11/21/2023

Dark Sigils-Wie Die Dunkelheit Befiehlt by Anna Benning

I might not be as thrilled about the story and plot, but the wonderful cover design thrills me very much. This time the story was successful for me only in places. It was average, mixed with some enjoyable reading. Some characters were convincing while others were not. And as far as Adam is concerned, it can't get any colder. A pity.

Dark Sigils-Wie Die Dunkelheit Befiehlt*

by Anna Benning
Dark Sigils Trilogy #2
Publisher Fischer KJB on May 24, 2023
Genre Urban-Fantasy
Pages 489
Format Hardcover
Source Fischer KJB
Goodreads
✶✶✶½

The Dark Sigils are the most powerful artifacts ever forged. But in exchange for their magic, they take everything from us - our own freedom and the chance to love who we want. My only hope is to join the rebels in reaching the mysterious eighth Dark Sigil. Only with his help will I be able to determine my own life. But the path there is dangerous... and I don't know if Adam will let me go. For he knows the darkness that will take over the world if the sigil bearers resist their fate. (personal translation by ©Vi at Inkvotary)

Story

Rayne wants to be free from her Dark Sigil. She wants to decide how to live and whom she can love. Not an ancient artifact. But Adam wants the world to remain the way the world always was. And if that means leaving Rayne in the cold, so be it.

Style

From the start, the story was a bit boring. I couldn't befriend the ice-cold Adam, and everything remained strangely distant. Anna Benning's writing style was clear and easy to read, but the amount of filler was a bit too much for me. The novel would have clearly gained more with significantly fewer pages. And what is suggested at the very end, that Adam no longer has a connection to Rayne and that she is supposed to become something that she doesn't actually want, seemed artificial to me. And yet I felt a strange pleasure while reading it. One or two chapters were quite entertaining.

Characters

This time I didn't warm to the characters. Adam is cold-hearted, Rayne clearly struggles with this and when Adam finally brutally loses his connection to Rayne during the plot and another character appears on the field, I am a bit confused. The fact that Adam has his own plans for Rayne and himself at the very end also didn't make sense to me.

Conclusion

I oscillate between a strange enthusiasm for reading and slight disappointment. It was a strange mishmash of confused story, ice-cold characters, and a plot that didn't entirely make sense. And I absolutely didn't like what the author did with Adam and Rayne.

Happy reading

*This book was kindly provided to me by Fischer KJB in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Thank you. The book was at the time this review was published, only available in the German language.

Deutsche Rezension

Stil

Von Beginn an war die Story etwas langweilig. Ich konnte mich mit dem eiskalten Adam nicht anfreunden und alles blieb auf eigenartige Weise auf Distanz. Der Schreibstil von Anna Benning war zwar klar und einfach zu lesen, aber das viele Füllmaterial war mir eine Nummer zu viel. Der Roman hätte mit deutlich weniger Seiten eindeutig mehr gewonnen. Und was sich ganz am Ende andeutet, dass Adam keine Verbindung mehr zu Rayne hat und sie etwas werden soll, was sie eigentlich gar nicht will, das kam mir künstlich vor. Und dennoch hab ich beim Lesen ein seltsames Vergnügen verspürt. Das eine oder andere Kapitel war dann doch recht unterhaltsam.

Charaktere

Diesmal bin ich mit den Figuren nicht warm geworden. Adam ist kaltherzig, Rayne hat damit sichtlich zu kämpfen und als Adam im Handlungsverlauf schließlich die Verbindung zu Rayne auf brutale Weise verliert und eine weitere Figur auf dem Spielfeld auftaucht, war ich etwas verwirrt. Auch die Tatsache, dass Adam ganz zum Schluss sehr eigene Pläne für Rayne und sich hat, war für mich nicht ganz logisch.

Resultat

Ich schwanke zwischen seltsamer Lesebegeisterung und leichter Enttäuschung. Das war ein eigenartiger Mischmasch aus konfuser Geschichte, eiskalten Figuren und einem nicht ganz logischen Plot. Und was die Autorin mit Adam und Rayne gemacht hat, dass hat mir absolut nicht gefallen.

