What do you think?
Rate this book
Erthe #1
Ariadnis
Back then I thought that if it weren't for that cliff, our cities would be one and there would be no need for all this fierceness toward each other. But then I learned about pride and tradition and prophecy, and those things are harder than rock.
Joomia and Aula are Chosen. They will never be normal. They can never be free.
On the last island on Erthe, Chosen Ones are destined to enter Ariadnis on the day they turn eighteen. There, they must undertake a mysterious and deadly challenge. For Joomia and Aula, this means competing against each other, to end the war that has seethed between their cities for nine generations.
As the day draws nearer, all thoughts are on the trial ahead. There's no space for friendship. No time for love. However much the girls might crave them.
But how you prepare for a task you know nothing certain about? Nothing, except that you must win, at whatever cost, or lose everything.
Joomia and Aula are Chosen. They will never be normal. They can never be free.
On the last island on Erthe, Chosen Ones are destined to enter Ariadnis on the day they turn eighteen. There, they must undertake a mysterious and deadly challenge. For Joomia and Aula, this means competing against each other, to end the war that has seethed between their cities for nine generations.
As the day draws nearer, all thoughts are on the trial ahead. There's no space for friendship. No time for love. However much the girls might crave them.
But how you prepare for a task you know nothing certain about? Nothing, except that you must win, at whatever cost, or lose everything.
356 pages, Paperback
First published February 9, 2017
20 people are currently reading
1022 people want to read
About the author
Josh Martin
2 books53 followersIN ONE WORD
Distractable
IN TWO FOOD TYPES
Fiorentina Pizza
Macaroni Cheese
IN THREE SPELLS
Teleporting
Telekinesis
Water Bending
IN FOUR PAINTINGS
Ulysses & the Sirens by Herbert James Draper
The Golden Key by John Bauer
Mother by Joaquín Sorolla
Death and Life by Gustav Klimt
IN FIVE NOVELS
The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Deerskin by Robin McKinley
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
IN SIX TV-SHOWS
Avatar: The Last Airbender
What We Do In the Shadows
Mare of Easttown
My Mad Fat Diary
Dark
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
IN SEVEN FILMS
Booksmart
Everything, Everywhere, All At Once
Meet Joe Black
Pride + Prejudice
Mad Max: Fury Road
Mulan
Whale Rider
Distractable
IN TWO FOOD TYPES
Fiorentina Pizza
Macaroni Cheese
IN THREE SPELLS
Teleporting
Telekinesis
Water Bending
IN FOUR PAINTINGS
Ulysses & the Sirens by Herbert James Draper
The Golden Key by John Bauer
Mother by Joaquín Sorolla
Death and Life by Gustav Klimt
IN FIVE NOVELS
The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Deerskin by Robin McKinley
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
IN SIX TV-SHOWS
Avatar: The Last Airbender
What We Do In the Shadows
Mare of Easttown
My Mad Fat Diary
Dark
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
IN SEVEN FILMS
Booksmart
Everything, Everywhere, All At Once
Meet Joe Black
Pride + Prejudice
Mad Max: Fury Road
Mulan
Whale Rider
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
February 7, 2017
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
*3.5 stars*
Ariadnis is a curious read - depicting a strange realm after an event that's referred to as the 'Great Wave' - where two 'Chosen Ones' must battle it out for the sake of their respective lands.
There was much to enjoy about this novel. The differing perspectives added a lot to the book, though at times, they left me slightly confused. I thought the characters themselves were really nicely realised - the bold, impetuous Aula and the sensitive, unsure Joomia both stood out, and I loved their magical powers. I think teens will relate well to both of them - which is always a great thing.
It's clear that the author is a talented writer, and has excellent ability when it comes to world-building. In particular, Joomia's 'vine' world is crafted wonderfully, and it's a really unusual, interesting idea. If there's one minor criticism I'd level at this book, it's that it did get confusing from time to time, especially when other characters' prophesies were revealed. There were a few times I had to dip back a few pages to check I was following what was going on! Also, I wasn't quite sure all the swearing was entirely necessary - I'm all for swearing at the right time / place, but it felt a bit gratuitous at times. (Maybe that's just me being prissy!).
Overall, an entertaining, highly creative read - and I'd like to see more from this writer.
*3.5 stars*
Ariadnis is a curious read - depicting a strange realm after an event that's referred to as the 'Great Wave' - where two 'Chosen Ones' must battle it out for the sake of their respective lands.
There was much to enjoy about this novel. The differing perspectives added a lot to the book, though at times, they left me slightly confused. I thought the characters themselves were really nicely realised - the bold, impetuous Aula and the sensitive, unsure Joomia both stood out, and I loved their magical powers. I think teens will relate well to both of them - which is always a great thing.
It's clear that the author is a talented writer, and has excellent ability when it comes to world-building. In particular, Joomia's 'vine' world is crafted wonderfully, and it's a really unusual, interesting idea. If there's one minor criticism I'd level at this book, it's that it did get confusing from time to time, especially when other characters' prophesies were revealed. There were a few times I had to dip back a few pages to check I was following what was going on! Also, I wasn't quite sure all the swearing was entirely necessary - I'm all for swearing at the right time / place, but it felt a bit gratuitous at times. (Maybe that's just me being prissy!).
Overall, an entertaining, highly creative read - and I'd like to see more from this writer.
October 17, 2017
Would recommend if you like owls, bisexuals, steam-powered cities, tree houses, strange magic systems, feminine boys, getting punched in the jaw, prophecies and super-powered girls.
April 29, 2018
* * * *
4 / 5
This book did not go in the direction that I expected. And I loved it. The synopsis suggests that it will be focused around a competition - this "mysterious and deadly challenge" - and whilst this is a key point, Ariadnis isn't really about the challenge. The book opens on the day that Aula and Joomia turn seventeen, a full year to go before they must undertake the challenge. It is an event that is built up to, looming in the distance, but not one that is the action focus of the novel, per se. This is by no means a problem, in fact I rather thought it enhanced the plot, but the synopsis is a little misleading. Further, the two cities Metis and Athenas are not exactly at war - there is animosity, yes, but not war.
So, you ask, if it is not about a competition or war, then what is Ariadnis about? It is about love, strength, duty, betrayal, family, and growing into yourself. There is a lot of focus on relationships, but this is not at the expense of the plot.
"Yeah. But she was so proud of you. You think Ashir's pride could ever die? She reaches up with one silky wrinkled hand and brushes Etain's coarse hair. "Sing, my darling girl. Sing like yer heart's gonna come outta yer mouth"
Aula lives in Athenas, the city of industry and technology that thrives above the cliff, with her best friend, mechanic and daughter of a prophet, Etain. Joomia resides in Metis, the city of trees and nature built into the nine trees below the cliff, with her adopted brother (of sorts) Taurus. They are their peoples' Chosen Ones, marked out by a tattoo to compete on their eighteenth birthdays for the book of the Wise One that contains all the knowledge in the universe. With this their city may subsume the other and their ideals rule the planet of Erthe.
