{Review} Toast by Valentino Mori

Synopsis

Title: Toast
Author: Valentino Mori
Pages: 301
Published: July 24th 2017
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing
Genre: Middle Grade/Fantasy
My Rating: 2/5
Add To: Goodreads

Eleven-year-old Henry stumbles through a portal onto the estate of the sinister Mr. Mason.  Henry quickly discovers he’s not the only one trapped at Verdant Corner by Mason’s dark sorcery.  He and the other boys must compete in weekly games where losing means death.
Henry must enlist allies from unlikely places—a rogue deliveryman who is more than he seems, spectral figures from Henry's past, and creatures from the mysterious Yonder—in his desperate rebellion against the evil threatening him and his friends.
Can Henry learn the truth about Mr. Mason's powers? And will that knowledge be enough to survive?

My Thoughts

★★ Star

I tried with this book. I really did. Multiple times. 

When I read the blurb I was so excited to read this book! I couldn't help think it was like Hunger Games meets the Maze Runner with a twist of magic! Who wouldn't want to read something that epic!?

Right from the start you're automatically thrust into action. No warm up or anything, you're just dropped in. Which for me was kinda an issue because here is the main character which all this bad stuff is happening to but you don't really feel anything. You haven't had enough time to really get to know him. I know you could get to know him the more you read...if there weren't so many characters being forced on you so quick. Also being that Toast rarely has a scene to himself or even just one on one with someone (not saying it doesn't happen, just saying it is rare) it makes it really hard to focus on who is who. It also makes it really hard to develop a connection with any of the characters. 

I really did want to love this book. The cover is so beautiful and the story line is so amazing. It's just.... to overwhelming.