Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
I actually enjoyed this, even though it was a bit slow and predictable. I liked being in Sloane’s head as she deals with her trauma, though as others have mentioned, third-person narrative seemed like the wrong fit for this type of story. Honestly, I think I just enjoyed this because it was an easy read, and it felt like a story I was already comfortable with, and that seems to be something I’ve been enjoying lately. It’s definitely worth giving it a try if you enjoyed any of Roth’s books, though it won’t be for everyone. If you don’t mind tropes and predictability and just want an interesting and fun magic-infused, parallel universe, enemies-to-lovers type book, then you’ll probably like this one!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Enjoyable dystopian. My main gripe is that this is billed as an adult fantasy- it doesn’t read like one. Very much in keeping with her YAs I’d have said.
Young teens are needed to fight the big bad. Years later, they’re called on to finish the job. It entertained me on a wet afternoon.
Young teens are needed to fight the big bad. Years later, they’re called on to finish the job. It entertained me on a wet afternoon.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I actually really enjoyed this after getting through the first 30-40 percent. I know that seems like a lot but when Roth is in the meat of world building it can feel very slow moving and heavy but also very purposeful and necessary. I think Roth has always had good anchoring capabilities she’s been able to root you into the ground of a place so easily.
I had actually read a review of this book prior to starting and the person had said the book was too slow and dripped like a leaky faucet that had suddenly been shut off. I don’t typically read reviews because they cloud your own judgement of a book much like the cover or book jacket. And I just can’t disagree more with that review. There is definitely parts that are slow, there are areas where you think can we just get to the confrontation ? To the next conversation? Etc? But that’s not how books work - not good books at least.
I really loved Sloane for every fault she had and I liked the buildup of characters they each laid like a new textured fabric on top of each-other. I’m not sure if she will write a continuation of this because it’s wrapped up rather nicely but I’d be curious to see what happens five years down the line for this very distinct world.
I had actually read a review of this book prior to starting and the person had said the book was too slow and dripped like a leaky faucet that had suddenly been shut off. I don’t typically read reviews because they cloud your own judgement of a book much like the cover or book jacket. And I just can’t disagree more with that review. There is definitely parts that are slow, there are areas where you think can we just get to the confrontation ? To the next conversation? Etc? But that’s not how books work - not good books at least.
I really loved Sloane for every fault she had and I liked the buildup of characters they each laid like a new textured fabric on top of each-other. I’m not sure if she will write a continuation of this because it’s wrapped up rather nicely but I’d be curious to see what happens five years down the line for this very distinct world.
New form of magic, not your typical witches, wizards, and wands. Great friendships, real people experiencing real emotion. You end up rooting for just about everyone.
Sloane is a chosen one. She has defeated the dark one but even after 10 years she is still having trouble fitting into a normal life. She has fame, a great boyfriend, a peaceful year after surviving horrible death and destruction. However something is just not right with her.
At times this book was extremely fast paced and I wanted to know what happened. Every so often there would be memos that would explain things that happened in the past. Even though these were important they definitely broke the pace of the book for me. It interrupted my reading flow and I felt like I had to start again to emerge myself back into the reading world. I did like this book and I look forward to reading more.
At times this book was extremely fast paced and I wanted to know what happened. Every so often there would be memos that would explain things that happened in the past. Even though these were important they definitely broke the pace of the book for me. It interrupted my reading flow and I felt like I had to start again to emerge myself back into the reading world. I did like this book and I look forward to reading more.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wanted to read this book because I enjoyed the Divergent series from Veronica Roth and I liked her writing style. This book was challenging with all the new world building and characters. But the storyline managed to keep me hooked until the end.
Fifteen years ago, five normal teenagers were singled out by a prophecy to take down the Dark One, who was destroying towns and cities across North America. The Chosen Ones, as they were known, gave everything they had to defeat him. Once he was defeated, the world went back to normal for most people but not for the Chosen Ones – they were now the most famous people in America. What would you do when your only education was in magical destruction, and your purpose in life has been fulfilled and you’ve are well known in America. Sloane has the hardest time adjusting out of the five of them. Everyone around her blames the PTSD and her attitude. But really, she has been keeping secrets from everyone, secrets that keep her tied to the past and alienate her from the rest of the Chosen Ones. On the tenth anniversary of the Dark One’s defeat, something shocking happens: one of the Chosen One dies. When they gather for the funeral, they discover the Dark One’s ultimate goal was much bigger than they could ever imagine. Can Sloane keep the secrets? Will they be able to defeat the Dark One? This novel is set in Chicago and the other universe of Chicago and it is a young adult fantasy fictional novel.
