Kindle Customer

Overhyped BookTok

Revisado: 10-13-23

I am so tired of BookTok recommendations being so overhyped. Let me start by saying the book was fine. I would not normally be this inclined to leave a review of a book I thought was average if it were not for the mass rave reviews. I am adding mine for readers with similar taste who, like me, go through reviews to look for its worst criticism to decide whether they will enjoy the story or not. I will also not go into the performance which I thought was fine, too.

I read somewhere that someone called BookTok favourites "trope vehicles" and I completely agree. Most of the books I've disliked that I discovered on TikTok start with a good premise but don't execute. All I need from a book is really good character development and the ONLY books I have liked from BookTok were The Hating Game and Emily Henry's books which were able to build tension through the slow development or reveal of characters. Divine Rivals depends only on plot points to build tension. There is a TikTokker that makes skits about authors holding the characters hostage to make them do what she wants and I think this book falls into that because characters don't make decisions based on who they are (I still don't know who they are), but rather what the plot wants.

The romance plot was cute and I enjoy the idea of the magical letters (besides this and the gods, there is one early mention of magic in another situation, but that is it) and some of them made my heart skip a beat, they are so adorable. My gripe is with the insta-love aspect and lack of romantic tension. I adore "enemies to lovers" when it is done well. I love The Hating Game and Pride and Prejudice which add tension through their banter or make the MLI a bit unlikable at the beginning. I personally think dual POVs can remove tension because we know what the LI is thinking. I think this story could have benefitted from a single POV so that the requitedness of feelings at least has some tension (especially because the letters can give his POV). This "enemies to lovers" SAYS they are enemies but from the start, it is clear they are infatuated (they just don't know it yet). The narrator tells us they are bitter rivals but once again depends on plot (the competition for the same job) to be the only "show" (tension). But neither of them are actually invested in getting the job, so there goes that tension and with it the "enemies to lovers". Except for the characters sometimes mentioning that they are rivals, they spend more time missing each other and feeling things than being rivals. But, you know, enemies to lovers sells.

The next issue is probably tied to the world-building criticism. It is revealed early on that Roman is receiving her letters, so the tension now depends on his reveal. This is also resolved quite quickly once it comes out and is not really used otherwise (except for a moment in the trenches which was one of my favourite parts). We learn early on that his family has certain expectations but that is wiped away easily when the time comes and it is never really understood how or why they have those expectations. She experiences terrible loss but that is only used to get her to move on to the next plot point.

All this lack of tension and character development means that the MC makes certain decisions that make me want to punch her (a family trait, I think). The whole premise of why she stays behind is ruled out almost immediately and she risked everything for nothing, which you would think would be used for character development, but no, that would tarnish how good she is (someone else is blamed). I have nothing left to care about because she is so perfect and does not think she made any mistakes. I don't know why she makes certain decisions ("love for your brother" is not a character trait, it's supposed to be indicative of... what? Her empathy?). Her worst fear is realised in the end, but I am sure we won't see her character actually develop from it other than the narrator telling us it does. What exactly was I supposed to take from the story other than a few butterflies about a cute couple? I enjoy full-on romances that only focus on the relationship, but this story seems to want to be more without the legwork. War and death = sad. Period. So detached.

The war sub-plot is also a bit negligible. It's such a big topic with so many potential themes but it is clear that it is used as a backdrop for events to occur rather than adding to the story. Maybe it's a personal preference, but why include war in a story if it is not going to add something more than 1) occasions for the MCs to show how brave they are for showing up, 2) caring for the soldiers (off-screen), 3) creating the vehicle for the cliffhanger and 4) that's about it. If the theme is too heavy to explore, why use it? The detached tone around war wants to be the same as in Hunger Games, another YA novel with a war subplot, but that is a reflection of Katniss who is dissociating, and this MC is not supposed to be detached (I don't think). There are more hints that the war aspect was influenced by Hunger Games (I won't spoil), but again, Hunger Games is a really good example where war is used as a subplot but also as a vehicle to explore certain themes (pointlessness of war, what we do to survive, power, violence, etc.) which are additional vehicles for character development. I digress, but as someone who teaches about history, this seems to touch on WWI-like warfare too lightly for the sake of a story vehicle. Sidenote: Hunger Games is a completely different genre and not comparable, I use it to illustrate my point.

