Scan barcode
mcf's review against another edition
4.0
Pleasingly dark and uncompromising, and without a whiff of love story between the two main characters. Hooray! Plus, the women in it are strong as hell, and the final confrontation is, in some ways, primarily a declaration and claiming of female power, without it being cheapened by cliches or facile language. That said, the parallels between the Latchkey kids and the Archivists were way too on the nose for me from the moment they emerged, and I was frustrated by how heavy-handed they were in a book that is otherwise impressive subtle and complex (as with that final confrontation).
zaphod46's review against another edition
4.0
good story, really pulls you along. perfectly self contained
glitterkitter's review against another edition
5.0
Thoughts on a reread (non audio): I have no idea why I had this marked as only 3 stars before, because I remember loving it and I'm giving this five stars this time because I really want to start rec'ing it to so many people.
It's a (probably) post apocalyptic world, and a really interesting one not like anything I'd seen before. It doesn't really give any explanations for why the world is the way it is now, and despite being really really curious about it, it's not frustrating to not get answers. The story itself is a self-contained one in this world and it's clear that delving into parts of the wider world would only be a unnecessary distraction to the main story.
It's a (probably) post apocalyptic world, and a really interesting one not like anything I'd seen before. It doesn't really give any explanations for why the world is the way it is now, and despite being really really curious about it, it's not frustrating to not get answers. The story itself is a self-contained one in this world and it's clear that delving into parts of the wider world would only be a unnecessary distraction to the main story.
remylee7's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
venpyre's review against another edition
5.0
I can't put my finger on exactly what makes this book feel so...personal. The journey wasp takes with the ghost is undeniably surreal. The author manages to instill a feeling of isolation in the lower world even while it teems with ghosts. I always had this strange sense of being in a place that was once inhabited but had been left to wither away with no one to attend to it. Many aspects of the world aren't explored but I think thats for the better as all information is gathered from wasp's limited perspective and speculation.
I absolutely adored the sort of quasi-friendship that forms between Wasp and the ghost. It seemed fitting somehow that their interactions be so impersonal but limited by their personalities. The ghost especially was so interesting to read about. His deadpan comments and subdued emotions were sort of endearing to me.
Also Wasp is amazing and my girlfriend.
This is definitely a book of memories. Moments when Wasp was able to see into the past, while action packed, felt hazy and soft and contained a sense of finality. Like there was nothing you could do to change or work with anything that happened you just had to accept it had occurred and wait for the inevitable end of the story.
It left me with some questions but I don't think that's a bad thing.
I absolutely adored the sort of quasi-friendship that forms between Wasp and the ghost. It seemed fitting somehow that their interactions be so impersonal but limited by their personalities. The ghost especially was so interesting to read about. His deadpan comments and subdued emotions were sort of endearing to me.
Also Wasp is amazing and my girlfriend.
This is definitely a book of memories. Moments when Wasp was able to see into the past, while action packed, felt hazy and soft and contained a sense of finality. Like there was nothing you could do to change or work with anything that happened you just had to accept it had occurred and wait for the inevitable end of the story.
It left me with some questions but I don't think that's a bad thing.
spinstah's review against another edition
4.0
This was fun. Set in the far future, after some sort of societal collapse. I liked the way you got to know the main character, and the parallels in her own experience and one she learns about from the past.
laughlinesandliterature's review against another edition
3.0
*I received this book from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review*
Archivist Wasp was a different take on a Grim Reaper story. I really liked Wasp and her dedication to making sure the ghosts are treated with respect. For the most part the story was incredibly well written, and the plot was fantastic. It was a very interesting book and I’m not really sure how you would classify it. It’s kind of Dystopian but also paranormal, and science fiction even. It was quite honestly fantastically original.
Wasp and ‘the ghost’ went on a fantastic adventure and it made Wasp really evaluate what she was doing. It also provided her alot of answers to be able to change her life. It was interesting to watch the way the whole town changed after some secrets were exposed and it allowed Wasp and her sisters the ability to choose their own path. This book had a kind of mystical, ethereal quality to it that was tempered by bouts of violence. Overall I would give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.
*This review was first posted on Moonlight Gleam Reviews http://moonlightgleam.com/2016/05/archivist-wasp-by-nicole-kornher-stace.html*
Archivist Wasp was a different take on a Grim Reaper story. I really liked Wasp and her dedication to making sure the ghosts are treated with respect. For the most part the story was incredibly well written, and the plot was fantastic. It was a very interesting book and I’m not really sure how you would classify it. It’s kind of Dystopian but also paranormal, and science fiction even. It was quite honestly fantastically original.
Wasp and ‘the ghost’ went on a fantastic adventure and it made Wasp really evaluate what she was doing. It also provided her alot of answers to be able to change her life. It was interesting to watch the way the whole town changed after some secrets were exposed and it allowed Wasp and her sisters the ability to choose their own path. This book had a kind of mystical, ethereal quality to it that was tempered by bouts of violence. Overall I would give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.
