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plumpaperbacks's review
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I’d never heard of this book prior to finding it on the library shelves, and picked it up on a whim after reading the synopsis. I’m glad I did, because How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse is a very fun, criminally underrated story following an eccentric cast of characters.
While the world-building was lacking—I would’ve loved to know more about the alien races mentioned, technology used, and how science and magic seemed to intertwine—I found this to be very enjoyable. It’s told in third person omniscient, something I haven’t seen very much of, and gave me A Series of Unfortunate Events vibes in that regard. You know how in the books (and the show), Lemony Snicket will pause his storytelling to go off on a bit of a tangent, or briefly explain something, or hint at something he knows that the characters will find out later? Eason does that here, and she does it really well.
The pacing was off, which led to the story lagging at times, especially in the middle. However, despite that, I was always curious enough to keep going, to see if my theories were correct and how the characters would overcome certain obstacles. I wasn’t truly invested until near the end, but I was consistently interested.
I really liked Rory, Jaed, Thorsdottir, and Zhang. A princess, the son of her enemy, and her two guards make quite a group, and what an iconic group they are. The three women were remarkably clever, definitely a force to be reckoned with, whereas Jaed... well, he did his best. At one point, Rory calls him “politically naïve,” which is a very polite, diplomatic way of saying he’s not the brightest bulb. But he’s eager to help, and in the end, he definitely does.
I was surprised to find that no romance developed over the course of the book, but not bothered by it. To be honest, it was refreshing to see a girl and a boy work together without crushes or hormones getting in the way. Although a few lines at the end of the book did hint at something possibly growing between Rory and Jaed in the second book, which I wouldn’t be opposed to.
If you like science fiction, definitely give this a try. Even though it’s a slower story, it’s an entertaining one, and one that undoubtedly deserves more hype.
While the world-building was lacking—I would’ve loved to know more about the alien races mentioned, technology used, and how science and magic seemed to intertwine—I found this to be very enjoyable. It’s told in third person omniscient, something I haven’t seen very much of, and gave me A Series of Unfortunate Events vibes in that regard. You know how in the books (and the show), Lemony Snicket will pause his storytelling to go off on a bit of a tangent, or briefly explain something, or hint at something he knows that the characters will find out later? Eason does that here, and she does it really well.
The pacing was off, which led to the story lagging at times, especially in the middle. However, despite that, I was always curious enough to keep going, to see if my theories were correct and how the characters would overcome certain obstacles. I wasn’t truly invested until near the end, but I was consistently interested.
I really liked Rory, Jaed, Thorsdottir, and Zhang. A princess, the son of her enemy, and her two guards make quite a group, and what an iconic group they are. The three women were remarkably clever, definitely a force to be reckoned with, whereas Jaed... well, he did his best. At one point, Rory calls him “politically naïve,” which is a very polite, diplomatic way of saying he’s not the brightest bulb. But he’s eager to help, and in the end, he definitely does.
I was surprised to find that no romance developed over the course of the book, but not bothered by it. To be honest, it was refreshing to see a girl and a boy work together without crushes or hormones getting in the way. Although a few lines at the end of the book did hint at something possibly growing between Rory and Jaed in the second book, which I wouldn’t be opposed to.
If you like science fiction, definitely give this a try. Even though it’s a slower story, it’s an entertaining one, and one that undoubtedly deserves more hype.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Xenophobia
Minor: Blood, Death, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
caryndi's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was a fun book! Your typical fantasy-princess-decides-to-save-herself adventure, with science fiction that's more like fantasy and a distinct writing style. It explored gender dynamics/sexism in a way that flowed naturally with the story. I don't have a lot of deeper thoughts/emotions about it—it was a fun read, but I am not the primary target audience (fair, as I'm not a Youth).
I enjoyed that the ending went intothe universe-wide impact of Rory ending monarchical reign, as often the after in revolutions is glossed over. I am curious how the author is planning a sequel, because the story wrapped up nicely in this book.
Recommend? Sure, if YA fantasy/sci-fi with strong/tough women and princesses and the like is your thing, you'll probably enjoy it.
I enjoyed that the ending went into
Recommend? Sure, if YA fantasy/sci-fi with strong/tough women and princesses and the like is your thing, you'll probably enjoy it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Confinement, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Bullying, Blood, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, and Xenophobia
Minor: Cursing, Death, Medical content, and Medical trauma
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