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badseedgirl's review
3.0
20 Years Later has been one of those books that has been sitting on my Nook (then Kindle) for years. I picked it up as a free read when I purchased my Nook, and then it just sat there. I don’t think I do any favors by doing this to these poor authors, but I guess I can blame it on my magpie brain.
This is a YA novel. That is the first thing that should be addressed in the review. I don’t hold YA books to a different standard when reviewing, in my opinion good is good no matter who it is written for. That being said I do make allowances for writing style and vocabulary. This is a good YA book, not great but good. The environment and social structure of this world is well established, and the characters are believable. Some of the reviews have complained that the characters act younger than their age, and in some cases this is true, especially the main characters, Zane. This is to be expected. The author established right from the beginning the Zane has been kept sheltered by his mom. I really did not understand why she did this, it does seem an incredibly stupid to keep her son so very ignorant about the way of the streets.
This is the first book in what was obviously intended to be a series, but it was written in 2011, and there has not been a second book, so this may end up being a dropped series, it is too bad because the series has potential.
This is a YA novel. That is the first thing that should be addressed in the review. I don’t hold YA books to a different standard when reviewing, in my opinion good is good no matter who it is written for. That being said I do make allowances for writing style and vocabulary. This is a good YA book, not great but good. The environment and social structure of this world is well established, and the characters are believable. Some of the reviews have complained that the characters act younger than their age, and in some cases this is true, especially the main characters, Zane. This is to be expected. The author established right from the beginning the Zane has been kept sheltered by his mom. I really did not understand why she did this, it does seem an incredibly stupid to keep her son so very ignorant about the way of the streets.
This is the first book in what was obviously intended to be a series, but it was written in 2011, and there has not been a second book, so this may end up being a dropped series, it is too bad because the series has potential.
ginnikin's review
2.0
I always find Emma Newman's books readable yet slightly…lacking. In this case, I probably would've been fine if not for the framing first and last chapters. Clearly it's setting up for more. Also, I don't care how "realistic" it is, I'm getting real tired of dystopian societies hinging on sexuality and rape. *sigh*
radmike91's review
3.0
This was a book of multiple feelings. I loved the idea and story a lot but i feel the execution could have been a little better. I love the world that she creates in this book and the characters as well.
The only thing that bothered me the most was the blocky dialogue that she used and how it seemed she would skip over some parts and didn't give enough details to help the reader understand the world completely. I also felt that Zane annoyed me way to much in some parts.
Another example of this would be like when they could be in the Garden or Hospital and next thing you know they could be somewhere else in the next paragraph. Maybe it was just me but I feel like if it was a longer book it could have been more well done.
With that all aside though, i really did enjoy this read. It wasn't the best book of this year for me but it was a book that I did really like. I'll be looking for a sequel definitely to see how the story develope's and see if more of the questions we have get answered.
The only thing that bothered me the most was the blocky dialogue that she used and how it seemed she would skip over some parts and didn't give enough details to help the reader understand the world completely. I also felt that Zane annoyed me way to much in some parts.
Another example of this would be like when they could be in the Garden or Hospital and next thing you know they could be somewhere else in the next paragraph. Maybe it was just me but I feel like if it was a longer book it could have been more well done.
With that all aside though, i really did enjoy this read. It wasn't the best book of this year for me but it was a book that I did really like. I'll be looking for a sequel definitely to see how the story develope's and see if more of the questions we have get answered.
hough_is_tough's review
4.0
It was kind of jumpy in some parts, and a few things were still left unraveled at the end, but I assume those will get wrapped up once the sequel comes out. Overall, it was very enjoyable and easy to read.
fenny_42's review
4.0
This book started off a little slow -- but in such a way to create the detailed setting that was so important to the plot. I really enjoyed the world Emma Newman created, and each of the gangs were incredibly detailed and realistic. The main three, Zane, Titus, and Erin were well-developed and easily identifiable characters.
Although some areas of the writing style wasn't pleasing, the story kept me interested throughout the entirety of this novel. It was fairly fast paced -- no need to worry about slow bits.
I truly enjoyed the ending, and love the hint about a sequel -- I can't wait to read more! It tells just enough about the characters and shows you the things they are able to achieve to make you want to read more. This would be a satisfying read for anyone who enjoys post-apocalyptic fiction.
NOTE: I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads. I also received a hand-written note from Dystopia Press, as this was their first published book. I really appreciated the sentiment.
Although some areas of the writing style wasn't pleasing, the story kept me interested throughout the entirety of this novel. It was fairly fast paced -- no need to worry about slow bits.
I truly enjoyed the ending, and love the hint about a sequel -- I can't wait to read more! It tells just enough about the characters and shows you the things they are able to achieve to make you want to read more. This would be a satisfying read for anyone who enjoys post-apocalyptic fiction.
NOTE: I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads. I also received a hand-written note from Dystopia Press, as this was their first published book. I really appreciated the sentiment.
jennyjc's review
2.0
It had its moments; moments when I was completely sucked in and stayed awake way too long to finish chapters. So I'll give some credit to the author, there. And I thought it was pretty creative to "organize" this dystopia into gangs. But the credit ends there for me. The characters were completely flat, none of the major questions were answered except what "It" was (and if you haven't figured it out by about page 25, you should probably read more, or at least watch more tv),and who caused "It" and why(complete disappointment, totally shallow). Everything else is left hanging, with the command to "look for another book with this same handwriting." (Don't even get me started on the framing device; it was ridiculous.) Was very frustrated by the treatment of women and girls in this book (which I assume I was supposed to be) as stupid, and mostly incapable of anything except birthing or sexual gratification. I was marginally intrigued by the promise of other questions being answered in subsequent books, but truly - not enough to actually read the books themselves. There was really just not enough substance here for me. Grr.
megami's review
3.0
I am going to give this book the benefit of the doubt and say I am not its target audience - yes, I am a fan of post-apocalyptic fiction, and love me a good book set in London - in that this is squarely Young Adult fiction and I have moved beyond that description awhile ago. So perhaps a typical YA reader would have less problem with the plot holes and clunky dialogue. I am not sure even they would find the character of Zane particularly believable (as other reviewers have pointed out, he is ridiculously naive considering his age and the kind of situation he has grown up in) or the fact that only twenty years after the massive disaster much of what 'we' consider normal technology is forgotten (or is that because so many of the population are so young and have grown up without it).
While I admire a new publisher who takes on this kind of material, I wish they had put a bit more effort into editing, even back at the manuscript assessment stage. There IS a good story in here, but it really needs a little more work on the execution. That is not meant at as a dig at the author either - even very good authors often need quite a bit of editorial polish to shine, and there is nothing to say Newman won't do even better in the future with a stricter editor on board.
While I admire a new publisher who takes on this kind of material, I wish they had put a bit more effort into editing, even back at the manuscript assessment stage. There IS a good story in here, but it really needs a little more work on the execution. That is not meant at as a dig at the author either - even very good authors often need quite a bit of editorial polish to shine, and there is nothing to say Newman won't do even better in the future with a stricter editor on board.
snaomiscott's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
My rating : 3.5 of 5 stars.
An engaging and enjoyable read that feels like it should have had a sequel. Full review to follow.
An engaging and enjoyable read that feels like it should have had a sequel. Full review to follow.
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