There is a lack of information at the start of the novel, which is part of the reason this is not a five star book. I was confused about what exactly was happening, what the Wise One was, why there are Chosen Ones, why they were competing, for longer than I should have been. But soon enough the explanations start to roll in and the bizarre yet beautiful ideas behind Ariadnis come to the fore. The writing itself is lovely; there is a touch of slang to give it character, the girls both have distinct voices and personalities, and Martin manages to utilise time skips really well (which is a hard thing to do!).
This forest is so still. I know the trees of Metis are old, but these are something else: old in the way that comes before memory, like elements: rain or clouds or earth
Aula is strong, bull-headed with anger in her veins. Her powers revolve around strength and speed. Joomia is more meek, unsure of herself, and the more obedient one of the two. Her powers are to do with nature. I don't want to give too much away here, so I won't elaborate, but both characters are beautifully written and have strong, compelling relationships with the rest of the cast.
Aula's powers reflect her city's values - the impossible speed and strength of industry, the reckless, ruthless spirit of human command. Whereas you - you reflect that slow growth of nature, naturality. Quiet, but dangerous to underestimate.
There are Nadrik and Mathilde, the two "mentors", as well as Etain and Taurus, and a number of other important side characters including Ashir, Etain's mother, and Abe, whose mind has been torn apart by prophecy. Through these characters Aula and Joomia develop and grow into their responsibilities as Chosen Ones. Joomia's arc was my favourite; I cheered her transformation from someone hesitant, afraid of herself and what she could do, into an adult who knew what she was.
"Young girl, young heart, young power," she says. "Older now"
Overall, Ariadnis is a lovely novel that went in an entirely different direction to the one I expected. It is crafted with delightful prose, charming (yet sometimes annoying) characters, and an excellent plot full of twists and turns. Its flaws include a lack of world building at the start, and even by the end I still had some questions (I still don't really get why they had to leave Earth), but I would certainly recommend it. The ending is perfectly wrapped up for a standalone novel, but also has room for a sequel depending on what the author plans.
My thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
Read this review & more on my blog: https://atlasrisingbooks.wordpress.co...
4 / 5
This book did not go in the direction that I expected. And I loved it. The synopsis suggests that it will be focused around a competition - this "mysterious and deadly challenge" - and whilst this is a key point, Ariadnis isn't really about the challenge. The book opens on the day that Aula and Joomia turn seventeen, a full year to go before they must undertake the challenge. It is an event that is built up to, looming in the distance, but not one that is the action focus of the novel, per se. This is by no means a problem, in fact I rather thought it enhanced the plot, but the synopsis is a little misleading. Further, the two cities Metis and Athenas are not exactly at war - there is animosity, yes, but not war.
So, you ask, if it is not about a competition or war, then what is Ariadnis about? It is about love, strength, duty, betrayal, family, and growing into yourself. There is a lot of focus on relationships, but this is not at the expense of the plot.
"Yeah. But she was so proud of you. You think Ashir's pride could ever die? She reaches up with one silky wrinkled hand and brushes Etain's coarse hair. "Sing, my darling girl. Sing like yer heart's gonna come outta yer mouth"
Aula lives in Athenas, the city of industry and technology that thrives above the cliff, with her best friend, mechanic and daughter of a prophet, Etain. Joomia resides in Metis, the city of trees and nature built into the nine trees below the cliff, with her adopted brother (of sorts) Taurus. They are their peoples' Chosen Ones, marked out by a tattoo to compete on their eighteenth birthdays for the book of the Wise One that contains all the knowledge in the universe. With this their city may subsume the other and their ideals rule the planet of Erthe.
There is a lack of information at the start of the novel, which is part of the reason this is not a five star book. I was confused about what exactly was happening, what the Wise One was, why there are Chosen Ones, why they were competing, for longer than I should have been. But soon enough the explanations start to roll in and the bizarre yet beautiful ideas behind Ariadnis come to the fore. The writing itself is lovely; there is a touch of slang to give it character, the girls both have distinct voices and personalities, and Martin manages to utilise time skips really well (which is a hard thing to do!).
This forest is so still. I know the trees of Metis are old, but these are something else: old in the way that comes before memory, like elements: rain or clouds or earth
Aula is strong, bull-headed with anger in her veins. Her powers revolve around strength and speed. Joomia is more meek, unsure of herself, and the more obedient one of the two. Her powers are to do with nature. I don't want to give too much away here, so I won't elaborate, but both characters are beautifully written and have strong, compelling relationships with the rest of the cast.
Aula's powers reflect her city's values - the impossible speed and strength of industry, the reckless, ruthless spirit of human command. Whereas you - you reflect that slow growth of nature, naturality. Quiet, but dangerous to underestimate.
There are Nadrik and Mathilde, the two "mentors", as well as Etain and Taurus, and a number of other important side characters including Ashir, Etain's mother, and Abe, whose mind has been torn apart by prophecy. Through these characters Aula and Joomia develop and grow into their responsibilities as Chosen Ones. Joomia's arc was my favourite; I cheered her transformation from someone hesitant, afraid of herself and what she could do, into an adult who knew what she was.
"Young girl, young heart, young power," she says. "Older now"
Overall, Ariadnis is a lovely novel that went in an entirely different direction to the one I expected. It is crafted with delightful prose, charming (yet sometimes annoying) characters, and an excellent plot full of twists and turns. Its flaws include a lack of world building at the start, and even by the end I still had some questions (I still don't really get why they had to leave Earth), but I would certainly recommend it. The ending is perfectly wrapped up for a standalone novel, but also has room for a sequel depending on what the author plans.
My thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
Read this review & more on my blog: https://atlasrisingbooks.wordpress.co...
Want to read
May 23, 2020they had every chance to promote this as a gay af hunger games and they didn't. i need it now.
March 13, 2017
Most of planet Erthe was destroyed by a comet many years ago and only one island remains. On that island are two very different cities: Athenas, a city made of metal where they believe technology is the key to survival, and Metis where people have made their homes in giant trees and believe that nature is the most important thing and must be protected. Each of these cities has a Chosen One and according to prophecy they will alone can find a way to bring their people together. The Chosen Ones must complete a selection of challenges, only the best will survive and they will be the one who shows the people the way forward.
