Happy Friday, friends! Today is reviewing day, and… in order to change things up a little bit, make it more fun, both for me to write and for you to read, I’m introducing a new kind of review on the blog.
Welcome to my first bullet-point review! It’s a name that might or might not change, depending on my inspiration, but… you can guess what it’s all about already. Basically, instead of shouting about books in a well-mannered way, I’ll bullet-point everything into likes, hates, weirdness and such. Ready?
The book
Marie Lu, Legend, Published by Putnam Juvenile, November 29th, 2011.
What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.
From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.
I ENJOYED…
?
- It was fast-paced: Legend is the kind of book you could read in a day, if you have time to do so. It’s short, there is no time to get bored.
- There were amazing action-scenes: Marie Lu does know how to make you gasp and fall off your chair with her action scenes and I LOVED THAT.
- SIBLINGS. I loved that June’s brother was at the heart of the story – as well as relationships between Day and his brothers.
- The dual POV was really well-done, making it easy to know which one was currently narrating the story. I liked / sympathized with both characters. I really enjoyed both June and Day’s parts in the story, rooted for them and wanted them to be okay. I also really appreciated June’s growth through the story, her will to find her brother’s murderer. Overall, we got two pretty badass main characters, so, YES YES YES.
“Each day means a new twenty-four hours. Each day means everything’s possible again. You live in the moment, you die in the moment, you take it all one day at a time.”
I HAD A HARD TIME WITH…
?
- It was too short, which made it hard for everything to properly develop. I wanted to know more about the world, I wanted to know more about the characters and I felt like we only got to the surface of everything. It’s a first book, though, so that might come later on.
- I needed A MAP. I don’t know if, in other editions of the books, there are actual maps, but I didn’t get one. It made me SAD and lost at times.
- The romance felt a little rushed. I thought that the two characters developed feelings for each other fairly quickly, giving me no time to propertly root for them. They were already kissing before I knew it.
- The world-building was interesting, but ultimately lacking. This is probably because it is a first book in a series, but I found myself wanting to know a bit more. It felt like a standard dystopian story for now, with the United States and everything else beyond is the unknown, wars, borders and so on. I’m hoping to get more background in the next books.
“You’re brilliant,”he says.”But you’re a fool to stay with someone like me.”
I close my eyes at the touch of his hand.”Then we are both fools.”
OVERALL
Legend was a really promising debut to a dystopian series that, for now, seems a bit typical. I’m really looking forward to the next books, knowing that there is so much more to come, and that the series does seem to get better and better. Fingers crossed!
Final rating: 3 drops!
Trigger warnings: physical violence, death, murders.
Did you read Legend? Did you read the first book or the whole series? Does the series gets better? WHAT DID YOU THINK OF IT ALL?
Do you want to read this book? Why, or why not?
Do you like this kind of new format to review books? Let me know in comments!
I love your new review style. I just read Legend not long ago for the first time and I agree I loved the characters duel POV. I love books like this it helps me connect more to the story and I’m not wondering what is going through the other characters head. I did lean more towards Day’s POV more though.
Oh thank you so much, I’m so glad you like it 🙂 <3
The dual POV was really well done and I enjoyed both characters, I think that Day had this little something that made me love him so much as well <3 <3
Love this format! xx
Aww thank you so much my Sweechie! <3 <3
I HAVE read Legend but aaaages ago. I remember liking it though? The ending of the series is….well, you’ll see if you keep going. I really like that it talks about climate change and gets more international in the subsequent books. And this reviewing style worked really well!
Okay…. I’m now very curious about how this series end. Does this mean it ends really badly or something?! I’m SCARED NOW you can’t leave me like this ?
I’m so glad it gets a bit more international – I can’t wait to see where that goes!
