Attack on Titan: Garrison Girl by Rachel Aaron was interesting enough while I was reading but ultimately mostly forgettable and I skim read most of it. I do want to give this book another try when I'm not in a reading slump though.

The file formatting made the book illegible. Since this is no fault of the book's contents, I'll rate a neutral 3 stars.

I really like the anime and manga this book is based and I thought that I would love this because of it. i did not unfortunately like this and had to stop reading it as I stopped caring about the characters and the situation. If you like Attack on Titan, stick to anime or manga.

I really enjoyed this story. I loved that there was a strong character. I would definitely recommend this story to any fans of the show or the main storyline.

I perhaps shouldn't have picked this as my first attempt into this style of story. I struggled from the beginning and it took much longer than expected to read.

I haven't seen or read the original Attack on Titan, but I knew a little bit about it and thought that this book might be a fun afternoon read.

I quit this book so fast it was kind of sad. But honestly I couldn't stand how cliche it was! The writing started off with far too much exposition, I was bored by page 10. And in general I felt like all of the writing needed another set of edits.

On top of that you have cliche after cliche after troupe and I only made it about 40ish pages in! You have the rebellious daughter whose father is a mean man who just wants to marry her off. You have her going off to fight but not fitting in, and of course a handsome but also mean man whom she works with. Like really? We've all read how this story goes a hundred times and can predict exactly where it's going to end.

So I stopped reading and gave the book 1 star.

The book was overall good, it captured the spirit of the original work, the Titans, while working better in a visual format, were described well here. Rachel Aaron managed to capture the horror of the scenes themselves. However, the romance in it was just eye roll worthy high unnecessary. You just didn't care about it. Or at least I as a reader didn't. I wanted to know more about how the Garrison worked, I wanted to know about this area of the military that was viewed heavily from the eyes of those who wanted to join the Survey Core and I didn't think as though we got that fully here. Or at least we got a rather watered down version of it. Overall it was good as supplementary material, it really gets 3.5 stars but I'm not letting prior knowledge get in the way of the rating. The prose was good enough to warrant 4 out of 5.

I have to confess that I downloaded this for my 18-year old daughter to read, who is a big fan, to the extent of dressing up for ComiCon. She considered it a bit like top-end fan-fiction as it so well written, a bit different to the anime/manga. The fact that the main character was a privileged girl who decides to embark on an adventure before settling down, against her father's wishes appealed to my daughter, as did the fast pace of the action. Unusually (as she's a teenage girl), she didn't feel the romance necessary to the plot, but otherwise really enjoyed the book's fast-paced action and different writing style.

I'm a huge anime fan, but... I'm not crazy about Attack on Titan (I prefer じょせい and 魔法少女). I've only watched a couple episodes, to get the gist... and it's just not for me. I picked this up to preview for students and to see if it worked for me as a novel... and honestly it didn't. I felt like I was out of the loop the entire time. I think it's going to be an amazing read for Attack on Titan fans. I would not recommend it for anyone else, because I truly think it would be confusing.

When I read this book, I went into it having seen every current season of the Attack on Titan anime and understanding the world and what was going on, but I honestly am unsure that the casual reader will really understand what is going on in some parts.

The world is gruesome, but the normal YA cliches regarding romance really take away from the world and the giant humanoid titans that are threatening humanity. I did enjoy this book, but I really wish it would have been a little more serious given the circumstance of having the titans surrounding the humans inside of the giant concrete walls that protect them from titan attack,

I nearly DNF this book so many times but the end was worth it. For the first two-thirds of the book, I absolutely despise Rosalie, our main character (rich girl realizes she's privileged), thinking she was so much better than everyone else just because she was noble, had a better background. I still didn't like her at the end, but she grew up a little for me to accept her. But it is hard to like a book when you don't like the protagonist.

I was glad to be back in the SNK universe (even with different characters) but except for that, it was nothing like the manga. It felt too much like a typical YA romance book, which isn't at all the SNK vibe. I mean, right when we met the dude we know he's gonna be her love interest and that's just a big no for me.

