sounds interesting. Sometimes our ratings just have to go by feels, I suppose. I'm stuck on a review now for one I really liked, but can't say precisely why.
It was a jumpy start for me, I had trouble getting a feel for the worldbuilding and it seemed like characters jumped in awfully quickly. But I liked the writing immediately despite wanting a bot more explanation so I could orient myself to the story and know Jax. I think about chapter 4 or 5 it did suck me in. I need to get back to the series; the next book sucked me in so much I made this series one I would not read as published, to at least have two more waiti g for me because as soon as I finish one I want the next.
I think one reason reviews are mixed is that you are flung right into what seems an ongoing story line. It takes a bit to orient yourself and make out story/worldbuilding/characters. Forget about info dumps, cardboard cast of characters that you can skim over as unimportant, long descriptive passages explaining everything to you, etc. Female lead is not very girly so reads more to me like men's adventure style of action-packed science fiction.
I've been pondering it a bit overnight, in light of the comments here, and I think really the problem is just the very start.
The very beginning Sirantha alone in a cell, and lots of exposition, and then wham, it's all action. It's like that beginning doesn't quite gel with the rest. A
almost smacks of editorial interference - that either the book was going to initially start right in with the action and fill in all the gaps later, or that there was initially a couple more chapters at the start that got cut and jammed into the first two pages of this one. And it's almost like it's starting with a "Previously on...." like Dresden sometimes does, and this is the second book of the series, except there wasn't actually a first one.
I hate to be that fan who is all "but just keep reading, it'll get better", but in this case, it really did (and unlike Dresden, didn't take several books to get there.)
Oh well, maybe with book 2 I'll figure it out. Or overcome it, whatever it is.
The very beginning Sirantha alone in a cell, and lots of exposition, and then wham, it's all action. It's like that beginning doesn't quite gel with the rest. A
almost smacks of editorial interference - that either the book was going to initially start right in with the action and fill in all the gaps later, or that there was initially a couple more chapters at the start that got cut and jammed into the first two pages of this one. And it's almost like it's starting with a "Previously on...." like Dresden sometimes does, and this is the second book of the series, except there wasn't actually a first one.
I hate to be that fan who is all "but just keep reading, it'll get better", but in this case, it really did (and unlike Dresden, didn't take several books to get there.)