Thank you so much, Shanti! <3
I haven’t read this one, but obviously I’ve heard loads about it. I was on the fence if I wanted to read it or not, but your is keeping me more towards the “don’t read” side. Some of your complaints are things that are quite annoying for me, too. And since you asked, I DO like this formatting for reviews… but that’s how I review books, too, so perhaps I’m biased (;
Oh, well…I’m glad my review could help! It’s better to stay away if you know you’re not going to be a fan of this book, better to be focused on the ones you’re more attracted to 😀
Thank you so much, I’m glad you liked this!! <3 <3
YAYYYYY I’m so happy that you read and liked Legend!!! It’s one of my favourite series of all time <3 and I get what you mean about the romance, it definitely felt a lot like insta-love to me (but I still ended up shipping June and Day SOOO much XD). And I LOVE MAPS I WISH MORE BOOKS HAD MAPS IN THEM. It'd make it so much easier to imagine things sometimes! And there will be more world-building in the next books and the politics and everything will be explained more thoroughly which is good! I really hope you'll enjoy the rest of the series! 🙂 and I really like this bullet point review! Great job Marie <3
It felt like Insta-love, but I like them together. I’m really curious to see what happens next, I might end up shipping them more and more – I hope so!
Ohhh I’m glad to hear there are more explanations in the next books about the world-building and everything, this makes me very curious, and even more impatient to read them.
THANK YOU so much, Jackie <3 <3 <3
I love this review format!! Great job!
Aww thank you so much! Glad you like it 🙂
I LOVE Legend! The whole series is amazing, it’s my favorite dystopian series, so I hope you’ll finish the series, Marie! 🙂
Ohh really?! I’m SO happy to hear this! I can’t wait to get the rest of the series, I hope I’ll love it 🙂
thank you! <3
I really like this new style of review — it was really fun to read (though of course I’ll always love your long and insightful reviews as well ?). I read the Legend trilogy a very long time ago, and all I really remember about it was that I loved it. I also shipped Day and June so much, and there were a few references to the Asian culture that I remember reading about that I liked… but other than that, I don’t remember much. To be honest, I’m not sure I’ll love the Legend trilogy as much as I did in the past if I reread it again now, because I feel like my bar for liking a book has been pushed so much higher now with all these amazing books that I’ve been reading (*cough cough* The Six of Crows duology ?).This review was a nice refresher for me, and I look forward to reading your other reviews for the Legend trilogy!
Oh, and I also recently finished readnig Warcross, and the ending saved the book — I was so happy with the ending and how things got so much more tense ? I feel like reviews for Marie Lu’s books are popping up everywhere on the blogosphere now. ? I enjoyed reading your review!
Oh thank you so much, Zoie, I’m so glad you like this new format 🙂 I wanted to try and change things up a little, glad it works 🙂
I get what you mean. I’ve been reading so much more, amazing books and so on, I feel like I’m more…harsh when it comes to rating books and reviewing them, lately ? I’m really eager to read the rest of the series, I heard it just gets better and better!
OH YES! I’m so happy you ended up enjoying Warcross! Marie Lu is quite a popular author, I’m seeing reviews everywhere as well ? This means we need to read more of her books? ?
Thank you so much!! <3 <3
i LOVED this series soooo much!! I think it was the first YA book i read that got me into reading and damn i miss it so much. GIRL YOURE SO RIGHT the sibling rep was amazing hurts my little heart and i WISH we got a map, that would be epic
glad you enjoyed it and if you don’t already know there is a graphic novel on the first book, soooooo good
OH REALLYYY THAT IS SO SWEET. I love finding out about books that first get people ino reading. It’s so great. there’s something so…nostalgic about it all. ANYWAY yes, Legend was great, loved the siblings <3
REALLY? I did not know that – I need to check it out now! Thank you!! <3
YES. I completely agree. This was a good and entertaining book, but there was just something…missing from it? Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous review! <3
Oh I’m glad you felt the same way, Zoe! I’m just so sad, I felt like I was going to LOVE it so much. Hopefully, I’ll find that little something more in the next books 🙂
thank you!! <3
I loved your review of this! I recently just bought the series, but haven’t gotten to read it yet. It’s a bummer that it doesn’t have a map, though – I love books like this when they have maps!
Right? Maps are just SO great, I love this little something more they bring to the story 🙂
I hope you’ll read this book soon, I’d love to know what you think of it, Kelly!
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment <3 <3
Great review and I’m liking the new style! It’s easy and quick and think it will attract more people to read reviews as well knowing it’s concise. I love writing long reviews but then I only feel like reading them sometimes? If you get me?
Dilemma, dilemma.
But amazing review! I’ve tried to read this book before, years ago and honestly struggled to get into it. It was back during a big reading slump of mine though she I think I need to give it another go. Considering I just loved WarCross, I can’t imagine not being able to get through another Marie Lu book?
