it, shatter it! Get rid of the bland popcorn and make some caramel!
Honestly it felt like midgrade fanfiction. As in one you'll read but not one that's AMAZING. I've read fanfiction better than this which make me cry and laugh and feel vulnerable and make me question who I am as a person. I've read fanfiction with writing so beautiful you can't help but wonder why the writer is not published. And it kills me that this 62 page piece of blandness is a NY Times Bestseller. There are fanfiction writers better than Cummings and Alsberg (as of now. I think they're both so young, especially Alsberg and they need some work. I thought the same thing with Cummings' books as well). There are people who slave over their craft, who agonize over ever word, who pour their souls into their characters and they never gain the title of "NY Times Bestselling Author." And that's what I can't stand. How did this happen? How did these two authors earn that title for a fanfiction of Throne of Glass? (Also $2 for it? Come on Sasha and Lindsay. No offense but 62 pages isn't worth it. If it's 62 pages then I at least expect creativity and every word better be deliberate and agonized over. I could use $2 at the thrift store and buy two books!)
This has nothing to do with my opinion of Sasha and Lindsay. It's just the truth. The story is fine. Not amazing. Not perfect. Not incredible. Anyone who says it is has a bias. If you like it that's great! I'm glad you like it. I on the other hand did not. It needs work. Lots of work. But I will admit there were a couple good things about it but not enough to outweigh the blandness of it. But I just feel that the novel is overhyped and not as amazing as people are making it out to be.
Okay... so here we go. I was greatly debating on if I was going to publish a review or not because I was afraid of the great uproar/backlash I would receive from the community (which is horrific guys. Come On. Respect the opinion of your fellow readers. And if you're going to judge then I expect you to have read every single book in the world. Then you can truly judge all of us. And if you want to critique someone then please have at least read more than just YA. If we don't like the book then we don't like it. Not everyone likes Harry Potter. Not everyone like Sarah J Maas. Not everyone likes JRR Tolkien. Not everyone like John Green. Respect. Because if you don't respect the opinions of others than no one is going to respect yours.)
Before I begin I want to say that yes I have read Lindsay Cummings' books (The Murder Complex and the Fire of Calderon). In fact I bought both of them because I wanted to support Cummings and give her writing a chance. I have mixed opinions about her writing. I have also watched Sasha Alsberg's videos and for a while I enjoyed them. So yes. I have seen them.
However I tried to go into this book with a completely open mind. I'll admit I was suspicion by the fact that there were already many five star reviews WEEKS before the book was even released (don't do that guys. Seriously. Don't do it. Just mark it as "Want to Read" and then rate it when you're done. It's bad for two reason: It sets up unrealistic expectations and if the book is actually terrible, you will be incredibly disappointed and also it's not helpful at all to the writer. The writer needs honesty and if the book is awful, they need to know that. Your teacher doesn't give you a 100% before you even turn the project in. YOU HAVE TO EARN IT.) but I figured it's normal whatever. People get excited about new books.
On to the review:
It was okay. However, it was too similar to Throne of Glass for my liking. And knowing about Sasha's "love" of SJMaas books I can't help but wonder how much those books influenced the writing. And not necessarily that she did it on purpose. We imitate the writers we love (I know I do so with Lewis and Tolkien). However, recognizing how much we are doing it is the sign of a great writer. And the similarities between the two are too great to dismiss. I'm sorry guys. They just are. You have a heroine with near white hair who is a total "badass"... um... RED ALERT RED ALERT.
The writing was decent. Sometimes it felt like one of those AP Language essays you read in class where you just feel like the writers were trying a little TOO hard. However it is clear that these authors work well together as their writing flows well together. (For those of you wondering, they wrote it together... as in at the same time... as in no they did not trade off on chapters.) So that is what boosted it to a two star review. However, there were parts which needed to be edited... just little things here or there that need to be polished up. I can't help but wonder if there was any editing except between the authors while writing since it is self published.
So I work at a movie theater where we make caramel popcorn. When you make caramel popcorn you pour in the seeds and then pour in the caramel after it into the kettle. One day an employee forgot to pour in the caramel. We still had popcorn but it was the blandess thing I have ever had in my life. We had to throw it out and start all over. The characters were bland like the popcorn without caramel (except the villain does have great potential). Speaking of potential... man the "concept" had potential (like the Jim Henson "Labyrinth" film. Can we just talk about the freaking potential that concept had!) Space is unexplored in YA fiction. An all girls crew? Neat! But the execution was greatly flawed and the writers slipped into fulfilling the cliches of YA literature instead of doing something NEW and WILD. Just look at Joss Whedon's Firefly. The man took the concept of Space and turned it inside out and upside down. You don't have to settle to be like everyone else. If you do something new you become memorable. You become legendary. You don't become legendary by writing the same bullshit as everyone else. DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT! Break the mold. In fact don't just break it, shatter it! Get rid of the bland popcorn and make some caramel!
