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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I normally love books like this and when I read the description I was so excited! But the I read it. First of all there was next to no word building and it almost never told you about her past. Next problem, Rosie so she’s on a reality tv show where people are voted off and you know what she does??? She is antisocial and does almost nothing interesting! Are you stupid? That is your plan! Next we have the romance it was just way to similar to the hunger games girl pretends to like guy to get the people watching the completion to like her. And then she starts to really like him BUT oh no there’s another guy! Ugh it was just WAY to cliche. Finally my biggest problem with it.....
THE TYPOS!!!!! Like dont you have an editor for that?!?!?
THE TYPOS!!!!! Like dont you have an editor for that?!?!?
What an interesting, and slightly horrifying, premise! This first book in the Vault of Dreamers series was a great mix of suspense and drama, effectively keeping the reader leaning forward and desperate to uncover secrets along with our main character. The idea behind what may or may not be happening at this school for the artistically-gifted is a little bit syfy, but also slightly realistic enough to make the reader think, "woah, what if?" The author has absolutely made it impossible for me to do anything but claw for the next book in this series. Well done. Highly, highly recommend picking this gem up!
I wish I could give 3.5 stars the concept was awesome the book was well written but about mid story we hit a level of drama that made me want to throw the book against a wall. It was a mix of teenage angst with actual illegal and horrifying practices. I liked it but the drama could have taken it down a notch.
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
Complete review available: The Vault of Dreamers
Two strengths of this book were its originality, and its unpredictability. As things advanced towards the end I kept my hopes up - it seemed as if after a stunning and twist-ridden plotline, there was going to be an average ending - and O'Brien produced a fantastic conclusion that really did justice to the storyline. In many ways, I'd love to know what happens next (with Rosie but also Linus and the Dean), and quite what was meant in the ambiguity of the end, but at the same time, the open-to-your-imagination is more than fitting. A really well-written investigation of something you'd never dream of exploring before.
Re-Read #1
In the five years since I first read this, I've become a much more engaged and critical reader, and I think this is a testament to that. I didn't hate it re-reading it, but I was certainly a lot more aware of where it lacked, and were I to rate it nowadays, it would probably be around 3 stars. Unlike last time, the ending did make me want to read on, and it was more confusing than pleasantly ambiguous - hence why I've already begun the second book. Going forward, however, I do hope the characters become less 2D and generic and that we get to know a bit more about this strange fantasy world, because there's a lot of potential in the premise!
Two strengths of this book were its originality, and its unpredictability. As things advanced towards the end I kept my hopes up - it seemed as if after a stunning and twist-ridden plotline, there was going to be an average ending - and O'Brien produced a fantastic conclusion that really did justice to the storyline. In many ways, I'd love to know what happens next (with Rosie but also Linus and the Dean), and quite what was meant in the ambiguity of the end, but at the same time, the open-to-your-imagination is more than fitting. A really well-written investigation of something you'd never dream of exploring before.
Re-Read #1
In the five years since I first read this, I've become a much more engaged and critical reader, and I think this is a testament to that. I didn't hate it re-reading it, but I was certainly a lot more aware of where it lacked, and were I to rate it nowadays, it would probably be around 3 stars. Unlike last time, the ending did make me want to read on, and it was more confusing than pleasantly ambiguous - hence why I've already begun the second book. Going forward, however, I do hope the characters become less 2D and generic and that we get to know a bit more about this strange fantasy world, because there's a lot of potential in the premise!
1.5 stars. finished in one sitting but i was like "... meh" after it. i didn't even realize it was a series. i didn't bother reading the other books
There is a pary of me that fully understands that had the MC not made her idiotic choices, there wouldn't be a book. Coming to this realization did not help matters much on me liking this book.
And can I talk about that romance? It came out of nowhere. One minute he's helping her for her ratings, the next they're a couple because they kissed? I feel like I missed important information or something regarding that. And to be even more honest, I felt more chemistry between her and het friend, not who she was with.
This book wasn't awful, nor was it was I had been expecting. In a bad way.
And can I talk about that romance? It came out of nowhere. One minute he's helping her for her ratings, the next they're a couple because they kissed? I feel like I missed important information or something regarding that. And to be even more honest, I felt more chemistry between her and het friend, not who she was with.
This book wasn't awful, nor was it was I had been expecting. In a bad way.
At one point the character, narrating her own actions as she set up an imaginary film shot, said "Artsy me," and it was impossible to tell whether she was being sarcastic/tongue in cheek or not. I don't know if knowing either way would have made things better, or worse.
Anyway, read the Birthmarked trilogy instead. It's far more interesting.
Anyway, read the Birthmarked trilogy instead. It's far more interesting.