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nitzanschwarz's review against another edition
3.0
So, if you read my review of Heist Society, you probably didn't expect me to pick up book two. I didn't think I'd do that, either. But then, while looking through my local bookstore, I found a hardcover copy of Uncommon Criminals, and I just... thought it was so damned pretty. #Shallow
I was hoping Uncommon Criminals might actually live to the potential of the awesome idea behind these books, but while it was a better read than the first, it was by no mean anything incredible.
Maybe Carter's writing is just not for me - a lot of people praise this book as an exciting and fast story. To me, the book was the complete opposite - it was a fast read, sure, but the content of the book felt slow and somewhat anticlimactic.
I did like Kat a whole lot more in this book. While she's always been likable, she's also been a flat character. In this installment, she's added more depth and felt a lot more rounded. She still lacked a past, but it wasn't as intolerable as in Heist Society.
Alongside Kat, Hale and Gabrielle get an upgrade in the depth department as well. Unfortunately, Simon and the brothers are left as the one-dimensional decoration they were in Heist Society which sucks because I really like these characters. Far more than I like Gabrielle.
As for the romance - it was still such a small, undeveloped and unsatisfying part of the plot, but I am proud to say I'm Team Hale, and luckily (if I'm reading things correctly) he's also endgame, so yay for me! Though, I don't think my curiosity in that aspect is enough to make me read on with this series.
One thing that really bothered me and drove me nuts was the heists themselves. Lots of parts were just left out and made no sense at all! Like, the Interpol. For god's sake, how did they make all these things explode? Or the doves and the casino. Maybe those are actually robot doves, and that's why they did exactly what they wanted them to.
I felt like Carter thought of all those interesting ideas for the heists but had no idea how to explain them... so she didn't, believing the reader would just suck it up despite it. It may not bother everyone, but to me, this was a major issue.
Maybe book three will be better. Maybe not. I'll probably never find out.
I was hoping Uncommon Criminals might actually live to the potential of the awesome idea behind these books, but while it was a better read than the first, it was by no mean anything incredible.
Maybe Carter's writing is just not for me - a lot of people praise this book as an exciting and fast story. To me, the book was the complete opposite - it was a fast read, sure, but the content of the book felt slow and somewhat anticlimactic.
I did like Kat a whole lot more in this book. While she's always been likable, she's also been a flat character. In this installment, she's added more depth and felt a lot more rounded. She still lacked a past, but it wasn't as intolerable as in Heist Society.
Alongside Kat, Hale and Gabrielle get an upgrade in the depth department as well. Unfortunately, Simon and the brothers are left as the one-dimensional decoration they were in Heist Society which sucks because I really like these characters. Far more than I like Gabrielle.
As for the romance - it was still such a small, undeveloped and unsatisfying part of the plot, but I am proud to say I'm Team Hale, and luckily (if I'm reading things correctly) he's also endgame, so yay for me! Though, I don't think my curiosity in that aspect is enough to make me read on with this series.
One thing that really bothered me and drove me nuts was the heists themselves. Lots of parts were just left out and made no sense at all! Like, the Interpol. For god's sake, how did they make all these things explode? Or the doves and the casino. Maybe those are actually robot doves, and that's why they did exactly what they wanted them to.
I felt like Carter thought of all those interesting ideas for the heists but had no idea how to explain them... so she didn't, believing the reader would just suck it up despite it. It may not bother everyone, but to me, this was a major issue.
Maybe book three will be better. Maybe not. I'll probably never find out.
jjzreads's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book. Heist Society was pretty good, but I liked this book better. It had more of an "Oh my god. Did that just happen?!" It was next to impossible to put down once I started.
maimaitu's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
quietlyflourishing's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
vickie05's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
smuttea_matcha's review against another edition
4.0
It's been so long, I almost forgot all the characters. I adore Carter's imaginative spy/thief plots. When I saw the summary for her latest book (that one that puts her spy series with her thief series?), I knew I had to check out Uncommon Criminals. I was afraid that Macey was going to get with Hale (and I'm sorry, I love Macey, but I love Hale with Kat). While Uncommon Criminals doesn't fulfill every Hale and Kat craving that I have, it certainly makes up for the lack of them in Heist Society. Seeing Gabrielle work with Kat was cute, to see them bond. Another think I love about Carter's YA series is that she knows that many of her thief/spy ideas would never really work, but that's just the fun in it. She writes it because it's fun. Which is something that I found in this book. It was fun and adventurous with that little twist of romance. I can't wait to read book 3.
ameserole's review against another edition
3.0
Uncommon Criminals is the second book from the Heist Society. I don't really know how I feel about it.. so many towards the end of this review I will know? Maybe?
Okay, so, this book was meh. Just like the previous book. I don't really know if I want to torture myself with more of these meh books but I haven't made my decision.. yet. Maybe they will get better or worse.. but I wont know until I read them. Maybe I'll flip a coin.
So this book was dull, boring, and again MEH. I still haven't really connected to the characters and I also haven't seen a lot of development between them either. I also don't really like the writing style. I'm pretty sure that's why I'm not really connecting to anything because we are only really seeing what they did but not what were doing throughout the whole book. It was annoying and frustrating to read. Does it change throughout the series? Does it get better? I have no idea.
Besides the frustrating writing, I just feel like I either missed a shit ton of things happening.. or the author just skipped over things really quickly. Either thinking in it her head.. and thinking she typed it? I don't know but it happens - a lot, to me.
Overall, I have no idea if I wanted to dive into the third book. I took a second chance on this series and I'm still not impressed, intrigued, or even slightly enjoying myself. I'm just numb to reading this series right now.
Okay, so, this book was meh. Just like the previous book. I don't really know if I want to torture myself with more of these meh books but I haven't made my decision.. yet. Maybe they will get better or worse.. but I wont know until I read them. Maybe I'll flip a coin.
So this book was dull, boring, and again MEH. I still haven't really connected to the characters and I also haven't seen a lot of development between them either. I also don't really like the writing style. I'm pretty sure that's why I'm not really connecting to anything because we are only really seeing what they did but not what were doing throughout the whole book. It was annoying and frustrating to read. Does it change throughout the series? Does it get better? I have no idea.
Besides the frustrating writing, I just feel like I either missed a shit ton of things happening.. or the author just skipped over things really quickly. Either thinking in it her head.. and thinking she typed it? I don't know but it happens - a lot, to me.
Overall, I have no idea if I wanted to dive into the third book. I took a second chance on this series and I'm still not impressed, intrigued, or even slightly enjoying myself. I'm just numb to reading this series right now.
ali___cat's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
cari1268's review against another edition
3.0
This book was just okay. I feel like I should like this series more than I do, though. The plots are fun, the characters are well-fleshed out, and the writing is fine. For some reason, with both books, my attention was never fully gripped and I found myself slightly bored. Maybe it was because the reader is kept in the dark for so much of the planning for the heists. Or maybe it was because there was no way a 15 year old would be flying solo like Kat did.
I did like the two main characters, Kat and Hale. Although I didn't quite get the conflict that was keeping them apart. I loved how their relationship was so subtle.
3 Stars.
I did like the two main characters, Kat and Hale. Although I didn't quite get the conflict that was keeping them apart. I loved how their relationship was so subtle.
Spoiler
At least it was fun until they got together and I felt like I missed it.3 Stars.