Honestly it felt like midgrade fanfiction. As in one you'll read but not one that's AMAZING. I've read fanfiction better than this which make me cry and laugh and feel vulnerable and make me question who I am as a person. I've read fanfiction with writing so beautiful you can't help but wonder why the writer is not published. And it kills me that this 62 page piece of blandness is a NY Times Bestseller. There are fanfiction writers better than Cummings and Alsberg (as of now. I think they're both so young, especially Alsberg and they need some work. I thought the same thing with Cummings' books as well). There are people who slave over their craft, who agonize over ever word, who pour their souls into their characters and they never gain the title of "NY Times Bestselling Author." And that's what I can't stand. How did this happen? How did these two authors earn that title for a fanfiction of Throne of Glass? (Also $2 for it? Come on Sasha and Lindsay. No offense but 62 pages isn't worth it. If it's 62 pages then I at least expect creativity and every word better be deliberate and agonized over. I could use $2 at the thrift store and buy two books!)
This has nothing to do with my opinion of Sasha and Lindsay. It's just the truth. The story is fine. Not amazing. Not perfect. Not incredible. Anyone who says it is has a bias. If you like it that's great! I'm glad you like it. I on the other hand did not. It needs work. Lots of work. But I will admit there were a couple good things about it but not enough to outweigh the blandness of it. But I just feel that the novel is overhyped and not as amazing as people are making it out to be.
February 2, 2017
I'd like to say for the record that I really like Sasha Alsberg as both a person and a book tuber. I just don't really like her writing/story AS FOR NOW. I think there is a lot of potential, but she was not ready for a book release yet. //
This Part of the Review was written before it was released. scroll down for a short review:
I am definitely going to check this book out, but I am pretty critical of the whole idea. Till recently Sasha has always said that she could never see herself as a writer. don't get me wrong, I fully support people changing their mind and finding paths they didn't plan on, but you need more than a year of experience before you're able to write and publish an entire book. I read some of the short stories Sasha wrote for classes and they were good, but they were far from 'published author' good. My writing was like that a few years ago and I'm still years away from being good enough to consider publishing something for people to pay for, and co-writing with Lindsay sounds like taking the easy road when you king of need the experience of having it hard.
Short Review:
This book was much of what I feared it would be. It felt like the author has not yet found her voice and instead was just repeating things the way she had heard them somewhere else. I think Sasha has great potential, but she released the wrong story too soon. The story was not gripping and rather boring, it felt like they just wanted to write a si-fi YA so bad that they immediately chose the first idea they got, we're not properly introduced to the characters and too much happens too soon. I can't understand they actions of certain characters (read my reading activity, but you'll be spoiled) and the writing is trying way to hard. I probably won't read the other parts unless the book is picked up by a publisher and heavily edited.
-----
Update: Just pre-ordered the Hardcover. I'll try to go in it without any prejudice.
This Part of the Review was written before it was released. scroll down for a short review:
I am definitely going to check this book out, but I am pretty critical of the whole idea. Till recently Sasha has always said that she could never see herself as a writer. don't get me wrong, I fully support people changing their mind and finding paths they didn't plan on, but you need more than a year of experience before you're able to write and publish an entire book. I read some of the short stories Sasha wrote for classes and they were good, but they were far from 'published author' good. My writing was like that a few years ago and I'm still years away from being good enough to consider publishing something for people to pay for, and co-writing with Lindsay sounds like taking the easy road when you king of need the experience of having it hard.
Short Review:
This book was much of what I feared it would be. It felt like the author has not yet found her voice and instead was just repeating things the way she had heard them somewhere else. I think Sasha has great potential, but she released the wrong story too soon. The story was not gripping and rather boring, it felt like they just wanted to write a si-fi YA so bad that they immediately chose the first idea they got, we're not properly introduced to the characters and too much happens too soon. I can't understand they actions of certain characters (read my reading activity, but you'll be spoiled) and the writing is trying way to hard. I probably won't read the other parts unless the book is picked up by a publisher and heavily edited.
-----
Update: Just pre-ordered the Hardcover. I'll try to go in it without any prejudice.
September 24, 2016
My number one complaint is the use of the word "fike/fiking/fiked".
It is SO extremely annoying. I mean, let's not be ridiculous now, if you can use bastards, hell and damn(ed), you can use "fuck" as well.
I also find the term "the bloody baroness" quite a cringe worthy one.
Then, personally, I think they tried too hard to make the characters look "badass" while to me it only made them annoying. I don't really enjoy characters who try to be too tough and fierce, and only that, all the time. Which in this case means that I simply didn't like Andi and her crew.
I always found myself grimacing when I read parts about how they (her and her crew) actually enjoyed themselves killing off people.
Literally every character in this book was either disrespectful, a vile murderer, or both (except the poor servants that is). I'm sorry but I do not find it enjoyable to read about people with only 0,5% humanity in them.
I know this part was only the first part and a really short one for that matter but then again.. I didn't really get the chance to start caring about the characters. And I don't think I ever will because it'll be quite some time before the next part comes out and by then I will, by matter of speaking, have forgotten about them so any kind of "bond" I had will be gone. And as I suspect every part they release will be short, I think I will never really be able to really "bond" with them.
So they should have waited longer but provide us with a bigger part, in my opinion.
Recently I read in another review that they thought that the use of so many complex words in this book was to come across as smart, and I agree with that.
Sometimes I had to read paragraphs three times in order for me to understand what the fuck they were saying. So that was highly unnecessary.
SO conclusion: overall, I wasn't the biggest fan of this book. To me, it's too much wannabe-badass. People say Andi is a lot like Celaena and I can definitely see the resemblance, but at least she's likable. I just don't think this is my cup of tea.
I read this book out of mere curiosity because I follow Sasha Alsberg on YouTube and actually really enjoy her videos, so that obviously did not influence my opinion on this part at all.
It is SO extremely annoying. I mean, let's not be ridiculous now, if you can use bastards, hell and damn(ed), you can use "fuck" as well.
I also find the term "the bloody baroness" quite a cringe worthy one.
Then, personally, I think they tried too hard to make the characters look "badass" while to me it only made them annoying. I don't really enjoy characters who try to be too tough and fierce, and only that, all the time. Which in this case means that I simply didn't like Andi and her crew.
I always found myself grimacing when I read parts about how they (her and her crew) actually enjoyed themselves killing off people.
Literally every character in this book was either disrespectful, a vile murderer, or both (except the poor servants that is). I'm sorry but I do not find it enjoyable to read about people with only 0,5% humanity in them.
I know this part was only the first part and a really short one for that matter but then again.. I didn't really get the chance to start caring about the characters. And I don't think I ever will because it'll be quite some time before the next part comes out and by then I will, by matter of speaking, have forgotten about them so any kind of "bond" I had will be gone. And as I suspect every part they release will be short, I think I will never really be able to really "bond" with them.
So they should have waited longer but provide us with a bigger part, in my opinion.
Recently I read in another review that they thought that the use of so many complex words in this book was to come across as smart, and I agree with that.
Sometimes I had to read paragraphs three times in order for me to understand what the fuck they were saying. So that was highly unnecessary.
SO conclusion: overall, I wasn't the biggest fan of this book. To me, it's too much wannabe-badass. People say Andi is a lot like Celaena and I can definitely see the resemblance, but at least she's likable. I just don't think this is my cup of tea.
I read this book out of mere curiosity because I follow Sasha Alsberg on YouTube and actually really enjoy her videos, so that obviously did not influence my opinion on this part at all.
September 7, 2016
DNF pretty sure I'd still rated 2 stars.
*eye rolling*
*eye rolling*
June 22, 2016
1.75/5
YIKES. This book was better than I thought it was going to be. With that being said, it still wasn't by any means good. I enjoy Sasha's videos and I admire her for publishing a book in such a short amount of time, but there's no doubt that this first installment could use some major editing. The writing was repetitive and almost all of the dialogue was forced and cartoonish. I didn't find any of the characters to be particularly interesting and it was because of this that I couldn't differentiate between them- all of them seemed to have a mysterious and dark past that I honestly couldn't care less about. All in all, I found Zenith to be just like any other poorly-written YA science-fiction novel and I don't know that I have an interest in reading the rest of it.
YIKES. This book was better than I thought it was going to be. With that being said, it still wasn't by any means good. I enjoy Sasha's videos and I admire her for publishing a book in such a short amount of time, but there's no doubt that this first installment could use some major editing. The writing was repetitive and almost all of the dialogue was forced and cartoonish. I didn't find any of the characters to be particularly interesting and it was because of this that I couldn't differentiate between them- all of them seemed to have a mysterious and dark past that I honestly couldn't care less about. All in all, I found Zenith to be just like any other poorly-written YA science-fiction novel and I don't know that I have an interest in reading the rest of it.
August 3, 2016
First off, I thought this was a full length book so I was immediately disappointed that it was only 62 pages. I loved the concept and characters. The writing was outstanding. I loved everything about Zenith but I wish it was full length. Even if it was just 190-200 pages. This book has such an amazing concept, but the 62 pages doesn't quite do it justice. But I'd still recommend Zenith despite it being so short because I really did love it.
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