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Verntropa - The Balance
When we dream, where do we go?
Olivia Merton has only ever known Earth after the shift. For fifteen years there has been no sunshine, little rain…and resources are scarce.
A recurring dream provides an escape from her troubled monochrome life and leads her to a vividly coloured landscape, populated by four distinctive societies.
This world is Verntropa.
Her attempts to describe her dream-memories are met with distrust and she fears for her grasp on reality - until she discovers that Earth is in danger and a mission on Verntropa awaits her if she is to fulfil her destiny.
Does Olivia have the prophesied power needed to strengthen the balance between her two worlds, or will it, and she, be damaged beyond repair?
As Olivia’s fate unfolds, she is thrown into a fast-paced adventure where she discovers the meaning of trust and true friendship. One thing is certain – her life will never be the same again.
Olivia Merton has only ever known Earth after the shift. For fifteen years there has been no sunshine, little rain…and resources are scarce.
A recurring dream provides an escape from her troubled monochrome life and leads her to a vividly coloured landscape, populated by four distinctive societies.
This world is Verntropa.
Her attempts to describe her dream-memories are met with distrust and she fears for her grasp on reality - until she discovers that Earth is in danger and a mission on Verntropa awaits her if she is to fulfil her destiny.
Does Olivia have the prophesied power needed to strengthen the balance between her two worlds, or will it, and she, be damaged beyond repair?
As Olivia’s fate unfolds, she is thrown into a fast-paced adventure where she discovers the meaning of trust and true friendship. One thing is certain – her life will never be the same again.
317 pages, ebook
First published August 31, 2021
5 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
E.L. Clarke
1 book4 followersMeet Emma Louise Clarke, an Australian mum with a lifelong passion for storytelling. From the earliest age, her wild imagination has been a constant companion, and she's nurtured a burning desire to craft captivating tales that transport readers to new worlds and entertain hearts around the globe.
With each word she writes, Emma invites you on a journey through the extraordinary landscapes of her imagination, where the ordinary transforms into the extraordinary, and the everyday becomes an adventure.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 24, 2021
The description and thought that have gone into creating Verntropa have made it a real place in my brain. The colour and way they are described have made it so familiar to me that I just wish I could go there. Olivia is an amazing character who lives on earth and has a rather dysfunctional family where her dad stands up for her sometimes.
The way that earth is described is really well done and actually made it feel less familiar than Verntropa due to it being drab and dry. Which just blew my mind.
If you’re after an adventure where you’re fully absorbed into a fantasy world this is for you.
Thank you to the author, publisher and Love Books Tours for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
The way that earth is described is really well done and actually made it feel less familiar than Verntropa due to it being drab and dry. Which just blew my mind.
If you’re after an adventure where you’re fully absorbed into a fantasy world this is for you.
Thank you to the author, publisher and Love Books Tours for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
September 20, 2021
It did take a little while for my head/mind to work out what was happening on keep on track with it but once I'd managed that , it was very easy to flow through the book , I find that Sci-fi , dystopia fantasy book do take a little longer for my brain to process it all . The way that the author has done the book put my head at peace and I was able to follow the storyline easily. The world that she had created really is a thing of beauty , as you are reading it you paint the picture in your mind.
The characters featured in the book are very easy to like , making it that bit harder to put down! I would definitely recommend this book to more young adult aged readers , I think they will love it.
The characters featured in the book are very easy to like , making it that bit harder to put down! I would definitely recommend this book to more young adult aged readers , I think they will love it.
September 16, 2021
Verntropa by EL Clarke is a book that is ideal for those who love gentle fantasy/sci-fi settings. It explores where we go in our dreams and how the two places are linked. The cover is eye-catching and colourful, which is great for the target audience which is young adults. It features the title character Olivia, asleep, heading to the hexagonal city of Verntropa. A simple cover, but it gives the reader all the information needed to understand the setting and the base of the plot.
