Name: Lorelei Petcu's review of The Cerulean by Amy Ewing
Item: The Cerulean
Rating: 2
Author: Lorelei Petcu

Amy Ewing

From New York Times bestselling author Amy Ewing (The Jewel) comes the exciting first book in a new fantasy duology. Rich, vivid world-building and ethereal magic combine in an epic tale that’s perfect for fans of Snow Like Ashes, These Broken Stars, or Magonia. Sera Lighthaven has always felt as if she didn’t quite belong among her people, the Cerulean, who live in the City Above the Sky. She is curious about everything—especially the planet that her City is magically tethered to—and can’t stop questioning things. Sera has always longed for the day when the tether will finally break and the Cerulean can move to a new planet. But when Sera is chosen as the sacrifice to break the tether, she feels betrayed by everything in which she’d been taught to trust. In order to save her City, Sera must end her own life. But something goes wrong, and Sera survives, ending up on the planet below in a country called Kaolin. Sera has heard tales about the dangerous humans who live here, and she quickly learns that these dangers were not just stories. Meanwhile, back in the City, all is not what it seems, and the life of every Cerulean may be in danger if Sera is not able to find a way home.

The Cerulean

Lydia Ford

Lorelei Petcu

This had one of the most unique settings I’ve ever seen in a book. The concept was amazing and could have made this book a favourite for me, but it was just executed so... meh. 
It gets four stars for Agnes and Leela and Kandra though.

Elisa Bieg

I don’t normally review books that I didn’t finish. But I tried very hard to finish this one, and even spurred on by fun banter with my book buddy, it managed to throw me into a book slump so deep, I am struggling to get excited about some really anticipated new releases that are now looking at me sadly from my shelf. 

The storyline itself isn’t bad. Not especially original, but not awful. But the world building is the most absurd, nonsensical, what-the-heck-was-she-smoking stuff. 

Look. I love fantasy. I LOOOOVE when writers can magically bring to life worlds they came up with.
I love that SO much, when they have the skill, the talent and the determination to make their words evoke these incredible imaginary lands, and the people in them. It is THE BEST.

This book is basically what happens when all that fails. Epically.

Also, let’s not forget: I’m a sucker for good characters. Give me relatable, well-written characters and a bit of banter, and I can forgive a multitude of sins. I will put up with shoddy or even non-existent world-building, some tired tropes, even a weak plot. But if you have all that AND weak characterization.... that’s when we part ways.
I may stick with you for 240+pages as I have done here, if one or two give me a glimmer of hope. But I won’t keep sticking around when I feel like I am getting absolutely nothing for my efforts.

It breaks my heart a little bit — because this was a preorder and one I was excited about. It’s also gorgeous. But it is truly the worst book I have read in several years, and I have lost all hope that it will get any better. So it’s getting 1 STAR and going straight to the donation pile, no passing GO, not collecting $200.

Now, if anyone has any tips to get out of this pit of despair that is the book slump this book has caused, I’m all ears.

Savannah Winchell

DNF @ 50%
- One Of the coolest worlds/concepts ive ever read BUT
- NEVER IN MY LIFE HAVE I BEEN QUEER BATED SO HARD
- THE MC IS THE ONLY STRAIGHT GIRL IN HER ENTIRE CULTURE OF POLY LESBIANS
- THERE IS ANOTHER LESBIAN MC BUT SHES “NOT LIKE OTHER GIRLS” THIS IS LITERALLY A LINE IN THE BOOK
-DISHONOR ON U AND UR COW
- THIS CONCEPT DESERVED BETTER. WE DESERVED BETTER

I'm also updating on Dec 7 bc I realized I never mentioned the blatant racism bc i was so wrapped up in the homophobia. But yeah the brown people are oppressive and evil and the literal glowing white people in the sky are pure or whatever.


THANK YOU AND GOODNIGHT

Samantha Bass

Potential spoilers? Not sure if it would be considered one but read at your own risk - just in case!

I buddy read the ARC of this book and I was so excited to read it, but unfortunately, I was disappointed. Normally science fiction/fantasy books are my bread and butter but this book felt ... off. I love the premise of it, but there were some major issues with the story that i was not a fan of. 

1) The fact that the main character Sera is the only straight woman in her society, which consists of polyamorous lesbian couples, is unnecessary to me. Besides the fact that she claims she is different, Sera acknowledges that some women do not feel attraction and choose not to marry - which would have been fine. But making her straight added nothing to the plot in this entire book, which makes it feel like she’s trying to make her feel like an “other” to the reader and I was not a fan of that. 

2) The character Leo had a weird and sudden character shift that was somewhat explained, but so underdeveloped it felt wrong and out of place. It felt like he was made to be the bad guy and then changed his mind and decides he wants to be the good guy? It was very confusing. 

3) I adored Leela and Agnes’ character so much and honestly I just wanted to read from their POV and nobody else’s. 

4) The set up of the book by location did not make sense to me and made the story so choppy. Instead of sprinkling different character POVs in to explain what’s going on in the meantime, we get six different sections and have to connect the dots that way. It was not enjoyable to read it that way for me personally. 

Now because I read the ARC, some of these issues may have been addressed. So I always suggest reading for yourself (especially the finished copy) and gather your own opinion. Personally, I would have liked the story without these issues and I’m disappointed in this read. I am still open to reading other books from the author though - you can’t win them all as they say.

Meg K

This was such a new and refreshing concept! I struggled a bit at first to keep everything straight, from the Cerulean culture, to the creatures and characters involved. That being said, you really get sucked into this world where an “alien” species lives in a city in the clouds above a humanoid planet below. There are so many dark secrets that have yet to be revealed, and I’m excited to see how this duology concludes!

Lydia Ford &
The Cerulean by Amy Ewing

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Lydia Ford &The Cerulean by Amy Ewing

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Lydia Ford &
The Cerulean by Amy Ewing