McKayla

Take a shot...

Revisado: 02-24-19

...every time a woman is sexualized, objectified, described like a piece of meat, or rape is justified. Didn't finish this book and would recommend to no one. Atrocious.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Not the high seas adventure I was hoping for

Revisado: 01-26-19

But a reality show drama fest with tropey characters playing social bingo. The concept of the mermaids was excellent, but never really carried out to its potential, and was completely Kanye-West'd by the contrived romance that shoehorned itself in. The science/reasoning often contradicted, 'correct' theories came too easily to people with very little information. Common sense was often lacking, and many characters were too young/inexperienced to justify their presence. Too much social/eco commentary, not enough substance. So disappointed with this one.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

The author couldn't decide

Revisado: 12-29-17

If he wanted this to be about mysticism or science. He threw every ingredient in the pot: monsters, religion, vampires, radiation freaks, dinosaurs etc, resulting in a huge mess that, for as long as this was, wasn't well detailed or explained. Of course the main character is just "the chosen one", with no logic involved. In this huge cast of characters, there were very, very few women, and none who were valuable to the storyline. Disappointing read.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

All hype and steam, no substance

Revisado: 10-28-14

Whhaaaat is up with some of the high star reviews on Amazon? This is written HORRIBLY, in a tell-don't-show manner that just doesn't work for books. The narration dictates to us precisely what we're suppose to think of so-and-such and the details of the world are so vague that it's impossible to get a feel for where they are. Even if this were a tv series, the premise of the story wasn't interesting enough to convince me to watch. It's disjointed and nothing is described well (if at all).

Characters make abrupt choices without any proper development to make their decisions believable, and none of them are likable enough to really care about what happens to them anyway. I don't know what the male equivalent term to a 'marysue' is, but Isaac Grey is just that, and Killian is set up to be the same. This should not have been approved to be sold to a paying audience.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Plunged too deep into the teen angst angle

Revisado: 02-21-14

I really enjoyed the first book so I picked this one up, but straight off the bat, the second book started following in the footsteps of Twilight love triangles and brooding, overreactive teens who really aren't that interesting. Once the characters start dissolving like that, then the lack of a solidly built world and mediocre plot start sticking out. So the result is that just a little more halfway through, I gave up. I'm not finishing this book or continuing with this series; my time is too valuable.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Very fun read!

Revisado: 03-18-13

I found myself surprisingly caught up and pleasantly surprised with this audiobook. The story wasn't anything like what I was expecting, but it was wonderful. I've been on a ghost story kick lately and I think I assumed this would be akin to that...and in ways it was, but it definitely went in a different direction. It was very fun to go on this journey, I would definitely listen to this again.

Some minor flaws that I noticed but that wouldn't deter my recommendation:
1. There were a few loose ends, a few unexplained things, some of which I suppose could be excused because of the nature of the house, but others I felt just weren't adequately realized but could have been.

2. In an attempt to sound casual, the narrator tends to narrate in run-on sentences, then awkwardly pauses or elongates mid-word. Narrating female characters is definitely not his strength. That being said, he was very good at giving a different voice for every character, male or female. I never wondered who was talking.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Absolutely beautiful

Revisado: 12-29-12

I would read this book again and again. It was simply lovely, a beautiful mix of story, legend, and history, and one of the most satisfying books I've read this year. It was mysterious in all the right parts and ways. If you have any inclination towards faerie folklore or magical realism, you are sure to find this delightful.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

Not quite the copycat I thought it would be

Revisado: 11-30-12

I will admit, I only had any curiosity about this book because it seemed to come right on the heels of "The Night Circus", of whose summary it seemed extremely similar to. Coupled with the additional "steampunk" quality it boasted, I was initially convinced that this was nothing more than a cheap shot riding two very popular coat tails.

That may or may not be true of this book, but I can say that the story itself was more unique and interesting than I expected.

The narrator, unfortunately, was awful. I will never listen to anything Scott Aiello narrates again. If I were stumbling across this for the first time again, I'd buy the book, not the audio.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Disappointing story and lead character

Revisado: 11-30-12

I can't understand why this book was two credits, and I feel them utterly wasted on this book. I usually enjoy Gregory's books for the way she brings a realism to such black-and-white historical events, but wow, was this was a let-down. It's the worst "love" story I've ever read, and I was disappointed the love story was so intrusive to the historical events unfolding.

If you pick up this book expecting a lot of insight into Mary and Elizabeth's socio-political affairs, this is the wrong book for you. Hannah, our leading lady, spends most of her time with Mary so you'll get the clearest run-down her actions, but Elizabeth's doings are usually from afar, and there is never any real explanation as to how and what Elizabeth and Dudley and Dee are accomplishing behind the queen's back, even though Hannah is playing spy and errand-runner for them. There's never explanation as to how and why Hannah was arrested. There's no real explanation as to why France and England were fighting this time, or what Mary's consort had to do with it.

Every aspect of Hannah feels like a forced plot device. She dresses like a boy, but everyone knows she's a girl. There's no pattern to Hannah's cleverness and gullibility, other than that it's convenient at the time for the author to have her be one or the other. She's extremely lackluster about her Jewish heritage, and yet she clings to it (which is it, Gregory, decide!) Both Mary and Elizabeth know her as and use her as a spy, and yet continue to favor her, even though she's a nobody with nothing to offer their causes. Her visions are predictable and obvious, yet she's constantly confused (to the point that it's kind of cheap and cheezy...her visions are not as mystical and eerie and poignant as say, Jacquetta's power in Lady of the Rivers). Hannah adopts the bastard son of her cheating husband without any real reason or desire, and suddenly turns into mama-bear. None of Hannah's qualities or actions feel at all natural.

Hannah was generally weak-kneed and wishy-washy, but it seemed that she was being built up to be a strong character in time. But as soon as I thought she had finally come into her own, she did this odd about-face and seemed to become everything that she had said she would not. It was so disheartening, because there wasn't even a plausible reason for her to fail this way, it just seemed to be what the author wanted to do next, no matter that she had built her characters to behave another way.

tldr:
1. Don't read this if you're looking for a feel-good 'girl-power' story.
2. Don't read this if you're interested in the socio-political affairs and shift of power between Mary and Elizabeth, or anyone at all.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 15 personas

Lackey's Heralds of Valdemar, except WAY better

Revisado: 04-20-12

So, overall I really enjoyed listening to this, much more than I expected. It seems that the concept of the Green Rider was taken from the pages of Mercedes Lackey's Heralds of Valdemar series, except it presents a much more realistic presentation of the position, social relationships, and politics (it also helps that Britain is a better writer).

Yes, it's probably a fantasy written to appeal to those just getting into the genre, but there's nothing wrong with that. I appreciated that the main character was more in depth and rounded than the angsty teen runaway I was expecting. She was a strong, convincing female character without overdoing it.

While I somewhat agree with some above comments that it never felt like our leading lady was any 'real' danger, she does have an extensive adventure and I enjoyed it from beginning to end. Some things could have been better; the pacing was occasionally jumpy, and it felt like there were 3-4 climaxes which *almost* made the story too long, but I'm just nitpicking here.

tldr; great story, great characters, excited to read the next book.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 21 personas