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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.
nicovreeland's review against another edition
4.0
Good concept and execution… the ending wasn’t on par with the rest of the book, but overall a fun ride
lostinagoodbook's review against another edition
4.0
This book threw me for a loop when I first started it. The Covid-19 quarantine had just started in my state and I was feeling pretty shaky, then I start this novel. OMG! Am I reading about a pandemic post-apocalypse? I don’t think my heart can take it. Thankfully, the source of The Last Day’s troubles are climate related, which is far enough away from our present circumstances that I could continue reading without freaking myself out.
Funny how some people search out media that directly reflects the pandemic right now. I just don’t have the stomach for it at the moment.
Ok back to the book…
I say it was far enough away from our present circumstances, but the truth is it’s pretty darn close when you step back to look at it. The thing that really stood out for me in this book was the vast difference in how people of various socio-economic backgrounds fared. I mean, let’s be real … I have watched/read enough dystopia to know that if the zombies came, or the world ended I’d be in the first group that died. Can’t run fast enough, and not enough money to secure my spot on the ARK (see John Cusack in 2012). In this book, the lower class are pretty much just left on their own. Weren’t born in a rich family? Oh well, there’s always indentured servitude to fall back on. Weren’t born on the right side of the world? Hope you’ve got enough money to buy passage on one of the last boats to Europe. Yes it’s depressing, but as far as novels go, so very interesting.
Ellen Hopper is an excellent character. She is an introvert, who wants desperately to run away from the tragedy unfolding around her, but there is something about her personality that just won’t let her give up. I like that about her. I like a character who although conflicted, can’t quite let go of the better parts of her humanity. Like the kinds of people I admire most as we are dealing with this crisis today.
All that to say, the book gave me a lot to think about, while also providing an excellent read. Once I got into it … couldn’t put it down. Excellent choice.
By the way, the song I picked for this book is an odd one, I admit. But I couldn’t stop hearing it while I was reading. It has a melancholy to it that I think fits. A woman singing to their child about their “own faithful land.”
Song for this book: A Mhaighdean Bhan Uasal (Noble Maiden Fair) – Brave Soundtrack
Disclaimer: I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Funny how some people search out media that directly reflects the pandemic right now. I just don’t have the stomach for it at the moment.
Ok back to the book…
I say it was far enough away from our present circumstances, but the truth is it’s pretty darn close when you step back to look at it. The thing that really stood out for me in this book was the vast difference in how people of various socio-economic backgrounds fared. I mean, let’s be real … I have watched/read enough dystopia to know that if the zombies came, or the world ended I’d be in the first group that died. Can’t run fast enough, and not enough money to secure my spot on the ARK (see John Cusack in 2012). In this book, the lower class are pretty much just left on their own. Weren’t born in a rich family? Oh well, there’s always indentured servitude to fall back on. Weren’t born on the right side of the world? Hope you’ve got enough money to buy passage on one of the last boats to Europe. Yes it’s depressing, but as far as novels go, so very interesting.
Ellen Hopper is an excellent character. She is an introvert, who wants desperately to run away from the tragedy unfolding around her, but there is something about her personality that just won’t let her give up. I like that about her. I like a character who although conflicted, can’t quite let go of the better parts of her humanity. Like the kinds of people I admire most as we are dealing with this crisis today.
All that to say, the book gave me a lot to think about, while also providing an excellent read. Once I got into it … couldn’t put it down. Excellent choice.
By the way, the song I picked for this book is an odd one, I admit. But I couldn’t stop hearing it while I was reading. It has a melancholy to it that I think fits. A woman singing to their child about their “own faithful land.”
Song for this book: A Mhaighdean Bhan Uasal (Noble Maiden Fair) – Brave Soundtrack
Disclaimer: I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
thepamz's review against another edition
4.0
Está bien, el final quedó medio abierto pero creo que no había otra manera de terminarlo. La política retratada en los eventos del libro se siente muy incómodamente cercana a la realidad... Pero los personajes "malos" se sentían como muy muahaha-malos. Sobre todo Ruth. Eh, estuvo bien igual.
chazbats's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
amber_shinton's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0