Anna Benning

Anna Benning was born in 1988, the youngest of three children. While studying literature, she wrote book reviews for a magazine and also worked in a bookshop. She has been a publisher's editor since 2013. One day she took heart and put her own stories on paper. "Vortex" is her debut.

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11/11/2022

Dark Sigils-Was Die Magie Verlangt by Anna Benning

One thing is for sure, there is still a lot of room for improvement here in terms of plot and storyline. A lot reminded me of other novels in this genre. What excited me even more about it is the presentation. The colored body of the book, the mixture of gold and different shades of blue – great! In terms of content, I found it rather average. Unfortunately. Yes, the story is entertaining, to some extent, and it was fun to watch the main figure cope with everything and how she was dealing with the Mirrorlord and the Dark Sigils. But other than that?

Dark Sigils-Was Die Magie Verlangt*

by Anna Benning
Dark Sigils Trilogy #1
Publisher Fischer KJB on August 31, 2022
Genre Urban-Fantasy
Pages 489
Format Hardcover
Source Fischer KJB
Goodreads
✶✶✶½

Magic used to exist only in our dreams. She was a mysterious good force that works miracles. But magic is not like that. True magic is dark and alluring, a shimmering blue liquid more valuable than gold and more addictive than the most potent drug. It's been fifteen years since magic came into our world. Today it is everywhere, on every continent, in every country, and in every city. Killing people to possess them. People die because they do. And other people, like me, fight with her to survive. (personal translation by ©Vi at Inkvotary).

Story

Rayne´s life is a special kind of hell. She´s forced to do things she doesn´t want to do. Except for the fights at the heptagon dome. There, she feels at home. As if she belongs there. But outside life is one constant fight for survival. Rayne knows that she´ll only need one win to free herself and her best friend Lily. Her plan is simple. Fight, win, take the money and run. Sounds simple, but how fast are Rayne and Lily able to run?

Style

As good as this novel is to read, I particularly like the fast-reading pace, I don't like how constructed it all seems. How artificial. In the beginning, the scenes and dialogues are still provided with momentum and a pinch of panache, and the plot has a good structure. Sure, I often couldn't shake the feeling that I'd read it all somewhere else before, and at some point, the penny dropped. But frankly, that didn't bother me at first. But as the story progressed, it became more unstructured, slower, and more predictable. There's no question that the author did a good job of showing the differences between the two worlds in terms of the individual characters, but there's no clear arc of tension. Events jump here and there. This is where opponents come into play, who artificially create a connection to another plot point, which is more irritating than exciting when reading. Too bad, but there was somehow the worm in there...

Characters

In general, many of the characters presented here are too stiff, too controlled, and far too stereotypical for me. There is no merging with the plot. The main character, Rayne, has a such quick wit, precision, and power that she almost seems like an underdog and at first, she probably is. But then the tide turns, which the reader unfortunately only finds out towards the end of this volume.

Rayne only knows what it feels like to have been abandoned. It's what made her strong. She wants to get away to a better future and finally find out what it's like to be wanted, to be loved. And she wants answers to many questions. But what she finally begins to understand isn't necessarily what she expected, let alone hoped for. I really liked how she refuses to be forced into a mandatory corset. How she deals with the knowledge that pours into her. She's unconventional and so very different from the rest of the Dark Sigils.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, this novel is just average for me. I was missing that certain something. There's no question that it's going to be intense, but it's all far too predictable. The only surprise was the ending. Suddenly there was a pep in it and a dark premonition for the second volume. Now all that remains is to hope that the author can also implement these suggestions well.

Happy reading

*This book was kindly provided to me by Fischer KJB in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Thank you. Therefore, the cover of the German edition is shown first in this review. The book was, at the time this review was published, only available in the German language.

