Wilde's Army - DNF Review

Wilde's Army (Darkness Falls, # 2)

By: Krystal Wade

Published: July 4th 2012 by Curiosity Quills Press

348 pages

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Paranormal

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

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Goodreads description--"Hello, Katriona." Those two words spark fear in Katriona Wilde and give way to an unlikely partnership with Perth, the man she's been traded to marry for a favor. Saving her true love and protector Arland, her family, and their soldiers keeps her motivated, but the at-odds duo soon realizes trust is something that comes and goes with each breath of Encardia's rotting, stagnant air. The moment when concern for her missing sister spirals out of control, all thoughts of trust are pushed aside and she finds herself trapped by the daemon tricks Perth warned her of. However, rescuing those she loves is only half the problem. Kate still must get to Willow Falls, unite her clashing people, and form an army prepared to fight in order to defeat Darkness. When so many she's grown fond of die along the journey, her ability to play by the gods' rules is tested. How will she make allies when the world appears stacked against her? And will she still be Katriona Wilde, the girl with fire?

I never should have requested Wilde's Army for review. Wilde's Fire was better than I was expecting; however, between the writing and the ending of Wilde's Fire, I just wasn't excited at all about starting Wilde's Army. When I saw Wilde's Army available on NetGalley for review I requested it without thinking much because I had not yet broken my obsessive need to "complete" things--in this case this series. But since requesting Wilde's Army, I've made much progress in being able to let go of this obsession. Time is too short.

I did indeed start Wilde's Army. And I did press on to try to complete it. I made it to 20% which translates into roughly 70 pages. I know that's not very far into the book, but you have to considering that I've already read 390+ pages in this series and by this author. I feel completely comfortable with the effort I've put in to Wilde's Army.

The same struggles I had with Wilde's Fire were there and more in Wilde's Army. Kate's 20 years old, but she behaves and speaks much younger. Where Kate's sister, Brit, seemed more mature than Kate in Wilde's Fire, I didn't really feel like that was the case thus far in Wilde's Army. I still don't like the alternate dimensions aspect of this series, but this was less of an issue in the 20% of Wilde's Army that I've read since there's really no travelling back and forth in this portion of the series. My other general complaint of Wilde's Fire was just that the book was mainly average. However, I've read some truly stellar books this year, and I don't feel like this series or the writing measures up to the level of these other books.

A new struggle for me in Wilde's Army--or at least I didn't point this out before--is the dialogue. The characters repeatedly call each other by name. While I've definitely noticed that a lot of books do this more than people use each others' names in real life, Wilde's Army goes beyond this to the point of being really awkward, making the dialogue feel forced. Specifically in Wilde's Army there's a section where one character says, (paraphrasing) "We can't stay here long. It's dangerous." But then the group proceeds to have a discussion right there that lasts like 10 pages, and another character interrupts and says, "We can discuss this later. We really need to leave this place." The dialogue and decisions made by the characters feels forced and awkward.

I intended to continue trying to push through this book, even if I had to do it 5 pages at the time, but I've come to a place in my reading life where I just don't want to do this. I want to read for fun--always. Someone else may be in love this series. I'm sure it's the perfect fit for someone out there--perhaps a younger readers--but that someone just isn't me.

I don't rate my DNFs, but what do you think? Have you read Wilde's Army? Is this one I should consider picking back up later? Does the ending make up for the rest of the flaws? Let me know!

This review is part of my "All Things Halloween" October review event.

Wilde's Fire - Review

Wilde’s Fire (Darkness Falls, # 1)

By: Krystal Wade

Published By: May 13th 2012 by Curiosity Quills Press

299 Pages

Source: Publisher (via NetGalley)

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads Description—“There is no pain in this death, only peace, knowing I am going to die with the one I love the most.” –Katriona Wilde.

Katriona Wilde has never wondered what it would feel like to have everything she’s ever known and loved ripped away, but she is about to find out. When she inadvertently leads her sister and best friend through a portal into a world she’s dreamed of for six years, she finds herself faced with more than just the frightening creatures in front of her. Kate’s forced to accept a new truth: her entire life has been a lie, and those closest to her have betrayed her. What’s worse, she has no control over her new future, and it’s full of magic and horror from which nightmares are made. Will Kate discover and learn to control who she really is in time to save the ones she loves, or will all be lost?

I’m going with maybe 3 stars for Wilde’s Fire. Another average book, which is okay. I think when I read a book I find worthy of a 5 star rating I become more critical of the books that follow. The longer I go in between 5 star books, the more lax and soft I become in my ratings. It wasn’t that there was anything particularly, overly bad about this book. It was just another average book. And since I’ve read several books that I would consider well above average, exceptional, and one even 5 star worthy, lately I just find myself being a bit indifferent to this one.

I kept forgetting that Kate was 20 years old. She seemed no more mature than most of the 16-18 year-olds you might read about in typical YA fiction. Her younger sister Brit seemed almost more mature, experienced, and perceptive than Kate herself. That’s not to say that’s not possible, but it was just kind of frustrating. I’ve said it before, but I don’t mind saying it again. I tend to prefer my YA to lean a little more adult and a little less young. I don’t mind characters that are young in age, but I do struggle with immaturity.

Another thing is the alternate dimensions aspect (actually referred to as “worlds” rather than “dimensions” but you get the drift). I haven’t found many (currently I’m unable to think of any) books that carry out this aspect in a way that makes sense to me. I’m not a science nerd by any means so it’s not that the science doesn’t make enough sense for me because I don’t care about that. But I am a logical nerd and I guess I get mixed up with alternate universes/worlds/dimensions/etc. From A Wrinkle in Time, to The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Shadow Souls to the House of Night series to well…whatever (I’m sure there are more examples, I’m just drawing a blank). I just really don’t like this concept, and any book I’ve ever read that included this has felt lacking to me. Everyone has their points of issue—this happens to be one of mine. So sue me.

Other than that, I’m not finding that there’s too much to report. Wilde’s Fire...3 Stars...check it out and let me know what you think of it.

Updated: July 7, 2018