My favourite part was when Sloane and Mox finally figured out a solution and were bonding even if they were from different universes they can relate to each other’s pain and suffering. In general, Sloane and Mox were badass and they should be protected at all cost. The storyline managed to keep me hooked because they were so many questions that got answered throughout the book. I don’t really have any weaknesses expect obviously getting used to the new universe and all of their powers and how they work but I can see how the writing style makes you feel as if you were there.
I really enjoyed this book, I love Veronica Roth’s writing style and this book was no different. I am excited for the second book to hopefully see more action and drama now that the world building has been established.
challenging
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It's the first book of a trilogy that I will not complete. The book's main character is a woman who was one of five chosen ones about twenty years after they defeated the dark one. The first half of the book really is an exploration of what it means to deal with PTSD. But then around half of the main character is thrown back into fighting the dark one in a parallel world and the whole psychological aspect is abandoned. By the end of the book the two parallel worlds have been fused into one.....I have not interest in exploring this further.
This was marketed as being about what happens after you've saved the world – how do carry that; how do you live a normal life; what is the ‘post chosen one’ life like? But, spoiler alert, this book is just about them saving the world again. And, not even the same world. And, while that second half is more action packed and asks some interesting questions. It doesn't interrogate the premise that interested me in the book. While I've seen reviewers comment that the booked picked up for them when the twist/action began, I actually think that is where this one lost me.
If I’m honest, my largest issue with that section is probably that I mostly didn’t get it. The whole alternate universe, magical breath, quantum string theory, two versions of the same dude… stuff … just bored me every time. Telling a similar story with all that hoopla extracted would have left more room to delve into the interesting character and thematic elements that were buried in the book at odds and ends. Yes, world building is complex work and valuable, but so are character building and thematic development, and those definitely took a back seat here to a bunch of explanations of magic metal jewelry and alterna-Chicago architecture.
Supposedly Roth's first foray into adult fiction, I think excluding the characters being physically adult (mid-20s) – this is still YA... Whether it is the writing, or the fact that all are wounded, jobless, drifting celebrities... these characters do not read as adults, nor does the dialogue bear that out. Just because there is gore, sex, and drinking doesn’t make this adult.
That being said, I cared about most of them, found them interesting enough. Sloane is a fascinating character and I think her arc was explored pretty well. I believed in her growth across the narrative. And, I’ll admit I found Mox swoonworthy.
But, let’s not even talk about the villain… don’t even get me started on what a failure of a character that was. Just so uninteresting with a side of wtfishappening? I don’t understand the motivations for him, for them, just any of that. And, while that is the largest, that is definitely not the only plot hole left there for the reader to get stuck in.
I really wanted to enjoy this one. I just couldn’t quite manage it. But, my thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
If I’m honest, my largest issue with that section is probably that I mostly didn’t get it. The whole alternate universe, magical breath, quantum string theory, two versions of the same dude… stuff … just bored me every time. Telling a similar story with all that hoopla extracted would have left more room to delve into the interesting character and thematic elements that were buried in the book at odds and ends. Yes, world building is complex work and valuable, but so are character building and thematic development, and those definitely took a back seat here to a bunch of explanations of magic metal jewelry and alterna-Chicago architecture.
Supposedly Roth's first foray into adult fiction, I think excluding the characters being physically adult (mid-20s) – this is still YA... Whether it is the writing, or the fact that all are wounded, jobless, drifting celebrities... these characters do not read as adults, nor does the dialogue bear that out. Just because there is gore, sex, and drinking doesn’t make this adult.
That being said, I cared about most of them, found them interesting enough. Sloane is a fascinating character and I think her arc was explored pretty well. I believed in her growth across the narrative. And, I’ll admit I found Mox swoonworthy.
But, let’s not even talk about the villain… don’t even get me started on what a failure of a character that was. Just so uninteresting with a side of wtfishappening? I don’t understand the motivations for him, for them, just any of that. And, while that is the largest, that is definitely not the only plot hole left there for the reader to get stuck in.
I really wanted to enjoy this one. I just couldn’t quite manage it. But, my thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.