Aula and Joomia are the Chosen Ones, neither girl asked for the responsibility and they have both been treated differently their whole lives because of it. The girls only meet once a year, on their birthday, when they travel to Ariadnis, the place between their cities, to receive wisdom from the Chosen Ones who went before them, their trials are supposed to begin on their eighteenth birthday and that is when the prophecy will finally be proven. On the day of their seventeenth birthday the girls are told that they must find a way to unite before their trials start or both their cities will be doomed but with travel between the two cities banned that won't be an easy task.
I've found it really hard to write a review for Ariadnis, not because I didn't enjoy the book but because it's hard to know how much I can say without giving accidental spoilers. This isn't quite like anything else I've read before and it took me a bit of time to get used to the world and understand exactly how everything worked. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters though and I loved how different they were because of the way they were raised. Aula is from Metis and her mentor has focused her training on different types of technology, she is also incredibly strong and powerful so has spent a lot of time training for physical battle. Joomia is much quieter, in fact she is unable to speak and can only communicate with a very small number of people mind to mind. She doesn't have Aula's physical strength but she has a quiet wisdom and she is able to tell a great deal about the world around her by communicating with the trees they've made their home.
There are some great side characters and a lot of positive messages in the story about love and friendship. I loved that neither society is hung up on sexuality so it wasn't unusual for characters to date both boys and girls, there was no shame in characters having more than one sexual relationship and things were much freer and less pressured. Ariadnis is a slow build story, one that focuses on introducing both the world and the characters in the beginning but as you get further in the mystery deepens and you start to realise there are a lot of things going on that you weren't immediately aware of. Aula and Joomia are both thrown into some pretty impossible situations and it was really interesting to see how they coped with what happened to them. The way things unfolded at the end have left me desperate for the next book and I think Josh Martin is definitely going to be an author to watch out for!
Aula and Joomia are the Chosen Ones, neither girl asked for the responsibility and they have both been treated differently their whole lives because of it. The girls only meet once a year, on their birthday, when they travel to Ariadnis, the place between their cities, to receive wisdom from the Chosen Ones who went before them, their trials are supposed to begin on their eighteenth birthday and that is when the prophecy will finally be proven. On the day of their seventeenth birthday the girls are told that they must find a way to unite before their trials start or both their cities will be doomed but with travel between the two cities banned that won't be an easy task.
I've found it really hard to write a review for Ariadnis, not because I didn't enjoy the book but because it's hard to know how much I can say without giving accidental spoilers. This isn't quite like anything else I've read before and it took me a bit of time to get used to the world and understand exactly how everything worked. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters though and I loved how different they were because of the way they were raised. Aula is from Metis and her mentor has focused her training on different types of technology, she is also incredibly strong and powerful so has spent a lot of time training for physical battle. Joomia is much quieter, in fact she is unable to speak and can only communicate with a very small number of people mind to mind. She doesn't have Aula's physical strength but she has a quiet wisdom and she is able to tell a great deal about the world around her by communicating with the trees they've made their home.
There are some great side characters and a lot of positive messages in the story about love and friendship. I loved that neither society is hung up on sexuality so it wasn't unusual for characters to date both boys and girls, there was no shame in characters having more than one sexual relationship and things were much freer and less pressured. Ariadnis is a slow build story, one that focuses on introducing both the world and the characters in the beginning but as you get further in the mystery deepens and you start to realise there are a lot of things going on that you weren't immediately aware of. Aula and Joomia are both thrown into some pretty impossible situations and it was really interesting to see how they coped with what happened to them. The way things unfolded at the end have left me desperate for the next book and I think Josh Martin is definitely going to be an author to watch out for!
August 5, 2022
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm really bored right now, so I'm gonna be writing reviews for books I read ages ago. Try not to judge, okay? ;)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
First read: January 2022
Well, that was disappointing. I went into Ariadnis with the highest of expectations (mostly from that gorgeous cover if I'm being honest), but ended up feeling really let-down by the end. It wasn't necessarily bad, it just wasn't... good either.
"Two nations. Two girls. Only one will survive."
This book is basically about two girls- Joomia and Aura- having to compete in a deadly competition in order to prevent a war between their two nations. They have been prepared for this all their life, but know nothing about it. The book starts a year before the competition & shows the build-up as well as the actual thing.
Firstly, the characters. The main characters were Joomia from Metis, a city in a vast forest, high up in the trees, and Aula, who comes from machine-based, industrial Athenas. Athenis is supported by 9 pillars- trees encased in metal. They both have powers- Aula has amazing strength and Joomia’s powers are nature-based; she is able to manipulate plants.
"Aula's powers reflect her city's values - the impossible speed and strength of industry, the reckless, ruthless spirit of human command. Whereas you - you reflect that slow growth of nature, naturality. Quiet, but dangerous to underestimate."
I thought the characters were okay. Joomia was quite cool- shy and afraid to lose control again, but also very powerful. She is torn up with guilt about an incident that happened before the story starts and this is making her unsure about her own abilities. I quite liked her and enjoyed reading from her perspective. Aula was more annoying, with a tendency to be stubborn and irritating. She was also very impulsive and seemed determined not to listen to anyone. I honestly could not connect with her at all and the chapters from her perspective really weighed down my enjoyment.
There were quite a few side characters- Etain, Taurus and Ashir being a few. Taurus was meh, Ashir pretty cool and Etain poorly developed. I didn't particularly connect with any of them to be honest- most of them were quite poorly developed.
Overall, the characters were not too bad but not particularly memorable either.
Next, the writing style. Josh Martin’s writing style was nice in parts, irritating in others. It didn’t flow that well and this made it a very slow read, but also had nice descriptions. All the time skips really irritated me as they skipped such large amounts of time without even giving us a summary of what had happened. It didn’t really keep me captivated that much. There were some nice moments of suspense, but the action scenes were poorly written in general. So, eh, not that good.
Finally, the plot. Because of all the time skips, the plot was jarring and a bit hard to follow in parts. It didn’t flow as well as I would have wanted and the action scenes were really downplayed much more than they needed to be. I was really irritated when the treachery of a particular character was revealed so early on- if we hadn’t been told they would betray them ages before they did, I never would have guessed that would happen. If it had been used to its full potential, it would have been a really great twist. The other twists in the story didn't make that much sense to me and I just didn't like them. The ending was okay but once again, slightly annoying.
I think what I was expecting was a very deadly challenge with lots of violence and a bunch of really good twists but instead the parts before were really drawn out and the actual challenge in Ariadnis was not very well-written. I liked the themes of friendship and trust, but it was still disappointing. I guess I was expecting something a bit more exciting, especially as the blurb made it sound like the deadly challenge was the main part of the story. That challenge was not deadly, it was boring! In the end, it was decent but not particularly memorable. Still, I may pick up the sequel in the future because I know that if Josh Martin made some improvements, he could write a really good book.
