Dividing Eden by Joelle Charbonneau
Dividing Eden has all the necessary political intrigue murder and espionage to make it work, but it lacks pace and world building.
Freedom was a myth
The positive
The twists were unexpected and left me confused – which twin was I rooting for? I started off rooting for one, only to change my alliance a few times during the story.
The world was safer when people believed justice was the same for the powerless and those in power.
The negative
Agonisingly slow (including the repetitive setting-the-scene) through much of the first half and far more political than I expected. This led me to compare it to Grave Mercy, a beautiful book with intense world building that Dividing Eden didn’t live up to.
Freedom was a mirage. It taunted and promised a great deal as it hung just out of reach.
The many unanswered questions and the ending left plenty of room for the sequel/s. I just hope that they are published fairly soon as I am not so sure I am going to be eager to pick up the next book unless this one is still fresh in my mind.
Title: Dividing Eden
Series: Dividing Eden #1
Author: Joelle Charbonneau
Publication Date: 6 June 2017
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Review copy
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Twins Carys and Andreus were never destined to rule Eden. With their older brother next in line to inherit the throne, the future of the kingdom was secure.
But appearances—and rivals—can be deceiving. When Eden’s king and crown prince are killed by assassins, Eden desperately needs a monarch, but the line of succession is no longer clear. With a ruling council scheming to gain power, Carys and Andreus are faced with only one option—to take part in a Trial of Succession that will determine which one of them is worthy of ruling the kingdom.
As sister and brother, Carys and Andreus have always kept each other safe—from their secrets, from the court, and from the monsters lurking in the mountains beyond the kingdom’s wall. But the Trial of Succession will test the bonds of trust and family. — Abstract from Goodreads.com
The fact that I received a free advanced copy of this book does not influence my policy to write an honest review.
Disclaimer: The quotes appear in my advanced review copy and may not appear in the final version.
Lillian @ LilReviewer
I am dying to read Diving Eden! It is on my TBR list for this coming week. I hope I enjoy it. – Lillian @ https://www.lilreviewer.com/
Sue @ Crushingcinders
Hope you do too
Megan
Awww, I sad that you didn’t love this one! I hope you enjoy your next read better 🙂
Megan @ https://wanderingsofabookbird.blogspot.co.uk/
Sue @ Crushingcinders
Me too! Thank you.
Heidi
Oh no slow pacing and shaky world building always bother me. I am going to skip this one as I am so not feeling YA these days.
Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight
So, I liked this one while I was reading it, and then I tried to start my review and… well, apparently I remembered nothing? Like I actually had to look up the synopsis- and I didn’t even read it that long ago! I like the whole idea behind it- and I liked the part where I was never sure who to root for! I did like it, but I feel like the fact that I had trouble remembering it has to be a negative hah. Great review!
Sue @ Crushingcinders
I know what you mean -I wrote this review a while ago and scheduled it to publish just before release and now I can hardly remember the story…
Olivia @ The Candid Cover
It is so important to have good world building in any book, but one that has espionage should have lots of it! I hope that your next read is more enjoyable. 🙂
Kimberly Sabatini
I LOVED Grave Mercy!
crushingcinders
Me too!