Magonia
Author: Maria Dahvana Headley
Series: Untitled #1
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy
Release Date: April 28, 2015
Publisher: HarperCollins
Summary:
Aza Ray is drowning in thin air.
Since she was a baby, Aza has suffered from a mysterious lung disease that makes it ever harder for her to breathe, to speak — to live.
So when Aza catches a glimpse of a ship in the sky, her family chalks it up to a cruel side effect of her medication. But Aza doesn’t think this is a hallucination. She can hear someone on the ship calling her name.
Only her best friend, Jason, listens. Jason, who’s always been there. Jason, for whom she might have more-than-friendly feelings. But before Aza can consider that thrilling idea, something goes terribly wrong. Aza is lost to our world — and found, by another. Magonia.
Above the clouds, in a land of trading ships, Aza is not the weak and dying thing she was. In Magonia, she can breathe for the first time. Better, she has immense power — and as she navigates her new life, she discovers that war is coming. Magonia and Earth are on the cusp of a reckoning. And in Aza’s hands lies the fate of the whole of humanity — including the boy who loves her. Where do her loyalties lie?
First Sentence: My history is hospitals.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
My Review:
Magonia first caught my attention because of its cover. I mean, just look at it! Even though Magonia sounded like Josephine Angelini’s Trial by Fire, a book I sadly didn’t enjoy, I decided to give Magonia a chance anyways because who knows, maybe I’ll enjoy it even though it has the exact same premise as Trial by Fire. However, right from the very start, my friends who have already read Magonia before me warned me that I might not enjoy Magonia, that it might not be the book for me. Turns out, they were right. I gave up on Magonia on page fifty-five for two main reasons: I couldn’t connect with the main character and I saw the plot twist coming from a mile away.
Even the plants look nervous…It isn’t allowed to share a room with me, but sometimes I visit it and touch its leaves and it cringes. It’s curled up now into a tight little ball of Leaves Me the Hell Alone.
Get it?
Leaves. (Oh, haha. Oh very haha.) (ARC 9)
I was really struggling to like the main character Aza. She was just too snarky with a too strong know-it-all vibe for my taste. I understand what the author was trying to do, making Aza look experienced and wise after all she had to go through, but instead, Aza came off as completely stuck-up and condescending. I constantly struggled to connect with her or even understand her, but she was just too much for me. After reading fifty-five pages and still not caring for her in any way, it was about time to give up on the book.
There will also be this plot twist coming up – I checked with one of my friends who have already read Magonia – and I saw it coming from around page thirty. My friends were also impressed with the author’s writing while the author’s writing was doing nothing for me. Those two facts just confirmed for me that it was about time I give up on Magonia and DNF it for good.
Yes, I’m a reader. Kill me…I’m neither a genius nor a kid destined to become a wizard. I’m just me. I read stuff. Books are not my only friends, but we’re friendly. So there. (ARC 12)
If I had to rate the portion I just read, which is about one-fifth of the book, I would be giving Magonia a rating of two to a extremely low three stars. As for if I would ever recommend Magonia, I don’t know if I ever would. Frankly, I don’t see anything quite amazing about it from the pages I’ve read.
I was drawn by the beautiful cover too! Thanks for this honest review Kelly :)
Daniela Ark recently posted…Where on Earth? [1]
I’ve read other reviews where the reader either DNF’d the book, or rated it very low because of similar issues you’ve mentioned. I was initially going to purchase the book because of the cover, (I still might because obviously I’m a cover whore lol) but I’m kinda on the fence about the story itself. I get easily annoyed with characters who are overly-snarky, mmm idk about this one, I’m soooo conflicted!
Tika recently posted…Normal by Graeme Cameron Review — Killers Need Love Too.
Oh that sucks that you did not like this one and had to mark it DNF. Honestly, the author’s attitude would probably rub me the wrong way too. I will probably skip this one.
Cynthia recently posted…Sunday Post
The MC drove me crazy too! She came off as a self pitying jerk and it annoyed me. And the writing style was like a steady stream of consciousness if that makes any sense, which was hard to get used to. It made the whole book seem like some sort of fever dream. But I will say that the whole chapter where Jason told his POV after she was taken to Magonia made me cry. And I really enjoyed the lore and mythology used in the book.
Mandy K recently posted…Stacking The Shelves
it’s hard for me to ever remember premises, so I don’t remember if Magonia sounds exactly like Trial By Fire…but you’re so right! That COVER!! That’s what caught my attention in the first place. The gorgeous cover! But now that I know that story might not work for me either, I’m seriously reconsidering how much I’ll want to read this book. Either, I’m thankful you gave us the first warning. :)
Really? Really?! i was pretty much surprised you DNFd this one. I did heard quite good reviews about this. *sigh* okay this is one of my anticipated tbr …but now i will be keeping this review in mind when i get around to reading it.
I am just sad this didn’t work out for you :/
Ugh. Gorgeous post Kelly. <3 I'm sorry you had to be so disappoined by this book :( I have seen so many love it. But never wanted to read it myself. Now I really, really DO NOT want to read it. Your two quotes.. ugh. I'm already HATING the writing, lol :) I'm sorry you couldn't connect with the girl :\ She seems annoying. Sigh. You are awesome for trying, though :)
Carina Olsen recently posted…Cress Tuesday #78
Aw, shucks- I was hoping it’d be awesome. But thanks! Now I’m forewarned.
Beth W recently posted…Number One Nutrition Biotin Review
So disappointing. Especially with that stunning cover! I am still going to at least try, but I am not going to get my hopes up too high!
Jaime Lester recently posted…Crimson Bound
I’ve seen quite a few reviews on this one lately, and everyone seems to be disappointed like you. Love the stunning cover and then the book doesn’t live up to that expectation. :( I’ve been wanting to read this bookie too based on the cover, but yea, reading the reviews and the amount of people that haven’t been able to finish it, maybe not.. :( Thanks for sharing your honest review!! I think it’s important to give an honest opinion :)
The Cosy Dragon recently posted…Melinda Salisbury – The Sin Eater’s Daughter
Wow. This is the first time I’ve come across a DNF’d on this book. I’ve heard of a lot of positive reviews til now. Considering I’ve been following your blog for awhile now, I thought you’d like this but oh, well. I’m still curious to read this book. It’s good to know both sides to one story :D
The cover is ah-mazing, isn’t it? :D
EM @ Books and Iced Coffee recently posted…Another Read- A- Thon!
Good review. The cover is pretty. Too bad you didn’t relate to this one. I actually haven’t read any reviews for it yet. :)
So glad you reviewed this one. I’ve been passing by this in stores and the cover kept grabbing my attention. I’ve been in two minds over whether I should spend my money on time on it, but after your review, I’m thinking I’ll pass. I doubt I’d like Aza. :/