Deutsche Rezension

Stil

So gut sich dieser Roman auch liest, da gefällt mir besonders das zügige Lesetempo, so wenig gefällt mir, wie konstruiert das alles wirkt. Wie künstlich. Zu Anfang sind die Szenen und Dialoge noch mit Schwung und einer Prise Elan versehen und die Handlung hat eine gute Struktur. Sicher, ich konnte mich oft nicht des Gefühls erwehren, das alles schon mal woanders gelesen zu haben, und irgendwann fiel dann auch der Groschen. Aber das hat mich, offen gesagt, am Anfang nicht gestört. Je weiter die Handlung dann aber voranschritt, umso unstrukturierter, langsamer und vorhersehbarer wurde es. Keine Frage, die Autorin hat es gut verstanden, die Unterschiede zwischen den beiden Welten, was die einzelnen Figuren angeht, zu zeigen, aber es ist kein eindeutiger Spannungsbogen zu erkennen. Da springen die Ereignisse mal hierhin und mal dorthin. Da kommen Gegner ins Spiel, die auf künstliche Weise eine Verbindung zu einem weiteren Handlungspunkt herstellen, was beim Lesen aber eher irritiert als Spannung zu erzeugen. Schade, aber da war irgendwie der Wurm drin…

Charaktere

Allgemein gesehen sind mir viele der hier präsentierten Figuren zu steif, zu kontrolliert und viel zu stereotyp. Da gibt es kein Verschmelzen mit der Handlung. Die Hauptfigur Rayne hat eine Schlagfertigkeit, eine Präzision und Kraft, dass sie fast wie ein Underdog erscheint und anfangs wohl auch ist. Doch dann wendet sich das Blatt, was der Leser leider aber erst gegen Ende dieses Bandes erfährt.

Rayne kennt nur das Gefühl, wie es ist, verlassen worden zu sein. Es ist das, was sie stark gemacht hat. Sie will weg in eine bessere Zukunft und endlich erfahren, wie es ist, gewollt zu sein, geliebt zu werden. Und sie will Antworten auf viele Fragen. Doch was sie am Ende beginnt zu verstehen, ist nicht unbedingt das, was sie erwartet, geschweige denn sich erhofft hatte. Mir gefiel es sehr, wie sie sich weigert, sich in ein vorgeschriebenes Korsett zwängen zu lassen. Wie sie mit dem Wissen, das auf sie einströmt, umgeht. Sie ist unkonventionell und so ganz anders als der Rest der Dark Sigils.

Resultat

Leider ist dieser Roman für mich nur Durchschnitt. Da fehlte mir das gewisse Etwas. Keine Frage, es geht hoch her, doch alles viel zu vorhersehbar. Die einzige Überraschung, das Ende. Da war plötzlich Pep drin und eine dunkle Vorahnung für den zweiten Band. Jetzt bleibt nur noch zu hoffen, dass die Autorin diese Andeutungen auch gut umsetzen kann.

The first edition was published with sprayed pages.

Anna Benning

Anna Benning was born in 1988, the youngest of three children. While studying literature, she wrote book reviews for a magazine and also worked in a bookshop. She has been a publisher's editor since 2013. One day she took heart and put her own stories on paper. "Vortex" is her debut.

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11/09/2022

Waiting On Wednesday #199 – Dark Sigils-Wie Die Dunkelheit Befiehlt by Anna Benning

is a weekly event that was originally hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This meme is a place that spotlights upcoming releases that we´re eagerly anticipating with pure joy. There are a lot of new books coming out each year and some of them catch my attention and will get a spotlight in my Waiting on Wednesday post. While some of them will finally end up here at my place, others won´t. I am joining Tressa at Wishful Endings and her meme Can´t-Wait Wednesday.

A few days ago, I just finished the first volume of this new trilogy by German author Anna Benning. Dark Sigils is an Urban-Fantasy story with two worlds in it. One world is the one the protagonist Rayne was born into, and the other one she can see hanging in the skies, like a mirror.

I like Anna Benning's sort of fantasy. Although sometimes I can´t get rid of the feeling that I´ve already read that scene here or this one there. I just can´t put a finger on it. So, with every new book, she gets published, I hope that there will be something completely new in it. Maybe this one is the one.

