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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
DNF
I simply couldn't get into this book. I tried several times, because I like the concept. Sadly the execusion was poorly at best.
Since I only read around 40%, I can't really give a full account of the plot. But basically my biggest issue was with the pace of it. It was too slow, way too slow. It took me forever to just find my barings, and so far there wasn't any fabulous sci-fi stuff going on at all.
The world building was just not there- at least so far.
The writing was pretty good.
From what I gathered so far of the book, this is another dystopian with Hunger Game tendencies.. which quite frankly has been done way to many times now.
Just not my kinda thing, very sadly, since I was anticipating this one for ages!
I simply couldn't get into this book. I tried several times, because I like the concept. Sadly the execusion was poorly at best.
Since I only read around 40%, I can't really give a full account of the plot. But basically my biggest issue was with the pace of it. It was too slow, way too slow. It took me forever to just find my barings, and so far there wasn't any fabulous sci-fi stuff going on at all.
The world building was just not there- at least so far.
The writing was pretty good.
From what I gathered so far of the book, this is another dystopian with Hunger Game tendencies.. which quite frankly has been done way to many times now.
Just not my kinda thing, very sadly, since I was anticipating this one for ages!
I devoured this book in a manner of days because of the exquisite suspense that Caragh O'Brien built into it. I am so eager to read the next books as Rosie is a very passionate and strong-willed character that speaks to me through the pages. I am intrigued by the world that O'Brien has built and the story she is trying to tell. I think the rest of the series will keep me on my toes and I am so excited to read it
The reason this book will get a three (more like 3.5) stars versus a five or four star review is that I just wish that we had gotten to spend more time understanding the forge school and how the dream mining worked in detail. Not to mention I wish the other characters were developed more deeply. A lot of that was kind of buzzed over quickly as though maybe it will be answered in another book, but I wanted more detail and information. This is not to say I wouldn't read this book again, I just think there maybe was a rush to write this book after O'Brien's superb Birthmarked Trilogy and I almost wish she just took more time with this book. I am hoping the next two books answer all my questions, but will have to wait until the library reopens!
The reason this book will get a three (more like 3.5) stars versus a five or four star review is that I just wish that we had gotten to spend more time understanding the forge school and how the dream mining worked in detail. Not to mention I wish the other characters were developed more deeply. A lot of that was kind of buzzed over quickly as though maybe it will be answered in another book, but I wanted more detail and information. This is not to say I wouldn't read this book again, I just think there maybe was a rush to write this book after O'Brien's superb Birthmarked Trilogy and I almost wish she just took more time with this book. I am hoping the next two books answer all my questions, but will have to wait until the library reopens!
I think I was drawn to this title because of it’s more creepy, thriller aspect. I’m not a fan of school-type books nor books about reality TV. What else could it be, right? When the publisher approved it through NetGalley for me, I was bound to at least try it. I know I’m supposed to be more critical of what I accept for review books (according to myself) but my gut told me to go for this one. So I did.
At first I was rather . . . non-plussed about it. Rosie’s your rather average student from a less-than-stellar background just trying to make a better life for herself by trying to get through the voting period for this school. In order to make it past Fifty Cuts, your blip ranking (read: popularity ranking) needs to be, well, 50 or higher. Rosie starts off at 96. I don’t think I’d be spoiling anything to say that she ends up making the cut. It would have been a really short and unimpressive book otherwise.
But there really isn’t a whole lot going on that’s really sucking me in. It’s not-so-standard school life except Rosie keeps finding things out that she shouldn’t. But up until about two-thirds of the way through the book those things are blips on the radar. The school and work and a pseudo-love life carry more weight. The competitive aspect of the school is intriguing and even the characters share my disgust at how someone’s future is determined by anonymous internet votes. It kept me reading but I couldn’t help myself thinking when it was going to get good. I mean really good.
Well, patience pays off, my friend, because O’Brien starts going psychological at about the two-thirds mark. I mean she really starts effing with your head at that point and I just LOVE it when an author makes me question the reality of a book. Is the narrator unreliable? Is this all an elaborate trick? Or a cover-up? Is it a dream? All at once these questions start flying and I sat there going whoa . . . Which way is up? Rosie was adamant that what she was seeing was correct and despite everything she stuck to that. She wouldn’t waver. I liked her for that.
