mvk
Written on Dec 1, 2024
Let's start with the positives: the dynamic between the main characters, their dialogues, and the overall vibe were sometimes engaging and...Read more
I don't want to see Famine and Ana in the next book, and here is why >>
Let's start with the positives: the dynamic between the main characters, their dialogues, and the overall vibe were sometimes engaging and enjoyable. However, beyond that, the book left me feeling frustrated for several reasons.
The biggest issue for me was the main female character, Ana. Her behavior and motivations made her nearly impossible to empathize with.
And the problem is not that she is an ex-whore, nope, I like the Pretty Woman movie. Btw, Vivian from Pretty Woman, I could root for her and empathize, as she is open, warm, kind even though life wasn't kind to her, her personality is attractive and charismatic. While Anna's is well... selfish at best, only wanting to save her own ass. In the worst scenario, she says, literally: I'M GLAD THAT YOU (FOUR HORSEMEN) ARE KILLING HUMANITY. WTH? Is she really an FMC? AND SHE IS A MAIN FEMALE CHARACTER who I should associate myself with!!!!
Additionally, I'm not a snob, but the constant barrage of crude sex jokes was overwhelming and unnecessary (all the time). And it's an additional question to Ana as she doesn't seem more empathetic when she constantly brings that into dialogues too much. It doesn't feel like she wants to end her ex-life as a sex worker, it looks like she is simply... vulgar and could not bring anything more to the story.
I also struggled with the overarching theme of the book. Both Ana and Famine repeatedly express disdain for humanity, painting people as universally cruel or violent. Famine's claim that he has only ever met one "good" human (guess who, of course, our Ana who is OK with humans being slain) is absurd and feels statistically impossible, even within the fantasy world. This stark view of humanity is not only unbalanced but also contradicts the subtle nuance in *Pestilence*, where the Horseman encounters selfless, kind individuals who challenge his perceptions besides Sara. And that was deeply moving and gave the story a sense of hope.
Here, that hope is absent. Both Ana and Famine are consumed by their selfishness, and their lack of empathy or willingness to forgive (only each other) makes it hard to root for them. For me, stories like this should be about finding humanity in even the darkest moments, about love and forgiveness as a way to save ourselves. This book lacked that entirely, and it left me feeling disconnected and disappointed.
Even at the end of the book, when Famine got help from people to save Ana (who, of course, fucking fear and hate him - you're killing their loved ones in one of the most terrible ways), and then they help him and Ana find a house and everything, they - yes, Ana - behave like pricks. Famine doesn't question his thoughts about humans, and Ana doesn't feel any guilt that her LOVER behaves like a fucking monster who still thinks that humans are mud.
Let's start with the positives: the dynamic between the main characters, their dialogues, and the overall vibe were sometimes engaging and enjoyable. However, beyond that, the book left me feeling frustrated for several reasons.
The biggest issue for me was the main female character, Ana. Her behavior and motivations made her nearly impossible to empathize with.
And the problem is not that she is an ex-whore, nope, I like the Pretty Woman movie. Btw, Vivian from Pretty Woman, I could root for her and empathize, as she is open, warm, kind even though life wasn't kind to her, her personality is attractive and charismatic. While Anna's is well... selfish at best, only wanting to save her own ass. In the worst scenario, she says, literally: I'M GLAD THAT YOU (FOUR HORSEMEN) ARE KILLING HUMANITY. WTH? Is she really an FMC? AND SHE IS A MAIN FEMALE CHARACTER who I should associate myself with!!!!
Additionally, I'm not a snob, but the constant barrage of crude sex jokes was overwhelming and unnecessary (all the time). And it's an additional question to Ana as she doesn't seem more empathetic when she constantly brings that into dialogues too much. It doesn't feel like she wants to end her ex-life as a sex worker, it looks like she is simply... vulgar and could not bring anything more to the story.
I also struggled with the overarching theme of the book. Both Ana and Famine repeatedly express disdain for humanity, painting people as universally cruel or violent. Famine's claim that he has only ever met one "good" human (guess who, of course, our Ana who is OK with humans being slain) is absurd and feels statistically impossible, even within the fantasy world. This stark view of humanity is not only unbalanced but also contradicts the subtle nuance in *Pestilence*, where the Horseman encounters selfless, kind individuals who challenge his perceptions besides Sara. And that was deeply moving and gave the story a sense of hope.
Here, that hope is absent. Both Ana and Famine are consumed by their selfishness, and their lack of empathy or willingness to forgive (only each other) makes it hard to root for them. For me, stories like this should be about finding humanity in even the darkest moments, about love and forgiveness as a way to save ourselves. This book lacked that entirely, and it left me feeling disconnected and disappointed.
Even at the end of the book, when Famine got help from people to save Ana (who, of course, fucking fear and hate him - you're killing their loved ones in one of the most terrible ways), and then they help him and Ana find a house and everything, they - yes, Ana - behave like pricks. Famine doesn't question his thoughts about humans, and Ana doesn't feel any guilt that her LOVER behaves like a fucking monster who still thinks that humans are mud.