The pacing of this story was good and about a third of the way in, the story builds and interest is peaked and held on until the end. The main plot of the book simply jumps back and forth between Verntropa and Earth. This is achieved by having each chapter set in a different world. Which also aided to form a clear distinction between, “awake” and “asleep”, making it an easy read.
The actual setting of Verntropa is one described as full of life, colour and activity. This is why I was left a little disappointed that it wasn’t explored in more depth, especially with such a large page count. It wasn’t just the setting that suffers from this, but also the characters, a few of the main cast lacked description, leaving a lot up to the imagination (not always a bad thing). I just hope that the follow-up titles will delve more into the different societies and lifeforms of this new setting.
Overall there was also a lot to like about the title, which was full of political intrigue, spying and a big mystery that was fifteen years in the making. The area in which it fell short, was the actual world-building. This series has a lot of potential and has made me want to see what will happen next. I really would love to see themed books for each of the societies and some more time spent fleshing out the new world. But I am excited to see and read what E L Clarke writes next.
The pacing of this story was good and about a third of the way in, the story builds and interest is peaked and held on until the end. The main plot of the book simply jumps back and forth between Verntropa and Earth. This is achieved by having each chapter set in a different world. Which also aided to form a clear distinction between, “awake” and “asleep”, making it an easy read.
The actual setting of Verntropa is one described as full of life, colour and activity. This is why I was left a little disappointed that it wasn’t explored in more depth, especially with such a large page count. It wasn’t just the setting that suffers from this, but also the characters, a few of the main cast lacked description, leaving a lot up to the imagination (not always a bad thing). I just hope that the follow-up titles will delve more into the different societies and lifeforms of this new setting.
Overall there was also a lot to like about the title, which was full of political intrigue, spying and a big mystery that was fifteen years in the making. The area in which it fell short, was the actual world-building. This series has a lot of potential and has made me want to see what will happen next. I really would love to see themed books for each of the societies and some more time spent fleshing out the new world. But I am excited to see and read what E L Clarke writes next.
September 21, 2021
Wow! This book was full of surprises and shocking element. It went in slow but what happened going ahead covered it all and more so. I am glad to have applied to read this book. This made me turning the pages and sometimes E. L. Clarke hits with stuff making me pause and grasp what is happening.
The author has created a beautiful story, a beautiful world here. Verntropa is a world far away from earth, a world you can visit in your dreams. I absolutely loved how well the story flowed, how it was linked to Earth, giving us beautiful descriptions with detailing.
Olivia takes us with her through the dreams she gets of Verntropa. Is there something more, is there a danger is for her to find and fight through. This book was intriguing with mystery, twists and turns. The characters, plot, world building was so well written and nicely done. Rykie touched my heart the most. As a supporting character he played his part beautifully. It did hurt me the way he was treated.
This is perfect for fans of Sci-Fi mixed with Fantasy. I'm looking forward to reading more by the author.
Thank Love Book Tours and the author for giving me a chance to read this.
The author has created a beautiful story, a beautiful world here. Verntropa is a world far away from earth, a world you can visit in your dreams. I absolutely loved how well the story flowed, how it was linked to Earth, giving us beautiful descriptions with detailing.
Olivia takes us with her through the dreams she gets of Verntropa. Is there something more, is there a danger is for her to find and fight through. This book was intriguing with mystery, twists and turns. The characters, plot, world building was so well written and nicely done. Rykie touched my heart the most. As a supporting character he played his part beautifully. It did hurt me the way he was treated.
This is perfect for fans of Sci-Fi mixed with Fantasy. I'm looking forward to reading more by the author.
Thank Love Book Tours and the author for giving me a chance to read this.
September 26, 2021
Verntropa is a very YA dystopian adventure suitable for young ages. It took me a few chapters to get into it since I was reading books on the NA side before this one, but it turned out to be a fast paced light read. I also liked that it’s a double POV. The first is your typical YA main character called Olivia, but I found the second very interesting. A creature from a dream world, called Swatch. I also found it refreshing to read about an interspecies friendship for once, instead of a romance.
