Author- Jay Kristoff.
Publish date- September 2012.
Publisher- Macmillan/Tor UK.
(Goodreads)
Review...
Synopsis (from Goodreads):
Griffins are supposed to be extinct. So when Yukiko and her warrior father Masaru are sent to capture one for the Shogun, they fear that their lives are over. Everyone knows what happens to those who fail him, no matter how hopeless the task.
But the mission proves far less impossible, and far more deadly, than anyone expects – and soon Yukiko finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in her country's last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled griffin for company. But trapped together in the forest, Yukiko and Buruu soon discover a friendship that neither of them expected.
Thank you to Macmillan for this review copy!
What I thought:
I wasn't able to finish Stormdancer so my review is written from that perspective.
Much as I dislike saying it and dislike doing it, I went into Stormdancer having read reviews that were all good and not a single one that didn't enjoy it. It's happened before and I don't doubt that it will happen again, but I was the black sheep, as it were- the one who didn't like it. Only after I had tried and failed in my reading did I see a couple of reviews that agreed with my stance on the book.
There wasn't anything really in the novel that was especially a turn off, but something in it just didn't click and I couldn't get a hold of the plot, connect with any of the characters or really work out where things were going. I didn't get very far and didn't push myself to keep reading when I decided that it was no use, despite having said many times over that I don't like reviewing a book if I haven't finished it, but this was sadly the case.
There's no lack of plot or promise of an excellent story- the plot has so much going for it that's it hard to believe one couldn't like it (and have you seen that cover? It's so beautiful!) but for me there was nothing in the actual writing that made me desperate to find out what happened, to make sure I was with the story every step of the way and never missing a beat, and it felt quite similar to Dragon Keeper by Carol Wilkinson in it's feel and setting, which isn't a bad thing as I really enjoyed the book, but was a little too sameish for my personal taste, though it was definitely aimed at an older audience.
No Star Rating.
Too bad this one didn't click with you! I have indeed been hearing nothing but amazing things about it, but I don't think you should finish a book that doesn't agree with you. Thanks for reviewing it anyway :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about not finishing a book that you don't enjoy! In a way I don't think it's terrible thing at all not to like a book and still review it, because I think it helps people get a general perspective, not just see the positives or vice versa, the negatives.
Deleteugh I know! I think this is a fairly problematic book & I've seen quite a few scathing reviews of it, actually. Objectively speaking about the book, it has a very rough start but gradually improves. It definitely fell flat from my expectations though.
ReplyDeleteI think it's always frustrating when books are pitched as being "the next big thing" because, yes, for some people it will be that, but it also gets hopes up for potential readers who will not like it. I try not to have expectations about books I'm going into as much as possible, but I almost always do end up having some kind of hopes about it. Always wonderful when I don't and the book soars above expectations, not so great when it goes the other way. /:
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