Playing Through Every Choices Book, In Order (Part 21: Distant Shores)

Hey! Today, we get transported back in time by some random golden compass to join a pirate crew and deal with...a nasty old British man. Kind of fitting considering the last book I reviewed, hmm?

Next time, we head to a magical academy named Hogwarts Penderghast after real-world college proves far too unfulfilling!

Link to previous reviews: https://www.reddit.com/user/stresseatingdog/comments/sj3s3m/all_choices_reviews_megapost/

SPOILER WARNING, AS ALWAYS!

Distant Shores

M/C: Lance Valentine

Final LI: Oliver

Favorite Chapter: Chapter 16

Favorite Character(s): Edward, Charlie, Oliver, Ginny, Jonas, Kendrick, Maggie, Octavia, Axton, Adelia

Least Favorite Character(s): Robert, General Cochrane

Overall Rating: 7/10

Review:

First off let me just say that the concept behind this book is awesome. A GOC book, fighting alongside pirates? Sign me up, instantly. The problem with this book lies, I feel, in its length. The final few chapters feel so rushed compared to other books, and I can’t help but feeling that this book could have received a similar length to Across the Void, just to make sure the ending didn’t feel so haphazard. The “battle” is nonexistent in Chapter 15, and in Chapter 16, the General is defeated through…magical time powers? Also, the ending was…odd. It was awful leaving my sweet Oliver behind, and the weird cliffhanger thing with Robert just felt out of place, especially considering this book will never receive a sequel. If they had lengthened this book out to, say, 21 chapters, like A Courtesan of Rome, I feel like the story would have come together much better, and it would feel more finished. I took three points off just for this sloppy ending. Moving on from the negatives, there’s a lot to like about this book. All three LI’s are amazing, though I feel like Oliver is shafted compared to the other two. I love how Kendrick is explicitly bisexual - that’s the kind of representation I want to see more of. There’s no excuse for not having LGBTQ+ and POC characters as side/major characters anymore. Seriously, Kendrick’s one line about going both ways was enough to make me smile. Speaking of smiling, Octavia may be a bitch, but I found her strangely entertaining/funny lol. Also, what happened to Octavia and Samuel after Robert is killed/shoved into the time portal? Do they rejoin Edward? Do they strike out on their own as a duo? Whatever happens to the rest of the crew anyways? We only get closure on LI and no one else…(which is just another reason why this book sorely needed more chapters or a sequel!).