Dark Sigils-Wie Die Dunkelheit Befiehlt

Author Anna Benning
Dark Sigils #2
Publishing Date May 24, 2023
Publisher Fischer KJB
Format Hardcover
Goodreads

“Your magic will decide which way the scales tip.

light or darkness. The choice is in your hands.”

The Dark Sigils are the most powerful artifacts ever forged. But her magic takes everything from the sigil-bearer Rayne - her own freedom and her love for Adam, the Mirrorlord. In desperation, Rayne sees only one option: she joins the rebels to get to the mysterious eighth Dark Sigil. Not only does she have to face an unknown adversary, but also Adam himself. For he knows the darkness that will take hold of the world if the sigil-bearers defy their fate...

The first edition has sprayed pages

And what are you waiting for? Let me know your thoughts about this one or leave me the link to your WoW and I check it out.

Happy reading & waiting on

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3/30/2022

Waiting On Wednesday #182– Dark Sigils by Anna Benning

is a weekly event that was originally hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This meme is a place that spotlights upcoming releases that we´re eagerly anticipating with pure joy. There are a lot of new books coming out each year and some of them catch my attention and will get a spotlight in my Waiting on Wednesday post. While some of them will finally end up here at my place, others won´t. I am joining Tressa at Wishful Endings and her meme Can´t-Wait Wednesday.

I know the author from her Vortex trilogy and kind of like the fantasy world she had created there. This one sound completely different and I am more intrigued by the awesome cover than the actual summary.

Dark Sigils-Was Die Magie Verlangt

Author Anna Benning
Dark Sigils #1
Publishing Date August 31, 2022
Publisher Fischer KJB
Format Hardcover
Goodreads

“They gave us magic. We gave them everything we had.”

Magic used to exist only in dreams. She was a mysterious force that works miracles. But that's not how magic is. Rayne knows that better than anyone. Dark and dangerous, true magic is Rayne's only chance of surviving in the slums of London. Through special artifacts, the sigils, she has learned to use the shimmering blue liquid... and to fight with it. But when the magic spirals out of control, only one boy can help Rayne. He reigns over the most powerful sigils in the world and gives them a choice: either the magic in Rayne's veins will kill her - or she binds her life to the Dark Sigils. Forever. (Personal translation ©Vi at Inkvotary).

The first edition has sprayed pages.

And what are you waiting for? Let me know your thoughts about this one or leave me the link to your WoW and I check it out.

Happy reading & waiting on

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6/29/2021

Vortex Die Liebe Die Den Anfang Brachte by Anna Benning

The last part of a well entertaining trilogy. And a wonderful end to the story of Elaine and Bale. Good, the cover is not really mine, but it is the story itself that counts, isn´t it?

Vortex Die Liebe Die Den Anfang Brachte*

by Anna Benning
Vortex Trilogy #3
Publisher Fischer KJB on May 26, 2021
Genre Fantasy
Pages 535
Format Hardcover
Source Fischer KJB
Goodreads
✶✶✶✶

The first vortex was the beginning of our world. Now it could be our end. As the war rages and the armies of the Red Storm advance, I know who the real threat is. The boy I love. Bale. I have to save him – at all costs. I need to remind him who he is – and what he means to me. Because if I don´t. then he´ll put us all into the abyss … (personal translation by ©Vi at Inkvotary).

Story

Elaine does everything to save Bale. Bale is controlled by Hawthorne and does whatever Hawthorne wants him to do. Even if that means to kill his own. But Elaine knows that not all want the war. That there is still a chance to avoid it and get people together anyway.

Style

The story is very action-packed from the start, and it quickly becomes clear that there is a lot more at stake here than the end of volume two suggested. The reading speed is wonderfully quick, and the plot is varied. The author is faithful to her writing and language style and answers almost all open questions as the story progresses. Unfortunately, from about halfway through, the story began to weaken a bit, which in my opinion cost a smooth star. Still, the novel is entertaining and has a dash of drama.

