Marina > Recent Status Updates

The writing is so mediocre. Author doesn't trust the reader to figure anything out. Soooo much telling and barely any showing. The MMC is an entitled asshole who I really feel no empathy for at all. The dialogue is clunky. The sentence structure is annoying. The pacing is slllllooooowwwww. This book needs serious copy editing. I hear the ending is epic. <-- the only reason I'm still reading.

It is slow and the magic system is not explained much. The writing is passable. Continuing to read cuz I wanna know what all the fuss is about. So far, I am not impressed. I truly don't care what happens to Vis. He is not a likeable character and the author hasn't given me any reason to like him. The echo of dead parents isn't enough for me to sympathize with him. Sp far he seems lile a total douche.

Not as good as the first so far.

I am on hour 5 of straight reading. I can't put this fucker down. Sooooo good!!!

I know it's early but am I the only one who thinks the copy editor is blind? The grammar and sentence structure is so clunky it's distracting.

Laugh out loud funny. Love the banter. Trying very hard not to criticize the writing.

This book might bore some people but there is something that keeps compelling me to turn the pages. It's not the plot - which is barely there - but the characters. I care about what will happen to all of them. Also, the writing is the sort that doesn't call attention to itself.

137 pages left. I am terrified that it will end. People are gonna die. I am not prepared! I do not consent.

I am stalling because I don't want it to end.

I love this!! It had me from the beginning. So emotional!!! Not what I expected but so freakin' good. I think I found my next series. There are 3 trilogies. 9 books. I'm gonna be busy. Only 30% done in this book and soooo hooked.

Time travel fantasy. Fantastic writing. Angsty, funny, interesting. Alternating POV. Written in 2nd person.

It is beautifully written. Same vibes as Anne Rice's Interview with a Vampire mixed with Schwab's previous Work Addie LaRue. It's a slow burn...more vibe than plot. But I'm enjoying it.

Angsty and melodramatic. Typical war-time love trope but still quite engaging.

I am finally up to part 3. I am struggling.

I can't connect with Rin. She is a caricature so that Kuang can make some kind of point about the consequences of war. These characters are thesis delivery systems rather than people I want to care about. Kuang is cryptic for no reason and she does waaay too much telling and not enough showing. I haven't gotten to the war part yet, maybe I'll change my mind.

Is consciousness inside our brains or somewhere else? The plot flies. There's science, history, philosophy...all the usual Dan Brown shenanigans. Loving it so far.

Much better than the first books.

Sooooooo much stage direction!!! The jaws clench, tense, tick. The fingers curl, flex, graze. She picked up the goblet, drank, lowered it, put it down on the table. Fantastic. Like we can't figure that out from, "she drank the wine." Every tiny movement, emotion and breath is cataloged like archeology notes. It's tedious. We need a different editor. Still... On the plus side, the story is good.

I am enjoying the plot but the writing keeps tossing me out of the story with tonal whiplash. Author is trying desperately for pseudo-midieval fairy tale but keeps leaking modern colloquialisms. Also, yes, Ravyn is the Captain of the Destriers and he has gray eyes. Yes, I get it! Stop telling me. Also this, "my smile did not touch my eyes." Ick. That's just lazy writing. Do better, Rachel.

Soooo exciting.

Its battles are bloody, the twists are not as twisty as in Golden Son but the intrigue and politics keep me turning pages. Really cool revelations about Obsidian mythology and the "breeds" that are the colors. It is definitely a fun ride so far. Darrow is no longer the shining hero but the story still slaps (sorry kids, I couldnt think of a less cringe, more "mom appropriate" word).

This is a slog. Written from the POV of 4 different characters...including Darrow. He is no longer the "star". You get to see what's going on outside of Darrow's inner circle. I love it and hate it at the same time. I keep putting it down because it doesnt have that same breakneck momentum of the previous novels. Not as many plot twists and "oh shit" moments as in Golden Son and Morning Star.

This one is a slog. It's not entirely from Darrow's POV and it is sad and slow. Darrow isnt the relatable hero anymore. Both he and the readers are questioning his choices. I am still here though...but it's no longer 'Hail Reaper'.

Audiobook. Troy Duran as Irish mafia boss Decklan. The banter is hilarious. So far...fun.

Not as exciting as Golden Son. The storm is coming...I'm braced and ready. Its still really good.

I got a quarter of the way through and now I am back rereading Red Rising and Golden Son because I forgot all the cool connections, foreshadowing and character development.

I don't know why its taking me so long to finish this. I really like it.