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sanjubee's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a fan of Soule's work on series like Darth Vader, and the way this book is written--the characters, relationships, certain scenes--definitely have the mark of a comic book writer. However, once I began thinking of the book that way, it actually helped me enjoy it more. The plot is original and the action is a page-turner.
jakewjerrard's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
aeblair's review against another edition
4.0
This book was really good, but as silly as I may sound typing this, I’m taking off a star for improbability. It’s hard to judge this book for being too loose with reality but I am going to. I didn’t like the emphasis on “The Coach”, it was unnecessary for how little that character was used for the plot. It didn’t make sense as a plot device. However, it was a page turner and, two books into his catalogue, I’m happy to say I am now a Charles Soule fan!
kendraann28's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
one4ale's review
4.0
Phenomenal. I already knew him from 8 Billion Genies, but this exceeded all expectations. I could hardly put this book down without immediately wanting to see what's next, and not for a moment throughout the first half did I have a moment of peace without anxiety for Will and Hamza.
A lot of times I don't know how to feel about a story because I know it ends well. More or less, everything ends as you think and the meat of the story, the journey, is the only thing that makes it worth it. Endings are hard to land for me and it was my biggest fear reading this; Soule landed it, I think.
I think a lot of the critiques made by others are valid. I think a lot of the critiques made by others made me wonder if we read the same book. Here's mine:
Critiques
- Kind of a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse ending? Everything wraps up nice and neatly into basically paradise, but that's kind of the point of the predictions so it's whatever.
- The final bad guy is a Central Asian terrorist with a nuke.
tl;dr: Good book, has issues, would read again after forgetting the plot in time. Find a library and read it.
A lot of times I don't know how to feel about a story because I know it ends well. More or less, everything ends as you think and the meat of the story, the journey, is the only thing that makes it worth it. Endings are hard to land for me and it was my biggest fear reading this; Soule landed it, I think.
I think a lot of the critiques made by others are valid. I think a lot of the critiques made by others made me wonder if we read the same book. Here's mine:
Critiques
Spoiler
- The women related to Will could've had more to do. Miko's role is mostly to be the voice of reason to him and Hamza, and support Will, and Leigh's role is mostly to be the Witness to Events as a Lois Lane trope and again to support Will. Neither of those things are bad on its own, and they're fun to read and get to know in their own right. I just think it could've leaned more on other aspects of them, especially towards the end. The Florida Ladies and the Coach were great, though, I loved them.- Kind of a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse ending? Everything wraps up nice and neatly into basically paradise, but that's kind of the point of the predictions so it's whatever.
- The final bad guy is a Central Asian terrorist with a nuke.
tl;dr: Good book, has issues, would read again after forgetting the plot in time. Find a library and read it.
tishywishy's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't know what to expect when I got this book but I liked the action, the varying voices and the Coach who was such a hardass. The romance felt a bit too sudden and forced but didn't take away from the story line.
The audiobook was good.
The audiobook was good.
borrowedandbacklist's review against another edition
3.0
Overall this was a fun listen. Definitely plot-driven. I considered dnfing it about halfway through bc I wanted more of the characters and less of the action, but that wasn’t the author’s intent, so I upped the speed a little and got interested in how he was going to bring it all together. It was a satisfying ending and the narrator was great.
crisrodriguez's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
snaillydia's review against another edition
2.0
If I have to read through another "clever" monologue, I might just shoot myself.
Halfway through I couldn't believe such an interesting premise can turn into such a dull novel. Nothing is really happening, other than antagonists planning and monologuing, and trying very hard to be cool. Things pick up pace as we get closer to the climax, but the payoff is not worth the effort of reading through the rest of it.
Generally, this book thinks it's way smarter than it really is. Halfway through there's this "reveal", where a character practically explains the butterfly effect. Like, really? Did you really think the audience wouldn't have come up with that already? It's not like that concept has been popular in pop culture or anything, or that it's a common theme in most media that has to do with predicting the future. This "reveal" is just the author trying to sound smart when the only thing he's saying is that actions have consequences. Wow. So smart and cool.
Our protagonist is Will Dando, a struggling bassist who lives in NYC. That's all there is to him. He's a blank slate with no thoughts or emotions, other than the occasional twang of guilt. This novel could have done with a lot more insight into his inner workings. In his current state, it feels like he's only there to do what the plot wants him to do. We're supposed to like him because he's "heroic" but he's just... so bland. I don't know how I'm supposed to root for this guy.
Whatever. I'm excited to read better things now.
Halfway through I couldn't believe such an interesting premise can turn into such a dull novel. Nothing is really happening, other than antagonists planning and monologuing, and trying very hard to be cool. Things pick up pace as we get closer to the climax, but the payoff is not worth the effort of reading through the rest of it.
Generally, this book thinks it's way smarter than it really is. Halfway through there's this "reveal", where a character practically explains the butterfly effect. Like, really? Did you really think the audience wouldn't have come up with that already? It's not like that concept has been popular in pop culture or anything, or that it's a common theme in most media that has to do with predicting the future. This "reveal" is just the author trying to sound smart when the only thing he's saying is that actions have consequences. Wow. So smart and cool.
Our protagonist is Will Dando, a struggling bassist who lives in NYC. That's all there is to him. He's a blank slate with no thoughts or emotions, other than the occasional twang of guilt. This novel could have done with a lot more insight into his inner workings. In his current state, it feels like he's only there to do what the plot wants him to do. We're supposed to like him because he's "heroic" but he's just... so bland. I don't know how I'm supposed to root for this guy.
Whatever. I'm excited to read better things now.