Characters

Elaine has developed a lot. At some point in the course of the story, she realizes that things are turning out the way they should be. That neither she nor Bale can do anything about it. And so, she begins to accept things, relying entirely on her instinct and conscience.

With this protagonist, the author has created a fantastic figure who completely thrilled me in this last volume.

Conclusion

Well, of the initially five-star rating, only four remained in the end. But still, solid entertainment is provided. The author fully exploits the range of emotions for the reader as well as for the individual characters and the plot itself really goes into full force again. At least up to half of the novel. I was happy with the end, even if it turned out differently than expected.

Happy reading

*This book was, at the time this review was published, only available in the German language. The book was kindly provided to me by Fischer KJB in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Thank you.

Deutsche Rezension

Stil

Von Beginn an ist die Geschichte sehr actionreich und es wird schnell klar, dass hier viel mehr auf dem Spiel steht, als es das Ende von Band zwei vermuten ließ. Das Lesetempo ist herrlich zügig und die Handlung abwechslungsreich. Die Autorin ist ihrem Schreib- und Sprachstil treu geblieben und beantwortet im weiteren Verlauf der Handlung so gut wie alle noch offenen Fragen. Leider fing die Geschichte ab etwa der Hälfte dann an etwas zu schwächeln, was sie in meinen Augen dann einen glatten Stern kostete. Dennoch ist der Roman unterhaltsam und mit einem Schuss Drama versehen.

Charaktere

Elaine hat sich gewaltig weiterentwickelt. Irgendwann im Handlungsverlauf begreift sie, dass die Dinge sich genauso entwickeln, wie es sein soll. Das weder sie noch Bale daran irgendetwas ändern können. Und so fängt sie an, die Dinge zu akzeptieren und sich ganz auf ihren Instinkt und ihr Gewissen zu verlassen.

Mit dieser Protagonistin ist der Autorin eine fantastische Figur gelungen, die mich in diesem letzten Band restlos begeistert hat.

Resultat

Gut, von der anfänglich begeisternden fünf Sterne Bewertung sind am Ende nur noch vier übrig geblieben. Aber dennoch, für solide Unterhaltung ist gesorgt. Die Autorin schöpft die Gefühlspalette sowohl für den Leser als auch für die einzelnen Charaktere voll aus und der Plot selbst geht auch noch mal so richtig in die Vollen. Zumindest bis zur Romanhälfte. Mit dem Ende war ich zufrieden, auch wenn es anders kam als gedacht.

Anna Benning

Anna Benning was born in 1988, the youngest of three children. While studying literature, she wrote book reviews for a magazine and also worked in a bookshop. She has been a publisher's editor since 2013. One day she took heart and put her own stories on paper. "Vortex" is her debut.

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12/02/2020

Waiting On Wednesday #151 – Vortex-Die Liebe Die Den Anfang Brachte by Anna Benning

is a weekly event that was originally hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This meme is a place that spotlights upcoming releases that we´re eagerly anticipating with pure joy. There are a lot of new books coming out each year and some of them catch my attention and will get a spotlight in my Waiting on Wednesday post. While some of them will finally end up here at my place, others won´t. I am joining Tressa at Wishful Endings and her meme Can´t-Wait Wednesday.

After the cliffhanger at the end of volume two, I for sure want to know how things will go on. It is the mixture of Sci-Fi and a touch of romance that makes this trilogy so interesting to read. I am not ok with everything but the author for sure does know how to surprise and shock her readers. And that is what we all want in a book. Surprise and the unexpected, right? 

Vortex-Die Liebe Die Den Anfang Brachte

Author Anna Benning
Publishing Date May 25, 2021
Publisher Fischer FJB
Format Hardcover
Goodreads

After Elaine has lost not only her powers but also Bale, everything threatens to fall apart. The army of the Red Storm is advancing further and further, and the peaceful world Elaine has dreamed of seems to be a long way off. But when Elaine suddenly comes across Bale in occupied São Paulo, hope sprouts in her: Maybe she can still save the boy she loves. Because Elaine knows only together can they protect the original vortex. Only together can they travel deep into the past. To where it all began … (personal translation by ©Vi at Inkvotary).

