Rant & Rave- The Ones We're Meant to Find by Joan He

 Hi All!

This is my Rant & Rave for The Ones We're Meant to Find by Joan He.  This was the latest Owlcrate book, though I got a bit of a late start on this one.

The Ones We're Meant to Find follows two very different main characters- Cee, a free-spirited woman trapped on a long-forgotten island with a robot and faint memories of her sister, and Kasey, a reformed criminal science genius dealing with the loss of both science and her sister.  The book takes place in an apocalyptic post-climate crisis world.  Through Cee's story, we see the destroyed world as we know it, and through Casey's, we see a novel science-based way of living.  Both stories are captivating in their own way, and all I can say about the book as a whole is "wow!"

So let's rave!

The twist in this book- amazing!  It was perfectly hinted at in a way that still leaves you dumbfounded when you figure it out.  I kept asking myself "how did I miss this, there were so many hints?"  The answer, of course, is that the hints were subtle and a little confusing until everything clicks into place. Joan He does an excellent job both concealing and finally revealing the twist in the book.  Is she planning to switch to mysteries anytime soon?  (I hope not, because I don't really read mysteries!)

The book flows nicely.  It's almost like reading poetry in two very different styles- Cee's chapters are emotional, passionate, and social, while Kasey's are thought-provoking and filled with world-building and problem solving.  However, throughout both chapters, Joan He's beautifully flowing authorial voice shines through.  

And my (admittedly scant) rant:

I really wanted to jump into every detail of this world.  Joan He does a good job of limiting what information the reader needs, but I almost felt like it was a little too limited.  Yes, it provided what was necessary for the book, but I think that a little more about Kasey's world in particular might have added to the flavor of the book, and made the world itself as memorable as the plot.  

Overall, I think this book takes the top spot of all the Owlcrate books I've gotten so far.  (Sorry Sweet and Bitter Magic; I loved your characters more, but the plot of this one is just TOO good.)  I don't really think a sequel to this book would be worthwhile, but I will certainly be following Joan He's career and checking out future books.  I might decide to do a more elaborate review of this book with spoilers sometime soon, but I don't want to make any promises yet.  

Up next is Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake. A friend recommended it to me and I can see why! It has all the dark fantasy, magic, and courtly intrigue I could ask for.  As always, feel free to leave comments about the book or my thoughts on the book in the comments!

Dana

Rant & Rave- The Seventh World: Search for the Lost Keeper Book One by A.S McMillen

 Hello Everyone!

I'm back with my Rant & Rave for The Seventh World: Search for the Lost Keeper (Book One) by A.S McMillen.  This is the second book I'm reviewing for Paper Raven Books.

This book follows Evie, starting with her time in an orphanage, through her adoption, until a little after her 16th birthday.  Evie, as it turns out, is a descendant of Magnus (who features in the prologue), a great man, who knows the truth about Earth and the many galaxies, and was working to protect them.  Evie starts to learn the truth during a heritage trip to Ireland, where she meets another descendant of Magnus.  Her new friend helps Evie discover her true potential, as a savior of Earth and the rest of the Devas galaxy.  

So lets rave:

The writing in the book is straightforward and easy to follow.  I found myself getting lost in Evie's world after only a few seconds, and, at times, had a hard time pulling myself out of the rich fantasy world.  The vocabulary is not exceptional, but the use of everyday language adds to the ease of transition into the book. 

While the worldbuilding itself was nothing special (although it was unique), each part was well-described and left just the right amount to the reader's imagination.  A.S. McMillen does an excellent job of weaving the necessary descriptions into the plot without creating blocks of solely description.  Both as an avid reader and as someone that struggles with writing like this myself, I can appreciate when it's done right.

This novel is excellent for preteen and teenage readers, as well as adults that want a read with less intellectual strain.  My last book involved a lot of focus and thinking to understand the plot and repercussions of each character's actions.  The Seventh World doesn't take as much mental energy to get through, and is therefore a more versatile book.  I can pick it up without having to carve aside tons of time to dedicate to its pages.  

On to the ranting:

So this is related to my last rave comment, but sometimes the plot felt overexplained. While McMillen does a great job describing people and places, she sometimes uses Evie's thought process to "dumb down" the plot for the reader.  There is a thin line to tread here- the plot is elaborate and designed to take place over several books, so it's complicated- but I think it could have been explained less and still been sufficient.  At the very least, leave some room for the reader to brainstorm their own ideas about what is going on before explaining.  

Evie's thoughts seem elementary for her age.  I didn't notice much mental development between young, recently adopted Evie, and sixteen year old Evie.  Her thoughts don't seem any more elaborate, and her emotions are very defined, which also adds to the perception that Evie isn't a fully developed 16 year old character. It's possible that this is done to maintain her "innocent" image (which is pertinent to the plot), but, in my opinion, she can be innocent without sterilizing her thoughts and emotions of all hints of teenage behavior. 

Overall, I really enjoyed the book and, like I mentioned, it was a good mental break after my last novel.  I will certainly read (and review) the sequel at some point.  I think A.S. McMillen is a promising new author, and I'll certainly look into any books she puts out in the future.  

My next book will be another Owlcrate book, The Ones We're Meant to Find, by Joan He. Remember to let me know if you'd like to be added to the email address list and get content notifications in the future!

Thanks for reading and, as always, let me know what you thought of the book or my review in the comments!

Dana