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Why You Should Buy It
Although the jury is still out on this one, the book has dystopian, fantasy, romance, and girl hero. So, if you are looking for something in the same vein as today’s favorite YA books, you will enjoy this plot.
My Thoughts
I’ve heard good things about this book, and it has been in my to-read list for a long time. For some reason, I just never got hooked by the synopsis. However, it seemed like a great book to buy in paperback with my most recent gift card.
And the story idea is really great — a girl who can understand any language in a world of people taught to only speak two — the layman language of Englaise — and the language of their ‘class.’ Labeled a dystopian AND a fantasy, it has potential to be rather awesome.
But somehow, the book seems like a picture-by-numbers rather than a gripping tale. It kept me engaged, and I read it quickly. However, it seemed lackluster, trite, formulaic, and predictable. The writing wasn’t bad either (and trust me, I can ignore bad writing if the story keeps me interested), but it just wasn’t enough.
I wasn’t completely on board with the romance part of things, and the world building wasn’t enough for me to really grasp why everything was happening. My other issue was that we see brief glimpses of other character’s POV, but they are so brief, they usually confuse rather than add to the story.
I’m invested in the story — it could have been a really great book — but I’m not sold on the finished picture. If I can find the second book at the library, I’ll read it. Otherwise, I’ll be spending my money elsewhere.
Overall
Three out of Five Stars