You are always so well spoken and articulate about your thoughts, love your reviews :) Definitely noticed the world building, or lack of it, but as I continued to read the sequels I noticed something. It seems like sometimes authors who already know exactly how their series will pan out (I think she read that right off the bat she knew she wanted a 4 book series) have little or very small gradual world building over the course of the books, because the author is purposely not giving too much information to save big reveals and plot twists and what not for the future. And I think again this is a preference as to whether or not that is a good thing.
@iLivieforbooks -- ever since Cam featured you in his "first video" vid, I've been seeing you all over the place. Seems we have a similar taste in BookTubers :^)
That’s a really good point. It’s funny, I saw some people complaining that nothing got resolved in the first book, and I kinda thought...well yeah! There’s more! 😆 But gradual world building is something I definitely enjoy. I think I personally might’ve liked a bit more in this first book, but that’s just me! The story and the characters and pacing were so present that it still kept my attention 😄 Also, thank you for the nice words 💕
I read this book in two days because it was so good that I couldn’t put it down. I also had never even heard of it, so I didn’t have any previous knowledge or opinions going into it.
This book was amazing overall but there were some things that bothered me. In the beginning it’s slow paced. Also Elias and Laia have way too little scenes together.
Elle I want thank you so much for helping me get back into reading, before I ever saw your channel I was not a big fan of reading, I really struggled with it, but yesterday for the first time in a very long time I read for over 4 hours two different Brandon Sanderson books the way of kings and The Rithmatist. I have you to thank for that. You are the very first book tuber I ever saw and seeing all the books you have read and also with your first book coming soon I am so excited for that. Thanks again Elle, you are Awesome
Gahh, that’s so nice! Thank you for that! This is going to sound super cheesy, but with as comfortable as people are putting others down on the internet and on social media, I think it’s really admirable when people unashamedly say kind things. It’s just so much rarer, so thank you for that :) I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying reading! Way of Kings is so fantastic :D
I really loved the book and I think it is because of loving the 2 main characters so much. And I also love a lot of action in my books. I hate when it takes so long for the action to take place. I know sometimes the authors take a little time before the action really gets started, so they can set up the plot. But with being such a mood reader if it takes to long I get really bored and start to look for another book to read. My favorite character is definitely Elias, he just makes my heart break for him, because how much he wants to be free from the world his in. It breaks my heart that he just can't leave that world and go where he wants to go, and just find someone to love him. Or to even have some sense of happiness. I love Laia a lot also because of everything that she has gone through and how she feels like she isn't good enough, because I know sometimes I feel like that. So I can see myself in her a lot, and I just want her to find love and happiness as well. I love your take on both of the characters and the world in general.
Thanks! And I loved seeing your thoughts on the characters :) I think you really articulated well the fact that the characters and their stories and personalities really are such a driving factor of the story. I felt a lot for Elias too. Heck, I wouldn’t have stuck around! I would’ve disregarded what Cain said and tried to make it on my own! But he felt so helpless so much of the time (and Laia too) and sometimes that’s the reality for people. I’m excited to see how the story plays out in the sequels, cuz it really leaves you hangin in the end :O
@@ebnovels I wish I could explain better what I feel about a book, when I do a review on my channel. I think it's because I am not use to being on the camera yet, and I start to get weird out by it. Thanks so much for the kind words, it makes me feel like I am getting better on doing videos, as well as commenting on other youtubers channels.
loved the book, but i felt like the magic was added in last minute. i love fiction, so i feel like this could have been left as that. :) But i loved the writting
I liked the writing too :) And the magical elements were so subtle that I agree it could’ve worked without them. Idk that I thought they were done poorly, but more that they played a small part in book one. Maybe there’ll be more in the next ones 😊
Hey Elliot, I've always enjoyed your reviews; I like your openmindedness when discussing a book. I read this book and enjoyed it, I'll probably finish out the series because I have to know how this story ends. I'm way old to be reading young adult, but if I enjoy a story I don't really care about the audience it is "geared" for. Anyway, I appreciate all the work you put into your channel and hope to hear from you again soon.
I felt the world building was very subtle, I wanted to know more, but I felt like I knew enough for where I was in the book. I definitely like books that are written from a first person point of view (Assassin’s Apprentice, Name if the Wind, Talion Revenant are some of my favorites), so I liked that this book did that. I really like character focused books and seen characters develop over time (Dresden Files does this amazingly). Overall I really like this book and I just bought the second in the series.
I bought the second as well! And idk that I have a preference when it comes to POV, but I’m glad you liked this one being in first person 😊 I agree that I like seeing characters developing over time. I’m hoping the other books in the series have even more of that!
I never watch reviews unless they are yours. I am starting to narrow down my watchlist. You are always a for sure! I enjoy your recommendations, and trust your advice. You have me hooked on Witcher!! 👍
I never heard of this book before & honestly I tend never go with the crud with comes to overhyping a book. I kind like to discover them on my own. As you seen from my previous book review comments on your cool channel; I love fast paced action based stories with intriguing characters I can get emotionally invested into. So this lady is this book is essentially growing stronger as human & I think the author probably intended for this to be a character building adventure that holds our attention than a ton of world building. From what you described, I kinda like that it doesn't take forever to get to this point of the story. If it's not much money wise, I'll try it at some point. A great way to start my Saturday with video by you. Be blessed Elliot ☕🌠
I think you’d like it then! I definitely agree that the main female character starts off more timid with-likely-room to grow into someone braver. Which I like, personally, because I love seeing character growth in books :)
Elle, have you already moved into your new home? I hope your father is doing better since his accident. if you get the time I would love to see a video tour of you new home, unless you did one already. Have you read any of the King Killer chronicles if so was it good, I have a friend tell me about it and she likes them, just wanted your thoughts. You are Awesome Elle.
If bloody fight scenes are okay then I say Mistborn and most what Sanderson writes is clean, Also the Paladin trilogy which has a couple of swear words, it was slow but good.
I honestly find that most fantasy is pretty clean (with the exception of violence). Maas is probably one of the most explicit in YA, but other than her I’d say a lot of YA fantasy is ok when it comes to that :) I’d also second the Sanderson suggestion 😊
Gigi 2018 The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. My mom and I are both rereading it and she was saying how much she appreciated the lack of sex scenes etc.
That was a very well-balanced, well-reasoned review. I wish I could do that without being spoilery! Anyway, I didn’t mind the lack of world-building and meandering plot much since it’s only the first book. That said, I feel like being so character-driven (+first person present tense) leads to the risk of driving away even readers who typically enjoy that if the characters do not speak to them. Like, I can see what the author is doing with Laia, but I can’t relate to her at all. I’m curious about what you’d think of book 2 because that problem was even worse for me there.
Interesting. I’ve started book two but I’m not that far into it. I think you’re exactly right that the book will be difficult for some people if they don’t connect with the characters. All the eggs are in one basket, as my dad likes to say 😆
Does this book have a lot of childish themes? I'm not normally put off by a book's genre and have no problem reading what some might consider YA, but I went to the book store and looked everywhere I could think of for this book, and eventually asked a staff member about it. She pointed to the children's section. I hesitantly went in to take a look, opened up the book, and it literally reminded me of a Goosebumps book with how the lines are spaced out. Can anyone weigh in on the maturity of the book? I'm not expecting grimdark or anything, but when I have to pull a book off a shelf next to a kiddie table, it warrants an extra bit of research.
