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Friday, June 5, 2015

Audiobook Review: The Glass Arrow by Kristen Simmons


Standalone
Narrator: Soneela Nankani
12 hrs. 4 min.
Unabridged
Publisher: Recorded Books
Published: 2/10/15
Source: LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program
"The Handmaid’s Tale" meets "Blood Red Road" in Glass Arrow, the story of Aya, who lives with a small group of women on the run from the men who hunt them, men who want to auction off breeding rights to the highest bidder. 
In a world where females are scarce and are hunted, then bought and sold at market for their breeding rights, 15-year old Aya has learned how to hide. With a ragtag bunch of other women and girls, she has successfully avoided capture and eked out a nomadic but free existence in the mountains. But when Aya’s luck runs out and she’s caught by a group of businessmen on a hunting expedition, fighting to survive takes on a whole new meaning.
My thoughts: 
Oh a dystopian in a world where women are used, hunted, and suppressed within a patriarchal society. Usually these things give you a strong female protagonist so I'm usually all for this type of story. Plus, I've been wanting to try a book by this author so when the opportunity arose I was glad I was chosen. 

The beginning of the story really sets us up for the end of the story. We learn a lot about Aya and what kind of person she is and wants to be in this world. Her motivations are her family, both made and given and the enemy is the world she tries to avoid at all costs. As a virgin wild female, she knows that being owned is the worst thing that can happen to her.

Her fears are realized and the worst happens. Much of the beginning is about how she survives and the introduction to a few important characters Kiran and Brax. As soon as Brax was introduced my anxiety rose and I did find out what happens to him by checking out other reviews before I listened on. (HIGHLIGHT for spoiler) Brax is a wolf who she saves and befriends. Yes, he does die (which made it hard to listen to most of the book) but it doesn't happen until the end and it was a decent death. Yea, I almost didn't listen to the rest of the book because of the spoiler but I was glad I listened to the rest of the book. I know some want to know that deet and some don't. It is a huge spoiler for that character. 

While I did love the characters, some of the worldbuilding for me was a bit inconsistent and also a bit unbelievable. Dissecting the world will cause problems within the believability of the story, however, if you can try to ignore some of the discrepancies the characters do move the story along.

I did love Soneela Nankani's narration. There is a part where Kiran pronounces his words differently than what Aya is used to hearing and Soneela does a perfect job with his accent. I think hearing it really brings you into the story.

I give this book 3 1/2 stars. Despite the worldbuilding problems and the spoiler... I did enjoy the tale. I am glad this is a standalone and it works well that way. I recommend it to those that enjoy YA dystopians. 
LibraryThing Early Reviewers

18 comments:

  1. Loving the cover and the premise sounds good. It's just a shame you don't sound totally convinced by this one.

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    1. This is a good one for audio IMO. The narrator brings it to life.

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  2. I had to know. :) Probably a good thing you don't. :D

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  3. I read this one, not listened, but I really liked it a lot. I was pleasantly surprised by it, and while it was a far cry from Margaret Atwood (they kept being compared), it was still pretty great.

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    1. I think you would have loved the audio. I really loved her narration.

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  4. A YA dystopian that also happens to be a standalone? Does that ever really happen? I'm glad you were able to enjoy this one Melissa...despite your issues. Hopefully I get to read and enjoy this one as well. I've been craving a dystopian read for a while now.
    Lily @ Lilysbookblog

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    1. I know! I don't think I would have liked it as much if it was a series. It works as a standalone. :)

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  5. Thanks for visiting my blog earlier, following you now via GFC & BL.

    Also, I can't deal with weak world building on fantasies. That's the core of the story IMO, it's great that you still managed to enjoy this despite some issues.

    Happy weekend!

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  6. I'd read it, I just do not know if I would like it

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  7. I ordered it for my teens who can't get enough of dystopia and I've heard similar complaints from them. Personally, this is not for me.

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  8. Oh ahhh! I don't know about that spoiler. Eeps!

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  9. I do love a good dystopian so even though I have been hesitant to start this, I still think I might give it a chance. Great review!

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  10. A dystopian standalone, in YA no less? I've seen it all. :p I love the cover!

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  11. I love a good dystopian and cannot believe this is standalone. The inconsistent worldbuilding would probably drive me batty.

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  12. Sorry about the worldbuilding and the spoiler but that's tryue that the idea is really interesting there. It's intriguing. I was so sure this one was part of a series.

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  13. I'm glad that you were able to enjoy this overall despite a couple of issues, thank you for your honest review, I think I still will give this book a go maybe one day! :)

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  14. It's great that you were still able to quite enjoy this one despite being disappointed with the world building. I do plan to read this one some day - so I'll keep that in mind!

    Nice review, gal <33

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  15. Hmm. I'll have to think about it. I do like that it's standalone though...

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