And then the end just comes in and blows my brains right out of my head because it went ahead and surprised the hell right out of me. I did not expect the book to go the route that it did and it more than made up for the slower plot the rest of the book had. The ending elevated Rosie to a new level of Awesome Character and it really gave me answers that finally gave reality to the book. There was no longer a question of what was going on.
The voice itself is really compelling and I think that’s what kept me reading in the beginning. The writing was nice and I like reading nice writing. But then O’Brien started playing with my head and I loved her just a little more for that. I think it takes real talent to be able to warp someone’s perception like that and mak them question what’s going on in their own heads, not only just with what’s in the book. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with in book two. And damn do I have a long time to wait for that.
4
At first I was rather . . . non-plussed about it. Rosie’s your rather average student from a less-than-stellar background just trying to make a better life for herself by trying to get through the voting period for this school. In order to make it past Fifty Cuts, your blip ranking (read: popularity ranking) needs to be, well, 50 or higher. Rosie starts off at 96. I don’t think I’d be spoiling anything to say that she ends up making the cut. It would have been a really short and unimpressive book otherwise.
But there really isn’t a whole lot going on that’s really sucking me in. It’s not-so-standard school life except Rosie keeps finding things out that she shouldn’t. But up until about two-thirds of the way through the book those things are blips on the radar. The school and work and a pseudo-love life carry more weight. The competitive aspect of the school is intriguing and even the characters share my disgust at how someone’s future is determined by anonymous internet votes. It kept me reading but I couldn’t help myself thinking when it was going to get good. I mean really good.
Well, patience pays off, my friend, because O’Brien starts going psychological at about the two-thirds mark. I mean she really starts effing with your head at that point and I just LOVE it when an author makes me question the reality of a book. Is the narrator unreliable? Is this all an elaborate trick? Or a cover-up? Is it a dream? All at once these questions start flying and I sat there going whoa . . . Which way is up? Rosie was adamant that what she was seeing was correct and despite everything she stuck to that. She wouldn’t waver. I liked her for that.
And then the end just comes in and blows my brains right out of my head because it went ahead and surprised the hell right out of me. I did not expect the book to go the route that it did and it more than made up for the slower plot the rest of the book had. The ending elevated Rosie to a new level of Awesome Character and it really gave me answers that finally gave reality to the book. There was no longer a question of what was going on.
The voice itself is really compelling and I think that’s what kept me reading in the beginning. The writing was nice and I like reading nice writing. But then O’Brien started playing with my head and I loved her just a little more for that. I think it takes real talent to be able to warp someone’s perception like that and mak them question what’s going on in their own heads, not only just with what’s in the book. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with in book two. And damn do I have a long time to wait for that.
4
Find this review, plus more, on my blog: Booklikes OR Blogger
Basic Info
Format: Audio
Pages/Length: 10.5 hrs
Genre: Young Adult
Reason For Reading: Challenge
At A Glance
Love Triangle/Insta Love/Obsession?: Don't care
Cliff Hanger: Eh.
Triggers: n/a
Rating: 2 stars
Score Sheet
All out of ten
Cover: 8
Plot: 6
Characters: 6
World Building: 5
Flow: 4
Series Congruity: n/a
Writing: 5
Ending: 5
Total: 5
In Depth
Best Part: Someone kicks it.
Worst Part: SLOWWW MOVING
Thoughts Had: Can we finish this yet, or now, or now, how about now....
Conclusion
Continuing the Series: Eh.
Recommending: Eh.
Short Review: Dragged like crazy. If someone dies, you need to end the book around that point, don't make me suffer through 2 more hours of freaking filler crap afterwards! Ugh. Okay so this started out okay, i mean the "realty" show sounded super lame, and i would not watch that for sure but hey, someone did. Then she finds out there are weird things going on. Which i'm not even 100% i understand what was going. Digging around in their heads i guess idk. All the MC was worried about was her "ranking". Then we have this creepy guy that is in charge of her "feed" and he is Grade A creep for sure. Then she plans an escape. Pretty much it, but 10hrs of that dragged out. No thanks. Oh and sleep pods, please stop saying Sleep Pods, you can make it into a drinking game, stop!