~ 3 stars
I'm really bored right now, so I'm gonna be writing reviews for books I read ages ago. Try not to judge, okay? ;)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
First read: January 2022
Well, that was disappointing. I went into Ariadnis with the highest of expectations (mostly from that gorgeous cover if I'm being honest), but ended up feeling really let-down by the end. It wasn't necessarily bad, it just wasn't... good either.
"Two nations. Two girls. Only one will survive."
This book is basically about two girls- Joomia and Aura- having to compete in a deadly competition in order to prevent a war between their two nations. They have been prepared for this all their life, but know nothing about it. The book starts a year before the competition & shows the build-up as well as the actual thing.
Firstly, the characters. The main characters were Joomia from Metis, a city in a vast forest, high up in the trees, and Aula, who comes from machine-based, industrial Athenas. Athenis is supported by 9 pillars- trees encased in metal. They both have powers- Aula has amazing strength and Joomia’s powers are nature-based; she is able to manipulate plants.
"Aula's powers reflect her city's values - the impossible speed and strength of industry, the reckless, ruthless spirit of human command. Whereas you - you reflect that slow growth of nature, naturality. Quiet, but dangerous to underestimate."
I thought the characters were okay. Joomia was quite cool- shy and afraid to lose control again, but also very powerful. She is torn up with guilt about an incident that happened before the story starts and this is making her unsure about her own abilities. I quite liked her and enjoyed reading from her perspective. Aula was more annoying, with a tendency to be stubborn and irritating. She was also very impulsive and seemed determined not to listen to anyone. I honestly could not connect with her at all and the chapters from her perspective really weighed down my enjoyment.
There were quite a few side characters- Etain, Taurus and Ashir being a few. Taurus was meh, Ashir pretty cool and Etain poorly developed. I didn't particularly connect with any of them to be honest- most of them were quite poorly developed.
Overall, the characters were not too bad but not particularly memorable either.
Next, the writing style. Josh Martin’s writing style was nice in parts, irritating in others. It didn’t flow that well and this made it a very slow read, but also had nice descriptions. All the time skips really irritated me as they skipped such large amounts of time without even giving us a summary of what had happened. It didn’t really keep me captivated that much. There were some nice moments of suspense, but the action scenes were poorly written in general. So, eh, not that good.
Finally, the plot. Because of all the time skips, the plot was jarring and a bit hard to follow in parts. It didn’t flow as well as I would have wanted and the action scenes were really downplayed much more than they needed to be. I was really irritated when the treachery of a particular character was revealed so early on- if we hadn’t been told they would betray them ages before they did, I never would have guessed that would happen. If it had been used to its full potential, it would have been a really great twist. The other twists in the story didn't make that much sense to me and I just didn't like them. The ending was okay but once again, slightly annoying.
I think what I was expecting was a very deadly challenge with lots of violence and a bunch of really good twists but instead the parts before were really drawn out and the actual challenge in Ariadnis was not very well-written. I liked the themes of friendship and trust, but it was still disappointing. I guess I was expecting something a bit more exciting, especially as the blurb made it sound like the deadly challenge was the main part of the story. That challenge was not deadly, it was boring! In the end, it was decent but not particularly memorable. Still, I may pick up the sequel in the future because I know that if Josh Martin made some improvements, he could write a really good book.
~ 3 stars
December 16, 2016
**3.5 stars**
Ariadnis encompassed a highly imaginative concept with some beautiful language to describe it, some top characters too and a magical feel with more than a hint of darkness.
Two cities ever divided, two girls chosen, a quest for knowledge and a mysterious challenge - all added up to a great read. Joomia I especially loved and I thought the way the two main protagonists here were really very different, each having their own quirks and consequences, kept the story feeling fresh and unpredictable throughout.
The world building is truly excellent, the author takes time to ingrain it into the readers senses - the magic and the power of the setting is one of the huge plus points of Ariadnis. I liked the moral messages layered into the plot, there are things to think about but mostly its a fun and involving read that indulges pure escapism.
Overall really very good. I will be interested to see more from this author if this one is anything to go by.
Recommended.
Ariadnis encompassed a highly imaginative concept with some beautiful language to describe it, some top characters too and a magical feel with more than a hint of darkness.
Two cities ever divided, two girls chosen, a quest for knowledge and a mysterious challenge - all added up to a great read. Joomia I especially loved and I thought the way the two main protagonists here were really very different, each having their own quirks and consequences, kept the story feeling fresh and unpredictable throughout.
The world building is truly excellent, the author takes time to ingrain it into the readers senses - the magic and the power of the setting is one of the huge plus points of Ariadnis. I liked the moral messages layered into the plot, there are things to think about but mostly its a fun and involving read that indulges pure escapism.
Overall really very good. I will be interested to see more from this author if this one is anything to go by.
Recommended.
October 24, 2017
I enjoyed it even though it took me a while to finish it. I got bored at some parts and wanted to skip to the fast paced parts more often
March 22, 2017
I en't never found a book with such slang in it that I almost gave up from that alone. If I saw the word en't (used instead of not. Why? I don't really know) used one more time I was going to scream. There.
But look at that cover *_* I admit, that was 90% of my decision in buying it, and the rest was a plot about two girls competing to save their respected cities (which FYI, doesn't really end up happening) Boo.
There are some crazy plots, everyone's related or humping or wants to, and some magic stuff happens. The E'nts took away my brain too, and left me as Mindless as some of the characters become, so by the end I really couldn't tell you much of what was happening. I WANTED to love this. It has such beautiful outsides, but the insides didn't match for me. Two stars, moving on to something new.
But look at that cover *_* I admit, that was 90% of my decision in buying it, and the rest was a plot about two girls competing to save their respected cities (which FYI, doesn't really end up happening) Boo.
There are some crazy plots, everyone's related or humping or wants to, and some magic stuff happens. The E'nts took away my brain too, and left me as Mindless as some of the characters become, so by the end I really couldn't tell you much of what was happening. I WANTED to love this. It has such beautiful outsides, but the insides didn't match for me. Two stars, moving on to something new.
March 12, 2022
"Back then I thought that if it weren't for that cliff our cities would be one and there would be no need for all this fierceness towards each other. But then I learned about pride and tradition and prophecy, and those things are harder than rock."
The world as we know it is gone. There's only an island left. And in that island two cities that are the completly opposite of each other. One believing the technology should not be forgotten, the other believing we should live in connection with the nature. As they couldn't reach an agreement, the divinity of the island solved the problem, creating a competion where the Chosen Ones must fight and this way decide which city must rule the island. Aula from Athenas, that wants the technology to continue to be used, is stronger and faster than anyone. Joomia from Metis, that wants humans to live in connection with the nature, seems to have no special quality except for the fact that only a few people can hear her.
