Review #399
I rated this YA sci fi/dystopian a 3.0/5 stars. It may have been better if I DNF when I had doubts.
Unfortunately I dont have to make positive remarks so please skip this one if that turns you off a lot.
After Vega’s mother gave up fighting a long illness, Vega burned her house to the ground to force her father to take her on the road with him.
Why does Vega need to find the architect?
Why did the sister stars align right now?
Why does she need to go to the sea?
Why doesn’t her father know what her mom told her?
Why doesn’t the father want Vega to talk about the stars to strangers when they’re in the next village?
What will happen if Vega doesn’t find the architect in time?
There are short chapter separators like Orion, Aquarius, Aries…
Once I hit page 50 is usually when I decide to keep going on not. I’m 50/50 convinced and yet unsure. apparently everyone in society has consumption and her “Pa” is selling a tonic that may help a little, but not really. Both she and “Pa” are keeping secrets from one another as they travel but it’s a bit slow paced so far. Other than knowing her goal and journey is dangerous not questions have been answered and the plot hasn’t progressed too much.
What is the tattoo on her neck and why is it important?
Who is the mystery girl in the bar?
What will become of Pa?
Cricket is a great name for a character.
It feel like the story starts on page 143…
Oh then on page 146 it even says “my story is about to begin”
Why do the theorists believe her tattoo will cure their epidemic?
The chapters are so long!
170 pages in I wish I knew what they’re fighting to protect. It all feels so abstract that the running and hiding and sacrifices don’t make sense to a reader who doesn’t understand what they’re protecting.
At the halfway point I’m wondering if this is more of a sci fi dystopian story where she’s trying to get everyone off this planet? Her goal is still unclear.
The events on Page 210 feels rushed. Yes it’s the midpoint, so physical contact is bound to happen, but there was so much introduction to the story that they haven’t spent enough time together to have any feelings build.
“Every life is a story. I breathe, filling my lungs with the dry night air. “And our story will belong to someone else someday. They will tell it, write it down, maybe even name stars after us.”
The book is frustrating me
It’s too mysterious and abstract where I’m starting to feel dragged along without answers
And if the tattoo is on her back how can she decipher the map if she can’t see it?
Time is vague and I’m unsure how many days pass between certain scenes.
Why would her mom start the tattoo in a place that so many people can see it?
What is Vega lying about? What does she know that she hasn’t said?
After chapter 8 I’m much more intrigued but this should’ve been told long ago. And it’s sooo depressing. Like not one moment of relief or comedy has occurred.
I’m not happy with the end. It just stops and feels like half a story.