I am not okay The problem with rating this book is that it's actually three novellas, and my ratings for them individually are astronomically different. So I'm going to break down my review into each book individually. Go to the very bottom of my review for a summary. The first book follows FM, a character that is present in both of the first two books but who we never get to know very well. I despised this book. I only remember three things from it: OH MY GOD WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THE MUSIC; well that romance felt more than a little awkward; and the slugs. Two stars. A LOW two stars. Possibly 1.5 if it's still bothering me next week. Don't get me wrong, I love Rig. He's sweet, he's funny, he and Spensa have such an awesome relationship. Rig choked. "Spensa? Do I seem like I want to torture myself?" The way that FM described Rig also really bugged me. It just didn't sound like how anyone talks, ever. Rig looked at me, and there was something so sweet and vulnerable about him that it made me want to reach out and touch him. Pretty much the only thing I liked about this book were the scenes that involved Jorgen trying to hum to the slugs. Parts of this book were simply some of the more immature writing I've read in a long time. There was this never ending.theme of FM playing classical music in her starship during battles, and FLYING AND FIGHTING AND SHOOTING AND SWERVING AND SPINNING AND DIVING TO THE MUSIC. SHE UNLEASHED HER DESTRUCTORS AS THE MUSIC REACHED A CRESCENDO. but i am more okay than I want to be and i highly enjoy pretending he's brunette and not a redhead. But while overall FM and Rig's romance was cute, that's about it. There was definitely a splash of the miscommunication trope at the start, and we all know how I feel about that. It also felt like FM's crush on Rig just popped into existence one day and she decided that she was mad because he supposedly likes Spensa. It didn't make much sense. spoiler: he can't hum also i'm not even going to get started how her 'best friend' died in the first chapter and she forgot about it for the rest of the book
I think I was in physical pain reading parts of it.
I continued to weave through the debris as the music swelled in long, slow swoops.
(then later);
My whole body jittering to the syncopation of the music, I opened fire.
Who writes like this??
Overall, I can't remember almost anything that happened in this book so I couldn't tell you whether you need to read it to understand the plot, but this book is not worth your time. Either google what happens or just skip it and hope the next book catches you up 🤷♀️
Redawn follows a character named Alanik, who we know even less about. This book was mostly politics, and it took me forever to get through. Forever. Probably 3 stars, but I'm bumping it up to 3.5 for the moments we got between Alanik and Arturo.
That being said, it was interesting, it was just very slow paced. However, I have the same complaint that I have made about almost every book in this series so far. Brandon Sanderson cannot write young adult romance.
When you read the line His eyes were dark and deep, not clear and bright like most UrDail. you know exactly what's coming. Not to mention how it wouldn't come as much of a surprise if two different species had... wait for it... different eyes! Shocker! But no, this is Brandon's attempt at subtly starting the romance.
Yeah, so my next problem with this book. Despite how obviously they were falling for each other, and everything was being set up for them to end up together... they never do. Nope. The novella ended before anything happen between them. AUGH.
HE STARTED CALLING HER ANGEL. BEFORE. THEY. WERE. DATING. (brandon sanderson i hope you can fight because if we don't get a full relationship between them before this series is over i will have several things to say)
He meant the diones. I hadn't killed them. I'd simply marooned them. Not like that ship I shot out of the sky. It would have reached the core by now, crashed there, entombing the body of the person who'd burned alive inside. Arturo put a hand on my shoulder, pulling me outside. "Are you okay?" He asked. "You're shaking." My whole body was trembling, and though I tried to get a grip on myself I couldn't make it stop. "I'm fine," I said. "The hell you are."
ITS NOT FAIR THAT MY SECOND FAVORITE ROMANCE IN THIS SERIES ISNT EVEN A ROMANCE
Anyways, on to the third novella, Evershore. Solid four stars. This book finally made me Feel All The Things.
"I couldn't remember what it felt like to laugh. I wondered if that meant I'd already drowned."
"You walk forward and stand in the ocean. Feel the water as it washes against your feet. The temperature is pleasant, to too warm and not too cool." If Spensa were listening to this, she would embellish on it. I laughed. "Is something funny?" "No," I said. "Just imagining the ocean running red with the blood of my enemies." Juno sounded startled. "Is that some kind of... premonition?" "Nope," I said. "A memory of my girlfriend."
"I've never regretted it. I could never regret one minute with her, no matter how it all turns out."
The YEARNING. The ANGST. The HEARTACHE. But I wanted more. I needed more. Brandon delivered... but there was so much opportunity for more. But the little bits that we got GAVE ME LIFE.
I also loved the writing when Jorgen was struggling with being in charge and having to make the difficult choices. And some of his inner dialogue HIT HARD. I HAD TO WATCH ONE OF MY LOML SUFFER WITH NO ONE THERE TO HELP HIM.
"Maybe it would have been easier if I had died there."
(It's a lot deeper when you've been there for the whole of his novella).
The things I would do for a full length book from his perspective... it's a need. Or even a duel POV between him and Spensa, (although I'm pretty sure the next two book are just her POV).
SUMMARY:
Sunreach: slugs. FM and Rig were cute but just okay. overwhelmingly underwhelming and painful writing. skip this book, it's not worth your time. google a synopsis. ⭐⭐ 1.5 - 2 stars.
Redawn: JSHFOSDUHGISURJPSIJ HE CALLED HER ANGEL- officially obsessed with Alanik and Arturo. lots of politics and ✨ discoveries, not much action until the end. ⭐⭐⭐ 3.5 stars
Evershore: I WILL NOT STOP UNTIL I CAN GIVE JORGEN THE BIGGEST HUG. I wanted more of his thoughts on Spensa, but the little bits we got were PERFECTION. This book almost broke my heart but I needed a little more time spent on the rough patches he went through. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars.
Overall thoughts: Sunreach sucked. Evershore was fantastic. Overall 4 stars although I feel conflicted giving it that because of how much the first book was just a flaming dumpster fire.
