Review: Soundless by Richelle Mead

November 18, 2015 Review 58 ★★★½

Review: Soundless by Richelle MeadSoundless by Richelle Mead
Series: Stand-Alone
Published by Razorbill on November 10th 2015
Genres: Young Adult Mythology, Young Adult Fantasy
Pages: 272
Format: Hardcover
Source: Own Copy
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Heat Rating:one-flame

From Richelle Mead, the #1 internationally bestselling author of Vampire Academy and Bloodlines, comes a breathtaking new fantasy steeped in Chinese folklore.
For as long as Fei can remember, there has been no sound in her village, where rocky terrain and frequent avalanches prevent residents from self-sustaining. Fei and her people are at the mercy of a zipline that carries food up the treacherous cliffs from Beiguo, a mysterious faraway kingdom.
When villagers begin to lose their sight, deliveries from the zipline shrink and many go hungry. Fei’s home, the people she loves, and her entire existence is plunged into crisis, under threat of darkness and starvation.
But soon Fei is awoken in the night by a searing noise, and sound becomes her weapon.
Richelle Mead takes readers on a triumphant journey from the peak of Fei’s jagged mountain village to the valley of Beiugo, where a startling truth and an unlikely romance will change her life forever...

coverlove fantasy magical TBRPile YAROMANCE

First Impression: A story of self-perseverance in the face of the unknown.

Second Impression: I liked how the story was written. It uses certain costumes and vaguely bases a fantasy world around it. I found it quite impressive. The people of a small village where Fei is from known only one way of life. They are split into different classes. The miners, mine for the metals that keep their village alive for the village is on top of a mountain with no way down and the only thing that keeps them fed is sending metal down through a line in exchange for food. The artists supervise the daily life of the village and return to report it in an expressive artistic way that will be displayed the next day for the whole town to witness. They must only observe and never intervene.

For you see, everyone in town is deft. Their only way of communication is through sign language and reading the painted word from the artists. Unfortunately the town is also suffering from people going blind, and no one known why this is happening. It’s interfering with the mining and thus causing the man managing the zip-line below to send them more food. When Li Wei’s (a miner) father dies in an accident in the mine because he was losing his vision, Li Wei sets out to try and climb down the mountain and have the lineman reconsider sending them so little food. Fei is forced to go with him when her own sister’s sight begins to fail, and the last thing she wants is for her to become a beggar. Especially in the world so scares of food.

The only thing is, Fei is the only one that can climb down the mountain because her hearing has returned and she is the only one in the village that can hear the rock slide and thus avoid getting killed.

When Li Wei and Fei make their way to the world below, what they discover not only stuns them, but the mystery and betrayal towards her people leaves them wanting the same salvation and pleasures of life the people in the township are experiencing. As they try to get back to their people and enlighten them of the deceiving lies, the danger follows them.

Third Impression: The book was okay. No, you must understand, I really enjoyed it. I must have if I finished it so damn quickly right? And I did. I like the underlying feel of the story, it felt diverse from the normal reads that keep popping up in my kindle lately. Fei was an interesting character, but where she was strong and brave, she was also a bit naive and weak. I know she wanted what was best for her people, but ultimately failed to see the bigger picture. The entire time I was reading this book, I was curious to how she was going to accomplish what she was set out to do.

Okay, I must say the ending was a bit of disappointment. I kind of expected that it was going to happen in such way, but it still left a bitter pill in my mouth. I wanted something more, I wanted to see the people stand up and rebel. I wanted to see them use that anger and sorrow that they had battled for so long and unleash it on the cruelty that kept them on top of the mountain. Yes, I admired the village folks for doing everything they can in order to survive under their circumstances, but I also envisioned some kind of a revolution for them. Not just become a sort of a fish out of the water and hope that a myth saves them.

There was also a bit of romance in the book and it was cute, but everything did end a bit too perfectly. Sure, the author did not take it to the extent of making your teeth ache, but Fei seemed to have literally got everything she could ever want. It left me wanting a bit more meat on these dry bones, so to speak and wishing that the story was not a stand-alone – maybe it would have been better for it. This is one time that I did not feel it had a strong ending and left me feeling a bit disappointed, but I guess it does bring closure to those that needed in light of the events and HEA.

I did enjoy the writing and the story telling. It had a folk book feeling, and even thought it wasn’t detailed, it was understandable. It did not bore me to tears with an influx of information, therefore I did not find the book dry. I enjoyed every minute of it, despite wanting a better, stronger, and possibly overall a different ending. Thought I liked it just fine, I felt that the story in general had a lot of potential. But, if it meant to feel like a folklore, in which it absolutely does, then it is understandable.