I must start by saying that I love the whole concept of the story. The competion where the Chosen Ones must participate is not the usual one. It was created by a divinity and no one knows what exactly it is. No one knows what will happen, how will the girls be able to show that they are the ones representing the best city, which makes everything more mysterious and therefore more interesting.
And the world Martin created, with one city literally on the top of the other, each one in a side of a cliff is undoubtely original and nicely described. However, that originality has a bad side. He created a world so unlikely and different that it is almost impossible to really imagine it. I mean, we are talking about cities that are each one is a side of a cliff, both built on the same trees, that grow in each side of the cliff. It is not exactly the easiest thing to imagine.
Unfortunatelly, a good concept and an original world is not enough to create a good story. And where the plot is concerned, I can't say it is as good as I was expecting considering the idea. The pace is so, so slow in the beginning that it's hard to keep reading, to find the strenght to do not drop the book. Multiple times I found myself skipping parts, hoping I would find one with a little more action that could convince me to do not stop reading. And I guess that it is a good thing that I didn't. The ending is quite amazing and with way more action, making it really good and easier to read and enjoy.
The characters too are a part of the story I didn't enjoy as much as I would like. I simply couldn't connect with Aula and Joomia and, honestly, I really can't understand why. The story is written alternating between Joomia and Aula's points of view, giving the reader plenty of time to fully connect with both. And yet I couldn't do it. Something about them was off, something I can't classify or explain, but that made it impossible for me to connect with them. On the other hand, Taurus, Joomia's best friend, was one of the easiest characters to connect with that I've ever read about. He sounded so incredibly real and such a nice person, despite his flaws, that I couldn't help but like him. And yes, I said flaws. Flaws as in the character was not perfect, flaws as in the character was human. That's something I noticed in all the characters and admire about Martin. He created human characters with behaviours that fit their ages. And that's so, so nice. To see Chosen Ones that did not behave as middle-aged adults but as teenagers (which is what they are), that had their flaws and strenghts just like anyone else. It is good to have characters like this for a change.
And other thing I definitely loved about this story was the love relationships. And no, this is not a romance. It's far from that. But through little details we can clearly understand that Taurus is a playboy. And bissexual. And that many of the charactares are also not straight. But Martin showed us that through little details, sentences said so casually we could understand that it was the normal and not something that caused problems among the people. He referred those characters and their sexual orientation as they should always be referred - as a normal thing about which no one needs to make a scene. Because it is a normal thing, everyone is free to be with whoever they want to be and no one else must have anything to say about that.
Overall, I think this book has some good things and could be an interesting read (to read slowly, stopping from time to time, because there's no other way you would be able to read it), but it could also be way better than it is, namely where the pace and the main characters are concerned.
SCORE: 3.50 out of 5.00 stars
You can also find this review on my blog
The world as we know it is gone. There's only an island left. And in that island two cities that are the completly opposite of each other. One believing the technology should not be forgotten, the other believing we should live in connection with the nature. As they couldn't reach an agreement, the divinity of the island solved the problem, creating a competion where the Chosen Ones must fight and this way decide which city must rule the island. Aula from Athenas, that wants the technology to continue to be used, is stronger and faster than anyone. Joomia from Metis, that wants humans to live in connection with the nature, seems to have no special quality except for the fact that only a few people can hear her.
I must start by saying that I love the whole concept of the story. The competion where the Chosen Ones must participate is not the usual one. It was created by a divinity and no one knows what exactly it is. No one knows what will happen, how will the girls be able to show that they are the ones representing the best city, which makes everything more mysterious and therefore more interesting.
And the world Martin created, with one city literally on the top of the other, each one in a side of a cliff is undoubtely original and nicely described. However, that originality has a bad side. He created a world so unlikely and different that it is almost impossible to really imagine it. I mean, we are talking about cities that are each one is a side of a cliff, both built on the same trees, that grow in each side of the cliff. It is not exactly the easiest thing to imagine.
Unfortunatelly, a good concept and an original world is not enough to create a good story. And where the plot is concerned, I can't say it is as good as I was expecting considering the idea. The pace is so, so slow in the beginning that it's hard to keep reading, to find the strenght to do not drop the book. Multiple times I found myself skipping parts, hoping I would find one with a little more action that could convince me to do not stop reading. And I guess that it is a good thing that I didn't. The ending is quite amazing and with way more action, making it really good and easier to read and enjoy.
The characters too are a part of the story I didn't enjoy as much as I would like. I simply couldn't connect with Aula and Joomia and, honestly, I really can't understand why. The story is written alternating between Joomia and Aula's points of view, giving the reader plenty of time to fully connect with both. And yet I couldn't do it. Something about them was off, something I can't classify or explain, but that made it impossible for me to connect with them. On the other hand, Taurus, Joomia's best friend, was one of the easiest characters to connect with that I've ever read about. He sounded so incredibly real and such a nice person, despite his flaws, that I couldn't help but like him. And yes, I said flaws. Flaws as in the character was not perfect, flaws as in the character was human. That's something I noticed in all the characters and admire about Martin. He created human characters with behaviours that fit their ages. And that's so, so nice. To see Chosen Ones that did not behave as middle-aged adults but as teenagers (which is what they are), that had their flaws and strenghts just like anyone else. It is good to have characters like this for a change.
And other thing I definitely loved about this story was the love relationships. And no, this is not a romance. It's far from that. But through little details we can clearly understand that Taurus is a playboy. And bissexual. And that many of the charactares are also not straight. But Martin showed us that through little details, sentences said so casually we could understand that it was the normal and not something that caused problems among the people. He referred those characters and their sexual orientation as they should always be referred - as a normal thing about which no one needs to make a scene. Because it is a normal thing, everyone is free to be with whoever they want to be and no one else must have anything to say about that.
Overall, I think this book has some good things and could be an interesting read (to read slowly, stopping from time to time, because there's no other way you would be able to read it), but it could also be way better than it is, namely where the pace and the main characters are concerned.
SCORE: 3.50 out of 5.00 stars
You can also find this review on my blog
September 7, 2019
I loved the whole concept of that book. Two different societies competing in order to save their people. I love the magic system in it. I loved the characters. And guess what? Here the two "chosen ones" were believable! They were acting as real teenagers would. They were realistic and that really made the difference. Because not everyone loves the "chosen one" trope but that one was so well done.
It took me some times to understand how the world was working because I found that book quite different from other YA Fantasy. Which is good!!
