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A review by a_h_haga
Bones of the Witch by A.L. Knorr
2.0
Actual rating: 1.5/2 stars.
I am 98% sure that my depression didn't ruin this book for me. Still, it wasn't my best read of the month, to say the least.
I had two major issues with this book.
1: I felt like this was the fifth or sixth book in a series, not a first! It kept referencing events that seemed important to the storyline, as well as characters that didn't have anything to do with this story, but were apparently important to the MC. At times, it felt a lot like name dropping just for the sake of doing it. On the same note, there was no world building at all. The author jumped right in and seemed to expect the reader to know everything they did.
This, I found out toward the end of the book, was because this is the Xst book in a series. Or, at least in a world-series. A fact that wasn't mentioned anywhere, but I found out by looking up the author on here!
I love that there are multiple story ARCs in a world, because that's how real life works! That said, each new series have to start of like the reader hasn't visited your world beforehand. Doing anything else tasts of hubris, and I as a reader find it mildly insulting. I can't tell you why, but I do. If not for the fact that I didn't already own the rest of this series, I might avoid this author in the future because of this fact. I also own another book by them, the beginning to a new series, but I'm hesitant to picking it up because of this fact. I shouldn't have to buy and read 40 other books before the one I already own, that was marketed as the first in a whole new series! If you're going to write a world-series, give the world a name and then add each book into said series here on GR! Bind them together, so it's easy for the reader to see that this book may need some research before picking it up.
Sorry, I went off on a rant there. Apparently, this is something I have feelings about.
2: I always stood outside of it, and there was no real drive.
I will admit that I'm probably continuing on with the series, because I'm curious about it, but I kept feeling like something was missing. Yes, I've already addressed the lack of world building, but there was something more. I felt like there was something missing from the way the story was told, from the way the characters were introduced, and how they interacted. I at times felt like I'd missed a whole chapter of bonding and evolving!
And, considering how many books this author has published, I'd have expected better.
I also feel like I have to address the age group here. The MC is supposedly 18, and taking her last year of High School online. But among the friends she make in Scotland, everyone seem to be living on their own, having jobs, or studying. I really think this book would have been better if the MC was 20, and taking a year off from school to study her magic or something like that. It would make it all a lot more believable. As it stands, it feels a little like the author forced the MC into the role as a Young Adult so she could have the marketing opportunity. Which is a shame, really. College is still considered YA, after all!
I was very torn on the rating, because there are so many things about this book that just weren't up to par. Then again, it was all just ok, a little meh, but at the same time just the kind of meh I needed right now. So many mixed feelings about this book, it's not even funny...
I am 98% sure that my depression didn't ruin this book for me. Still, it wasn't my best read of the month, to say the least.
I had two major issues with this book.
1: I felt like this was the fifth or sixth book in a series, not a first! It kept referencing events that seemed important to the storyline, as well as characters that didn't have anything to do with this story, but were apparently important to the MC. At times, it felt a lot like name dropping just for the sake of doing it. On the same note, there was no world building at all. The author jumped right in and seemed to expect the reader to know everything they did.
This, I found out toward the end of the book, was because this is the Xst book in a series. Or, at least in a world-series. A fact that wasn't mentioned anywhere, but I found out by looking up the author on here!
I love that there are multiple story ARCs in a world, because that's how real life works! That said, each new series have to start of like the reader hasn't visited your world beforehand. Doing anything else tasts of hubris, and I as a reader find it mildly insulting. I can't tell you why, but I do. If not for the fact that I didn't already own the rest of this series, I might avoid this author in the future because of this fact. I also own another book by them, the beginning to a new series, but I'm hesitant to picking it up because of this fact. I shouldn't have to buy and read 40 other books before the one I already own, that was marketed as the first in a whole new series! If you're going to write a world-series, give the world a name and then add each book into said series here on GR! Bind them together, so it's easy for the reader to see that this book may need some research before picking it up.
Sorry, I went off on a rant there. Apparently, this is something I have feelings about.
2: I always stood outside of it, and there was no real drive.
I will admit that I'm probably continuing on with the series, because I'm curious about it, but I kept feeling like something was missing. Yes, I've already addressed the lack of world building, but there was something more. I felt like there was something missing from the way the story was told, from the way the characters were introduced, and how they interacted. I at times felt like I'd missed a whole chapter of bonding and evolving!
And, considering how many books this author has published, I'd have expected better.
I also feel like I have to address the age group here. The MC is supposedly 18, and taking her last year of High School online. But among the friends she make in Scotland, everyone seem to be living on their own, having jobs, or studying. I really think this book would have been better if the MC was 20, and taking a year off from school to study her magic or something like that. It would make it all a lot more believable. As it stands, it feels a little like the author forced the MC into the role as a Young Adult so she could have the marketing opportunity. Which is a shame, really. College is still considered YA, after all!
I was very torn on the rating, because there are so many things about this book that just weren't up to par. Then again, it was all just ok, a little meh, but at the same time just the kind of meh I needed right now. So many mixed feelings about this book, it's not even funny...