And what are you waiting for? Let me know your thoughts about this one or leave me the link to your WoW and I check it out.

Happy reading & waiting on

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10/19/2020

Vortex Das Mädchen Das Die Zeit Durchbrach by Anna Benning

With the ending of book one, it was clear to me that I wanted to read the second novel of this trilogy too. And this one turned out to be a big adventure. Not only for the main figure but also for me the reader. Good, the story is not as diverse as in the other one but nonetheless intriguing and kind of thrilling. Especially the end gave me that special thrill.

Vortex-Das Mädchen Das Die Zeit Durchbrach*

by Anna Benning

Vortex Trilogy #2

Publisher Fischer KJB on September 23, 2020

Genre Fantasy

Pages 493

Format Hardcover

Source Fischer KJB 

Goodreads

✶✶✶✶ 

Our world was created by Vortexes. They formed cities out of trees, lagoons out of light – and people mixed with fire, air, water, and earth. I thought I saved the world. I was wrong. As our enemies travel back in time, we have no choice: we have to follow them. But every time we land in reveals new secrets. Secrets that make me doubt. To Bale, Our love. And myself. (personal translation by ©Vi at Inkvotary).

Story

Elaine has again, to face an enemy she always thought she could trust. But when she made it clear to the world that she was no longer willing to do her job as a Vortex runner, she was forced to go with Bale and help those she once hunted. Now, she has no other choice but to follow her enemies into the past to prevent them from destroying the only world she ever knew. At a high price. 

Style

This story plays in a world where water is everything. The swimmer, as Elaine calls them, show her their world and not everybody in it is happy to meet her. In a time where Elaine is no longer a Vortex runner, she´s always eager to help those who can´t fight for themselves. To solve things for the better. Anna Benning unfolds a beautiful but also dangerous new world right in front of the reader´s eye. The author shows that every world has a good and a bad side. Okay, the story is not as diverse as in the first volume but shows some characters old and new, and traveling through time has its price.  

With only a few words and in an easy to read style creates the author a unique world, action, and figures. The setting and some scenes make you wanna dive deep into the story and give you the feeling that you want to swim through the blue water yourself. But I have also to say that I was not happy with everything. The end is one big surprise, and I was shocked when I realized what just had happened. Some twists and turns and a sudden cliffhanger didn´t make it easier to close the book in the end. I definitely need to read the third book!

Characters

The characters here are almost the same as in the first volume. But it can clearly be seen how they have changed Elaine in particular has gone through some changes for the better. She still wants to help others and she still can´t see someone else get hurt. She is much more careful than before. She follows her instincts and is unsure if what she does is always good. Elaine still has her priorities and knows what she wants. I found her very convincing although it was clear that she still had some of her bad habits. But that´s fine and good for the plot.

Conclusion

Well, I´ll admit I wasn´t happy with the end of the book. It was quite a shock to me and although the author answered many of my questions, she also put new ones in the room with the cliffhanger. Still, I can really say that this book was a pleasure to read. My recommendation for everyone who likes to discover new worlds. 

Happy reading

*This book was, at the time this review was published, only available in the German language. The book was kindly provided to me by Fischer KJB in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Thank you. 

Deutsche Rezension

 

Stil

Diese Geschichte spielt in einer Welt, in der Wasser alles ist. Die Schwimmer, wie Elaine sie nennt, zeigen ihr ihre Welt und nicht jeder darin freut sich, sie zu treffen. In einer Zeit, in der Elaine keine Vortex-Läuferin mehr ist, ist sie immer bemüht, denen zu helfen, die nicht für sich selbst kämpfen können. Dinge zum Besseren zu lösen. Anna Benning entfaltet eine schöne, aber auch gefährliche Neue Welt direkt vor den Augen des Lesers. Die Autorin zeigt, dass jede Welt eine gute und eine schlechte Seite hat. Okay, die Geschichte ist nicht so vielfältig wie im ersten Band, zeigt uns aber einige alte und neue Charaktere und das Reisen durch die Zeit seinen Preis hat.   