That being said, I found myself wanting to skip the scenes in battle. I felt myself getting annoyed with the scenes in the war with thoughts like "please don't tell me this is going to happen". And then it happens. Tropes and tropes without the build-up. I don't care about the war and the gods and even the soldiers because why should I? Please just get up, take your loved ones and get out of there. We are never shown why we should care except for a glimmer near the end when we realise how the "other side" have been fighting, but I've already dragged myself through those battle scenes. Unnecessary bad things are happening without my investment.

Not a criticism, but more an observation. There are some purity themes present, though the characters do have physical intimacy. The Bible is quoted (Song of Solomon) and looking back, the characters are pure romance coded. I love Sarah M. Eden, Julianne Donaldson and Annette K. Larsen (pure romance authors, I highly recommend Edenbrooke if you like this kind of romance) and have no problem with modest themes, I just have not seen anyone mention it so here it is; mentioned.

All in all, it is not a bad novel, it just lacks substance. I am also so sick of bad BookTok recommendations. I get that it is YA, but I don't think we should underdevelop something because people are younger. Even Winnie the Pooh has strong themes. So that is my personal analysis of why I was taken with the story initially but eventually disappointed.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

Massive eyeroll

Revisado: 09-27-23

I will never understand the SJM fanfare. I've tried and given other series a try and given the second book a try and it's just too cringe worthy. The feeling I get from it is the same as the After series with an equally self-gratifying voice (the few minutes of the movies I could force myself through).

If you like protagonists who are the best and beautiful just because with a lot of simpering, love triangles and small moments of things actually happening but with much better execution, try J.L. Armentrout.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Gorgeous

Revisado: 05-10-23

If you've loved Emily Henry's other books for the character growth and the sweetness, you'll love this one. It broke my heart and stitched it back up.

Update: I just reread my Emily Henry collection and this is by far my favourite. Deeply emotional and the performance is so good. I don't usually like the voices that audible narrators make but Julia Whelan really enhanced the story. She is officially my favourite Audible narrator.

If you are in the mood for something that tugs at your gremlin heart, this is it. If you've ever had a sad breakup, bring tissues.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Perfect

Revisado: 05-09-23

Rainbow Rowell is in a category of her own. I think this might be my favourite of hers, though that seems blasphemous toward Fangirl.

Her characters are real; they feel like people I've met. And her characters grow up; you fall in love with them and their humanness. I am guaranteed to finish her books with the warm fuzzies. Bonus points for late 90s nostalgia.

The narrator was also great, I prefer when I am not constantly aware of the narrator. She just slightly deepens her voice for different characters and does not distract from the story.

I've read the written format a few times so I know that Rowell plays with words that won't come across in an audible form so I would highly recommend reading it, too.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Love Cara!

Revisado: 03-08-23

I adore this series. Although not my 100% favourite, it hits the sweet romance mark as hard as the others in the series. I hope she never stops, this series makes the membership worth it.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

It's so fluffy!

Revisado: 03-05-23

Completely meets the expectations set by Bastone's other Audible Originals. How does she do it? It's so warm and fuzzy and I completely want to die of cuteness.

If you loved the others, this one doesn't disappoint; if you have not listened to the others, where have you been, I envy you the first experience, and GO NOW!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

Satisfying

Revisado: 10-04-22

Really good coming of age story. One of the better books on audible plus.

My only complaint is that the narrator got a bit too excited during moments that could have been toned down, but it's a personal preference.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Fine

Revisado: 08-25-22

I liked the premise, but it did not capture my attention. You never get to know any of the characters well, so it just fell flat and everything was tied up too neatly in the end.

It is not bad, it just needed something.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Note to international readers:

Revisado: 07-29-22

Swedish Fish are sweets. I am sparing you a very confusing olfactory moment.

I both like and dislike the emotional depth. I cried about her one family member's mental health and the main character's negative self-talk is very realistic. But the constant introspection was a bit too much; I get that she is supposed to be insecure, but it stopped adding to the story at some point and just increased the reading time unnecessarily. I personally prefer the show don't tell rule when it comes to emotions and there was too much telling about the expressions in people's eyes.

Overall, I loved the realness of the main character and the love interest and I wanted to finish the story because I did end up caring. A good read for a longer audible plus freebie.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Easy read

Revisado: 07-27-22

The story focuses its main plot on the actual events and it made for a fun read. The world building was not complicated and the romance sweet but remained a subplot (I highlight this because some audible books have insta-lust which is frustrating when you just want a good story).

The narrator was great, I was not distracted by her (a win for me).

If you want something very deep, this is not it, but if you are in the mood for something light and sweet with just a touch of magic, this is it.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña