Saturday 6 June 2015

Gates of Thread and Stone #1 Gates of Thread and Stone

Presenting Gates of Thread and Stone #1 Gates of Thread and Stone by Lori M. Lee.

Here is the summary of the book:

In the Labyrinth, we had a saying: keep silent, keep still, keep safe.

In a city of walls and secrets, where only one man is supposed to possess magic, seventeen-year-old Kai struggles to keep hidden her own secret—she can manipulate the threads of time. When Kai was eight, she was found by Reev on the riverbank, and her “brother” has taken care of her ever since. Kai doesn’t know where her ability comes from—or where she came from. All that matters is that she and Reev stay together, and maybe one day move out of the freight container they call home, away from the metal walls of the Labyrinth. Kai’s only friend is Avan, the shopkeeper’s son with the scandalous reputation that both frightens and intrigues her.

Then Reev disappears. When keeping silent and safe means losing him forever, Kai vows to do whatever it takes to find him. She will leave the only home she’s ever known and risk getting caught up in a revolution centuries in the making. But to save Reev, Kai must unravel the threads of her past and face shocking truths about her brother, her friendship with Avan, and her unique power.


Determinedly I am not sure what I actually feel for this story. This was more of a cover attraction for me and the title too exuded many promises. But it felt most of all like a one time thing. Set in the fictional city of Ninurta. Lori M. Lee did a marvelous job establishing her story and the world here. The heart of the tale though has only one thing in mind......

It is about Kai (a girl with her own set of secrets) finding her missing brother, Reev. Presumably taken by the vigilante entity called Black Rider. Kai alongwith Avan are told that the Rider takes the citizens for the army is accumulates to bring down Ninurta. But things don't seem to be what they thought so Kai & Avan go in search of the matter ...... And apparently Kai also has the ability to manipulate time as well but her brother forbade her to use it.

While their introduction left much to be desired, I liked Kai & Avan as a couple. Not knowing anything of her true family, she had always been close to Reev and it was admirable that she wanted to correct her mistakes and bring him back. That said she has an amazing ability of manipulating time (not the past), so it felt pretty stupid of her not to use it. That said she sometimes came off as pretty selfish to Avan, asking much of him and giving nothing back. Avan was a likable character but didn't really do much else.

Pacing felt another problem here. It starts out, explaining things building the world up but after a certain moment it just gets messed up. Twist after twist. Revelations after revelations. I usually don't mind all that but here I just couldn't stomach it at all. I liked the battles and how super beings enter the quota and lay out the impossible but at the end of it I just didn't mind what happened anymore and I don't like that feeling. Hopefully the sequel will be much better.

"A revealing fantastical adventure to find lost family"
Genre :     Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Mythology, Dystopia

Publisher: Skyscape

Release Date: 5th August, 2014

My Copy: publisher & netgalley

Rate:             3/5 (Liked It)

Buy:         Amazon | Book Depository 

0 comments:

Post a Comment

 

Le' Grande Codex Template by Ipietoon Cute Blog Design