Mit nur wenigen Worten und in einem leicht lesbaren Stil schafft die Autorin eine einzigartige Welt, Action und Figuren. Die Kulisse und einige Szenen lassen dich tief in die Geschichte eintauchen und geben dir das Gefühl, selbst durch das blaue Wasser schwimmen zu wollen. Aber ich muss auch sagen, dass ich nicht mit allem zufrieden war. Das Ende ist eine große Überraschung, und ich war schockiert, als mir klar wurde, was da gerade passiert war. Einige Wendungen und ein plötzlicher Cliffhanger machten es am Ende nicht einfacher, das Buch zu schließen. Ich muss unbedingt das dritte Buch lesen!

Charaktere

Die Figuren hier sind fast die gleichen wie im ersten Band. Aber es ist klar ersichtlich, wie sie sich verändert haben. Besonders Elaine hat einige Veränderungen zum Besseren durchgemacht. Sie will immer noch anderen helfen und sie kann es immer noch nicht sehen, wenn ein anderer verletzt wird. Sie ist viel vorsichtiger als früher. Sie folgt ihrem Instinkt und ist sich nicht sicher, ob das, was sie tut, immer gut ist. Elaine hat immer noch ihre Prioritäten und weiß, was sie will. Ich fand sie sehr überzeugend, obwohl klar war, dass sie immer noch einige ihrer schlechten Angewohnheiten hatte. Aber das ist in Ordnung und gut für die Handlung.

Resultat

Gut, ich gebe es zu, ich war nicht sehr zufrieden mit dem Ende dieses Buches. Es war ein ziemlicher Schock für mich und obwohl die Autorin viele meiner Fragen beantwortete, stellte sie hier auch neue in den Raum mit dem Cliffhanger. Trotzdem kann ich wirklich sagen, dass dieses Buch ein reines Lesevergnügen war. Meine Empfehlung für alle, die gerne neue Welten entdecken. 

Anna Benning

Anna Benning was born in 1988, the youngest of three children. While studying literature, she wrote book reviews for a magazine and also worked in a bookshop. She has been a publisher's editor since 2013. One day she took heart and put her own stories on paper. "Vortex" is her debut.

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6/10/2020

Waiting On Wednesday #135 – Vortex-Das Mädchen, Das Die Zeit Durchbrach by Anna Benning

is a weekly event that was originally hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This meme is a place that spotlights upcoming releases that we´re eagerly anticipating with pure joy. There are a lot of new books coming out each year and some of them catch my attention and will get a spotlight in my Waiting on Wednesday post. While some of them will finally end up here at my place, others won´t. I am joining Tressa at Wishful Endings and her meme Can´t-Wait Wednesday.

I read the first volume a few months ago and today I live in a changing world. This trilogy is about the future, about the change in time, and how people cope with the unexpected. The first book was a story I thought could only become better. The beginning was already a pleasure to read so I hope that this one will be even better. 

                           

Vortex-Das Mädchen, Das Die Zeit Durchbrach

Author Anna Benning
Vortex Trilogy #2
Publishing Date September 23, 2020
Publisher Fischer KJB
Format Hardcover
Goodreads

Elaine´s world was created by vortexes. They formed cities from trees, lagoons from light- and people who were mixed fire, air, water, and earth. Elaine thought she saved this world. However, what should be a victory for freedom threatens to become a terrible war. When her adversary Varus Hawthorne sends his vortex runners back in time, Elaine and Bale have no choice: they have to follow them. But every time they land reveals new secrets. Until Elaine learns something in Sky City, the air city, that shakes her trust in Bale and makes her realize that her love will decide the fate of everyone …

And what are you waiting for? Let me know your thoughts about this one or leave me the link to your WoW and I check it out.