58 Responses to “Review: Soundless by Richelle Mead”

  1. Magen Corrie

    The idea of the characters being deft is so interesting. And though the ending was disappointing, I’m glad to read you enjoyed it! 😀 I know I’ll pick this one up when I can.

    Lovely review!

    Reply

    • Lily B

      it wasn’t too bad. It was just..different, thought it was hinted at what was coming, I guess I just wanted more? You should read it, you might enjoy it anyway

      Reply

  8. Lola

    My pre-ordered copy of this one finally arrived this week and I am looking forward to reading it, although I have lowered my expectations a bit as most people seem to find it just okay. I am glad you mentioned you finished it so fast and enjoyed the book and it sure does sound like an original story. I am not so sure if I will like the folkore feel though, but we’ll see. I didn’t realized the people in this story aren’t able to hear, I thought there was no sound at all in the world for some reason. And the ending sounds a bit disapointing. And it sounds like it’s wrapped up a bit too perfectly with how Fei get’s everything she wants. Maybe Mead is better at writing series than standalones. Great review and I am looking forward to reading this one.
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    Reply

    • Lily B

      if you are looking for something fast, I thought this was a great way to introduce me to her writing, I love her writing skills, and the story did draw me!

      Reply

  16. Kelly

    I’ve seen so many mixed reviews for this one Lily, but this is the first time I’ve actually wanted to read it despite it’s issues. I love that the diversity is more than just a token diverse character and being able to immerse myself in Fei’s world. It’s a shame it was wrapped up a little too neatly though, I would love to see the oppressed fight back as well. Looking forward to giving this one a go though, thanks to your brilliant review <3
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    • Lily B

      I think a lot either really disliked it or loved it. I did enjoy it, I DID. It was great writing and the story itself was different.

      Reply

  19. melliane

    I didn’t see a lot of great reviews about this one which made me sad so I passed but I don’t know. Maybe I’ll try it one day.

    Reply

    • Lily B

      Cynthia I would still read it. I think it threw a lot of people, but honestly, its all based on people’s taste. I still highly recommend it.

      Reply

  22. Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews

    Because I got this on my kindle last week, I only skimmed your review, Lily! I am so excited about this book, but maybe I should try to get my expectations back a notch? I’m glad you gave 3.5 stars, because that means it was pretty good, right? Even if it didn’t completely wow you :)
    I’ll come back and read your full review once I’ve read and reviewed Soundless myself 😀

    Reply

    • Lily B

      I honestly liked it more than the stars suggest. It disappointed me a little, but if you realize it reads more like a folk tale, and that its briefly based on certain costumes and not completely, I think you would enjoy it. I DO hope you read it Lexxie, cause I want to see how you feel about it.

      Reply

    • Lily B

      they used sign language so the monologue was in italics, sorta read as if you are reading what they are thinking? but it was a way to implement sign language into the book.I like it. No multiple POVS

      Reply

  24. Tracy Terry

    It sounds like this was a mix of the good and the not so good as far as you were concerned.

    Looking at the cover my first thoughts were that this was going to be similar in theme to films such as Crouching Tiger but perhaps not.

    Great review, I enjoy how you broke it down into first, second and third impressions before summing it up.

    Reply

  29. Aila @ Happy Indulgence

    Oh god, I totally agree with you on your third impressions! There was just something lacking in here, NOT TO MENTION THE LACK OF CHINESE CULTURE? Like I understand it was subtle, but the blurb promised me a “fantasy seeped in Chinese folklore.” Did I see that? Only at the cop out towards the end. :((( Either way, this was a nice, honest review!
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  31. Bea @Bea's Book Nook

    I liked, no I loved, Mead’s Vampire Academy series. NetGalley had the first 5 chapters of this up and I read them but I wasn’t wowed. The world building, granted it was only 5 chapters, was weak and I had hesitations about how deafness and hearing were handled.

    Good review Lily!

    Reply

  32. Nereyda

    Ahhhh, all the 3 star reviews for this book I’ve read hurt… I freaking love Richelle Mead and I’m sad this wasn’t better.

    Reply

  34. Anissa

    It seems like a lot of people didn’t enjoy this book as much as they thought they would! I’m glad that you at least thought it was alright :) It doesn’t sound like something for me, but I might give it a chance in the future! Great review, Lily!
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