I definitely recommend it if you’re looking for something light, and I love the cover which is always a plus.
I definitely recommend it if you’re looking for something light, and I love the cover which is always a plus.
September 14, 2021
I’m absolutely loving the world building here! The world of Verntropa itself is so vibrant, clear, and the rules of the land are easy to follow. It’s a total parallel to how Earth is depicted here. This is set in a time when Earth is suffering the irreversible effects of climate change - the sky is always grey, there is no colour in the sky, grass, oceans - everything is dull and have been wiped away. No wonder then why our Protagonist is obsessed with Verntropa!
So far, I’m finding the chapters inside Verntropa a bit confusing, and things are moving super fast, but am loving Olivia’s chapters where we see her in her home environment.
What caught my attention of this book is obviously the cover - I mean look at it! 😍😍 I think I’m going to be rating Verntropa a total of 3.5 stars!
So far, I’m finding the chapters inside Verntropa a bit confusing, and things are moving super fast, but am loving Olivia’s chapters where we see her in her home environment.
What caught my attention of this book is obviously the cover - I mean look at it! 😍😍 I think I’m going to be rating Verntropa a total of 3.5 stars!
August 31, 2021
I really enjoyed this book despite my first impression! It took a little while to get into the main story which I didn’t mind too much in the end. Once the ball was rolling boy did things progress fast!
Really loved the world building of Verntropa & the almost post-apocalyptic style of Earth. The characters in both worlds were really interesting & although Olivia sometimes comes across as quite juvenile it’s to be expected for a 15 year old taking on the fate of two worlds!
I’m definitely looking forward to next adventure from E.L. Clarke!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Really loved the world building of Verntropa & the almost post-apocalyptic style of Earth. The characters in both worlds were really interesting & although Olivia sometimes comes across as quite juvenile it’s to be expected for a 15 year old taking on the fate of two worlds!
I’m definitely looking forward to next adventure from E.L. Clarke!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 7, 2021
The drought-ravaged Earth that Olivia calls home is dull and devoid of color, but when she dreams, she enters a world bursting with beauty. She soon discovers that her dream world is very real, and that she is the key to saving both Earth and Verntropa.
I loved following young Olivia on her journey through the fantastical world of Verntropa--a setting that sucks you right in. I highly recommend this book for YA readers looking to get lost in a tale of epic proportions.
I loved following young Olivia on her journey through the fantastical world of Verntropa--a setting that sucks you right in. I highly recommend this book for YA readers looking to get lost in a tale of epic proportions.
September 21, 2021
Earth has changed to a dull grey place with no sun or rain Olivia keeps having a reoccurring dream of a place more colourful they she could ever imagine! But is it really just a dream?
I felt this book had great promise but for me it just feel a bit short. I felt it bounced around a lot and I found it hard to follow.
I didn't feel particularly connected to any of the characters Olivia felt a lot younger than 15 and Switch and the others felt more like teenagers than 20somethings. I also was quite annoyed with the fact Olivias mum was abusive,no one cares and she gave a rubbish excuse at the end and it was instantly forgiven!
Unfortunately as much as I wanted to like this book it just wasn't for me
I felt this book had great promise but for me it just feel a bit short. I felt it bounced around a lot and I found it hard to follow.
I didn't feel particularly connected to any of the characters Olivia felt a lot younger than 15 and Switch and the others felt more like teenagers than 20somethings. I also was quite annoyed with the fact Olivias mum was abusive,no one cares and she gave a rubbish excuse at the end and it was instantly forgiven!
Unfortunately as much as I wanted to like this book it just wasn't for me
September 16, 2021
This book is a wonderful mix of sci-fi and fantasy. Set between the dream world of Verntropa, a vibrant, wonderful and colourful world and Earth, which is grey and colourless due to the impacts of climate change.
Now this isn’t my usual go to genre which I think that’s possibly why I took a little bit longer to get in to it. However, once I got to the main part of the story I found it really hard to put down! I was so drawn into the story line and the development of characters. I loved it!
