haha love and respect your opinion but I am sooo the opposite. I just made a video on my review for this book and omg Elias was my favorite character. He was so hilarious to me. I thought it was great how sarcastic he was and how he hates the military! I definitely agree though that I don't think Elias and Laia should be together because I love Helene and Elias so much!!
I had the opposite feeling actually, I wasn't all excited when I started reading it because it was so hyped but it honestly surprised me. After all, it all depends of the point of view
Just finished this book, and my reactions were pretty much the same as yours lolol. I came away very underwhelmed and slightly disappointed. Helene was my favorite character, and I thought the best part was the Third Trial as well. I really enjoyed the world that Tahir built, but in my opinion the romance aspect was rather clumsily done. The worst part about that was that Laia didn't seem to remember the other guy very much whenever she was with one. It was kind of weird, considering how strongly she seemed to feel "the sparks".
I appreciate your honest opinion. It's why I love watching your book reviews. You don't bash a book for no reason, and even when you praise a book, you acknowledge the weaker aspects of the story. I think your reviews are very balanced.
I completely agree! It was so generic! I think the thing that bugged me was that I thought the main characters were pretty so-so, but everyone I the book was like "omg you're so talented and brave and beautiful!"
Laia made me so actively angry that she almost brought the whole book down for me. She just made so many bad decisions and didn't seem to use her brain. Also she just let herself get walked over again and again. /rant I did like the book overall, but that is because I did like Elias. I love all your points they were well laid out and made total sense. I definitely know the feeling when you are just kind like... eh. Great review.
Wow Sophia, you reviewed this book really well! I like how you just didn't beat down the book even though you didn't like it too much (i tend to do that whoops)
Couldn't agree with you more! This book was just okay. Not great but not horrible either. Glad I'm not the only one with the unpopular opinion on this book :)
I agree with everything except that I really did connect this Elias he was my favorite chapters the read. But yes this book is quite "cookie cutter", but the world building is very good in my opinion. I hope the next book is better! Nice review!!
I completely agree with your opinion on this book - objectively, I can appreciate this book for its world building and realistic cruelty, but I could not connect with the characters which is one of the most significant elements for me...and all the romance aspects felt unnecessary to me haha
This book is my most excited release this year and I haven't got it yet...after watching your review I decided to delay reading it lol. P.s. Nice hair!
I walked away from that book feeling aweful. There were parts that were cool, but even those parts were tainted with cruelty and darkness without having a proper balance. Like an emotional connection to the characters or a really nicely written relationship that makes more sense. I am in shock how much hype this book has. There was nothing wonderful about it. Oh well. It's great that some people get to enjoy it.
I really liked this book, but I totally agree with you on the shipping part. Kinean (don't have the book with me, I am pretty sure I spelled his name wrong) is way better than Elias.
Although I missed the booksplosion love show for it, but I'm really excited to read this book! It's okay to feel meh about it; I felt the same about The 5th Wave (please don't kill me).
I was disappointed a little because of the slow pace in the beginning. But then it picked up and I enjoyed the middle and end. I thought it was pretty good but I couldn't give it a 5/5 on good reads (my rate 4-4.5/5) bcuz of the slow pace in beginning. And I know it was introducing the setting and characters but I felt like it was draggy n not going anywhere until she was a slave?? (Around 1/3 of the book) But I really like the book!!! 😀😁😄 BTW great book review!!! Keep it up!
While reading the first books, something about Keenan just didn't feel right, so i didn't want him with Laia. Once i read the second book, I then realized why i didn't really like Keenan too much which is why i want Laia and Elias haha
twobookteens NIIIIICE @ THE SUPER SALE. i can't believe i missed it. also LOL @ noah (is that your brother's name?? oh my god, i should just look it up instead of typing this comment but yolo).
I just finished the book. How exactly did izzy get her eye taken out? I remember that she was five when it happened, but I don't recall anything else. Also, the death that really killed me was that of The Blackcliff student who was engaged to some girl for ages and had her name tattooed on him (forearm? Wrist? Can't remember).
+Sara Will Nah. Taius is the first Emperor. You might be talking 'bout Zain. BUT Zain didn't become the Commandant's gardener until she was already old enough
Great review! You and I have very different opinions but I enjoyed hearing what you had to say. I loved this book. I love both Elias and Laia, I thought they were fantastic characters and fell in love with them after a few chapters. I liked Keenan too, but I don't ship them. I liked Elias and Laia much better. I thought it was a great story, I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it as much as I did, but everyone has their own opinions! 😊
Definitely agree that this book is fun, but flawed. I still felt like I had to finish it though. Also, the characters are pretty generic, even the villan... Didn't quit do it for me, but definitely not bad and worth it's price.