Misc.
Book Boyfriend: Didn't catch anyone's name.
Best Friend Material: Pass.
First, I would like to thank Tantor Media for the audiobook I received in the giveaway. I think Emily Woo Zeller was a good narrator for Rosie Sinclair.
Rosie Sinclair is from a poor community in Arizona. Her younger sister encourages her to apply to an art school called the Forge. There students are nurtured for their creative minds, while in a reality TV competition. We join Rosie on the day where half of the applicants will be cut from the program. The other half will become full fledged students and can potentially earn money from ad sales based on their level of viewership. While Rosie was sure she was going to be cut on that day, she finds ways to gain traction in viewer ratings and even begins a relationship with a kitchen staff member, Linus. After becoming a student, Rosie starts to feel unnerved by some of the school requirements for nighttime (mandatory sleeping pills and 12 hour sleep periods). She starts to suspect that something is truly wrong with the school and tries to get to the bottom of her suspicions.
I have mixed feelings about this book. While I had no problem believing in the medical technology utilized and concept of dream mining, the odd school administration setup was unbelievable. There was also weird guardianship issue that was just strange. The ending felt abrupt and made me want to know more - so I was thrilled to learn that there will be another book telling Rosie's story since it felt incomplete.
As for side characters and plots, there was a lot of unresolved issues regarding Linus and her friend Burnham. There is a lot of wasted potential in this story regarding her classmates and actual class structures. Besides one class, it didn't actually feel like she was in a school supposedly learning anything. There was potential for strong friendships, but they always seemed superficial.
Overall, this was an entertaining and interesting read. It kept me engrossed, but I wish it was a little more developed. Relationships and world building could have been stronger. I do look forward to the continuation of Rosie's story simply because of all the unresolved issues.
Rosie Sinclair is from a poor community in Arizona. Her younger sister encourages her to apply to an art school called the Forge. There students are nurtured for their creative minds, while in a reality TV competition. We join Rosie on the day where half of the applicants will be cut from the program. The other half will become full fledged students and can potentially earn money from ad sales based on their level of viewership. While Rosie was sure she was going to be cut on that day, she finds ways to gain traction in viewer ratings and even begins a relationship with a kitchen staff member, Linus. After becoming a student, Rosie starts to feel unnerved by some of the school requirements for nighttime (mandatory sleeping pills and 12 hour sleep periods). She starts to suspect that something is truly wrong with the school and tries to get to the bottom of her suspicions.
I have mixed feelings about this book. While I had no problem believing in the medical technology utilized and concept of dream mining, the odd school administration setup was unbelievable. There was also weird guardianship issue that was just strange. The ending felt abrupt and made me want to know more - so I was thrilled to learn that there will be another book telling Rosie's story since it felt incomplete.
As for side characters and plots, there was a lot of unresolved issues regarding Linus and her friend Burnham. There is a lot of wasted potential in this story regarding her classmates and actual class structures. Besides one class, it didn't actually feel like she was in a school supposedly learning anything. There was potential for strong friendships, but they always seemed superficial.
Overall, this was an entertaining and interesting read. It kept me engrossed, but I wish it was a little more developed. Relationships and world building could have been stronger. I do look forward to the continuation of Rosie's story simply because of all the unresolved issues.
3.5
The action worked its way up slowly, and Burnham annoyed me greatly. Mostly because he was kind of an unresolved issue. A lot of the dialogue/description was kind of stilted or otherwise awkward. This book probably could've been condensed a bit and edited a little more thoroughly.
The action worked its way up slowly, and Burnham annoyed me greatly. Mostly because he was kind of an unresolved issue. A lot of the dialogue/description was kind of stilted or otherwise awkward. This book probably could've been condensed a bit and edited a little more thoroughly.
The story didn't hold my attention. I was listening to the audiobook the narrator was fine but the story wasn't that interesting and had a few plot hole that were hard to justify. Plus I couldn't get behind the romance. DNF
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting
there were three main different sections of the book where suicide was portrayed or talked about in depth. enough to the point where it bothered me and i’m not usually shaken by that.
also the drug use is forced upon our main character at points.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My first fiction book in a while and I have loved it so much. Going to get the next one tonight!! I cant wait to see what happens!!