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3/12/2020

Vortex-Der Tag An Dem Die Welt Zerriss by Anna Benning

The cover caught my eyes first and made me have a closer look at it. The blue, turquoise, and purple shades are drawn together in a wonderful motive and it is obvious that it shows the main figure, Ellie. I found many things in here that are very familiar to me from other books. And that was it, what threw me into a state with mixed feelings. The fantasy in this novel is partly absolutely wonderful. It was so easy to imagine all the beautiful described places and the setting, and I could literally see the story as if I was watching a movie. And yet, I found too many things looked exactly like those I´ve seen in other books like The 100 or the City of-series.

Vortex-Der Tag An Dem Die Welt Zerriss*

by Anna Benning
Vortex Trilogy #1
Publisher Fischer KJB on March 4, 2020
Genre Fantasy
Pages 495
Format Hardcover
Source Publisher
Goodreads
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The day the first vortex moved across our world changed everything. He changed our countries. Our seas. And he changed us. His energies awakened powers that should not exist. Powers of fire, earth, air, and water. Our world is different today. But the vortexes have remained. I learned to walk in their vertebrae. I learned to use their powers as my powers. But I didn´t know what kind of power it would create. Until I met him. And my world finally got out of joint … (personal translation by ©Vi at Inkvotary).

Story

Elaine wants to be a runner. She wants to hunt down as many splits as she possibly can. Because they are a threat to society, she lives in. In her world, only those who can control their powers are eligible to live. But what about Luka? And what can she do to help those she cares about but can´t prevent from getting caught?

Style

There are many similarities in this novel to other fantasy books. And I am not sure whether I like that or not. The story itself is new, yes, but many things in the actual plot were only too familiar. I can´t tell you exactly why it was, but I had my problems finding access to the main figure´s emotions. There was always some kind of distance, no matter how action-filled or tense the story was or became.

Anna Benning´s writing style is easy to read, contains some very well created scenes and sentences and shows, despite some very brutal scenes, a soft tone. The author has created a fantasy world I sometimes just wanted to explore myself. On the other hand, there are parts and pages in this book, I didn´t need. The fact, that the story is told from Ellie´s point of view, is no guarantee that you will experience the same things the main figure does. I simply missed the connection I usually feel when reading a book in that sense.

The world in Vortex is split. In all those who try to achieve a place at the curatorship where they can train to become runners. But not for fun. Runners hunt down all those who were born with mixed abilities and are seen as not even human by authorities. In fact, they are a thread. Maybe it was all those similarities that gave me a bit of a weird reading experience. I can´t deny that over many pages I had a wonderful reading pleasure. If I would have had that from the beginning of the book, this would have been a fantastic page-turner.

Characters

Elaine has gone through a lot throughout her entire life. She knows what it means when you lose a loved one only because someone else can´t control his powers. Or doesn´t want to. The first Vortex has created chaos and left some creatures as well as humans who have mixed abilities. Something, the powerful are scared of and don´t want to accept in their modern society. And for Elaine, it is a dream come true when she wins the race and shows that she has an ability someone is eager to get under his control. It was nice to watch how Ellie discovers her new ability and how she starts to change when she sees the other side of the fence.

Conclusion

I am ambivalent about this story. Good, the first half of the book asks a lot from its reader and there were several times where I was close to making this my first DNF. But I kept reading because there was something in the style and novel itself, that made me want to know what happened next. And the other half turned out to be exciting and diversified. I can truly say: this book isn´t like all the others, despite all the familiar things I found in it. And the cliffhanger … was that necessary? *smile* Yep, it wasn´t a full reading pleasure from the beginning, but after all an enjoyable book.

Happy reading

*This book was, at the time this review was published, only available in the German language. It was kindly provided to me by Fischer KJB in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Thank you. Therefore, the cover of the German edition is shown first in this review.

Anna Benning

Anna Benning was born in 1988, the youngest of three children. While studying literature, she wrote book reviews for a magazine and also worked in a bookshop. She has been a publisher's editor since 2013. One day she took heart and put her own stories on paper. "Vortex" is her debut.

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