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Arcana Zero: Rose of Pandora
You know, a lot of people are claiming to have spoken to gods (most of them institutionalized), but has anyone ever claimed that a Goddess head-butted them? Yeah, hi, I'm Alex. If you can't tell, my life is weird. Actually, it isn't just mine. There's this string of seemingly unrelated murders that's got people scratching their heads, some kind of illegal black magic tournament, and then there's Helen, my beautiful classmate, who's being targeted by some wizard-assassins.All in all a lot to deal with for someone who's just found out about magic. Wish me luck. Arcana Zero is an Urban Fantasy novel set in the heart of Transylvania and featuring no vampires whatsoever. Sorcerers, deities, and monsters all converge on the world. In the middle of it all, she stands, beautiful, entangled in the chains of Destiny, and wreathed in lilac flames.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 26, 2017
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13 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 27, 2017
A perfect 5/7--best book I've ever written.
July 25, 2017
I read this book as part of my SPFBO self-imposed challenge. I plan to read at least three books from each group/blog, thirty in total. Some were chosen deliberately, some randomly. Arcane Zero was chosen randomly.
Was it a lucky shot?
Not really. I didn’t enjoy the book. The story follows few bad days from the life of Alexander Lorell – Voice of Chance. He’s the Voice of Taire – Aspect of goddess of Chance. Magic doesn’t work on him. He has a trauma and solving this trauma plays crucial (buy cheap IMO) role in the plot. He agrees to help his crush – Helen who is followed by Sorcerers. She’s kidnapped, he tries to save her. In the process bigger issues are discovered, a lot of people are killed or crippled. He makes friends, they joke, drink whisky, fight with swords and guns, become betrayed but then betrayers want to help and so on.
The story is simplistic and linear, it reads like a B youth adult horror movie. I couldn’t relate to any of the characters. I hope that at 35 I’m not yet old and grumpy but I find all the bickering, teens biting their lips, and passionate and unhappy love for someone you barely know irritating. There’s some slang used (jackass, dimwit etc) and most dialogues are infused with forced sarcastic jokes.
At times we are told how desperate things become but it just doesn’t click with me. The thing is the author tried to paint a tragedy through the point of view of wisecracking idiot. I guess he’s supposed to be sweet but it doesn’t work for me. We’re told how much everyone in the book suffered but it lacks credibility given the tone of the book.
The writing isn’t bad. The book is easy to follow and to read. There’s a lot of violence and a lot of more or less cheerful bickering in the midst of death and possible end of the world. The pacing is fast. There’s romance, a lot of emotions and twists that didn’t manage to surprise me.
While I didn’t enjoy the book and wouldn’t finish it, if it wasn’t part of my reading challenge, I’m pretty sure younger audience will enjoy the book. I think it has it all when you think about successful YA fantasy. I know that this review is harsh but bear in mind I’m writing about my reading expectations and they can be exactly opposite of yours.
Actual rating: 2.5
Was it a lucky shot?
Not really. I didn’t enjoy the book. The story follows few bad days from the life of Alexander Lorell – Voice of Chance. He’s the Voice of Taire – Aspect of goddess of Chance. Magic doesn’t work on him. He has a trauma and solving this trauma plays crucial (buy cheap IMO) role in the plot. He agrees to help his crush – Helen who is followed by Sorcerers. She’s kidnapped, he tries to save her. In the process bigger issues are discovered, a lot of people are killed or crippled. He makes friends, they joke, drink whisky, fight with swords and guns, become betrayed but then betrayers want to help and so on.
The story is simplistic and linear, it reads like a B youth adult horror movie. I couldn’t relate to any of the characters. I hope that at 35 I’m not yet old and grumpy but I find all the bickering, teens biting their lips, and passionate and unhappy love for someone you barely know irritating. There’s some slang used (jackass, dimwit etc) and most dialogues are infused with forced sarcastic jokes.
At times we are told how desperate things become but it just doesn’t click with me. The thing is the author tried to paint a tragedy through the point of view of wisecracking idiot. I guess he’s supposed to be sweet but it doesn’t work for me. We’re told how much everyone in the book suffered but it lacks credibility given the tone of the book.
The writing isn’t bad. The book is easy to follow and to read. There’s a lot of violence and a lot of more or less cheerful bickering in the midst of death and possible end of the world. The pacing is fast. There’s romance, a lot of emotions and twists that didn’t manage to surprise me.
While I didn’t enjoy the book and wouldn’t finish it, if it wasn’t part of my reading challenge, I’m pretty sure younger audience will enjoy the book. I think it has it all when you think about successful YA fantasy. I know that this review is harsh but bear in mind I’m writing about my reading expectations and they can be exactly opposite of yours.
Actual rating: 2.5
February 27, 2021
This was my first dive into urban fantasy, and I wasn't disappointed. The novelty of the magic system intrigued me (you know it's good when you run to find out which house you yourself belong to), the action flew along smoothly, not wasting any time on heavy description or lazy scenes and the darkish sense of humor accurately depicted the real-life setting it's based on. The protagonist did put me off in the beginning but I was promised he'll redeem himself over the course of the book, and that he did. And the female cast? Fleshed-out, and indisposable to the plot - just the way they should be. The thrilleresque-pace and short timespan the action happens over didn't allow me to deeply get to know each character and this (as well as the cliffhanger ending) left me wishing for a sequel. I could empathize with the antagonist while rooting for the MC at the same time, and it's this sort of conflict that makes for an emotionally-charged story. So if you're in for an original, quick read by an underrated author - look no further.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews