Anne > Recent Status Updates

Reaaally struggling to get into this one

Ch 29

Libby book checked out from library. My loan expired so haven’t finished and am back on wait list

I’m hooked and the twists keep coming and I need to know what happens but I can’t quite make all the pieces fit yet, and I love it. Hoping the rest plays out well

I still find Diem annoying, and I figured out why: the narrative focuses on her being the daughter of a general (or some other level of leadership in an army) and how she thinks strategically about fights/is prepared to take on any challenger. And yet, repeatedly throughout the series, her inner monologue contradicts this core character trait. She doesn’t anticipate obvious consequences or outcomes.

That’s it. Taran is my favorite character. We needed some levity and humor. Things are starting to pick up. Diem’s choices still feel lazily hapless to create side plot drama, but I’m hoping we’re ramping up to something better soon.

I wish the pacing was faster. It moves pretty slow and Diem makes some annoyingly stupid choices just to further the plot.

“The woman deserves better,” Frank says. …”This might be her chance to believe it.”

WOW.

“Books won’t solve my problems, Harriet.”
“No, but they give your problems perspective. They allow your problems to breathe.”

Theo is the highlight of the book. The battle scenes lack gravity. There’s too much over narration. Also losing plot lines again. So much focus on the premonitions earlier but there are parts still unfulfilled and it doesn’t feel like they’re going to get connected back to the story.

Loses its way from about60-80%of the book with unnecessary side plots. Character development needs work. Not as invested in the Draco hermione relationship as in manacled

Also, why don’t they just use the port keys instead of apparating? Wasn’t that the point of giving them to one of the elves? Because Astoria can’t apparate

The characters need work. They’re very wishy washy. Malloy is so protective and yet doesn’t put any wards or spells on the manor in case they need to flee? They don’t just have things packed? I thought the safe house was fully stocked and get the elves are shoving things into bags and Astoria thinks she needs to grab whiskey.

Forgets some of the key plot points, like Draco dying would cause hermiones death. Some of the plot feels a little lazy at times

Odd usages of the word bastard

So! Many! Exclamation! Points!

I’m not sold on this version of Draco having friends. It’s not in alignment with his core character. Also hate that his dragon is named narcisss

Are his eyes grey or blue? It seems to change all the time.

So far the pacing at the start is better but I’m not sure where it’s going. Also suspect Astoria is being dosed with something to keep her in good spirits and fawning over the death eaters

The Ginny recovery and hermione’s naievty is contrived and annoying.

Also the mione nickname is terrible

Last, the flashbacks are the highlight of the book but there are still portions that could be drastically reduced to make it flow better and improve pacing

So far, everything before the flashbacks could be 50% shorter and it would flow better. It kind of drags. Hermione cries all the time which is annoying. Writing needs work - lots of repetition within chapters

Beginning feels like a rip off of The Handmaids Tale

Some thoughts:
1. I hate that she doesn’t use the correct Gaelic pronunciations for the Gaelic terms she’s using. The audiobook is incredibly annoying for that reason. You can find the accurate ways to say these names on social. If we’re going to use names from an actual language, let’s pronounce them as they’re meant to be, or make up your own names.
2. It feels like Xaden is a ripoff Rhys from ACOTAR.

Ithan’s constant side quests and insistence on their importance over the larger mechanisms at play is annoying