*This review was first posted on Moonlight Gleam Reviews http://moonlightgleam.com/2016/05/archivist-wasp-by-nicole-kornher-stace.html*
rgimel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lchamberlin97's review against another edition
4.0
Would you expect my review to be anything but long, boring, and complicated?
As per usual, I have several qualifications to the 4 stars that I gave this book.
For a YA book? I give it FIVE stars.
Really, any YA book that has a main character(s) that don't make me want to roll my eyes and/or throw the book in frustration is a win. Believe me, I love a lot of YA - especially being only 18 myself - but there's a fine line between having young adult characters and only being read by a young adult audience. The latter, I think, comes mostly from annoying cliches and authors who follow the stereotypes of teenagers. ANYWAY, Archivist Wasp does a wonderful job of making me forget it gets labeled as YA. It's simply a dystopian, post-apocalyptic fantasy book with a young main character.
For the setting? ANOTHER FIVE STARS.
Oh man I LOVED the creativity. The real, dystopian world is...well, not completely original, if not completely unoriginal. The Archivist battling the upstarts sounded a lot like Hunger Games (just because it pitted children against each other); I appreciated the religious aspects, showing how society starts over with a new religion; just the weird mix of hatred and reverence of the Archivist was nice. The nods to the previous world that died fit in the same category: nice, but not unique. You've got genetically modified super-humans. You've got your corrupt leaders. You've got your amazing technology. Right-oh.
But c'mon. It's the ghosts that I love. As I was reading, I was trying to compare it's weirdness/cleverness/uniqueness to something else, and I couldn't find a good match - because it's different from anything I've read. I thought maybe it had a Neil Gaiman flair; he's always got weird, unexpected things popping out. But Gaiman can get pretty weird - like really weird, like giant rats and shape-shifting baby-sitter-octopus-witches, like you're not sure if this is serious or kiddish anymore. I wasn't weirded-out by this. The ghost world is super strange, of course, but it's not uncomfortable. It's MYSTIFYING. So much to explore! Bridges built from ghosts' pasts? Monsters brought from each ghost? Individualized cities you can never reach? Wells you can't reach the bottom of unless you jump? And the DOORS.
Now, the doors I compared to His Dark Materials - another one of my favorites - probably because they open to new settings. Or Monsters Inc., weirdly, because that's the same concept.
The concept that it warps itself to each person's mind reminded me of the dream worlds in Inception.
So no idea is completely original anymore. There are aspects of the ghost world that get borrowed from other things - I'm not claiming that it's the first of it's kind. But it's the way that it combines these different bits that make it so cool to me. It's the way they weave together not just to be odd but to MAKE SENSE. It paints a picture of what it's like to be a ghost, traveling in this infinity. What it would be like to be alone in that world, forgetting your own memories...
For the writing? Three stars, because something seems off.
First off, the positives: I'm a figurative language sort of girl, and Kornher-Stace did a lovely job with that. For example, saying that Kit Foster "bore about as much resemblance to her old self as a pile of ash did to a wildfire" is a great simile - it's not just "the house was as red as a cherry," but something especially significant because it really applies to Foster's character (if you've already read this, you know what I'm talking about). I felt like these examples were abound, which I appreciate.
As a whole, I thought the writing was complex enough to make me respect it as a book rather than a YA book (again, no offense to the genre), while still giving a voice to Wasp.
The problem is that sometimes I got lost in it. I really had to concentrate when I was reading, despite the fact that sometimes I wanted to settle into skimming mode. Sometimes Wasp would get to rambling, entertaining her little inner monologue of questions, ideas, descriptions, and flashbacks, and it was difficult to sift through and find the important bits. Sometimes I wouldn't be able to follow the transitions, leaving me in the dust as Wasp traveled on in a completely different time period or setting than I was expecting.
Part of this was just style, and I get that. For example, Regardless, sometimes I couldn't tell when Kornher-Stace was TRYING to be confusing and when I was supposed to be following but was failing. At points, I didn't know if I missed something (probably didn't pick up on it when I accidentally started skimming in the aforementioned inner monologues) or if it hadn't been revealed yet. Not going to lie, it made me feel a little dumb.
And I will say...at the end of the book, I still hadn't figured out the Foster-ghost story. There were bits. Wasp's "aha" moments were infectious, and I felt like YES we had figured it out! LET'S GO FIND FOSTER FOR REAL! But then I remembered that I was still confused.
For the fact that NEGATIVE STARS! But also...five stars? Ugh I hate it, but I kind of love it. I'm the sort of person that loves a little bit of mystery, a little bit of widening your eyes and wondering OH MY GOD does that damn spinning top drop or not? This just seems like the sort of thing that should be revealed, and instead it was forgotten. In fact, Wasp hardly bothers to wonder about it herself much, whereas I was dying the whole time.