X
Thank you so, so much, Hannah! I’m so glad you enjoy this kind of review <3
I get it – I really love writing long reviews, but sometimes I feel like no one really wants to read them. It's SO hard to decide between writing and making it easier for our readers. Maybe we should do a little bit of both, short, long, etc ?
Oh, maybe you just didn't read it at the right time? Who knows, if you try it out, you might end up loving it. I found it quite quick to get into, as there is load of actions right from the start 🙂
Thank you, Hannah!! <3 <3
I’m glad you liked this even though you thought it was so short Marie! Do you think you’ll get to the next books right away? Also I have not read ANYTHING by Marie Lu, but I know I want to get to her books at some point (I might start with Warcross though, just because I’m not in the mood for dystopian at the moment). And like your review, I have also read other mixed reviews of this series? So I don’t know if I’m convinced to pick this up! ALSO WHAT BOOK DOESN’T HAVE A MAP.
I won’t get to the next books right away, mainly because I can’t buy any more books for now ? I’ll probably try and get them soon, I’m really curious to see how this continues, but to be realistic, I won’t finish this series before 2018 comes around.
I read this one, Warcross and The Young Elites. Warcross was my favorite so far, so I’m 100% recommending you read this one! I hope you’ll love it, it’s really good 🙂 who knows, maybe when you’re in the mood for a dystopian, you’ll want to pick up that one next 🙂
RIGHT? I NEEDED A MAP here!
thank you, Valerie <3 <3
You’re in luck! I recall at least one of the later books having a map. Bullet point reviews seem to be growing in popularity. Maybe I’ll have to write one myself.
Ohhh I’m glad to hear that – I need a map ?
I hope you’ll want to try this out, it’s a fun way to write reviews 🙂 thank you so much <3
We will see 🙂 You’re welcome!
I love this style of review. So quick but concise. I loved Marie Lu’s writing in The Young Elites and Rose Society so this definitely high up on my TBR list.
And awww it’s a shame there were no maps. I love it when maps are included (be it for a dystopian novel or a fantasy). They help me delve into the world better for some reason. Plus, they are real pretty.
Oh thank you so much, so glad you like it <3 I can't wait for you to read this one then, hope you'll love it 🙂
Yeah, it was a bit sad, I really like it when maps are included in books like that, as well. Helps me make better sense of the world we're in. I heard there are maps in the next books, though… so that's an improvement 🙂
thank you!!<3
I loved this review style!!
I really want to get to this series, it just depends WHEN!!
(Also… Mairie. . . . i have some grave news. . . I BROKE MY BAN AND BOUGH MAGGIE STEIFVATER BOOKS. . . I’m sorry… BUT NO MORE AFTER THIS!!)
Ohh thank you!! So glad you liked this <3 <3
OHH WHICH BOOKS DID YOU GET?! You are forgiven ahah, you're allowed one little setback 😛
HJBHJGFBR I want to read this series so bad.
I bought Blue Lily Lily Blue and The Raven King (blame ILSA SHE CONVINCED ME AND I WAS VVVV IN PAIN SO I thought WHY NOT???) Yayyyyy I’m forgiven!!
YEEEEEEEEES, ILSA IS THE BEST 😛 You need to read Blue Lily and The Raven King, loved them both so much!! <3
ISN’T SHE JUST???
OMG BLUE LILY LILY BLUE KILLED ME???RSGJKBRSDKLBRDKGDRVSGJGBDRVHJGDRUFHJVGBDORHUVHGDHFOGJVHEO;VGHJJK
I cannot wait to read the raven king!!!
Well… if Blue Lily made you THIS crazy …. let me know the SECOND you finish the raven king. I’m sure you’ll have A LOT MORE FEELINGS HEREEEEEEEE. 😛
ewfjnkerhbgkerghb IF GANSEY DIES. I WILL KILL HIM NOOO. HE CANNOT HES TOO PRECIOUS FOR THIS WORLD.
I’m not going to say ANYTHING. I’ll wait patiently for you to read the book. READ IT SOON so we can TALK ABOUT IT ALL 😛
NOOO MAIE YOU CANT DO THIS TO ME!!!!! NO NO NO NOOOOOO. JUST GONNA PUT THIS BOOK OFF FOR 1581 YEARS
DON’T DO THIS, I will be so saaaaaaaad.
BUT MARIE I DONT WANT MY HEART TO GET MORE BROKEN
It will ALL be okay, I promise 😛
REJKGBERIYGVREGH WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?? IT WONT BE OKAY IF GANSEY DIES. DOES HE NOT DIE? DOES HE DIE AND BECOME A GHOST AND THEN THEY ASK FOR HIS LIFE BACK? ERJHGBREUGBREGIBERYGUREBGIUERBREIUGBERUIGB
I’m not going to say anything I will just wait patiently for you to read the book 😛
ejrigwhurewgbrubehs BUT MARIE
Just read it sooooooon 😛
I’ll TRYYYYYYYYYY <3
Great review for this book, I’m enjoying the new format and I imagine it must be a good way to get your thoughts across quickly, and I’m glad you enjoyed Legend as well Marie. 🙂
This was definitely an action packed read, I remember being hooked on the story from the beginning, and oh I loved the sibling relationships as well, especially between June and her brother despite what happened to him early on. He was such a big part of June’s character and the decisions she made as well.
Shame about the world building, I do think it’s expanded on in the later books so hopefully it’ll be something that you find improves when you pick up Prodigy. 🙂
Again great review. 😀 <3
Oh thank you so much, Beth! It is a quick way to leave some thoughts about a book for sure, and I’m glad to hear it’s fun to read as well 🙂
I’m glad to hear that! I definitely want to go on with this series, as I keep on hearing it gets more and more interesting, and the world-building just gets better. I can’t wait 🙂
thank you so much <3 <3
That’s all right! 😀 <3
Oh it definitely gets more interesting, I think by the second book I was hooked, and by the end of the second book I knew this was one of my favourite dystopian series. 😀
That's all right. 🙂 <3
In that case, I can’t WAIT to read the whole series 😀
Yay! And you’ll have to let me know what you think when you’ve read them as well. 😀
I will for sure 🙂
I love bullet point reviews! Also, this is one of my favourite series so yay! Great review 🙂
Oh yay, so glad to hear it! Thank you so much, Mattie! <3 <3
I love this format! I MEAN I LOVE ALL OF YOUR POSTS ANYWAYS SOOOOO <3
I read Legend and omg I LOVED IT SO MUCH. I read the whole series and ahhhh it gets really good but there's this heartbreaking scene in book 3. YOU NEED. TO IMMEDIATELY. MEssaGE. ME. WHEN. YOU. FINISh. THE. SERIES. SO. We. CAn. tALK.
I love Marie Lu so muchhhh! I honestly feel like this was one of the more original dystopian, because I feel like all of the others are copying it, haha??/ (I feel like the main dystopian that started the trend are The Hunger Games, Legend, mayyybe Divergent?)
HAVE YOU READ WARCROSS
AWW YOU, thank you SO MUCH, you are way too sweet <3 <3
OKay… I am now very very, veryyyy scared to read the 3rd book?! I need to get to the second book first, but you made me so very nervous now ahah. Also, kind of impatient?! I can't wait to know what happens.
I agree, The Hunger Games, Divergent and Legend since it was around the same time, definitely started a trend!
YEEEEEES I HAVE READ WARCROSS. DID YOU read it?! What did you think of it?!
Aw, sorry you didn’t enjoy Legend as much as you thought you would, Marie! I’m glad you still were able to find some things you liked, though. I can TOTALLY assure you that the series gets much much better as it goes on (especially because this is Lu’s debut). And if I remember correctly, there’s a map in the later books, or at least the third one!
I’m so glad that you loved the characters — MY BABIESSSSS. And YES. Lu really knows how to write action scenes and fast-paced books to keep you on your toes ahah!! Great review!
Ohhh I’m SO happy to hear there is a map later on – and I didn’t remember that this was Lu’s debut. Pretty amazing for a debut, I hope to do just as good as her someday haha. I can’t wait to get to the rest of the series, I’m still very much intrigued about it all <3 I also heard something awful happens in book 3 or I don't know I AM SCARED MAY???
Thank youu! <3 <3
Oh, I’m sure you’ll do just as good on your debut (and perhaps even better!), Marie. <3 YES OMGGGGG BOOK 3 WILL BREAK YOU & MAKE YOU CRY (which I know you love ?).
Aww you’re too sweet, thank you! <3
WELL BRING IT ON. I need to buy it as soon as I can, if it will break me, I WANT IT. I'm so weird hahahaha.
Oh god, I really hope you love the rest of the series, Marie! I have a feeling you’ll adore Champion ahaha.
Hahaha, well… I need to ask the rest of the series as a christmas gift, then. I need to have it as soon as I can. I’m just too curious now. I want all the feels. 😛
I’ve never read any Marie Lu. I’ve heard some really good things, but her stories don’t really appeal to me. Like you said, it all sounds a bit ‘typical’. I get so fed up to feeling like I’m seeing rehashes of the same story over and over again. That said the one that is apparently set up like a video game (I forget the title) sounds more interesting.
Loved your bullet point review! Such a good idea <3
Oh, I completely understand. There are so many books out there, sometimes, when a synopsis just seems too familiar, you don’t necessarily want to stop and give it a read. It’ll just feel like a re-read of something you’ve seen before.
Warcross is probably the one you’re thinking of? It was REALLY interesting, and quite unlike anything I’ve read before! I think you should give it a try someday, I’d love to know what you think of it 🙂
Thank you so much <3 <3
Yes! Warcross is the one. I need a blurb with something a bit unique or a heck of a good recommendation to pick up a book these days haha.
Ahhaha I get it, there are way too many books out there, one has to really stand out to interest us sometimes 🙂
Lovely review, Marie! I really adore this style of review, I sometimes do it on my blog too, it’s so organized, clean and easy to follow. I haven’t read Legend yet, I think I might read it if I enjoy Warcross very much because I always tend to want to read more books from an author I enjoy. I really dislike rushed romances though, unless there’s an excuse for it (like the fake-relationship trope), if it’s not the case, then I prefer slow-burns. But I feel like this book is so much more than the romance, so I’ll have to give it a chance! <3
Oh thank you so much! <3 <3 It is such a fun way to review books – it was easy, quick and I have fun reading these kind of reviews as well 🙂
I'll keep my fingers crossed, hoping you enjoy Warcross, then! I'm just like you, whenever I enjoy an author, I want to try out all of their books – exactly what I'm doing with Marie Lu 😛
Definitely – there is so much more than the romance in this story 🙂 Can't wait for you to read it 🙂
Hello Marie!
Love this review style! It is quick and to the point! It’s refreshing to read, and I can imagine that it is refreshing to write as well 🙂
I read Legend a few months back and I agree with your points here. I also loved that it is action-packed but I did find that the romance between June and Day feels rushed.
Hi Sophie!!!! I’m so happy to hear from you – I hope you’re having a lovely time with your loved ones, I miss you SO MUCH around the blogosphere. Sending you all the love <3 <3
Thank you! I'm happy you enjoyed this review and felt the same way as I did about it all. Did you read the rest of the series or not yet? 🙂
I am happy to hear back from you too <3 <3 I missed you too!
Yes I had an amazing time with my family in China! Now I am back in Canada, and back to adulting :')
I haven't read the rest of this series yet. Although I liked the first book, I am not sure if I like it enough to continue the series haha. Will you be reading the rest of the books?
I’m glad to hear you had a great time, Sophie! <3 Best of luck for all the adulting now ahah, you can do this <3
Oh, I understand. I think I will give the rest of the series a try, I heard it gets better and that the last book will destroy me, so… I'm too curious ahah 🙂
Oh adulting and real life…. I will need the luck haha!! :’)
Hmmm now that you mention that the series will get better, I might give this another chance. Looking forward to hearing what you think about the other books in the series 🙂
I will let you know for sure, whenever I can buy the next books. Everyone’s letting me know that it’s awesome, and that the last book will BREAK me, so… I’m guessing it will be good ahah 🙂
Now I am swaying towards reading the rest of the series too haha! Let me know when you get around to reading book #2, maybe we can buddy read? 🙂
Oh that would be great! I probably won’t buy it until… christmas, at least, but I’ll let you know! 😀
No worries! I am in no rush either 🙂 keep me posted!
Ooo, I definitely enjoyed this new style of reviewing! <3 I read this book quite a long time ago but as the ending of the series was spoiled for me, I haven't picked up the rest of the books in this series yet but as I already own them, I will definitely someday. I'm glad you enjoyed this one and I definitely hope you enjoy the rest of the series.