I found aspects of the book itself such as the writing style of E.L Clarke and the shorter chapter lengths contributed to this book being such a beautiful read.
A HUGES thank you to E.L Clarke and Love Book Tours for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I can’t wait to read the next!
[gifted]
Now this isn’t my usual go to genre which I think that’s possibly why I took a little bit longer to get in to it. However, once I got to the main part of the story I found it really hard to put down! I was so drawn into the story line and the development of characters. I loved it!
I found aspects of the book itself such as the writing style of E.L Clarke and the shorter chapter lengths contributed to this book being such a beautiful read.
A HUGES thank you to E.L Clarke and Love Book Tours for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I can’t wait to read the next!
[gifted]
September 20, 2021
Okay, we have all been pulled in by a beautiful cover to be left deflated and flat. Thankfully E.L. Clarke is not an author to let her readers down. With amazing world building and characters that you genuinely like. I think the target audience will struggle to put it down. The different between Earth and Verntropa are stark and obvious. I’ve never thought our Earth has a stark place to live and sometimes struggle to see it as such. Yet Clarke has made me a believer, with her shorter fast paced chapters many readers may fear that they become confused and lose part of the story fluidity. That’s not the case, this is a lovely fantasy book that The younger range of the target will love.
I’m intrigued to see where EL Clarke takes Olivia next in her next adventure. And how the worlds develop as the story grows.
I’m intrigued to see where EL Clarke takes Olivia next in her next adventure. And how the worlds develop as the story grows.
September 20, 2021
3.5/5
Verntropa is a lovely Middle Grade Fantasy/Sci Fi novel. And take a look at the cover, it captured my attention straight away and perfectly introduces the world of Verntropa.
This is a really well written story, I found the world, its creatures and landscape rich and well developed and all the big world building questions were answered. I enjoyed the warmth of the characters and the unique personalities of each race.
The action takes a while to build so for me it's a slow paced book. But once you hit the half way mark things really kick off!
I’m excited to see what’s next for Verntropa and Olivia.
Verntropa is a lovely Middle Grade Fantasy/Sci Fi novel. And take a look at the cover, it captured my attention straight away and perfectly introduces the world of Verntropa.
This is a really well written story, I found the world, its creatures and landscape rich and well developed and all the big world building questions were answered. I enjoyed the warmth of the characters and the unique personalities of each race.
The action takes a while to build so for me it's a slow paced book. But once you hit the half way mark things really kick off!
I’m excited to see what’s next for Verntropa and Olivia.
September 16, 2021
I was given a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
It took me a little bit to get into this book as I felt that the build up to the main part of the story but this may have been me being impatient.
I really loved many of the characters and the development behind them.
The book has themes of fantasy and sci-fi but not too heavy, making it a lovely easy read.
The book is set on Verntropa which is a vibrant colourful world and Earth which is a grey, colourless world from the effects of climate change. I found the chapters easy to follow and not too long which made me want to read more.
Great book and I can’t wait to read the next.
It took me a little bit to get into this book as I felt that the build up to the main part of the story but this may have been me being impatient.
I really loved many of the characters and the development behind them.
The book has themes of fantasy and sci-fi but not too heavy, making it a lovely easy read.
The book is set on Verntropa which is a vibrant colourful world and Earth which is a grey, colourless world from the effects of climate change. I found the chapters easy to follow and not too long which made me want to read more.
Great book and I can’t wait to read the next.
September 20, 2021
This book was great. It did take a while to get into it at the beginning and get my head around the back and forth but once I got the hang of it the story was really engaging and pulled me right in.
The story is very original, I’ve not read many like this before.
The story is very original, I’ve not read many like this before.
September 10, 2021
3 Stars
Sometimes it felt a little rushed which led to some mild confusion on my part. I feel there could of been some character development and at times Olivia felt a lot younger then she was.
Other than that the story was amibitious, unqiue, interesting a enjoyable all the same.
Anyone interested in other worlds, fantasy and dream should give this a go.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Sometimes it felt a little rushed which led to some mild confusion on my part. I feel there could of been some character development and at times Olivia felt a lot younger then she was.
Other than that the story was amibitious, unqiue, interesting a enjoyable all the same.
Anyone interested in other worlds, fantasy and dream should give this a go.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 11, 2022
I originally received this book from Book Sirens. I know I am very late on my review, life happens.
I did enjoy the story. It was interesting. We follow a young woman who is basically caught between two worlds and she is only able to travel to this second world in her dreams. Without spoiling too much, she has a family history in this second world which she is unaware of, but does find out about of course, and also has some questions answered as to why one of her family members is always so aloof towards her. She is also a very important person in both worlds but it isn't quite apparent at first.
Overall this was a fun read. It was an interesting world to be in and I did enjoy it.
I did enjoy the story. It was interesting. We follow a young woman who is basically caught between two worlds and she is only able to travel to this second world in her dreams. Without spoiling too much, she has a family history in this second world which she is unaware of, but does find out about of course, and also has some questions answered as to why one of her family members is always so aloof towards her. She is also a very important person in both worlds but it isn't quite apparent at first.
Overall this was a fun read. It was an interesting world to be in and I did enjoy it.
October 20, 2021
VERNTROPA by E.L. Clarke is a YA Sci-Fi novel in which Earth has become gray and colorless in the last fifteen years. Unbeknownst to humans, Verntropa, another planet full of vibrant life, is responsible for maintaining the balance between the two places, but forces there are trying to tip that balance into Verntropa’s favor, essentially enslaving humans. As foretold by a prophecy, it’s up to Olivia Merton, a teenage girl on Earth, to save her home, but it won’t be easy. Olivia visits Verntropa only in her dreams, and besides learning of its existence and the fact that she’s in danger, everyone around her in her waking hours on Earth has started acting weird also. She’s going to have to figure out who she can trust in both lands, otherwise life as she’s known it will be over.
The premise of this book is really fun and I’d love to see it realized in the form of a film. The visuals of the different creatures and societies that exist in Verntropa, and the orange grass and sky that change color are so cool to imagine. Plus, all of the characters have their own personalities, wants, desires, and needs that make for a lot of unexpected twists and turns. Rykie is perhaps my favorite with his inventions, quick wit, and constant ability to be in the right place at the right time.
What’s missing for me is a stronger reason why Patricia Merton is so horrible. I understand that she blames her daughter for everything, but she’s so cruel that I wanted to at least empathize with her in the end, or at the very least, understand why Jeffrey and Ben let her get away with her behavior. Along the same lines, I still feel a bit unclear on Blancher’s history. I have some big questions surrounding what transpired fifteen years ago and the events that set this story into motion. Perhaps, if this expands into more books, it all will be addressed down the line.
That being said, VERNTROPA offers a fresh take on what a dystopian-like world could be with a unique premise for what’s causing climate change and what kind of life exists beyond us. Fans of the DREAM WALKER series by Kit Alloway won’t be disappointed.
Review originally published on YA Books Central: https://www.yabookscentral.com/yaindi...
The premise of this book is really fun and I’d love to see it realized in the form of a film. The visuals of the different creatures and societies that exist in Verntropa, and the orange grass and sky that change color are so cool to imagine. Plus, all of the characters have their own personalities, wants, desires, and needs that make for a lot of unexpected twists and turns. Rykie is perhaps my favorite with his inventions, quick wit, and constant ability to be in the right place at the right time.
What’s missing for me is a stronger reason why Patricia Merton is so horrible. I understand that she blames her daughter for everything, but she’s so cruel that I wanted to at least empathize with her in the end, or at the very least, understand why Jeffrey and Ben let her get away with her behavior. Along the same lines, I still feel a bit unclear on Blancher’s history. I have some big questions surrounding what transpired fifteen years ago and the events that set this story into motion. Perhaps, if this expands into more books, it all will be addressed down the line.
