As my updates show, I struggled quite a bit with this book. It got me on the wrong foot from the start because it initially felt like just a cross between a mediocre fantasy and a rather dark dystopian novel instead of the magical wonderful mashup the blurb describes. It did quickly become more interesting than a simple dystopia - for one thing, it’s also an alternate history - but there was a disconnect for me between the blurb (and many reviewers’ comments) and my experience. YA dystopian fiction isn’t really my favourite sub–genre, but I can overlook it if I’m in the right mood, and I wasn’t. The main weakness of the novel, I think, is the slow and spare development of plot of characters in order to set up the following book(s). So: the plot. There is the trope of the special teenagers, ‘the Talented’, who are hunted by those who need them and those who would harm them. Two large plot arcs concern the betrayals of one character by another. Of course there is more to the plot than just these two overarching schemas, but they dominate the book. I particularly squirmed during the second plot arc, during the last two thirds or so of the novel, when it’s only the reader and the lying, manipulative character who know what is going on. It’s not that this wasn’t done well – in fact I think the writer handled it extremely well, especially the portrayal of the deceiver. It’s that I actually find this kind of plot device particularly excruciating. This is a purely personal thing, of course, and many other readers won’t find it a problem. It’s an effective tool to ramp up the tension; I just don’t happen to like that particular form of tension.Apart from that, I found the plot rather simplistic and somewhat cliched – but given that this is the first volume of a series and that this one moves quite slowly, that’s not surprising. My big beef here is that in order for the plot finale to occur, both characters in the budding romantic relationship need to be oddly passive and unassertive when the plot heats up. There is one particular episode which seems to be an homage to the scene in Pride and Prejudice where Darcy proposes to Elizabeth – not that there is an actual proposal here, but there is the equivalent of Elizabeth’s assumptions and her disdain, and of Darcy’s fury and inability or reluctance to tell her the truth about Wickham. This parallel scene is handled quite well, by the way, but the parallel with P&P falls down because in the latter the reader is duped along with Elizabeth (at least on the first reading), while in this book, the reader already knows every detail of the truth. For me, the subtle power of that scene from P&P is that the reader is a partner with Elizabeth in her assumptions and her anger so that later the reader is also a partner in her self-insight. Now, of course it’s not fair to compare a first-time novelist to Jane Austen, but the scene really seems to invite comparison. What’s more to the point, the attempt the writer made to make it seem believable in terms of the personalities involved didn’t really work for me and I’m not sure I buy it. It’s not that the characters are outwardly passive – there’s plenty of conflict and slow burn – but that the plot requires that neither of them act, neither in regard to each other nor in regard to the betrayer. It just didn’t work for me.Another thing that’s lacking a bit is the world-building. It’s all a bit sketchy. I don’t have a full sense of either World or Angle Tar, the two locations in which the plot takes place. And World irritated me in its role as the stereotypical future world gone totally wrong, with just about everyone (except for the archetypal rebels) lost in a virtual reality - clearly echoing our current obsessions with the internet and electronic devices. This may well change and become more nuanced in future books, but in this one, it felt a bit inadequate to me. Mind you, I very much enjoyed the name quirky name ‘Angle Tar’ and its meaning in the alternate history in which the novel is set. Other things I liked: the characters of Rue, White and Frith really begin to come to life towards the end of the book (in fact, everything really only started to interest me towards the end). White, in particular, has huge potential as a character. The other thing I might just read the next book for, apart from the development of the characters, is to find out more about the central mystery, which is mostly hidden and only peeps out now and then, except at the very end: what is the Castle, who is the Ghost Lady, what is the monster and what’s really going on? That’s what really piqued my interest – and it’s beautifully portrayed, with the right amount of horror and dread, but it’s hardly touched upon until the very end. At its best, the writing is something else I appreciated, but it’s rather uneven – at times rather clumsy and stilted, but at other times, really vivid and lovely. It seemed to build to a crescendo towards the very last pages of the book, when it soared and sang, and managed to rescue the book for me.It’s a shame that I spent so much time squirming while I read this book, but having finished it, and been piqued by the intriguing crescendo, I might just possibly have a peep at the next one to see what the mystery is all about, to find out more about the characters, and hoping to imbibe more of the best of that interesting voice.I have so many conflicting reactions that it’s impossible for me to rate this book, so for once, I’m just not going to. I wasn't sure what I'd make of this book at first tbh. i found the synopsis on goodreads to be misleading and I don't understand why they didnt use the blurb on the back of the book instead.Anyhoo I really enjoyed this book. I found the whole World and Life thing confusing at first I feel it could have been explained more but once I understood I wanted to know more (and still do) I'm slightly reminded of Under The Never Sky and their virtual reality but the comparison stops there. I liked Rue straight away her attitude is similar to mine. She's argumentative and is generally not a people person but I do wish she wasn't as naive though, the poor girl believed every word Wren said to her. White needs to man up. How could he just sit back at watch Wren whisk Rue away and say nothing. It pissed me right off I like men with balls! I really hope he ups his game in book 2. I have a few questions that i hope get answered it book 2. What year is it? It seems futuristic especially World but back in Angle Tar the people act like they would years ago. Things like unmarried men and women living/being seen with each other is frowned upon and seen as inappropriate. What is the thing that everyone is afraid off? Why do they think White is dangerous? We saw a couple of abilities from him but surely that's not all of it. I read this book in a day and can't wait till book 2
What do You think about Fearsome Dreamer (2013)?
an amazing storyline.. would be a pleasure to win and read this book.. i wish i can win... :D
—ClaudiaBby
