Akarnae: The Medoran Chronicles, Book 1

This book had its ups and downs. It was well-written, but the plot and character development just weren't thick enough. I did finish reading it and I might read the second book, but there are some things I couldn't get around.

The magical school gave me a lot of questions:
1. The technology is modern and everything is explained by science, but at the same time they use torches and most of the school seems to be medieval. I disliked the names for the devices they used a lot. It just clashed with the whole vibe for me, and trying to forcefully call magical things scientific didn't leave a great taste.
2. They explain their technology as scientific but they do not have an IT-person who can fix the problems with the machines. Instead, the teachers have to fix the issues.
3. What is the purpose of the school? What do they do once they finish? The subject taught are very... old-school and specific. I cannot see how they contribute to their advanced world.
4. The school is for the gifted youth, but there are almost no security measures for the students not to do unwanted things. The teachers cannot see through their gifts and have no power to stop them. It's fortunate that the students seem to be good for the most part, but this could be a serious hazard.

About the characters:
1. Everyone is either really handsome or stereotypical.
2. The characters don't really have a goal. The whole plot happens to Alex, she makes little choices herself. It is only in the last 80%-90% where she makes some sort of decisions.
3. Alex's best friends do not seem like actual people because they always go in a pair. I would have liked to have some character development for them separately. Additionally, the friends do not have much of an impact on Alex's outcome. They seem to just be important for her to make a decision to stay in the school.
4. The friends also only use their gift twice during the book. I would have liked them to someone be intertwined to the climax.
5. Alex almost dies two times at the library and she decides to go back because she is bored. I just don't see this happening.
6. The teachers are not adults enough. They know that there is a threat to Alex and the whole world, and instead they scramble around, cover up the problem, and rely on Alex being "gifted" and dealing with the problem herself. I believe that she should have been included into the issue more, even if not given all information, but at least prepared for what could happen (other than the classes).

Concerning the plot:
Almost nothing happens in the book to sway or move Alex. Even if something happens it feels like it gets swept under the rug, and kind of "oh, well this happened, I guess I'll go on with my life".
The climax was just weak. There was some information shared but it didn't feel meaningful. Alex didn't use almost anything she had learned at the school; her friends that she had spent the most of the book with, didn't contribute to the climax; the world is supposed to be very advanced, but no adult came to the rescue.

All in all, the writing was good. It was entertaining to read when something actually happened, but some of these things just annoyed me so much that I couldn't enjoy the book. I might consider reading the second one because hopefully the plot will be better there.

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23 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

The best story of its kind. A perfect fantasy.

I was referred to this story by another fan of a similar premissed book series. I am grateful, because for as far as I have read this story is perfect in all the ways the other is not. No twisted and unbelievable projections on human sexuality, no unnecessary crude language, and no assumption that all evil antagonists have to be entirely uncivil and at least partly insane. This story suggests that we can experience the fantastical along with it's risks without abandoning our limited yet full of purpose world. This story is so much more true about humanity and possibility than any reader might normally expect.

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20 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Performance is a grave disservice

Good story, great creativity & imagination. Performer used child voices & giddiness instead of teenager-appropriate voices. It greatly distracted from the story.

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9 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Awesome Story

This book is engaging and well written. Can’t wait to read the next book in this series.

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6 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Interesting concepts

Seems to be copying Harry Potter series, however I enjoyed it! It is worth listening to.

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3 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Compelling and refreshing fantasy

While not extraordinary in world building, this is surprisingly well done in character development and storyline. Refreshing in avoidance of typical fantasy lit cliches and juvenile writing. Delivers an honestly feminine viewpoint in a good fantasy / sci-fi story.

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3 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

I like this book

its good I'm not the biggest fan of the protagonist sometimes but definitely entertaining.

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2 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Fabulous to listen to

I’ve read all the books and thoroughly enjoyed Lynette Noni’s adventure. Listening to Akarnae was wonderful. Letting the story wash over me from the beginning was a whole new delight. I can’t wait to listen to book two.

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2 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

very good YA read.

I truly enjoyed this book. I believe it is set for the YA reader bit I still enjoyed it. interesting storyline and good character building. Ready to see where the story leads.

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2 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Amazing

Great story line and details. It goes over a wide range of emotions and makes you feel like you are feeling them too.

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