REVIEW: Soundless by Richelle Mead

Genre: Fantasy/Mythology

Publisher: Razorbill/PenguinRandomHouse

ISBN: 1595147632

Available at: E-book, Audio Book and Physical Copies


Links: Goodreads, Amazon.com, Website
             B&N, Indigo


Rating: 8/10

Synopsis:

Fei and her village live at the top of the mountain where they mine for precious metals. The rocky terrain and avalanches make it impossible for anyone to leave- the path blocked by a previous rock fall. 

They are at the mercy of a zip line carrying them their food up the cliffs. 

As villagers begin to lose their sight, deliveries start to slow from the zip line. 

Until one night, Fei is awoken by a searing noise and sound becomes her weapon. She sets out to uncover and fight all the dangers surrounding her village. 

Fei, accompanied by a miner, take on the quest down their jagged mountain village to the dangers that lie below.

Review:

Soundless is young adult novel set in a mythical China. The use of sign language to allow characters to communicate to each other takes an interesting take on the novel that was a different take on how Richelle Mead normally writes.

The influences of Chinese myths within the novel add elements of excitement into a world that already faces many struggles while living on a mountain and I loved learning about the myth used as the story comes to life.

As a standalone high-fantasy novel it’s well written and fast paced at only 226 pages. Though of course I wish that Mead would add further into the story.

The romance within the novel does not seem rushed as other books of a short length may be. The two characters already have built a relationship from previous years before when the novel takes place. 

The plot does not seem rushed, but character development is perhaps lacking and I personally wasn’t able to connect with the characters as well as I had other characters in books of a longer length. 

However, that did not stop the book from being enjoyable in any way.

Overall, Soundless is extremely well written and ends well leaving readers satisfied and ties up the lose ends. I definitely recommend this book to high-fantasy lovers and those interested in Chinese mythology.

What are some of your favourite myths and legends?