But the end connected with some parts of the manga which was nice to read about.

I also think there may be some parts of the universe a little confusing for those who have not read/watch SNK.

Aaron is accomplished at dropping us into a situation and giving us all the necessary details as we go along, so that rather tedious opening info-dump is out of character. I’m guessing it was a stipulation by the publishers, it certainly feels that way… Once that is out of the way, this one picks up the pace. We are largely in the viewpoint of Rosalie, who has been raised to honour the military tradition of her noble family and is determined to do more than marry and continue the bloodline.

I love the setting of the wall and the steampunk feel to the gizmos that assists the soldiers in the insanely dangerous business of killing the titans. Any other wound the monsters suffer from, they can regenerate – doubtless fuelled by all the human flesh they keep gobbling at any available opportunity.

Rosalie has first to surmount the hurdle of being accepted by her fellow soldiers as she appears in an immaculate dress uniform and far too much luggage, whereas most of her comrades in arms are desperate refugees who watched their friends and family eaten. It makes for a rocky start… I like her idealism and determination to do her duty. It would have been all too easy to make her some heroic, adrenaline-fuelled protagonist who excelled when alongside her poor, commoner companions – and I’m very glad Aaron resisted the urge to do so.

The action scenes are well written, with plenty going on. While I realised early on there would be a romantic thread, it doesn’t impact too much on the gritted struggle to keep the titans at bay. I like Jax, but my favourite supporting characters are Willow and Emmet, who are part of Rosalie’s team. They are a lovely pair of warm-hearted characters with a tragic backstory, who I really cared about.

I had sort of guessed how the climax and denouement would pan out – and I was utterly wrong. It was far more gritty and shocking. The story was wrapped up satisfactorily, but I was left with a lot of questions about the titans, which the book raises but doesn’t remotely answer. I guess that’s okay – it is, after all, the first in the series. Will I be interested in reading more of this world? Absolutely. The world ravaged by ravenous giants makes for page-turning adventures. Recommended for fans of action fantasy with plenty of fighting and a side-order of romance.
8/10

I love Attack on Titan. I love the concept and the world, so I was eager to pick this up. I can’t really begin to describe the plot because basic knowledge of the series is needed to understand the world-building. I guess the beginning sets up the world enough, though.

I have never read the manga, only watched the anime, so my view on AoT is very limited. At the opening of the story, I chuckled because as a fan, I knew that Rosalie was getting in over her head already by demanding to join the fight against the titans.

I feel like this book was written for people who have big ideas as to how they would fight the titans in that world. It’s hilarious to me.

The one thing I didn't like was the romantic tones between Rosalie and Jax, though to be fair I really don't think AoT should have romance at all. I am completely for this world being all about action. I also kinda predicted what would happen to her teammates. Still non of that detracted from my enjoyment of the story. I was glad to read about other people in this world.

Who can defeat the titans?

Rosalie Dumarque is driven to protect her home and to keep the protective walls standing. She’s been training hard and thinks she has what it takes to turn the battle for humanity’s survival around. She wants to not just keep the walls that protect the land from falling, but to regain those walls and areas that were lost. She defies her father and pushes him to allow her to serve for the months leading up to her arranged marriage. Assigned to Trost Gate Garrison, Rosalie soon learns that her wealth and arrogance are hindrances, some who were born in poverty were born soldiers, and not all soldiers serve with honor and protect the wall and their comrades. In fact, the corruption at the Garrison threatens those she admires and loves. It might not be the Titans that are her downfall after all. And the titans are horrific, ravaging, hungering humanoids who have only one goal: to devour all humans.

Can Rosalie serve with integrity, preserve her honor, and protect those brave soldiers who serve with her? Can they hold the wall?

I’m glad I didn’t know anything about Attack on Titan before I read Garrison Girl, because it’s not the type of manga or anime that I find appealing. I do, however, love all things Rachel Aaron, so I took a chance and grabbed the ARC on NetGalley. I’m glad I did, because this book stands on its own merits and was a blast to read.

