Review: The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White
10:23:00 PM
Title: The Chaos of Stars
Author: Kiersten White
Format acquired: Paperback
Publisher: HarperTeen
Author: Kiersten White
Format acquired: Paperback
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication date: September 10, 2013
Summary:
Isadora’s
family is seriously screwed up.
Of course, as the human daughter of Egyptian gods, that pretty much comes with the territory. She’s also stuck with parents who barely notice her, and a house full of relatives who can’t be bothered to remember her name. After all, they are going to be around forever—and she’s a mere mortal.
Isadora’s sick of living a life where she’s only worthy of a passing glance, and when she has the chance to move to San Diego with her brother, she jumps on it. But Isadora’s quickly finding that a “normal” life comes with plenty of its own epic complications—and that there’s no such thing as a clean break when it comes to family. Much as she wants to leave her past behind, she can’t shake the ominous dreams that foretell destruction for her entire family. When it turns out there may be truth in her nightmares, Isadora has to decide whether she can abandon her divine heritage after all.
Of course, as the human daughter of Egyptian gods, that pretty much comes with the territory. She’s also stuck with parents who barely notice her, and a house full of relatives who can’t be bothered to remember her name. After all, they are going to be around forever—and she’s a mere mortal.
Isadora’s sick of living a life where she’s only worthy of a passing glance, and when she has the chance to move to San Diego with her brother, she jumps on it. But Isadora’s quickly finding that a “normal” life comes with plenty of its own epic complications—and that there’s no such thing as a clean break when it comes to family. Much as she wants to leave her past behind, she can’t shake the ominous dreams that foretell destruction for her entire family. When it turns out there may be truth in her nightmares, Isadora has to decide whether she can abandon her divine heritage after all.
Review:
Thank you to Sarah and
Megan of HarperCollins for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an
honest review from me.
Have
you ever had that feeling when something feels off with the book you’re reading? Something that bothers you so
much but can’t pinpoint what it is. That’s what I felt towards The Chaos of
Stars. I love reading Mythology related books that’s why the moment I read the
premise of this book on Goodreads, I thought to myself that I have to have this
book. It’s really promising and it sounds like it’s a book I will enjoy so
imagine my surprise when I’m finding myself not enjoying reading it. Aside from
the off feeling I had when I was reading the book, I also have few reasons why
The Chaos of Stars ended up flat for me.
The
first one would be because of the protagonist—Isadora. She was so annoying. She
always nags about how her parents don’t love her, how miserable her life is,
how she hates her family so much, how she hates how her life is. Ugh! She
whines to herself half the time in the book. I do understand that she just
wants to be free from the clutches of her family and their culture and that
deep inside she loves her parents but for her to whine so much about it? Nope.
Not acceptable. When she gets to a point that she complains so much, I was
mentally berating her. I was like “Girl, move on. That’s life. You’re not the
only one who’s suffering. Get over it and shut up!” Thankfully, Isadora stopped
annoying me when it gets into the last few chapters of the book.
Second
reason would be because of the words that the author used in the book. Some of
it were unfit to the lines in the book, well, that’s what I felt when I read
it. I think it could be better if she didn’t used those poetic sounding words
or if she use words that will be appropriate to it. It seems to me that the
author was trying to make the book half poetic and half not but messes it up.
It’s really a good idea. It’s unique. But it’s just that she ended up using
words that were not fit enough to the lines and instead of the reader—of me to
feel that poetic feeling, I ended up feeling
weird reading through the lines.
Third
reason would be the disconnection I felt towards the characters. I just can’t
connect with them. Well, except for Thoth. I was really fascinated toward his
character. Though he only appeared twice (or is it thrice?) on the book, I got
that instant connection with him. He seems like a great character. I just wish
he had more exposure.
The
last reason would be the INSTA-LOVE. Need I say more to this?
2 comments
LOL! You basically share the same thoughts that my friend Nick did. I will most definitely not try this because it wasn't in my tbr to begin with and I'm not really blown away by all these [mostly] negative reviews. I'm sorry you didn't connect with any of the characters and the main character basically annoyed you to no end. Also, insta love. Really? Why can't YA authors get over it. Yeah, it's in adult and NA lit as well, but seriously? It should be banned. Most of the time, that is. There are very few exceptions though. Thanks for sharing your thorough thoughts, Alyssa!
ReplyDelete@Siiri: And thank you too for sparing me some of your time in reading my review. :) Anyways, books that has an insta love are really a big turn off for me.
ReplyDelete