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smateer73's review against another edition
5.0
This book was phenomenal. The writing style of the whole series is gripping and exciting and just so real. The book effortlessly fishes out what it means to be a human, to lead, to love in a world where everything is messy, crazy, evil almost. The plot is crafted amazingly, and all the characters are so well written, even Mayor Prentiss. There are so many different layers and thoughts but it’s still somehow so cohesive and stunning, just wow.
This book was like the perfect ending to a great series.
This book was like the perfect ending to a great series.
samthegrand's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
rebecca_simard's review against another edition
5.0
An incredible wrap up to the series. The additional POVs provide so much nuance and make you feel how stuck the characters all are. Forces the reader to question how does a society move forward and reach peace after unforgivable acts have been committed. Watching the characters get manipulated over and over again is incredibly frustrating but shows how far power and fear can corrupt these characters we've grown to love. Like a lot of other reviews, my biggest problem with this book is the ending. I do not like Todd being implied to have survived. As sad as his death made me, I think it was effective storytelling. Todd has spent two books becoming one and the same with the Mayor, to the point where Viola has trouble even telling them apart, both in appearance and behavior. The Return killing him thinking he is the Mayor is the perfectly devastating way to show that Todd has become corrupted by the time he spent with the Mayor and surrounded by violence. But because the parts about him coming back to life/recovering are all the last 10 pages of the series I'll just pretend it didn't happen and enjoy my closure. 5/5 series if you can put up with the characters making bad choices over and over again and a really unique writing style that changes in format throughout the series.
stephibabes's review against another edition
4.0
This finale was so huge and important. It dealt with such fine-grained and complex situations and the impossible decisions that we make and their enormous repercussions. Following the characters and see the growth and evolution they are forced to go on is powerful.
Introducing the third perspective blew my mind. It made me hate characters I had previously been warm to. Seeing the perspective of those who were oppressed, murdered and enslaved, was truly the making of this trilogy for me and I hope others take away a deeper empathy for those who have faced the same due to the rampant colonialism of Western capitalism.
Introducing the third perspective blew my mind. It made me hate characters I had previously been warm to. Seeing the perspective of those who were oppressed, murdered and enslaved, was truly the making of this trilogy for me and I hope others take away a deeper empathy for those who have faced the same due to the rampant colonialism of Western capitalism.
gingersquirrel's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
weingut's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
sumayyaha's review against another edition
3.0
So I finally finish this after months of on and off reading and..
so much buzz for this book
but still interesting and..
note: haha this review..if ya know ya know..
its not as great as I thought it might be?
so much buzz for this book
but I'm only just satisfied.
but still interesting and..
(resurrection trope?)
note: haha this review..if ya know ya know..
yodamom's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 to the main character- Todd, I want to throttle you, when do you learn ? I understand you are young and want to believe, but those of us who are jaded know better. Watching you stumble and grow is painful at times. I have grown to love you, cheer for you, cry for you and Viola. She is hiding something from you, pay attention ! Listen to her, you are different, why ? Thank you for not leaving your four legged friend.
This last book is twisted an emotion roller-coaster for all the characters. Lives are lost, trusts are broken and the truth is finally reveled. Twisted ! I did not know where this way going. A grand finale for a wonderful series.
This last book is twisted an emotion roller-coaster for all the characters. Lives are lost, trusts are broken and the truth is finally reveled. Twisted ! I did not know where this way going. A grand finale for a wonderful series.
robinhood2000's review against another edition
5.0
The first book was thrilling and fast paced. The focus was on Todd and Viola finding out the truth about Prentisstown and the noise was a big part of the book.
The second book was more about human issues. What is evil? Who is worse? I really liked that Davy became someone you liked- even more than Todd. Mostly the noise was less of a focus and the Moral problems the greater focus. I sometimes got annoyed that there was such focus on moral and human problems, although I think it was nice that neither of Viola’s side(Coyle) or Todd’s (Prentiss) was a perfect choice. It felt really real.
The third book was at first only about war which bored me. I thought I wouldn’t want to finish it as it so far felt weakest in the series. Then the chapters with the Spackle came and I recalled that some chapters were from their perspective. A certain scene where 1017 is getting soup and says thanks for a spoon in “the wrong language” and the rest of the herd is disgusted by his use of language, his differentness despite him being different because of life in slavery, felt so much more genuine than the petty human conflict. Generally the major of Prentisstown always manages to escape and Todd always remains “the good” even though Viola is the only character coming close to being morally good. This kind of annoyed me because Todd made a lot of life changing mistakes. Todd’s reasoning for branding the Spackle and women is literally “ If someone else did it they would be crueler, I should do it instead”. I also disliked that part of the second book because the whole thing felt like a concentration camp reference (which I didn’t think when I was 15).
The second half of the books really picks up and I would say in the end that this is the best book in the series. I think that because I read the first two in 2 weeks then started this I was a bit finished with all the human conflict and war which the book begins with. Having said that, this third book is better than I remember and I still really love the series!
Earlier review:
Read these when I was 15 and they are so great, so cruel, so original. The characters are great and the world is magnificent, one of my favorite book series. Everyone should read them! I'm looking forward to rereading them soon!
The second book was more about human issues. What is evil? Who is worse? I really liked that Davy became someone you liked- even more than Todd. Mostly the noise was less of a focus and the Moral problems the greater focus. I sometimes got annoyed that there was such focus on moral and human problems, although I think it was nice that neither of Viola’s side(Coyle) or Todd’s (Prentiss) was a perfect choice. It felt really real.
The third book was at first only about war which bored me. I thought I wouldn’t want to finish it as it so far felt weakest in the series. Then the chapters with the Spackle came and I recalled that some chapters were from their perspective. A certain scene where 1017 is getting soup and says thanks for a spoon in “the wrong language” and the rest of the herd is disgusted by his use of language, his differentness despite him being different because of life in slavery, felt so much more genuine than the petty human conflict. Generally the major of Prentisstown always manages to escape and Todd always remains “the good” even though Viola is the only character coming close to being morally good. This kind of annoyed me because Todd made a lot of life changing mistakes. Todd’s reasoning for branding the Spackle and women is literally “ If someone else did it they would be crueler, I should do it instead”. I also disliked that part of the second book because the whole thing felt like a concentration camp reference (which I didn’t think when I was 15).
The second half of the books really picks up and I would say in the end that this is the best book in the series. I think that because I read the first two in 2 weeks then started this I was a bit finished with all the human conflict and war which the book begins with. Having said that, this third book is better than I remember and I still really love the series!
Earlier review:
Read these when I was 15 and they are so great, so cruel, so original. The characters are great and the world is magnificent, one of my favorite book series. Everyone should read them! I'm looking forward to rereading them soon!