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4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
funny
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
This one was a bit more thrilling/scary. Love this series, can’t wait to see where this cliffhanger takes us.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Why is there so much body shaming and insane not-like-other girls shit going on? I wouldn’t want my daughters reading this, and am glad we skipped on the series as a read aloud.
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is one of those books which tore my heart apart. On the one hand, Stroud is extremely good with the action sequences and the last two sections of the book deserve an absolute 5 star rating. Unfortunately, like the Shades of London series (By Maureen Johnson), the leading character, Lucy, has become annoying and since she's the narrator, it becomes very difficult for me to continue venturing with her in this world that is plagued by "The Problem".
I understand it usually is irritating whenever an equilibrium is disturbed, especially one that has taken 18 months to achieve, nonetheless, I really cannot tolerate Lucy at times, to the extent I had thoughts of DNF the book! I simply cannot fathom her obsession with Lockwood, it's not even love, I think it's something else, like he has become her anchor of sanity and she cannot let him go.
Lockwood has also disappointed me in this book. I swooned over him in the previous books (despite his flaws) and just when I thought he opened up a little and things are looking brighter for the trio, he had to employ Holly BEHIND LUCY'S BACK. Lucy is only gone for a few days, can't he at least have waited for her and let her express her opinion on the employment? She is an employee and he technically is in charge of employing whoever he pleases, but considering the trio works more like partners than employer-employees, he at least should respect her. Had he done so, maybe Lucy would be less hostile toward Holly.
George, unlike in the previous book, really shone in this one. In fact, I think he has single-handedly solved the Chelsea outbreak with his brilliant mind! I always feel sorry for George because just as Lucy feeling jealous at Holly for being so "perfect", it is possible that George may feel the same toward Lockwood. After all, the other guy is always in the spotlight, taking the credit, and George is the one doing a lot of backstage work whom others (except Lockwood) hardly appreciate. George in this book not only had proven himself to be a real Einstein, by uncovering the location, but he also showed some chivalry when he defended Lucy while she was buying ice cream. I adored George in the first book, was slightly disappointed with him in the second, but totally regained all the respect and probably like him at the same level as Lockwood by the end of the Hollow Boy.
As for Holly, I am still a bit uncertain as to her intentions for joining Lockwood & Co. I am glad things worked out for her and Lucy in the end and I think she may turn out to be an interesting and even nice character.
Overall, this book suffers heavily from middle book syndrome and poor pacing but it might mean that things can only get better from now. From the description of the fourth book, it seems to me the pace will quicken and hopefully, we will finally get progress in world building.
Spoiler
I understand it usually is irritating whenever an equilibrium is disturbed, especially one that has taken 18 months to achieve, nonetheless, I really cannot tolerate Lucy at times, to the extent I had thoughts of DNF the book! I simply cannot fathom her obsession with Lockwood, it's not even love, I think it's something else, like he has become her anchor of sanity and she cannot let him go.
Lockwood has also disappointed me in this book. I swooned over him in the previous books (despite his flaws) and just when I thought he opened up a little and things are looking brighter for the trio, he had to employ Holly BEHIND LUCY'S BACK. Lucy is only gone for a few days, can't he at least have waited for her and let her express her opinion on the employment? She is an employee and he technically is in charge of employing whoever he pleases, but considering the trio works more like partners than employer-employees, he at least should respect her. Had he done so, maybe Lucy would be less hostile toward Holly.
George, unlike in the previous book, really shone in this one. In fact, I think he has single-handedly solved the Chelsea outbreak with his brilliant mind! I always feel sorry for George because just as Lucy feeling jealous at Holly for being so "perfect", it is possible that George may feel the same toward Lockwood. After all, the other guy is always in the spotlight, taking the credit, and George is the one doing a lot of backstage work whom others (except Lockwood) hardly appreciate. George in this book not only had proven himself to be a real Einstein, by uncovering the location, but he also showed some chivalry when he defended Lucy while she was buying ice cream. I adored George in the first book, was slightly disappointed with him in the second, but totally regained all the respect and probably like him at the same level as Lockwood by the end of the Hollow Boy.
As for Holly, I am still a bit uncertain as to her intentions for joining Lockwood & Co. I am glad things worked out for her and Lucy in the end and I think she may turn out to be an interesting and even nice character.
Overall, this book suffers heavily from middle book syndrome and poor pacing but it might mean that things can only get better from now. From the description of the fourth book, it seems to me the pace will quicken and hopefully, we will finally get progress in world building.