HELENE. That's all that there is to say for me not to throw the book into the fire. But the ending did not give me much to hope for, so FUCK THAT SHIT I'M NOT GONNA READ THE SEQUEL. "I belong to him now". Like hell you are! :(
Yasmin Fazli I actually messaged the author about this. I got seenzoned -_- :D Do you know when is the sequel gonna be released? I'm probably not gonna buy it but I still want to know.
+Chase Simmons haha the sequel comes out end of August 2016! Btw we have very similar opinions about this so I'd love for you to check out my video! I made a review video for this book lol let me know if you like it if you have time to check it out!
Hey, Sophia (that's your name, right? I feel like it's Sophia or Stephanie lol). Do you have any thriller recommendations or YA recommendations? Those are my favorite genres, and I'm having a hard time finding an interesting book. Also, I ordered "the wrath and the dawn" because of your recommendation ☺️. Can't wait to read it!
jezibellika ayyy it's sophia! thriller recommendations? anything by gillian flynn and stephen king, i think! also, i hope you like the wrath and the dawn!
I thought that like book was just okay as well! there were some parts I liked but some parts didn't sit well with me. But everyone was like they loved this book. Thankx.
The characters were absolutley my least favorite part of this book. Elias, I thought, was a stereotypical jock who thinks mostly with his penis. Laia on the other hand seemed like a non-character. Not once in the entire book did she show any personality. Very frustrating.
I hated Marcus soooo much...and the Elias' mother grrrrr evil characters! I agree...I thought the Augurs (sp?) were really interesting. ...and with that ending there was nooooooo way it was a stand alone. I am definitely interested in seeing what happens...if only to see the evil characters get what's coming to them.
Finally someone who ships Keenan and laia and who doesn’t like Elias and laia chemistry, *SPOILER* i was about to kill my self when I learned about Keenan’s true intentions in the second book. I hate the author for doing that. But I still don’t ship laia and Elias though.
I'm 153 pages in and I've come to find reviews because I'm literally about to put it down. It's not a bad book, I'm just...bored? Going to try something else I think, maybe it's just not the time for me to read it right now. I agree with not connecting with the characters, I couldn't care less what happened to them, Elias just really annoys me. I'm sorry 😁
I'm glad I'm not the only one who felt the same way. I almost DNF'd it but kept going. It didn't get good until about 300 pages in! I hate how overly hyped this book was. And the constant mentions of rape! 😣😝😔😖🙅
I really had to push through it too! For a Romeo/Juliet plotline, I thought it was really weird that the love interests don't meet until page 200. The non stop rape allusions was also really uncomfortable.
Personally I loved the poetic language but it was too slow and the big plot items where very repetitive and predictable I couldn't relate to characters either but I don't care really. But it's very ho hum
Is it appropriate to high five you right now? I AM NOT ALONE!!! My thoughts on this book are exactly the same as yours! I just couldn't connect with anybody at all and EliasXLaia don't make sense to me either. Can't feel the attraction there.
haha love and respect your opinion but I am sooo the opposite. I just made a video on my review for this book and omg Elias was my favorite character. He was so hilarious to me. I thought it was great how sarcastic he was and how he hates the military! I definitely agree though that I don't think Elias and Laia should be together because I love Helene and Elias so much!!
I agree! I hope Ellias & Laia aren't end game. While reading the book, I was like,... I prefer her with Keenan and Ellias with Helene.
Does your opinion change after reading the second book? haha i used to think Laia with keenan as well
I had the opposite feeling actually, I wasn't all excited when I started reading it because it was so hyped but it honestly surprised me. After all, it all depends of the point of view
I went to the book with no explanation, I guess that's I loved it so much
Just finished this book, and my reactions were pretty much the same as yours lolol. I came away very underwhelmed and slightly disappointed. Helene was my favorite character, and I thought the best part was the Third Trial as well. I really enjoyed the world that Tahir built, but in my opinion the romance aspect was rather clumsily done. The worst part about that was that Laia didn't seem to remember the other guy very much whenever she was with one. It was kind of weird, considering how strongly she seemed to feel "the sparks".
I appreciate your honest opinion. It's why I love watching your book reviews. You don't bash a book for no reason, and even when you praise a book, you acknowledge the weaker aspects of the story. I think your reviews are very balanced.
I completely agree! It was so generic! I think the thing that bugged me was that I thought the main characters were pretty so-so, but everyone I the book was like "omg you're so talented and brave and beautiful!"
my only thought while reading the book was "why does elias think about sex so much?"
