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3.36 AVERAGE
3.36 AVERAGE
So this book had me as soon as I heard that it had LOST vibes. I was a huge fan of the show, and I'll admit that's why I bought this book. But you don't need to know anything about the tv show to love this book. Because even if it has some of the vibes, it stands solely on its own.
This is Kayla Olson's first novel, and that alone blows me away, because she is already incredibly adept at world building and character development. This is one of those books where you're completely transported to another time and place until your own world just melts away.
Eden, our mc, is a likeable and realistic character that we can easily relate to. She's an ordinary girl placed in extraordinary circumstances. And the lengths she has to go to to survive will have you on the edge of your seat.There are twists and turns throughout that will keep you wondering what is real and what's not.... and who can really be trusted.
This is a YA book that easily crosses over for us older adults. So if you like high adventure and great writing, I highly recommend this book.
This is Kayla Olson's first novel, and that alone blows me away, because she is already incredibly adept at world building and character development. This is one of those books where you're completely transported to another time and place until your own world just melts away.
Eden, our mc, is a likeable and realistic character that we can easily relate to. She's an ordinary girl placed in extraordinary circumstances. And the lengths she has to go to to survive will have you on the edge of your seat.There are twists and turns throughout that will keep you wondering what is real and what's not.... and who can really be trusted.
This is a YA book that easily crosses over for us older adults. So if you like high adventure and great writing, I highly recommend this book.
I received this book in my June 2017 Owlcrate. I really should stop putting off reading these books because this was yet another fun one.
I do understand why some people didn’t like the twists that appeared after the first 100 pages but I enjoyed them. I’m glad it wasn’t just some creepy Lost-like island trying to kill the girls and that there was more depth to the story. Of course everything works out fine in the end without too much loss of life and there’s the meh insta love but I can look past that as it wasn’t overpowering in the story. This was a great break to my usual fantasy reads and I recommend it!
I do understand why some people didn’t like the twists that appeared after the first 100 pages but I enjoyed them. I’m glad it wasn’t just some creepy Lost-like island trying to kill the girls and that there was more depth to the story. Of course everything works out fine in the end without too much loss of life and there’s the meh insta love but I can look past that as it wasn’t overpowering in the story. This was a great break to my usual fantasy reads and I recommend it!
A sci-fi mix of Lost, Survivor, and Lord of the Flies, this dystopian novel presents a world where water is toxic and Wolves reign.
Eden searches for an island of hope written between the lines of her father's old survival guide. In a world where everyone hides truth behind lies, Eden must learn who to trust while also fighting to survive on an island of advanced tech.
I enjoyed this so much. So many quotable moments, so many truths to live by.
Eden searches for an island of hope written between the lines of her father's old survival guide. In a world where everyone hides truth behind lies, Eden must learn who to trust while also fighting to survive on an island of advanced tech.
I enjoyed this so much. So many quotable moments, so many truths to live by.
Monthly buddy read with TL, one of my favourite people (even though we usually have opposite opinions!)
I don't think anything I say here is too spoilery, but be warned just in case.
The Sandcastle Empire was a book I hadn't heard of until recently, when it came in my Owlcrate box. I thought it would be a book I would enjoy, but I wasn't sure about picking it up any time soon until Terri mentioned she also wanted to read it, hence the buddy read :) And I'm really glad I did. I found this such a refreshing sci-fi novel, and it's (currently, although this could change!) a standalone!
The cast of characters were all really unique and well developed. I immediately felt connected to Eden, and I also really loved Alexa too. Lonan was a nice love interest too, but the romance was really not a huge part of the story, so that was nice. I wish the Alexa/Cass relationship had gone into more depth and we'd got a bit more history from them because I really liked them both.
The jungle/island setting was AMAZING. I love survival stories, and it was a really great adventure setting, that made for such interesting and nerve-wracking development. I couldn't put the book down, especially after we met the boys and Finnley returned.