The beginning is slower. It gives you time to get to know the characters, to understand the world, the get how the magic works, and even to looooove some of the side characters. While you do that, you see at the same time some secrets, some mysteries getting bigger and bigger.
I loved the writing style as much as the pace. Anassa is already waiting on my shelves to be read.
It took me some times to understand how the world was working because I found that book quite different from other YA Fantasy. Which is good!!
The beginning is slower. It gives you time to get to know the characters, to understand the world, the get how the magic works, and even to looooove some of the side characters. While you do that, you see at the same time some secrets, some mysteries getting bigger and bigger.
I loved the writing style as much as the pace. Anassa is already waiting on my shelves to be read.
January 25, 2018
Que livro fantástico com uma capa maravilhosa. Dava por mim a não querer que o livro acabasse. Mal posso esperar pela continuação.
March 31, 2018
Os livros de fantasia não são aqueles que mais gosto, mas este livro tem tudo para agarrar!
March 4, 2018
Opinião a ser publicada brevemente no Efeito dos Livros
February 10, 2017
I often say with my fantasy that I'm looking for something new and different. You can only take so many tales based on girls with hidden talents competing in competitions and winning the hearts of princes or lords (often both, creating the dreaded love triangle) before enough is enough.
Ariadnis caught my eye because it seemed to avoid all of the above. Yes, our main characters are special girls. But that's not all they are. Both Aula and Joomia are the Chosen Ones of their rival, post unexplained apocalyptic event, homes. Each have their strengths (Aula is literally strong, and Joomia has power over nature) and their weaknesses (Aula is desperate for affection - often driving those around her away in the process of trying to get it - and Joomia is a mute who is unable to use her powers for fear of losing control). Instantly this humanity in the face of a very fantastic setting made both girls compelling.
What made Ariadnis stand out for me was how the central "quest" - trying to get a book of knowledge which was pre-ordained in prophecy hundreds of years before - isn't really the central theme of the book. At least not for me. My favourite thing, other than the wonderful world building, interesting supporting cast of characters, and great heroines was this; the story was of Aula and Joomia growing up and becoming the people they were capable of being. It's a coming of age story which is steeped in fantastical elements, and yet it is also incredibly relatable. Aula is every young girl, trying to find love from those around her and responding to rejection with rebellion. Joomia is every shy and introverted teen who is too afraid to stand out, for fear of the expectations attached with it becoming too much. There's also great diversity here; characters come in a wide variety of colours and sexual orientations - just what modern fantasy needs more more more of.
I also felt that the writing style, especially the sometimes incredibly frequent changes between narrator, worked really well. When you reach the end of the book you will draw your own conclusions as to whether the device is used well (the plot indicates why it is done so very frequently, and I loved the result) - it keeps things fast paced and connected. However it might not be for everyone, so be forewarned if you're not a fan of this.
I would have liked to know more about the worlds the characters lived in, and would be really interested in a prequel about how the life changing event which set this into motion came to pass. However in many ways this is perfect as a standalone (another rare trait for a fantasy novel). A good, solid read.
Ariadnis caught my eye because it seemed to avoid all of the above. Yes, our main characters are special girls. But that's not all they are. Both Aula and Joomia are the Chosen Ones of their rival, post unexplained apocalyptic event, homes. Each have their strengths (Aula is literally strong, and Joomia has power over nature) and their weaknesses (Aula is desperate for affection - often driving those around her away in the process of trying to get it - and Joomia is a mute who is unable to use her powers for fear of losing control). Instantly this humanity in the face of a very fantastic setting made both girls compelling.
What made Ariadnis stand out for me was how the central "quest" - trying to get a book of knowledge which was pre-ordained in prophecy hundreds of years before - isn't really the central theme of the book. At least not for me. My favourite thing, other than the wonderful world building, interesting supporting cast of characters, and great heroines was this; the story was of Aula and Joomia growing up and becoming the people they were capable of being. It's a coming of age story which is steeped in fantastical elements, and yet it is also incredibly relatable. Aula is every young girl, trying to find love from those around her and responding to rejection with rebellion. Joomia is every shy and introverted teen who is too afraid to stand out, for fear of the expectations attached with it becoming too much. There's also great diversity here; characters come in a wide variety of colours and sexual orientations - just what modern fantasy needs more more more of.
I also felt that the writing style, especially the sometimes incredibly frequent changes between narrator, worked really well. When you reach the end of the book you will draw your own conclusions as to whether the device is used well (the plot indicates why it is done so very frequently, and I loved the result) - it keeps things fast paced and connected. However it might not be for everyone, so be forewarned if you're not a fan of this.
I would have liked to know more about the worlds the characters lived in, and would be really interested in a prequel about how the life changing event which set this into motion came to pass. However in many ways this is perfect as a standalone (another rare trait for a fantasy novel). A good, solid read.
June 18, 2018
It took me a little while to get into Ariadnis - I think the map and world building at the start is a little hard to get your head round. But when you do - wow!
I really like the whole concept from early on and when I got into the setting it just raced past. I like the focus on the competing societies, and what you learn about why they were set up. I also really like all the main characters!
The magic and the different focuses of the two societies was fab too. My favourite character was Joomia. I found her really relatable and I always like people who find strength when they need it. I do really like the whole thing between her and Aula as well, I’m super keen to see what happens next there!
I also really liked the backstory we get for Ashir, Abe, Etain, Taurus, Mathilde and Nadrik as well. It really helped tie it all together. And lead to a super creepy but excellent finale!
I really like the whole concept from early on and when I got into the setting it just raced past. I like the focus on the competing societies, and what you learn about why they were set up. I also really like all the main characters!
The magic and the different focuses of the two societies was fab too. My favourite character was Joomia. I found her really relatable and I always like people who find strength when they need it. I do really like the whole thing between her and Aula as well, I’m super keen to see what happens next there!
I also really liked the backstory we get for Ashir, Abe, Etain, Taurus, Mathilde and Nadrik as well. It really helped tie it all together. And lead to a super creepy but excellent finale!
January 1, 2019
Full disclosure: I'm related to the author (he is my cousin). I might be a tad biased.
Second disclosure: Dunno if that really matters, as I probably would have read this book anyways and loved it.
Man, the book hangover I had after this book was intense. There was something about the combination of choices the characters made, the world building, and the scope of the book that really got to me. There are many, many disparate threads in this book that get woven into a rich tapestry of the story.
Aula and Joomias' voices are so different, something that gets lost in a lot of YA fiction. Their points of view are both so different and intriguing, leading to strong, emotion based choices that really drive the story forwards. Etain and Turaus play lovely counterpoints to the main characters. The world building seeps into the characters as well, setting up a great back and forth between the two worlds these characters inhabit.