Laia made me so actively angry that she almost brought the whole book down for me. She just made so many bad decisions and didn't seem to use her brain. Also she just let herself get walked over again and again. /rant
I did like the book overall, but that is because I did like Elias.
I love all your points they were well laid out and made total sense. I definitely know the feeling when you are just kind like... eh. Great review.
okay but does the blurb remind you of legend or is it just me
twobookteens dude even after reading the entire thing, it reminds me of legend. i've heard lots of people say the same.
I love that you're uploading more frequently now, love the video!!!!xxx
Markie Winters thank you!! i hope i can continue uploading frequently!
thebookbasement *fingers crossed*
the streak in your hair reminds me of anna's hair (anna and the french kiss) :3
rock3tar haha, i've gotten that a lot since starting booktube! anything that brings me closer to anna oliphant is good in my book ;-)
Wow Sophia, you reviewed this book really well! I like how you just didn't beat down the book even though you didn't like it too much (i tend to do that whoops)
LovingDemBooks THANK YOU, GRACE!
same i was so pumped when i was going to read it but it's still good...
Couldn't agree with you more! This book was just okay. Not great but not horrible either. Glad I'm not the only one with the unpopular opinion on this book :)
I agree with everything except that I really did connect this Elias he was my favorite chapters the read. But yes this book is quite "cookie cutter", but the world building is very good in my opinion. I hope the next book is better! Nice review!!
I completely agree with your opinion on this book - objectively, I can appreciate this book for its world building and realistic cruelty, but I could not connect with the characters which is one of the most significant elements for me...and all the romance aspects felt unnecessary to me haha
This book is my most excited release this year and I haven't got it yet...after watching your review I decided to delay reading it lol. P.s. Nice hair!
I walked away from that book feeling aweful. There were parts that were cool, but even those parts were tainted with cruelty and darkness without having a proper balance. Like an emotional connection to the characters or a really nicely written relationship that makes more sense. I am in shock how much hype this book has. There was nothing wonderful about it. Oh well. It's great that some people get to enjoy it.
I really liked this book, but I totally agree with you on the shipping part. Kinean (don't have the book with me, I am pretty sure I spelled his name wrong) is way better than Elias.
+Oikawa Tooru I agree!
It's a shame that you didn't really like it! Glad you still did the book review :)
well, I completely disagree. but I still respect opinion. I loved it.
+Pearl Playdinn same lol
Really good review! I really l liked An Ember in the Ashes, but I do agree with some of your points, especially the one about Elias.
shannon alexander thank you!! i'm glad you liked the book :-)
Although I missed the booksplosion love show for it, but I'm really excited to read this book! It's okay to feel meh about it; I felt the same about The 5th Wave (please don't kill me).
I was disappointed a little because of the slow pace in the beginning. But then it picked up and I enjoyed the middle and end. I thought it was pretty good but I couldn't give it a 5/5 on good reads (my rate 4-4.5/5) bcuz of the slow pace in beginning. And I know it was introducing the setting and characters but I felt like it was draggy n not going anywhere until she was a slave?? (Around 1/3 of the book)
But I really like the book!!! 😀😁😄 BTW great book review!!! Keep it up!
Omigod, I love your glasses.
I completely agree with everything you said! Great review!!
Serena Mendes thank you so much!!
I also ship Keenan and Laia. Elias and Laia just doesn't feel right.
+RabbitReadz SAME
While reading the first books, something about Keenan just didn't feel right, so i didn't want him with Laia. Once i read the second book, I then realized why i didn't really like Keenan too much which is why i want Laia and Elias haha
your reviews are always so wonderful and concise, ily Sophia
twobookteens NIIIIICE @ THE SUPER SALE. i can't believe i missed it. also LOL @ noah (is that your brother's name?? oh my god, i should just look it up instead of typing this comment but yolo).
it was so weird like the sale was just suddenly on the website and I was like yes please
and yes Noah is my brother ! lookachu remembering stuff!
I just finished the book.
How exactly did izzy get her eye taken out? I remember that she was five when it happened, but I don't recall anything else.
Also, the death that really killed me was that of The Blackcliff student who was engaged to some girl for ages and had her name tattooed on him (forearm? Wrist? Can't remember).
The commandant took a poker and took her eye out. And the guys name was Taius or something along that lone. It started with a T I think
Ah, true. Thanks, Sara!
+Sara Will Nah. Taius is the first Emperor. You might be talking 'bout Zain. BUT Zain didn't become the Commandant's gardener until she was already old enough
I love the book cover but I have to wait until it get to me to read it
monica book lover let me know what you think once you read it!!
