I think I need to accept the author isn't for me as I had the same issues with this novel that I did with "Terra Nullius"
- Writing style that just doeI think I need to accept the author isn't for me as I had the same issues with this novel that I did with "Terra Nullius"
- Writing style that just doesn't engage my brain. Cannot explain it, but the writing style just does nothing for me, and I find it hard to focus when reading it. And also overuse of cliches when describing thoughts/feelings.
- Lack of character development / very one dimensional characters which leads to me just simply not... caring
- Heavy reliance on a plot twist as a writing device, but lack of originality in dystopian themes. Making it predicable and kind of underwhelming
- More just related to this one but I found a few scenes kinda cringe. The melbourne praise + Halal snack pack moment really
A shame because I want to love this author, hence giving her a second try, but it just didn't work for me ...more
“If the universe were static, I could stand anywhere in this world and I swear my line of sight would end on you. I swear I'd find you in the dark.”
Crier's War was definitely one of my favourite books of 2019, and I enjoyed it just as much when I reread it. It took me way too long to get to this sequel (life happens etc) but when I finally did get to it, I enjoyed it immensely.
Iron Heart maintains exactly what was great about Crier's War; characters who have interesting character development as individuals and as a couple, slow-burn romance full of yearning and tenderness and fun political fantasy elements + worldbuilding. Plot and world-wise, it's not overly complex - but it's fun, and it has a little historical mystery at it's core which is one of my favourite fantasy tropes.
I found this to be pretty action packed with good pacing for the first two thirds. I really liked the use of dual POV to build suspense and create intrigue. Dual POV was utilised skillfully to create drama and mystery, ending each POV with a cliffhanger that forced you to keep going. I think both POVs were interesting, though I tended to prefer Crier's just a tad.
The use of a dual POV also allowed for an excellent build-up toward the climactic reunion scene. The core of this series really is the relationship between Crier and Ayla, and this climax understood that.
UNFORTUNATELY, this is where we run into my issues. I thought the third act was a mess. It was anti-climactic and poorly paced, feeling like too little time was left to manage too much, which led to unsatisfying reveals and conclusions to plot threads. Major discoveries were made in ways that seemed to be extremely easy and cheap, which made some of the build-up seem pointless and disappointing. The conclusion seemed way too simple and too easy, and considering this is a 400 page book I think it left too little too late. It should have been longer, or certain discovering should have been made earlier.
That said, overall I did still really enjoy my time with this book, and this series. Crier and Ayla's story was concluded well, and I thought their romance was so well done. It's definitely one of my favourite slowburn f/f stories to date. I would love to see Varela write more in this world, I think it has potential and I would definitely read something with more deep, complex worldbuilding because I would find that so intriguing....more
Explores the intersection between love, desire, art, power and violence. Absolutely enjoyed this so much, am really surprised by some of the reviews, Explores the intersection between love, desire, art, power and violence. Absolutely enjoyed this so much, am really surprised by some of the reviews, and think some kind of missed the point? It isn't a straight retelling of Dorian Gray, but it attempts to explore similar themes, especially about aestheticism and the pursuit of beauty at the expense of their morality. Also how desire and eroticism can be intrinsic to art, but can dangerously lead to obsession.
Honestly, just felt this book had so many fresh themes to explore I don't see all the time in YA, and I really liked the portrayal of the relationship between the two main girls. It was nice to have a lesbian relationship portrayed erotically, not in the sense of deriving pleasure from in like when you read a romance book, but in the sense of acknowledging teenage lesbians have sexual thoughts about women? And it's normal and exciting in the way it is in heterosexual first romance books. I feel so many YA books shy away from this thought and in general, it's a kind of taboo
The plot is kind of bonkers, especially toward the end (but so is Dorian Gray), I do think the last portion was a little rushed and maybe this could have been a duology, but overall I really liked this a lot and I don't understand a lot of the reviews on here, lmao...more
Beautifully written, emotionally rich and dripping with emotion, CLAP WHEN YOU LAND is a unique and evocative contemporary YA novel that deals deftly Beautifully written, emotionally rich and dripping with emotion, CLAP WHEN YOU LAND is a unique and evocative contemporary YA novel that deals deftly with themes of grief, loss, change, and the difficulties of family. Written in verse, Acevedo's novel explores the flaws that make a person and finding solace and peace within the boundaries of tragedy. I loved the space and depth Acevedo gave the two main characters to explore their emotions, and the complex exploration of how a person with many flaws can still mean a lot in someone's life.
I do wish the start of this book had not been so slow, however. The main interest is the meeting of the two girls, which happens much later in the book then I felt needed. I also would have liked more time to explore the end of the series and a more distinct difference between the voices of the two main characters.
Elizabeth Acevedo is an author whose really starting to make her mark on the YA genre, and I love to see it. Clap When You Land is stamped with her emotional style and evocative writing and is definitely a highlight for me amongst 2020 YA releases...more
and they were CELLMATES (oh my god they were cellmates)
“It’s a midnight lie... a kind of lie told for someone else’s sake, a lie that sits between
and they were CELLMATES (oh my god they were cellmates)
“It’s a midnight lie... a kind of lie told for someone else’s sake, a lie that sits between goodness and wrong, just as midnight is the moment between night and morning.”
So a lot of people hyped this one up for me. I don't know if I didn't like it more because audiobook/reading slump/wasn't my thing idk but I didn't love it as much as I hoped? that said I did still like it. I LOVED Sid, and I loved Sid and Nirrim's relationship. Thematically, the exploration of compulsory heterosexuality was excellently done, in a way I've never seen before in young adult fiction. But I found the plot meandering, with not enough clear motivation or goal for the characters. The worldbuilding felt overly explained, given it lacked originality. I also didn't vibe with Marie Rutkoski's first book, The Winners Curse, so maybe it's just me and not Marie.
Overall though, still enjoyable especially for the lesbian relationship. "I can't be good to you, then be bad" took me TF OUTTT. Will probably continue the series, since I feel most the drama and plot it yet to come and this was just a large, large set up...more
“You asked me to tell truths. I have. What do I want? Understanding. Exchange. Victory. A game—hiding and discovery. You’re a swift opponent, Blue.
“You asked me to tell truths. I have. What do I want? Understanding. Exchange. Victory. A game—hiding and discovery. You’re a swift opponent, Blue. You play long odds. You run the table. If we’re to be at war, we might as well entertain one another.”
I have heard so much about this book. Sadly it wasn't exactly for me though I did still like it, and would recommend it!
This follows two women on opposite sides of a war who start writing letters to eachother as taunts, but then through their letter writing, fall in love. I loved the romance aspect of this and the relationship between Red and Blue. Some of the letters are like Peak Tenderness (tm) and I loved them. Emily Woo Zeller also narrates half the audiobook and I'm literally in love with her voice so that helped.
The prose is also so beautiful. It's poetic and lovely and definitely filled with emotional prose that helped me to get super invested in the characters.
It was just the worldbuilding and sci-fi elements I didn't really get. I was confused while reading most of this book. If you like sci-fi you might do better with it, but this kind of sci-fi isn't my favourite.
But this was definitely enjoyabl. It was tender and had a beautiful f/f romance between two adult women, so I love it for that....more
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