The relationships, the choices, the way the worlds work and don't work, it was all very well done and lead to an epic hangover where I just wished every book would end so well.
Second disclosure: Dunno if that really matters, as I probably would have read this book anyways and loved it.
Man, the book hangover I had after this book was intense. There was something about the combination of choices the characters made, the world building, and the scope of the book that really got to me. There are many, many disparate threads in this book that get woven into a rich tapestry of the story.
Aula and Joomias' voices are so different, something that gets lost in a lot of YA fiction. Their points of view are both so different and intriguing, leading to strong, emotion based choices that really drive the story forwards. Etain and Turaus play lovely counterpoints to the main characters. The world building seeps into the characters as well, setting up a great back and forth between the two worlds these characters inhabit.
The relationships, the choices, the way the worlds work and don't work, it was all very well done and lead to an epic hangover where I just wished every book would end so well.
February 7, 2017
I received a copy of this book for free through a giveaway at Goodreads.com.
2018? You are really going to make me wait until next year for more?! That's just cruel!
"Ariadnis" is an incredibly strong story - I mean INCREDIBLY. I give it 6 weeks after release before negotiations for the movie begin...
The writing is so easy to read.
The characters are so well developed, I already feel like I've seen the movie.
The book is aimed at teens, primarily, but there's no reason why fully-fledged adults won't love reading this... I did.
2018? You are really going to make me wait until next year for more?! That's just cruel!
"Ariadnis" is an incredibly strong story - I mean INCREDIBLY. I give it 6 weeks after release before negotiations for the movie begin...
The writing is so easy to read.
The characters are so well developed, I already feel like I've seen the movie.
The book is aimed at teens, primarily, but there's no reason why fully-fledged adults won't love reading this... I did.
February 6, 2017
Interesting premise but quite honestly it was so confusing that I wouldn't be able to explain a single thing that happened. The narrative was incredibly muddly and quite frankly the whole book confused the heck out of me which is a shame because it sounded so good.
July 10, 2017
I ended up enjoying this book more than I thought I would at the beginning, which felt pretty standard. It's definitely a very slow build. I spent several days reading the first 100 pages or so, and the rest all in one sitting. I definitely preferred Joomia to Aula, who I found somewhat abrasive and annoying, but I don't think that would deter teen readers. Some of it was overly exposition-y and slow. God, so slow, and then at some point the plot heats up VERY fast. It was weird, actually? Like, nothing happens for ages and ages, and then BOOM. SHIT IS GOING DOWN. So, idk, maybe pacing could be spaced out a bit more.
Overall, there were some clever things I enjoyed. The natural magic system was interesting and cool. Some of the later plot twists were interesting, though admittedly not surprising. The book eventually did become more than "just another YA fantasy novel" to me, impressively enough. But, in the end, I can't say any character specifically compelled me. I think I was almost there, but I wasn't engaged enough. Still, I am curious to see what happens in the next one.
Overall, there were some clever things I enjoyed. The natural magic system was interesting and cool. Some of the later plot twists were interesting, though admittedly not surprising. The book eventually did become more than "just another YA fantasy novel" to me, impressively enough. But, in the end, I can't say any character specifically compelled me. I think I was almost there, but I wasn't engaged enough. Still, I am curious to see what happens in the next one.
July 29, 2021
3.5 stars
🇬🇧 Unique and unexpected!
It took me a while to get into this book, the strange world and the characters, and at time it got a bit confusing, so I was a foot behind most of the read.
With that said, I have to admit that the writing, the magic system and the world building are truly phenomenal!
I loved the contrast between characters, the prophecies and revelations, all of the surprising twists. I adored the representation, the acceptence, how much like real teenagers the characters are.
I was expecting a book about a competition, and I got so much more than that: a story about love, friendship, courage, family, growth!
It was slow at times, but it's a good, solid read that will surprise you in the end!
🇵🇹 Único e inesperado!
Demorei algum tempo para entranhar a história, o mundo estranho e as personagens, tornando-se por vezes um pouco confuso, o que me deixou com um pé atrás em parte da leitura.
Dito isso, tenho que admitir que a escrita, o sistema mágico e a construção do mundo são realmente fenomenais!
Adorei o contraste entre as personagens, as profecias e revelações, todas as reviravoltas surpreendentes. Eu adorei a representação, a aceitação, o quanto as personagens são adolescentes de verdade.
Esperava um livro sobre um concurso, uma missão e consegui muito mais do que isso: uma história de amor, amizade, coragem, família, crescimento!
É por vezes lento, mas é uma leitura boa e sólida que surpreende no final!
🇬🇧 Unique and unexpected!
It took me a while to get into this book, the strange world and the characters, and at time it got a bit confusing, so I was a foot behind most of the read.
With that said, I have to admit that the writing, the magic system and the world building are truly phenomenal!
I loved the contrast between characters, the prophecies and revelations, all of the surprising twists. I adored the representation, the acceptence, how much like real teenagers the characters are.
I was expecting a book about a competition, and I got so much more than that: a story about love, friendship, courage, family, growth!
It was slow at times, but it's a good, solid read that will surprise you in the end!
🇵🇹 Único e inesperado!
Demorei algum tempo para entranhar a história, o mundo estranho e as personagens, tornando-se por vezes um pouco confuso, o que me deixou com um pé atrás em parte da leitura.
Dito isso, tenho que admitir que a escrita, o sistema mágico e a construção do mundo são realmente fenomenais!
Adorei o contraste entre as personagens, as profecias e revelações, todas as reviravoltas surpreendentes. Eu adorei a representação, a aceitação, o quanto as personagens são adolescentes de verdade.
Esperava um livro sobre um concurso, uma missão e consegui muito mais do que isso: uma história de amor, amizade, coragem, família, crescimento!
É por vezes lento, mas é uma leitura boa e sólida que surpreende no final!
May 8, 2019
This was a re-read for me as I am wanting to read the sequel but couldn’t remember exactly what had happened in Ariadnis as I had read it a few years ago!
I really enjoyed this book and I would say it was just as good second time around. Aula and Joomia are two chosen ones from two different cities who are battling against one another to get the great book of knowledge. But living in two very different worlds comes with its own challenges, friends and very different powers.
I enjoyed the different POVs which kept it fresh and a quick read. I think my favourite was Joomia’s. Prophecies are heavily involved in this book, and I love the idea of these and the twists and turns they create. Etain and Taurus are also main characters - brother and sister and also best friends of the chosen ones and I’m looking forward to seeing a lot more of their story now that Anassa is much more heavily based around them.
I really enjoyed this book and I would say it was just as good second time around. Aula and Joomia are two chosen ones from two different cities who are battling against one another to get the great book of knowledge. But living in two very different worlds comes with its own challenges, friends and very different powers.
