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jamie_cant_read's review against another edition
dark
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? No
5.0
sreader23's review against another edition
3.0
I think this would have been so much better written from Akane’s POV. As it is she feels more like an object moved around in the story as needed than a real person.
wolvy's review against another edition
4.0
This was pretty bonkers as it went on but I really enjoyed the ride.
sugarstormer's review against another edition
4.0
Things I liked: striking imagery, the return to more intimate stakes with a more intimate setting, thus far the most likable protagonists in the series, and twists and turns that caught me by surprise.
Things that didn't quite work for me: odd and somewhat lopsided pacing, a bit of a disregard for some established lore from Birthday in particular, a few half-baked plot conveniences, disorienting location descriptions (perhaps attributable to the translation), and an exposition dump towards the end that feels rushed.
Despite some gripes I've had with this series, I haven't been able to get it out of my head. The premises are always unique, the subtext is compelling, and the mythos is fluid and dense.
4 stars may be a little generous, but in the context of the series as a whole, I liked many of the decisions that were made for the direction and scale of this book.
Things that didn't quite work for me: odd and somewhat lopsided pacing, a bit of a disregard for some established lore from Birthday in particular, a few half-baked plot conveniences, disorienting location descriptions (perhaps attributable to the translation), and an exposition dump towards the end that feels rushed.
Despite some gripes I've had with this series, I haven't been able to get it out of my head. The premises are always unique, the subtext is compelling, and the mythos is fluid and dense.
4 stars may be a little generous, but in the context of the series as a whole, I liked many of the decisions that were made for the direction and scale of this book.
verttheotter's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
donnathededd's review against another edition
2.0
I don't know if I perhaps need to have read the other books to fully appreciate this. Truth be told, I came to this independently. I have watched the Ring movie, naturally, but not read the book.
This was.... a bit of a let down. Intriguing, sure. A little suspenseful here and there but not quite..... terrifying or scary. Felt very hurried and very very forced. Plot seemed a little contrived andd thrown together.
This was.... a bit of a let down. Intriguing, sure. A little suspenseful here and there but not quite..... terrifying or scary. Felt very hurried and very very forced. Plot seemed a little contrived andd thrown together.
teresatumminello's review against another edition
3.0
My mini-review of [b:Birthday|25794|Birthday (Ring, #4)|Kōji Suzuki|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386921265l/25794._SY75_.jpg|3421124] says the book is “A nice coda to the Ring trilogy.” That is now inaccurate since two more books in the series have appeared. This installment advances the story in time and technology, but too much of the action appears “off-stage”: not a good thing for a plot-driven work. A few sentences seem to come out of nowhere, but that might be a fault of the translation.
Except for the S-shape, the image on the cover doesn't have much to do with the story. The design on the book itself is not as unappetizing as the dust jacket, which I removed for reading. Otherwise, I don’t think I could’ve read the book; the cover is that ugly.
This is not my usual reading matter, but my son passes on Suzuki's translated works to me and it’s fun to share. I have a few questions to discuss with him, but I have to wait until he’s read it.
Except for the S-shape, the image on the cover doesn't have much to do with the story. The design on the book itself is not as unappetizing as the dust jacket, which I removed for reading. Otherwise, I don’t think I could’ve read the book; the cover is that ugly.
This is not my usual reading matter, but my son passes on Suzuki's translated works to me and it’s fun to share. I have a few questions to discuss with him, but I have to wait until he’s read it.
ellecactus's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
alicelalicon's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.5