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mybestfriendsarefictional's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
bookreadgirl21's review against another edition
1.0
I have been ripped off, is what I would have said if I had read this book on my own volition.
But since this book was part of my bookclub, the feeling of beeing ripped off was expected.
The book is basically:
The world has stopped rotating.
Okay now that you got that, you can forget it.
Basically the hole stationary earth premise is only backdrop for some conspiracy thriller.
Which is fine, usally the setting is either really thought out and presented in a compelling way or is populated by interesting characters.
Neither is the case in The Last Day.
The protagonist is a scientist working on an oil rig in a post 'earth has stopped turning' apocalypse world and doing important ocean science for authorian british government. Then she gets somehow wound up in a conspiracy during which she explores apocalyptic authorian britain, evades apocalyptic authorian british government agents (just imagine regular US police force without a funny accent), we get some insights into her past and the whole 'earth has stopped turning' history. And thats it. You ge told how the world works now, while Hopper runs from one clue to the next. You could switch 'earth has stopped turning' with any other apocalyptic event and still get the same story and anoter exposition. The story is weak and so is the exposition.
And then the book stops right when you think that the story starts to get interesting, just like this review!
But since this book was part of my bookclub, the feeling of beeing ripped off was expected.
The book is basically:
The world has stopped rotating.
Okay now that you got that, you can forget it.
Basically the hole stationary earth premise is only backdrop for some conspiracy thriller.
Which is fine, usally the setting is either really thought out and presented in a compelling way or is populated by interesting characters.
Neither is the case in The Last Day.
The protagonist is a scientist working on an oil rig in a post 'earth has stopped turning' apocalypse world and doing important ocean science for authorian british government. Then she gets somehow wound up in a conspiracy during which she explores apocalyptic authorian britain, evades apocalyptic authorian british government agents (just imagine regular US police force without a funny accent), we get some insights into her past and the whole 'earth has stopped turning' history. And thats it. You ge told how the world works now, while Hopper runs from one clue to the next. You could switch 'earth has stopped turning' with any other apocalyptic event and still get the same story and anoter exposition. The story is weak and so is the exposition.
And then the book stops right when you think that the story starts to get interesting, just like this review!
asourceoffiction's review
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I sought this book out entirely because I adore Andrew Hunter Murray. I expected it to be clever like him (which it was), and I expected it to be witty and funny like him (which it was not).
But once I read the blurb I was intrigued by the premise. The scientific repercussions of the slowdown and eventual halt of the Earth's rotation were so well researched and that side of things was fascinating. The story behind it had intrigue and plenty of tension, along with a despotic leader of the "warm side" of the planet, who will use any means to further his cause (which, let's face it, is exactly what would happen). I actually wish we'd met Davenport or learned more about him as a person, because it's much more fun to hate someone when you know them better.
It did feel like the build up to the main events of the book was a little slow. It was fun seeing the characters develop and it broke up the science speak nicely, but things didn't really ramp up until the final 10% of the book. At that point I couldn't put it down and I loved what Hopper discovered. The end is ambiguous (perhaps leaving space for a potential sequel) and I'm enjoying speculating over what could happen next.
This is a solid dystopian thriller, and one whose potential was pretty alarming, but not as brilliant as I'd maybe hoped it would be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Murder
Minor: Miscarriage
mrsporterreads's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
3.75
yalestay's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lakeside_knitter's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
jedidookie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
andrew_j_r's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting premise but there is a side of me that would have liked to have seen The Slow and The Stop first-hand, rather than reported about afterwards.
The last quarter though is gripping as the final revelations are made, and there is definitely room to continue the story and I would certainly read it if that happened.
The last quarter though is gripping as the final revelations are made, and there is definitely room to continue the story and I would certainly read it if that happened.
carmenx9's review against another edition
4.0
A bit of a slow start, and touch of a deus ex machina towards the end, but everything in between was fantastic. I did not see a single twist coming and yet each built on our understanding of this world. A very enjoyable sci-fi that feels all too believable in a Britain holding onto its imperialist past
ssj88's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Excellent premise that creates so many new questions and thoughts after reading.