Oh thank you so much, Poulami, I’m so happy you like it <3
Oh noooo, I hate when that happened :/ I hope that you'll still want to try and read the series someday, though. I hear it just gets better and better 🙂
thank you so much for your sweet comment <3
Ooh first of all, I like the style of this review- it was super easy to read 😀 I do agree about it being fast paced, having great action scenes and having really well done alternating POVs- basically I was reading your likes and just going yes, yes, yes!! 😉 But at the same time I also felt that the world building and romance were underdeveloped here. I felt really similarly about this book. Great review!!
Ohh thank you – so happy to hear it! <3 I'm glad you felt the same way – I needed a bit more to fall in love with the world. Did you read the whole series, or just the first book? Everyone's telling me it gets better and better, ahah 🙂
You’re welcome!! <3 I totally get that. I did read the whole series- I felt it was the same way the whole way through to be honest, but I did think the ending was epic 😀
Ohhh okay – well I’m so curious about that ending, I can’t wait to know what happens now 😀
hehe well I hope you like it 😉
I hope so too 😀
I liked this new style and actually thinking of implementing it for the books that I don’t like that much? Haha 😀 Well I haven’t read this series and I a not sure if I’ll read it soon. In fact, I haven’t read anything by Marie Lu till date. I was thinking of reading Warcross this year, but say it bad luck, the book is still not available here 🙁
Oh please do! It’s such a fun and quick way to review your books. I hope you’ll want to try it out 😀
Warcross is SO good, it’s my favorite of Marie Lu so far (I read Legend and The Young Elites). I hope it will be available soon for you to read, fingers crossed! <3 <3
Yeah I hope so ? I preordered it at first but now they keep delaying the release date here ? I am so frustrated
Oh no :/ that has to be so bothering. I hope you won’t have to wait too long anymore <3
I always love lists and bullet points so obviously I love your new format 😛 I haven’t read Legend and I’m not sure if I’ll pick it up. I wasn’t too fond of The Young Elites so it kind of put me off from reading Legend. I am interested in Warcross though! If Warcross wins me over I think I’ll give Legend a shot 😀
LISTS ARE THE BEEEEEEEST right?? <3 <3
I hope you'll read Warcross, then – for now, it's my favorite by Marie Lu. Fingers crossed you'll love it 😀
I’m finally catching up with your blog! Bullet point reviews are great because they’re short and to the point! The second and third book go into the world building more so if you continue to read the series, I think you’ll enjoy those more. The third book is my favorite out of the three. I completely agree with you on the map, I couldn’t picture the places very well without having a visual guide. Legend is still one of my favorite trilogies of all time though because I love Lu’s writing.
Ohhh well that’s so good to know, thank you, Shouni! I have decided to keep on reading this series, I’m really curious about it all and I’m glad to hear there is more worldbuilding coming! 😀
I really love Lu’s writing just as well! <3
Thank you so much! <3 <3
I really liked the bullet point review, especially for the 3 Star reviews! The dislikes and like some are more balanced that way! ♥️ I just finished this book yesterday and I really like doing the characters too, though it was instalovey but it felt a little more like comrades with feelings to me?! Not sure that makes sense… also I NEED A MAP TOO! Lol, they would talk about broken down high rises and I’m like but where is it!?
Ahah I’m so glad I’m not the only one feeling a bit lost. I wish there was a map to help us – I think I heard that, later on in the series, there is a map? Fingers crossed, ahah 🙂
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment, Dani! <3
I read the whole series last year and while I enjoyed it, I had a lot of the same frustrations you did. I liked the idea but it wasn’t as well executed as it could be?I also found the characters a bit juvenile, idk. It was quite fast paced and action-y but I felt like the character development wasn’t really good enough, to be honest. It does get better in the later books but then it’s still not amazing. Basically, your review summed up all my thoughts on this book (although it’s been at least a year since I read it so I don’t remember all the details)
I’m glad you felt the same way, Shar! I found the book really promising, but it was missing a bit of… I don’t know, substance, for it all to be amazing. I felt like I didn’t get too into the characters and who they were, same for the world-building. I’m still curious about the rest of the series, though 🙂
thank you!! <3