For the ending?
Overall, a very pleasant read! Thank you, Book Riot, for picking this as one of your 2015 favorites, so I could have the pleasure of finding it!
As per usual, I have several qualifications to the 4 stars that I gave this book.
For a YA book? I give it FIVE stars.
Really, any YA book that has a main character(s) that don't make me want to roll my eyes and/or throw the book in frustration is a win. Believe me, I love a lot of YA - especially being only 18 myself - but there's a fine line between having young adult characters and only being read by a young adult audience. The latter, I think, comes mostly from annoying cliches and authors who follow the stereotypes of teenagers. ANYWAY, Archivist Wasp does a wonderful job of making me forget it gets labeled as YA. It's simply a dystopian, post-apocalyptic fantasy book with a young main character.
For the setting? ANOTHER FIVE STARS.
Oh man I LOVED the creativity. The real, dystopian world is...well, not completely original, if not completely unoriginal. The Archivist battling the upstarts sounded a lot like Hunger Games (just because it pitted children against each other); I appreciated the religious aspects, showing how society starts over with a new religion; just the weird mix of hatred and reverence of the Archivist was nice. The nods to the previous world that died fit in the same category: nice, but not unique. You've got genetically modified super-humans. You've got your corrupt leaders. You've got your amazing technology. Right-oh.
But c'mon. It's the ghosts that I love. As I was reading, I was trying to compare it's weirdness/cleverness/uniqueness to something else, and I couldn't find a good match - because it's different from anything I've read. I thought maybe it had a Neil Gaiman flair; he's always got weird, unexpected things popping out. But Gaiman can get pretty weird - like really weird, like giant rats and shape-shifting baby-sitter-octopus-witches, like you're not sure if this is serious or kiddish anymore. I wasn't weirded-out by this. The ghost world is super strange, of course, but it's not uncomfortable. It's MYSTIFYING. So much to explore! Bridges built from ghosts' pasts? Monsters brought from each ghost? Individualized cities you can never reach? Wells you can't reach the bottom of unless you jump? And the DOORS.
Now, the doors I compared to His Dark Materials - another one of my favorites - probably because they open to new settings. Or Monsters Inc., weirdly, because that's the same concept.
The concept that it warps itself to each person's mind reminded me of the dream worlds in Inception.
So no idea is completely original anymore. There are aspects of the ghost world that get borrowed from other things - I'm not claiming that it's the first of it's kind. But it's the way that it combines these different bits that make it so cool to me. It's the way they weave together not just to be odd but to MAKE SENSE. It paints a picture of what it's like to be a ghost, traveling in this infinity. What it would be like to be alone in that world, forgetting your own memories...
For the writing? Three stars, because something seems off.
First off, the positives: I'm a figurative language sort of girl, and Kornher-Stace did a lovely job with that. For example, saying that Kit Foster "bore about as much resemblance to her old self as a pile of ash did to a wildfire" is a great simile - it's not just "the house was as red as a cherry," but something especially significant because it really applies to Foster's character (if you've already read this, you know what I'm talking about). I felt like these examples were abound, which I appreciate.
As a whole, I thought the writing was complex enough to make me respect it as a book rather than a YA book (again, no offense to the genre), while still giving a voice to Wasp.
The problem is that sometimes I got lost in it. I really had to concentrate when I was reading, despite the fact that sometimes I wanted to settle into skimming mode. Sometimes Wasp would get to rambling, entertaining her little inner monologue of questions, ideas, descriptions, and flashbacks, and it was difficult to sift through and find the important bits. Sometimes I wouldn't be able to follow the transitions, leaving me in the dust as Wasp traveled on in a completely different time period or setting than I was expecting.
Part of this was just style, and I get that. For example,
Spoiler
at the end when the thread is tugging Wasp back to her dead/dying body, and then she goes into the ghost's memory, and then she sees stuff happening, and then the ghost is talking to no one/her, and then she's not in a memory...okay, yes I know, this is all supposed to be vague. Wasp says it herself: she doesn't know if they came through the door or if this is memory or at what point it switched. So...respect, I guess? Accept the confusion?And I will say...at the end of the book, I still hadn't figured out the Foster-ghost story. There were bits. Wasp's "aha" moments were infectious, and I felt like YES we had figured it out! LET'S GO FIND FOSTER FOR REAL! But then I remembered that I was still confused.
For the fact that
Spoiler
I never learned the ghost's name? Or how he died?? Or how the world died??For the ending?
Spoiler
Three stars. Meh. I agree about Wasp/Isabel going back, alive, and making things right in her life. I disagree that dystopia can because okay-society so quickly. I don't know if the Catchkeep-priest was the only reason the place was so messed up. It felt...very wrapped up. That's okay, I can accept it.Overall, a very pleasant read! Thank you, Book Riot, for picking this as one of your 2015 favorites, so I could have the pleasure of finding it!