That being said, VERNTROPA offers a fresh take on what a dystopian-like world could be with a unique premise for what’s causing climate change and what kind of life exists beyond us. Fans of the DREAM WALKER series by Kit Alloway won’t be disappointed.
Review originally published on YA Books Central: https://www.yabookscentral.com/yaindi...
October 19, 2021
I never dream in color. This authors descriptive analogy of their dream world makes me wish I did. Excellent world building, although it was a bit slow to get into this book. I am glad I stuck it out and kept reading. Great story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 1, 2021
i only got to page about 110 before i left it at school overnight then the next day it had dissapeared. but is the best book i have ever read from there. its a 10/10 i would suggest it for grades 3 and up its very detailed and its very long for people to read. it took me a few weeks to get to page 100!! overall its a good book and everyone should read it because its that good.
September 27, 2021
Ollie is a 15 year old girl that lives on Earth where climate change has basically destroyed the planet and everything is brown and grey. But she has these vivid dreams of a very colorful place and no one wants to hear about it.
Juxtapose all of that with the world of Verntropa that's filled with these amazing colorful and furry creatures of all types that host humans in their world during the human sleep state. It's a fantastic story plot and was very enjoyable to read. I had a hard time putting this one down because there was so much to learn about every character, character and location.
If you need some YA Fantasy in your life, I'd Highly recommend picking this one up!
Juxtapose all of that with the world of Verntropa that's filled with these amazing colorful and furry creatures of all types that host humans in their world during the human sleep state. It's a fantastic story plot and was very enjoyable to read. I had a hard time putting this one down because there was so much to learn about every character, character and location.
If you need some YA Fantasy in your life, I'd Highly recommend picking this one up!
September 22, 2021
Firstly, the cover is simply stunning. So vibrant and colourful, I was drawn to the book without having any knowledge of its contents. Is there a competition for best book cover? Perhaps there should be.
It would appear, on this occasion, you certainly can judge a book by its cover. I loved Verntropa! A beautifully written mixture of fantasy and sci-fi, the story is split between two different worlds. Verntropa, the vibrant, colourful, world, and Earth, which is grey and colourless because of the impact of climate change.
The environment and scenery was beautifully described and made it much easier to visualise everything for a richer read. The characters were deep and credible, and I liked Olivia; a strong female lead, experiencing the world of Verntropa in stark contrast to the fading Earth, while wrestling with the ever present self doubt. It’s this lack of confidence that makes her even more relatable. Without Olivia’s strength I think the story wouldn’t be anywhere near as compelling as it is.Overall, I loved this book and happily recommend it to any reader of fantasy books. I gave Verntropa five stars.
It would appear, on this occasion, you certainly can judge a book by its cover. I loved Verntropa! A beautifully written mixture of fantasy and sci-fi, the story is split between two different worlds. Verntropa, the vibrant, colourful, world, and Earth, which is grey and colourless because of the impact of climate change.
The environment and scenery was beautifully described and made it much easier to visualise everything for a richer read. The characters were deep and credible, and I liked Olivia; a strong female lead, experiencing the world of Verntropa in stark contrast to the fading Earth, while wrestling with the ever present self doubt. It’s this lack of confidence that makes her even more relatable. Without Olivia’s strength I think the story wouldn’t be anywhere near as compelling as it is.Overall, I loved this book and happily recommend it to any reader of fantasy books. I gave Verntropa five stars.
October 1, 2022
*Thank you to BookSirens for this ARC for my honest review.*
Realistic rating: 3.5 ⭐
Things I liked about Verntropa - The Balance:
• Beautifully painted settings and characters.
• Pretty unique plot line that kept me moderately invested.
• The cover art is gorgeous and lines up with the book perfectly. 😍
• I enjoyed that this was a somewhat shorter read, and that the author cut straight to the point in most situations.
