Copy Cat?

There were so many similarities between Mortal Engines and this book. Strikers were in Mortal Engines as people who died and were bought back as hard to kill, empty soul, ghosts. They killed for the “villians” of the book.

In this book strikers were the soldiers in battle....but ghosts were people who died and were bought back as hard to kill, empty soul, ghosts. They also said killed for the “villians” of the book.

I feel like the author read Mortal Engines and then write this.

Normally a huge fan. Could get by the similarities.

5 people found this helpful

Excellent YA storytelling & action

strong female characters, exciting fight scenes, sign language usage and lgbtq+ representation as we
ll

3 people found this helpful

Amazing!

Definitely one of the best books I have read in a long while! I really recommend you check it out too!

2 people found this helpful

Ghostly. Grueling. Gripping.

Probably the most complex of Marie Lu’s plots yet. I read it twice to make sure I knew how I felt about it. A extremely unique read for me indeed. And with such a fabulous narrator as Natalie Naudus, one cannot very wrong.

⚖️ Plot: It was amazing to walk amongst the thoughts of a protagonist who can’t speak. I found it stunning to have words explains in signs in writing. What a feat! It would have been an enriching experience just for this. The only part that kept it from a full 5 stars was the ending. I wanted more.

🗺 World: What a world! Ghosts being the villains army is such a great idea. I truly want to read more about this. It’s such a flawless intertwining of technology and mythology.

💑 Characters: I absolutely loved both of the main characters. What a superb combo to have with Talin’s grief and the wreck that is Red! This is one place I think Lu could have developed a little more. Although it is YA, an even deeper connection would’ve had me hanging by a ledge.

2 people found this helpful

Loved this book

Loved the story but didn’t hold the detail or depth of her other books. The story moved very quickly and didn’t bog down so it had both advantages and disadvantages.

1 person found this helpful

great listen

I really enjoyed this audible but the final Battle scene went on too long with no development. the voice performance is okay

1 person found this helpful

Not my usual taste but thoroughly enjoyed it!

Honestly, when I’d first started this book I was hesitant since it’s not my usual taste but after the first few chapters, I was definitely hooked into Talin’s journey with Mara against The Federation. It was different to only hear from Talin’s POV but I found that I didn’t mind at all. I don’t know if it had more to do with the writer or the narrator but either way, it worked out great for me. I do wish that I would’ve known when I’d first read the book that it ended with a cliffhanger because sheesh, the wait has been killing me! I’m dying to know what happens next but luckily the sequel, Steelstriker, is set to be released soon and I already have my preorders in so I’ll be all good ;)
Anyway, I loved the story and I’m grateful to both the author and narrator :) Thanks for giving us a badass female MC!

interesting story of well worn plot

In some ways the story is very familiar, whether on a good-evil, romantic, enemy becomes ally level. I do think the author does make the story interesting and different enough that you will not get bored or say I've read a dozen book with the plot.

That being said there are points that you will go saw that coming a mile away. Or, once I wish character X would do something different.

So was a good listen, but don't expect ground breaking new story.

Edgy and Predictable

If you want a super edgy but predictable story this it. Normally I wouldn't rag on this not everything needs to be unique, its very hard to have new ideas especially in the fantasy genre. However if you also have some nonsensical characters with super common tropy personalities..... Let's just say this book was a slog to get through.

Let's talk characters. I think part of the big problem is not only are the characters tropy as hell they also don't have any meaningful interactions with each other. I can't really think of any compelling moments in the story where these characters felt real. There wasnt any character depth in the story (aside from Jarren and its lightly explored) making it really difficult to care about anyone in the story. Part of the problem was the author overexplained each character interaction really interrupting any flow being created. It was pretty annoying having every conversation interrupted with and the main character felt this way and here's a piece of information. It just kills the scene. Maybe I'm missing something here, but I don't think so.

Another problem was the action and more specifically the consistency in it. To say I was confused during the fighting would be an understatement. The ghosts were cool I guess but they're supposed to be some of the fastest things and strongest things alive and yet these Strikers kill them like they're almost nothing. Granted maybe its just the main character Talon being the best at killing them but still the amount of bs that happens while fighting ghosts takes me way out of the fight. All thats needed to alleviate the problem is just not make them ad fast or strong, because their unkillable nature is already pretty scary. The characters do so many flashy things against them that if the ghosts were as strong as made out to be everyone would be dead by like chapter 5. Speaking of everyone being dead. Guns exist in this world and just aren't used for some reason. The amount of times the main villain walks up to anyone and doesn't die just is like what? Not only that but we have open battle lines against soldiers armed with guns. I dunno it was just so hard to get excited when the entire time I can't get into the fight because it doesn't make any sense.

The narrator was honestly the saving grace of this book and I probably wouldn't have finished if her performance wasn't so good.

Either way if you liked the book you liked the book. I personally can't recommend it. Too edgy and cringe for me but if you like that you might enjoy it.

A Gripping Story With STELLAR Naration

Both the author and the narrator really knocked it out of the park with this one. My only gripe is that Natalie Naudus won't be the sole narrator of the sequel; she absolutely CRUSHED IT as Red and it'll be disappointing to not get more of her voice in Steelstriker.