Your videos make me so happy 💞💞
***** YOUR COMMENTS MAKE ME SO HAPPY YOU ARE SO NICE
Yay I'm glad (((:
Great review! You and I have very different opinions but I enjoyed hearing what you had to say. I loved this book. I love both Elias and Laia, I thought they were fantastic characters and fell in love with them after a few chapters. I liked Keenan too, but I don't ship them. I liked Elias and Laia much better. I thought it was a great story, I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it as much as I did, but everyone has their own opinions! 😊
I loved this book I read it in 2 days
Definitely agree that this book is fun, but flawed. I still felt like I had to finish it though. Also, the characters are pretty generic, even the villan... Didn't quit do it for me, but definitely not bad and worth it's price.
THANK YOU i do not ship laia and elias at all eitherrr
You should read Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. It was a very good book with a plot twist that was unexpected in my opinion. ;)
this is unrelated but could you please tell me what lipstick you're wearing?
+Haley Borek lol greatest comment haha
+Yasmin Fazli lol I really wanted to know I don't have any peach colored lipsticks
haha exactly why it's great! lol
HELENE. That's all that there is to say for me not to throw the book into the fire. But the ending did not give me much to hope for, so FUCK THAT SHIT I'M NOT GONNA READ THE SEQUEL.
"I belong to him now". Like hell you are! :(
+Chase Simmons Helene is my favorite and I'm so nervous for her!!!
Yasmin Fazli I actually messaged the author about this. I got seenzoned -_- :D
Do you know when is the sequel gonna be released? I'm probably not gonna buy it but I still want to know.
+Chase Simmons haha the sequel comes out end of August 2016! Btw we have very similar opinions about this so I'd love for you to check out my video! I made a review video for this book lol let me know if you like it if you have time to check it out!
Hey, Sophia (that's your name, right? I feel like it's Sophia or Stephanie lol). Do you have any thriller recommendations or YA recommendations? Those are my favorite genres, and I'm having a hard time finding an interesting book.
Also, I ordered "the wrath and the dawn" because of your recommendation ☺️. Can't wait to read it!
jezibellika ayyy it's sophia! thriller recommendations? anything by gillian flynn and stephen king, i think! also, i hope you like the wrath and the dawn!
I thought that like book was just okay as well! there were some parts I liked but some parts didn't sit well with me. But everyone was like they loved this book. Thankx.
Leanna Drobis
You look so pretty with your hair down :) you should do it like that more - great book review btw! X
Katie Wu
The characters were absolutley my least favorite part of this book. Elias, I thought, was a stereotypical jock who thinks mostly with his penis. Laia on the other hand seemed like a non-character. Not once in the entire book did she show any personality. Very frustrating.
I hated Marcus soooo much...and the Elias' mother grrrrr evil characters! I agree...I thought the Augurs (sp?) were really interesting. ...and with that ending there was nooooooo way it was a stand alone. I am definitely interested in seeing what happens...if only to see the evil characters get what's coming to them.
Jordy Albert marcus makes me want to spit on the page he sucks
Oh man you’re ganna hate Keenan in A Torch Against the Night
Finally someone who ships Keenan and laia and who doesn’t like Elias and laia chemistry,
*SPOILER*
i was about to kill my self when I learned about Keenan’s true intentions in the second book. I hate the author for doing that. But I still don’t ship laia and Elias though.
I'm 153 pages in and I've come to find reviews because I'm literally about to put it down. It's not a bad book, I'm just...bored? Going to try something else I think, maybe it's just not the time for me to read it right now. I agree with not connecting with the characters, I couldn't care less what happened to them, Elias just really annoys me. I'm sorry 😁
+Chelsea Hiden hmm I guess, might try again in a few weeks!
You are the most beautiful woman I have ever saw!!!
I couldn't really stand the protagonist which is a shame because I loved the world they were in (Roman inspired)
I'm glad I'm not the only one who felt the same way. I almost DNF'd it but kept going. It didn't get good until about 300 pages in! I hate how overly hyped this book was. And the constant mentions of rape! 😣😝😔😖🙅
I'm not sure if your age, but this was miss marketed as a young adult book.
+Hannah I'm 29. I still felt the constant mentions of rape were unnecessary. Regardless of my age.
I really had to push through it too! For a Romeo/Juliet plotline, I thought it was really weird that the love interests don't meet until page 200. The non stop rape allusions was also really uncomfortable.
Personally I loved the poetic language but it was too slow and the big plot items where very repetitive and predictable I couldn't relate to characters either but I don't care really. But it's very ho hum
Is it appropriate to high five you right now? I AM NOT ALONE!!! My thoughts on this book are exactly the same as yours! I just couldn't connect with anybody at all and EliasXLaia don't make sense to me either. Can't feel the attraction there.