Things I did not like about Verntropa - The Balance:
• Very childish main character, maybe if I were reading this from a middle schooler's perspective I would think otherwise. But personally, I think it would've been a bit more enjoyable had the main character been slightly more mature. Olivia's tantrums can get a bit annoying.
• Repetitive vocabulary. There are a good bit of words and phrases that are overused in the book that can make you feel like you've read the same thing over and over and it makes the book feel longer than it needs to be. The word panic for example was extremely overused. There were several times when information that was uncovered to the reader, such as big plot points, were repeatedly described and revealed among the characters *again* after the initial telling, which felt unnecessary. One or the other would be great instead.
• Why are the characters always pacing? "So and so paced the room, then this person got up and joined so and so pacing the room." I read a variation of this at least 20 times in the book and it got to be annoying.
• Characters described as getting messier and more "unkempt" every time we interact with them. It seemed unnecessary that characters were described as "more unkempt than the last time" in every chapter, I assume by the end of the book all those characters were completely unrecognizable and disgusting to their peers judging by how many times this phrase was overused.
• There were a handful of typos. Some readers may be able to skip past this, however I believe the book should be proofread by enough people that there should be no typos by the final publishing for any serious book.
Some of my key points may seem a little nit-picky, but they were honest reasons as to why I almost didn't want to finish the book.
All in all, it was a pretty enjoyable read, it just needs some polishing and a little more revising. I could see this author being a very successful fantasy and sci-fi writer, and this is more than a great start! I hope to read more from her in the future and maybe even visit the cast from Verntropa once again on another adventure.
Realistic rating: 3.5 ⭐
Things I liked about Verntropa - The Balance:
• Beautifully painted settings and characters.
• Pretty unique plot line that kept me moderately invested.
• The cover art is gorgeous and lines up with the book perfectly. 😍
• I enjoyed that this was a somewhat shorter read, and that the author cut straight to the point in most situations.
Things I did not like about Verntropa - The Balance:
• Very childish main character, maybe if I were reading this from a middle schooler's perspective I would think otherwise. But personally, I think it would've been a bit more enjoyable had the main character been slightly more mature. Olivia's tantrums can get a bit annoying.
• Repetitive vocabulary. There are a good bit of words and phrases that are overused in the book that can make you feel like you've read the same thing over and over and it makes the book feel longer than it needs to be. The word panic for example was extremely overused. There were several times when information that was uncovered to the reader, such as big plot points, were repeatedly described and revealed among the characters *again* after the initial telling, which felt unnecessary. One or the other would be great instead.
• Why are the characters always pacing? "So and so paced the room, then this person got up and joined so and so pacing the room." I read a variation of this at least 20 times in the book and it got to be annoying.
• Characters described as getting messier and more "unkempt" every time we interact with them. It seemed unnecessary that characters were described as "more unkempt than the last time" in every chapter, I assume by the end of the book all those characters were completely unrecognizable and disgusting to their peers judging by how many times this phrase was overused.
• There were a handful of typos. Some readers may be able to skip past this, however I believe the book should be proofread by enough people that there should be no typos by the final publishing for any serious book.
Some of my key points may seem a little nit-picky, but they were honest reasons as to why I almost didn't want to finish the book.
All in all, it was a pretty enjoyable read, it just needs some polishing and a little more revising. I could see this author being a very successful fantasy and sci-fi writer, and this is more than a great start! I hope to read more from her in the future and maybe even visit the cast from Verntropa once again on another adventure.
September 13, 2021
I really enjoyed this book but I felt like it dragged in places. I loved Olivia and the rest of the characters but I felt like it was a bit predictable towards the end of who the villain was.
I loved all of the imagery in this book as you could really get a sense of what everywhere was like. It kind of reminded me of The Lorax movie but more intriguing.
I cannot wait to see what happens next in this Trilogy!
I loved all of the imagery in this book as you could really get a sense of what everywhere was like. It kind of reminded me of The Lorax movie but more intriguing.
I cannot wait to see what happens next in this Trilogy!
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