The ending... That's where it lost a star, due to it being very confusing. It got a bit too sciency and I found myself a little lost at times. But I still really loved this book and I'm happy I picked it up. I don't think it needs a sequel, but if one came out I would definitely read it.
I don't think anything I say here is too spoilery, but be warned just in case.
The Sandcastle Empire was a book I hadn't heard of until recently, when it came in my Owlcrate box. I thought it would be a book I would enjoy, but I wasn't sure about picking it up any time soon until Terri mentioned she also wanted to read it, hence the buddy read :) And I'm really glad I did. I found this such a refreshing sci-fi novel, and it's (currently, although this could change!) a standalone!
The cast of characters were all really unique and well developed. I immediately felt connected to Eden, and I also really loved Alexa too. Lonan was a nice love interest too, but the romance was really not a huge part of the story, so that was nice. I wish the Alexa/Cass relationship had gone into more depth and we'd got a bit more history from them because I really liked them both.
The jungle/island setting was AMAZING. I love survival stories, and it was a really great adventure setting, that made for such interesting and nerve-wracking development. I couldn't put the book down, especially after we met the boys and Finnley returned.
The ending... That's where it lost a star, due to it being very confusing. It got a bit too sciency and I found myself a little lost at times. But I still really loved this book and I'm happy I picked it up. I don't think it needs a sequel, but if one came out I would definitely read it.
I loved this book! Kayla Olsen did a great job and I was intrigued the entire time. Great writing, great flow, and wonderful story.
"And so castles made of sand fall into the sea eventually." (Jimi Hendrix) That's what popped into my head when I finally got around to unwrapping the book I won from Owl Crate through a Book Riot contest. To me, it seemed that too many things were competing in this book. Perhaps it will become a series? After I read a little ways, WOLVES NOT FAR from TWD popped into my head next. The plot seems familiar albeit set in the future: a group takes power and oppresses those formerly in power. Throw in an uninhabited island a la [b:Lord of the Flies|7624|Lord of the Flies|William Golding|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327869409s/7624.jpg|2766512] plus some invisible force fields and poisonous flora and fauna from [b:Catching Fire|6148028|Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2)|Suzanne Collins|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1358273780s/6148028.jpg|6171458] and you can see what the female refugees of the gulag are up against. As it is a YA book, there are cute boys who show up but can they be trusted?
I never thought I'd enjoy reading dystopian novels but this book managed to change my opinion as it was the first dystopian novel I've ever read.
I'm really sorry to see how underrated it is, but there's still hope that many new people might read and like it as much as I did.
Both story and the characters were amazing and I grew to love them all so very much.
I'm really sorry to see how underrated it is, but there's still hope that many new people might read and like it as much as I did.
Both story and the characters were amazing and I grew to love them all so very much.
This high-stakes survival story coming from debut writer Kayla Olson is a wonderful addition to YA.
The writing is my favorite part of the book - It's stunning but simple enough to understand, the perfect balance between flowery and boring.
I found it heteronormative and a bit predictable (everyone pairs off into m/f relationships), and that was...bothersome. I guessed what would happen next.
Some of the environmental aspects went a liiiiittle over my head?
Some parts I was captivated by, and others I was bored through. I switched between those two states throughout the story.
Regardless, I still did enjoy it - but it's definitely not a new favorite.
If this sounds like something you'd like, I would definitely recommend you check it out when it releases.
The writing is my favorite part of the book - It's stunning but simple enough to understand, the perfect balance between flowery and boring.
I found it heteronormative and a bit predictable (everyone pairs off into m/f relationships), and that was...bothersome. I guessed what would happen next.
Some of the environmental aspects went a liiiiittle over my head?
Some parts I was captivated by, and others I was bored through. I switched between those two states throughout the story.
Regardless, I still did enjoy it - but it's definitely not a new favorite.
If this sounds like something you'd like, I would definitely recommend you check it out when it releases.
This seemed promising to begin with, but was hampered later on with weird writing, including a few cringe-worthy moments, big plot holes, odd storyline development, and vague characterizations with no explanation for why they do the things they do. Weird.