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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
This sequel takes the story from the first book and runs with it. I just had to keep listening to it as I clean and cook over all I’d give it a 4 star rating.
adventurous
dark
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
An incredible follow-up that mostly overcomes the “second-in-a-trilogy” syndrome and gets the reader more deeply invested in new/new-ish characters while also building out the Rabbits world. This book leaned almost into thriller/espionage territory in ways the first didn’t, and that definitely set it apart, giving a new flavor to what everyone enjoyed about the first novel in the series.
Similar to the first one, the characters were great, and they really pull you along with the story. There are two primary points of view, and they both are developed into deep and interesting people, not just cardboard cutouts. There is a whole riot of secondary characters, some of whom we have met (or we have met versions of) before, others who are new, and they all feel developed and more than just set dressing, which I liked. The writing is strong and compulsive, overall. Sometimes the dialogue feels a little awkward, and sometimes there is a little more twee than I like (name dropping specific bands, movies, and so forth, even crafting a play list, but not in the context of the game being played, just during quiet character beats) pulled me out of the story, it felt heavy-handed. It felt like pop-culture references were trying to be used to do the job of character-building, which is great in concept, but it felt too forced, here. Still, it is nice to know that characters I enjoy spending time with also appreciate Icelandic post-rock bands as well as obscure ultra-violent Japanese directors, I guess. My small complaints aside, the writing did a great job of moving the story forward, keeping the characters in action and keeping me lured in. It switched perspectives at the right moments to build tension but not so much that I felt fragmented or disconnected. Especially when playing in the thriller genre, with a literal ticking clock, and even more so when navigating quantum-philosophical ideas about multiverses and unstable space-time continuum, it is important to have writing strong enough to not only support well-developed characters but also keep the reader right in the middle of what is going on… even if they’re confused, they should know where they are and how they got there. This novel succeeds wildly at that, all while maintaining a consistent tone and sense of urgency, which benefited the story.
It is hard to talk about the story. The story is intentionally obtuse in places, similar to the first novel. There are all sorts of questions, including a bunch hanging over from the first novel, which are still unanswered. That is the name of the game in this paranoia-infused, mind-bending kind of puzzle-box genre, which is fine… But it is important to have faith in the writer and writing, that all these questions, these plots twists and disruptions, have a purpose and an answer, even if that is not forthcoming to the audience. The sheer number of twists and turns and huge, operatic plot devices (in both novels) sometimes feel like things are getting out of control, and that is when things feel like a bunch of deus ex machina plot devices, instead of confident and intentional authorial manipulation. So, there is some of that, here, and if you want everything wrapped up in a neat package you will be frustrated here, certainly. But if you’re willing to put a little faith in the author then there are a whole bunch of rollercoaster rides in these novels that are a lot of fun to go on. Will all the important questions and plot machinations be answered in the subsequent novel? I hope so, but even if not, I enjoyed the journey to get there.
I want to thank the author, the publisher Random House - Ballantine, Del Rey, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Similar to the first one, the characters were great, and they really pull you along with the story. There are two primary points of view, and they both are developed into deep and interesting people, not just cardboard cutouts. There is a whole riot of secondary characters, some of whom we have met (or we have met versions of) before, others who are new, and they all feel developed and more than just set dressing, which I liked. The writing is strong and compulsive, overall. Sometimes the dialogue feels a little awkward, and sometimes there is a little more twee than I like (name dropping specific bands, movies, and so forth, even crafting a play list, but not in the context of the game being played, just during quiet character beats) pulled me out of the story, it felt heavy-handed. It felt like pop-culture references were trying to be used to do the job of character-building, which is great in concept, but it felt too forced, here. Still, it is nice to know that characters I enjoy spending time with also appreciate Icelandic post-rock bands as well as obscure ultra-violent Japanese directors, I guess. My small complaints aside, the writing did a great job of moving the story forward, keeping the characters in action and keeping me lured in. It switched perspectives at the right moments to build tension but not so much that I felt fragmented or disconnected. Especially when playing in the thriller genre, with a literal ticking clock, and even more so when navigating quantum-philosophical ideas about multiverses and unstable space-time continuum, it is important to have writing strong enough to not only support well-developed characters but also keep the reader right in the middle of what is going on… even if they’re confused, they should know where they are and how they got there. This novel succeeds wildly at that, all while maintaining a consistent tone and sense of urgency, which benefited the story.
It is hard to talk about the story. The story is intentionally obtuse in places, similar to the first novel. There are all sorts of questions, including a bunch hanging over from the first novel, which are still unanswered. That is the name of the game in this paranoia-infused, mind-bending kind of puzzle-box genre, which is fine… But it is important to have faith in the writer and writing, that all these questions, these plots twists and disruptions, have a purpose and an answer, even if that is not forthcoming to the audience. The sheer number of twists and turns and huge, operatic plot devices (in both novels) sometimes feel like things are getting out of control, and that is when things feel like a bunch of deus ex machina plot devices, instead of confident and intentional authorial manipulation. So, there is some of that, here, and if you want everything wrapped up in a neat package you will be frustrated here, certainly. But if you’re willing to put a little faith in the author then there are a whole bunch of rollercoaster rides in these novels that are a lot of fun to go on. Will all the important questions and plot machinations be answered in the subsequent novel? I hope so, but even if not, I enjoyed the journey to get there.
I want to thank the author, the publisher Random House - Ballantine, Del Rey, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
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:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
medium-paced
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No