Early Review – The Never Tilting World (The Never Tilting World, Book 1) by Rin Chupeco (3/5 stars)

Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Length: 496 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: October 15, 2019
ISBN-13: 978-0062821799
Stand Alone or Series: 1st volume in The Never Tilting World series
Source: eGalley from Edelweiss for Review
Rating: 3/5 stars

“Generations of twin goddesses have long ruled Aeon—until one sister’s betrayal split their world in two. A Great Abyss now divides two realms: one cloaked in eternal night, the other scorched beneath an ever-burning sun.

While one sister rules the frozen fortress of Aranth, her twin rules the sand-locked Golden City—each with a daughter by their side. Now those young goddesses must set out on separate, equally dangerous journeys in hopes of healing their broken world. No matter the sacrifice it demands.”

This is the first book in The Never Tilting World series by Chupeco. I have read all of Chupeco’s other books and loved some of them but didn’t love others. I am kind of mixed on this one. I thought the world was really interesting. However, I didn’t like how much jumping around there was between different characters and didn’t think it worked well. I also thought a lot of the dialogue between characters sounded really awkward and forced.

This is set is a post-apocalyptic type of world but has a heavy fantasy feel to it. It switches POV between two young women and two young men. I found the world fascinating, it’s very “Mad Max” like with things like sandworms and desert marauders.

I had a lot of trouble staying engaged in the story though. The jumping around between the 4 different POVs was distracting and the two sisters sounded too similar in voice, I kept having to check to remember whose POV I was reading from.

Overall this was okay but not great. While it is a very creative world, I struggled a lot with staying engaged with the story and characters. I don’t plan on continuing the series.