There is a lot to love about Garrison Girl, a strong heroine, a slowly developed and reasoned romance, strong friendships, a love of honor and justice, stand-alone world-building, and, at the end, a touch of hope. Luckily the horrific elements are somewhat played down in the book; most descriptions of the mayhem and predation are thankfully brief and not nearly as graphic as they could be. This book stands alone quite easily; you don’t need any familiarity with the world of Attack on Titan. If you enjoy Rachel Aaron’s books, Attack on Titan, or steampunk/fantasy and can handle a bit of horror, you will enjoy Garrison Girl. Recommended with caveats for those triggered by cannibalistic-type activity or who are squeamish.

I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) through NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

Garrison Girl is the first novel set in the world of Attack on Titan - and judging from the reviews, I was fortunate in being a newcomer to the series. While I've seen one of the movies, I basically had enough knowledge to know that giant, human-shaped titans have attacked humanity, driving them back to live behind huge stone walls, desperately defending their last refuge. Definitely there was no recognition of places or people.

I thought this novel was great - it's entertaining, and fast-paced. There's enough information for newbies like me, while not overwhelming the reader with infodumps. I did feel like some of the - for lack of a better word - wierdness of the series was probably missing. The vacant stares and just-subtly-wrong-humanity of the titans was much subdued in text from what the movie managed to portray. It's still, overall, a very promising start to what could be a very entertaining series.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing a free copy in return for an honest review.

First and foremost I would like to thank NetGalley, Rachel Aaron, and Quirk Books for the opportunity to read this splendid novel in advance for an honest review.

Garrison Girl, by Rachel Aaron, is a fast-paced, action-packed young adult novel set in the world of the popular anime and manga series, Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin).

This book is about a (pretty spoiled) rich girl, Rosalie Dumarque, who has lived inside Wall Sina her entire life. She's engaged to a man with lots of money, her father is a military man, and her life is dresses and parties. After her experience in the Royal Military Academy, she knows she wants more. After making a deal with her father, Rosalie is permitted to temporarily join the garrison at Wall Rose. Manning the wall and keeping titans at bay is their job.

Rosalie's Squad 13 members include little medic Willow, engineer Emmett, and crude, ruthless Sergeant Jackson Cunningham (Jax for short). Squads are meant to be made of five people, so it doesn't help that Rosalie's squad is a man short, but Jax is a ruthless leader with strange rumors for baggage. Numerous times, Jax has lost squad-mates on top of the wall. Mysteriously. Rumors of a titan he calls the Gobbler are heavy among the Garrison, and Rosalie and her squad get to learn about this terror first hand.

Rosalie consistently has to balance her life at the Garrison with her past and current strains of being a Dumarque, all while trying to save the world, and perhaps even push out to make the world of humanity bigger again.

Something I disliked: There were a few inconsistencies in very minor plot points that had me questioning the writing. For example, one of the higher up said that Jax wanted to keep Rosalie in the squad as punishment (after a little slip-up), and when Rosalie addresses this to Jax, it's saying Brigitte kept her in the squad, and not Jax. And there's no questioning it. So that was odd.

Another I had a slight qualm with is the Gobbler. I think this titan is unique and interesting. It's an aberrant type (abnormal, deviating from the usual titan way of moving or acting). This titan has very long arms and legs and seems to only come out in blizzard-type weather. And with its long legs, it can actually jump up to the top of the wall. I like this idea, but it also seems a bit unrealistic. Then it has me wondering, what would make it only come out in harsh winter weather? And if it can jump onto the wall and off safely, why not go into the city? I loved the idea of the Gobbler, but wish it was explored just a bit more. Maybe it will have its own story one day...

For the most part, this novel was fantastically written and moved quickly. It was hard to put down, for sure! It ties into the world of Attack on Titan perfectly. While reading, I felt like I was watching a full-length feature. Being familiar with the anime, it was easy to picture, but there was great detail on the cities, walls, titans, Corps, gear, uniforms--everything to make the picture clear, and even descriptive enough that a person who hasn't seen the show or read the manga can enjoy this cook too.

I also liked the romance aspect of it. It's decently subtle and sprinkled in just right, but it's not something I was expecting from an Attack on Titan novel. It was a pleasant surprise!  Of course, it's not Attack on Titan without a few casualties too...

All in all, a fantastic edition to the universe of Attack on Titan and a highly recommended young adult read!

I liked this book! Even if I never read "Attack on the Titan" it was not hard to get into the story and understand the characters, their relationship and the type of society.
It's fast paced action packed book that keep you hooked since the first pages.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Quirk Books and Netgalley for this ARC

This is an original novel set in the world (and during the timespan of) the Attack on Titan series. First up, I’m going to say that I enjoyed it. I’ve been a fan of SNK for years, and it was a wonderful nostalgia trip with the little easter eggs pointing towards the main canon (my especial favourite had to be the casual mention of ‘the Jaeger Plan’ during one of the final chapters.) Rachel Aaron clearly knows the world and characters inside and out, and I have to give credit for the world-building and passion that’s evident throughout.
However, and especially with regards to the first three quarters of the novel, it left me feeling somewhat disappointed. One of the most striking things about Attack on Titan has been the fact that the glossy hero-tale of the main narrative has always left the much darker sides of the world exposed to the reader. It’s hard to fully articulate what my issue with it was, but I think it boils down to the fact that I was hoping for a more interesting plot. I was often frustrated by the fact that Rosalie faces very few real challenges: she wants friends and makes them without meaning to, she wants training and makes a bargain within a page, she wants to make a difference and happens across a big enough sum of money to make it. It’s a very Disney story which feels all the more out of place for the world in which it’s set.
Ultimately, I’m glad I was offered the opportunity to read and review it. It’s a book that opens exciting potential for further world-building from other writers and other novels, and it’s an enjoyable read. It speeds up a great deal during the last quarter, and while that’s really what makes the novel work as a whole, it also feels like a lot of build-up for the payoff.

2,5./5 stars

As a fellow Attack on Titan fans speaking to the fans of the series, I suggest you lower your expectation for this book.

I’m a huge fan of Attack on Titan (AoT). It doesn’t matter whether it’s the manga or the anime, I loved the heck out of the series. I won’t go into full details on why I love the series but let me get a few points across so I can properly explain why this book was a huge disappointment to me. AoT has always been filled with fantastic plotlines. It was dark, bad things happen to good people, and it’s filled with unpredictable plots twist. The characters were engaging and highly memorable; it’s practically impossible for me to forget Eren, Mikasa, or Levi. The animation—especially during the action sequences—is still one of the best animations I’ve ever experienced in an anime TV show; I’ve watched hundreds of anime for me to say that. Since 2011, I’ve watched the anime from start to finish three times, I’ve read the manga from the start to the newest chapter four times; in fact, I just finished reading the newest chapter of the manga a few days ago. Garrison Girl contained none of the things that made Shingeki no Kyoji phenomenal.

The problems I had with this book came from my observation that the story that Aaron’s wrote here just don’t belong in the world of AoT. Garrison Girl is pretty much a YA romance novel full of clichés and tropes that are set in the world of AoT, it provides absolutely nothing new for the main series and should be treated as a filler; I despise fillers. The story centered on Rosalie, a rich girl who came from a rich family background. She’s trying her best to blend with commoners as she wanted to join the frontline to kill titans. Upon joining, she immediately met this jerk mentor who treated her harshly and—cue suspense music—seemed to have his own mysterious reason for the harsh treatment. Hearing this, you’re probably thinking “ah this is probably her love interest” well guess what? You’re absolutely right. This is just the first of many YA cliché in this book, and trust me that the main series is far from being cliché, to say the least.

It’s not all disappointing. Aaron’s prose—like always—was engaging and easy to read. Despite my criticism, you can rest assured that the quality of her prose to keep the audience engage didn’t change here. The action scenes—though very few—were good. I don’t doubt Aaron’s talent as an author. Her Hearstrikers series is still the most fun I’ve ever had in reading urban fantasy series. This is why I seriously think this book would’ve benefited so much more if Aaron tackled the background of one of the supporting characters from the main series instead of writing a brand new YA romance chick flick story with all new characters in this world. Shingeki no Kyojin is not a YA market book. It’s pretty much grimdark; there’s also absolutely no romance in it and the story is from being predictable.

