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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
This is the sequel of a book i absolutely loved (all our hidden gifts), but it just feels so meandering. The plot is good nowhere and now they're trying to make me feel sympathetic towards a literal bigot, i don't care his poor evangelical backstory.
Update:ok correction I actually appreciate that the main cast doesn’t forgive him because his sob story and holds him accountable. They aren’t friends with him by the end. And I finished the book and it was satisfying. Will be continuing with the series.
Update:ok correction I actually appreciate that the main cast doesn’t forgive him because his sob story and holds him accountable. They aren’t friends with him by the end. And I finished the book and it was satisfying. Will be continuing with the series.
Great second book in the second series.
Does a great job of intertwining the fantasy element with the struggles of being a teenager on the cusp of adulthood.
Does a great job of intertwining the fantasy element with the struggles of being a teenager on the cusp of adulthood.
Spoiler
These kids have me at my wits end! I love them all.When Aaron’s character was revealed to have OCD and invasive thoughts I was like hmmm I don’t want to relate to this douche but alas. I really enjoyed him having that arc, not necessarily redeeming himself but just having that explanation of why he acted the way he did. I also found the image of him with the shaved head at the end… interesting.
Bring me the third one immediately
3.5⭐
at the end I did kinda like it and there was an unforeseeable plot twist!
at the end I did kinda like it and there was an unforeseeable plot twist!
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Gifts That Bind Us, released on 3rd February, is the spellbinding sequel to All Our Hidden Gifts. Massive thank you to @tandemcollective for sending me both books.
This was everything you want from a YA sequel. I loved that the relationships were all built on and developed. I started the book really disliking Lily, and gradually began to love her, getting a glimpse of what her and Maeve's friendship was like previously.
I enjoyed the multiple twists towards the end, making you look at the characters in a different light.
Intrigued to see where this series will go!
This was everything you want from a YA sequel. I loved that the relationships were all built on and developed. I started the book really disliking Lily, and gradually began to love her, getting a glimpse of what her and Maeve's friendship was like previously.
I enjoyed the multiple twists towards the end, making you look at the characters in a different light.
Intrigued to see where this series will go!
Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC to review!
This instalment was definitely darker than book 1, with the beginning especially focusing a lot on the dynamic between the 4 protagonists as they go into their last year of high school. O'Donoghue does a great job of creating teenage characters feel realistic in that they can be unlikeable/bratty at times but you still really feel for them. I did still find the social commentary about religion in Ireland to be interesting, but the events made me a lot angrier than they did in book 1 (not in terms of it being bad, but just being a bit too real especially as I don't usually read contemporaries for this reason). I was hoping that this was going to go more into the ways in which Maeve's relationships with her friends and with Roe can be toxic at times but sadly that didn't happen. Maeve also didn't seem to grow much as a character - in some ways I liked that she was still selfish and melodramatic, but I would have liked to see her taking a bit more accountability for her actions. Overall a solid read but not sure if I will continue with the series!
CW: self-harm, trans/homophobia, religious trauma
This instalment was definitely darker than book 1, with the beginning especially focusing a lot on the dynamic between the 4 protagonists as they go into their last year of high school. O'Donoghue does a great job of creating teenage characters feel realistic in that they can be unlikeable/bratty at times but you still really feel for them. I did still find the social commentary about religion in Ireland to be interesting, but the events made me a lot angrier than they did in book 1 (not in terms of it being bad, but just being a bit too real especially as I don't usually read contemporaries for this reason). I was hoping that this was going to go more into the ways in which Maeve's relationships with her friends and with Roe can be toxic at times but sadly that didn't happen. Maeve also didn't seem to grow much as a character - in some ways I liked that she was still selfish and melodramatic, but I would have liked to see her taking a bit more accountability for her actions. Overall a solid read but not sure if I will continue with the series!
CW: self-harm, trans/homophobia, religious trauma
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Self harm, Transphobia
Minor: Death
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes