/[Fake] Spoiler Alert\ Just like the two previous books we have reviewed, Solene and I did not like this book either... I swear we also read books that we like separately !!! We just seem to be unlucky when it comes to the bookclub...
The title of this article is a joke because the main character of the book, Nina, does the craziest things in the story. Honestly, if she was a real person, she would have stopped the Corona Virus in a second......... So brace yourself for the roast that you are about to read. To Kester Grant... We are sorry ❤️
Why did you decide to read this book?
E. : This is very dumb but… the main character is called Eponine (Nina) just like me. This is the only reason I bought this book, because it was labelled as a retelling of Les Misérables with Eponine as the main character. It sounds very narcissistic… I am sorry.
S. : Eponine gifted me this book, so we decided to read it together. I’m a really big fan of historical settings and fictions, and the book was very beautiful, so I was excited to read it.
Before reading it, what were your expectations?
E. : Waterstones said that this book was “Les Miserables meets Six of Crows” and I trusted them. I did not read Six of Crows but I only hear great things about the duology and as my name comes from Les Misérables, I just expected the book to be good honestly. I had quite high expectations. I was very excited to read it.
S. : I did not know much about the book before I started it, only that I loved the historical context and the overall theme. I had no real expectations, but I sure was looking forward to it.
After the first chapter, did you wanted to read more?
E. : Not… really. I was not really sure if I liked it or not. It was very confusing at first because I had not real indication of time and space.
S. : I wasn’t drawn into the story, but I also wasn’t against it at all. It was all just very confusing at the beginning.
Rate this book on a scale from 1 to 10?
E. : It’s going to be a 4 for me I think and I know this is really low. I feel like Solene and I are always rating poorly the books we read. However, I really had a hard time finishing it and I cannot put a better grade.
S. : Uh.. 2.5 ? Very little went right for me while reading this. It was easier to read as I went on, but I cannot say if it’s because I got more into the storyline or because my expectations lowered.
Favourite character? Most hated character?
E. : My “favourite” characters were probably Lady Corday and Montparnasse, they were the only one who felt they had other purposes outside of Nina’s world. For “most hated character”, I think I’ll have to say Nina… She was the most annoying main character. She could just do anything and was the best at everything. Everyone loves her. She never listens. This is not what I expect from the main character, especially one with my name.
S. : The characters only seem to revolve around Nina, so they can’t stand out on their own, unfortunately. I was quite saddened by that, because they all seem like they have different backgrounds, stories, and possibly even purposes out of being Nina’s little helpers. In turn, this actually makes Nina very annoying, as she seems to excel at everything, even the impossible. The whole book really just feels like a love letter to her character.
Would you recommend this book?
E. :I do not think so. I am not even sure if I will continue to read the series.
S. : Unfortunately, I would not.
What could have been done by the author for you to enjoy the book even more?
E. : I am not really sure. I feel like giving more depth to the characters would really improve the book. Nina is way too perfect and the other characters are only there to make her shine even more. The timeline as well was very confusing, from chapters you could have a jump of 5 years unannounced, it was very confusing. The plot was a little cliché but it was alright. The main flaws in the book in my opinion are the depth of the characters which is non-existent and the confusing timeline. OH YEAH! One more thing: Marius is not even in the book… Yes, one of the main characters from Les Misérables is not even in the retelling because the author does not like him… The retelling would have been a great way to rewrite him the way you want. Guess erasing him was easier…
S. : The timeline could have been better thought of. It was hard to follow at times, and it seemed like random events were just thrown at us to validate the story. I also wish the other characters were not so dull, and revolving around Nina. Her flaws should have been underlined, because at some point it gets really annoying having a main character that’s capable of anything and everything, does the impossible in 0.1 seconds and that every male character seems to love. I would have loved to see more dimensions in the story as well as the characters. I also wish there was some moral to the story, something to think back on. The book touches on subjects such as poverty, women’s place in society, differences in education, … but it never really allows itself to reflect on those, sadly.
Final thoughts:
E. : Overall, I feel like my expectations on storytelling and characters growth are always very high and this book did not meet these expectations. I do not think it is the worst book possible or a bad book in general, I just feel like it could have been improved a little bit. I know I judge books too hardly, guess I am preparing for my future job?
S. : I’m very difficult to please with my books (and my movies, not that anyone asked). But this just wasn’t it. It does have a lot of potential, so I do hope the next books are written with the flaws of the first in mind. The universe created by the author, with the guilds and everything, is very much something I’d like the dwell into again.
What’s next?
Once again, after such a disappointment, Solène and I decided to go our separate ways for a while. We are already thinking of the books we want read together but nothing is sure yet.
E. : After being disappointed again, I wanted to give another try at The Foxhole Court. I was already at 30% of the book and wanted to pick it up and finish it.
S. : I went on to read Extincta by Victor Dixen, which is also a fiction, but set in the future, and reflects on the climate crisis.
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