I may sound more critical and harsh than my usual reviews for this one, but I can’t help. I’m sorry, Aaron. If you want to hear me praising your works, just check out my reviews for Heartstrikers. AoT is one of my favorite manga/anime and I expected so much more in this book than just a simple YA romance full of cliché. I recommend this book only if you’re really interested in reading a YA romance book with AoT setting; Garrison Girl is almost like an AoT fan fiction targeted for YA if I may be brutally honest. As always, let me remind you once again that YA and romance books in general very rarely worked for me; I thought a novel written by Rachel Aaron in the world of my beloved series would actually change that notion. It didn’t.

P.S: I know I’m reading an ARC and typos are not strangers to ARC; I want to help a bit. Check the word “Solider”. Instead of a soldier, the word "solider" was used 20 times in the book.

I’m not going to fangirl much because this is an Attack On Titan based novel and I’m not that much of a fan. I only watched the anime, read the manga and watched the 2 bad movies. No, I’m not a fan.

But kidding aside, I love Attack on Titan (except the live action films), I try my best not to compared this to the original story line.

Before going to my review, I would like to give a crash course about Attack on Titan (Shingeki No Kyojin). This is a manga written by Hajime Isayama.

It is set in a world where humanity lives in cities surrounded by enormous walls protecting the humans from gigantic humanoids that are referred to as titans. The titans vary in height and endlessly eat humans seemingly without reason. The wall consists of 3 main walls, Wall Maria, where all the livelihood and cattles are, The Wall Rose where most villages where and The Wall Sina, the capital and where the nobles and the king is.
Then there are 3 military division that protects the Walls. The Military police is in charge to protect the king, they are mostly inside Wall Sina. The Survey Corps are the one who attacks the titan and has the courage to go beyond the wall, it is also said the most dangerous out of 3 divisions. The last is the Garrison, they are the one who protects the wall and protect the citizens when there are titans.

Enough with the crash course, let’s get to the review!

This is a novel based of Attack on Titan and as the author build the world that was already built, and I already explored but she still did a great job making me interested in the world. She made me missed experiencing the walls and I got to see some parts of wall Sina which was rarely featured in the original.

Rosalie is part of the Dumarque family, a noble family related to the king. She was engaged since she was 11 years old and now that she’s 6 months away from her wedding, she really wanted to do something for herself and that is to be a Garrison. Her father didn’t allowed it first but she insisted and her father gave in. I imagined Rosalie as Mikasa Ackerman, she’s the female lead in the original series. They’re both brave and bad ass. #strongindependentwomanwhoneedsnoman

The most interesting supporting character is Sergeant Jackson Cunningham aka Sergeant Jax, He is Rosalie’s officer that hated her because of her nobility. He is cocky with a bad two but good at his job. BTW, he loves to read. I thought he was a typical male lead with all his cockiness but as the story goes by, he’s development is perfect.

This is Rosalie’s journey to prove everyone that she’s not just her name and her family with the help of Jax and her friend she got to know that she’s worthy than being a trophy wife and she got a chance to save the world Iin the process.

As a story based on a phenomenal manga, I have a lot of thought about this, most of them were negative but she proved me wrong, even though this a story based novel, she made it her own. She put her own details without botching the original story, and as a fan that was a great move (unlike the live action films). She made me feel the same way I felt when I first seen the anime series, the adrenaline rush from the action and the terror from the titans.

I recommend this for Attack on Titan fans, this will feel nolgastic that after you read this you’ll want to watch the anime again. and those who haven’t heard of Attack on Titan because she wrote this like it was her own and you don’t need to read the manga or watch the anime in order to understand the story.
Why 4 🌟?
She made me fell in love again with Attack on Titan and made me remember the feeling of sleeping at 3 am in order to finished the first season of the anime. She just did an awesome job, but I need another book. I ned to see them again.