I enjoyed the different POVs which kept it fresh and a quick read. I think my favourite was Joomia’s. Prophecies are heavily involved in this book, and I love the idea of these and the twists and turns they create. Etain and Taurus are also main characters - brother and sister and also best friends of the chosen ones and I’m looking forward to seeing a lot more of their story now that Anassa is much more heavily based around them.
April 27, 2022
A really good read with a great story. The world building and history is amazing and I can't wait to read the second book.
March 13, 2023
Tem partes um bocado confusas mas gostei
dnf
March 8, 2017Okay.
*sigh*
I really tried with this book. I really wanted to like it because the cover is gorgeous and the premise sounded interesting. Plus I'm always keen to read something different.
But, I just can't.
Thirty pages is as far as I can go. The narrative is... hard to get used to. The world is... hard to visualise. And trust me, that's bizarre because I can imagine some really weird shit. But this is just too much. Plus, IMO, the constant switch in POV just doesn't work in this particular book. It kept pushing me out of the story so that I'd end up putting the book down. :/
I was tempted to skim ahead, but no. Just the thought of doing that is daunting. I'm just going to call this a DNF and move on. So, I'm not going to give it a rating.
Man, I've been having an awful time with YA fantasy books this year. Why do I keep trying? O_o
*sigh*
I really tried with this book. I really wanted to like it because the cover is gorgeous and the premise sounded interesting. Plus I'm always keen to read something different.
But, I just can't.
Thirty pages is as far as I can go. The narrative is... hard to get used to. The world is... hard to visualise. And trust me, that's bizarre because I can imagine some really weird shit. But this is just too much. Plus, IMO, the constant switch in POV just doesn't work in this particular book. It kept pushing me out of the story so that I'd end up putting the book down. :/
I was tempted to skim ahead, but no. Just the thought of doing that is daunting. I'm just going to call this a DNF and move on. So, I'm not going to give it a rating.
Man, I've been having an awful time with YA fantasy books this year. Why do I keep trying? O_o
March 2, 2017
BOOK REVIEW: Ariadnis
From the start of this book, told in dual narrative from the perspectives of the Chosen Ones of two rival cities, we are coming at this unusual future dystopia from two distinct mirror-image angles. After some kind of schism in the philosophies that brought them to this post-apocalyptic point, the two societies have been heading in different directions. The vaguely steampunk city above has its ideas about where society should be heading, while that below is more focused on living in tune with nature.
Playing with the Chosen One tropes, we are presented with the super strength of Aula as set against the mute, unharnessed powers of Joomia. They have very little time remaining until the final test that will seemingly decide the fates of their respective worlds.
These worlds are distinct, unusual, fresh and well drawn. I felt I was entering a fictional future that was not as well trodden as some of them have become. Side characters were well employed and had good flesh on their bones; those designed to be likeable were just that, while dastardly villains didn’t disappoint. I don’t know if it’s just my interpretation, but I was a big fan of the androgynous, multi-racial qualities of most of the young cast. It’s a pretty nifty way of allowing all comers to the book to project themselves into and onto your story without turning into one of those super politically correct authors tripping over themselves to incorporate a rainbow into their narrative at its own expense. I don’t mean to come over cynical there (though I probably do) because I felt this aspect worked well, added to the atmosphere, and was entirely appropriate in the context.
What’s most clever and impressive about this debut however is the symmetry of the dual narrative. As I’ve said before, I’m not a big fan of these unless there is a reason for them, and in this case there certainly is. The way the stories of the two heroines intertwine - coming together, moving apart and ultimately colliding, is a smart piece of plotting and in itself a mirror (see what I did there) of the novel’s own themes.
Nicely done, and a pacey, involving read. Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette for the ARC.
More review on my blog www.kateling.co.uk/blog
From the start of this book, told in dual narrative from the perspectives of the Chosen Ones of two rival cities, we are coming at this unusual future dystopia from two distinct mirror-image angles. After some kind of schism in the philosophies that brought them to this post-apocalyptic point, the two societies have been heading in different directions. The vaguely steampunk city above has its ideas about where society should be heading, while that below is more focused on living in tune with nature.
Playing with the Chosen One tropes, we are presented with the super strength of Aula as set against the mute, unharnessed powers of Joomia. They have very little time remaining until the final test that will seemingly decide the fates of their respective worlds.
These worlds are distinct, unusual, fresh and well drawn. I felt I was entering a fictional future that was not as well trodden as some of them have become. Side characters were well employed and had good flesh on their bones; those designed to be likeable were just that, while dastardly villains didn’t disappoint. I don’t know if it’s just my interpretation, but I was a big fan of the androgynous, multi-racial qualities of most of the young cast. It’s a pretty nifty way of allowing all comers to the book to project themselves into and onto your story without turning into one of those super politically correct authors tripping over themselves to incorporate a rainbow into their narrative at its own expense. I don’t mean to come over cynical there (though I probably do) because I felt this aspect worked well, added to the atmosphere, and was entirely appropriate in the context.
What’s most clever and impressive about this debut however is the symmetry of the dual narrative. As I’ve said before, I’m not a big fan of these unless there is a reason for them, and in this case there certainly is. The way the stories of the two heroines intertwine - coming together, moving apart and ultimately colliding, is a smart piece of plotting and in itself a mirror (see what I did there) of the novel’s own themes.
Nicely done, and a pacey, involving read. Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette for the ARC.
More review on my blog www.kateling.co.uk/blog
April 30, 2018
Tušila som, že sa mi táto kniha nebude páčiť už v momente, keď som si prečítala jej anotku. Bohužiaľ som sa nemýlila. Táto kniha mala potenciál (ale ten má aj telefónny zoznam a predsa som ho nikdy nečítala celý), ale to je tak všetko. Mala som problém začítať sa, strácala som sa, liezol mi na nervy násilne slangový jazyk, postavy si ma nedokázali získať a odohrávalo sa tu niečo kvázi magické.
Tento príbeh je taký silne priemerný, že priemerné knihy urážam už len tým, že ich dávam do rovnakej kategórie ako túto knihu, na ktorej je, v konečnom dôsledku, pekná len obálka.
Tento príbeh je taký silne priemerný, že priemerné knihy urážam už len tým, že ich dávam do rovnakej kategórie ako túto knihu, na ktorej je, v konečnom dôsledku, pekná len obálka.
March 16, 2025
I really enjoyed this book and it was an easy read. I liked all the characters and the world it is set in is very interesting and unique. The ending was very cool and not what I expected and I am very excited to read the second book in the series!!
February 3, 2017
I haven't read a book that I've felt I could obsess over in a while. This book is special. I luffs it. Full review soon.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews