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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
This was OK. You have to kind of have to suspend your disbelief here and there (ok, I'll willingly get on a plane to Paris with a guy who held a knife at me earlier...). It wasn't exactly the "international escapade" I was expecting, and it dragged out in bits, but it's got some decent amounts of action. It was also fairly predictable, but I'm intrigued enough to continue.
Plus I really liked Stellan. Probably the only character that I really liked, and with how things left off, I really want to see where they take it.
Plus I really liked Stellan. Probably the only character that I really liked, and with how things left off, I really want to see where they take it.
This book isn't bad, you definitely get your questions answered throughout the series and it does lay and intriguing mystery but one thing the series never answers is why it matters for the families to stay in power. The families seem so greedy and evil, so why is she trying so hard to save them, the love triangle was also pretty good, if a little predictable. it felt like they just kept trying to create a sense of urgency that wasn't really there, so the whole time you keep asking yourself if it is actually a big deal or if they just want to stay in power.
Personally, when it comes to whether or not an ancient unelected governing body should stay in power or not, I don't really care. I am never going to be like, "oh no, we should root for these guys, they seem really important." They seem like the bad guys and when she decides to stay and try and help them it gets a little hard to root for the main character because she is unrelatable. I think especially as an American she should have gone along with the plan less. I was reading it as an American and the whole time I kept thinking, who died and made these guys king?
Anyways, it isn't a bad read, but it is forgettable.
Personally, when it comes to whether or not an ancient unelected governing body should stay in power or not, I don't really care. I am never going to be like, "oh no, we should root for these guys, they seem really important." They seem like the bad guys and when she decides to stay and try and help them it gets a little hard to root for the main character because she is unrelatable. I think especially as an American she should have gone along with the plan less. I was reading it as an American and the whole time I kept thinking, who died and made these guys king?
Anyways, it isn't a bad read, but it is forgettable.
I never bought into the world, and don't plan to read more of the series. I did like the characters, and I liked the concept.
Conspiracy theories, secret societies, whirlwind world travel, cute boys...once you suspend your belief a bit (a lot), it's a fun book.
However, This was also one of those titles that since the main character was learning the set-up along with the reader, there were a lot of info dump passages, and incredibly convenient happenings to advance the plot.
All that being said, if book two were out right now, I'd probably still read it. The ending.
Fun YA read, just don't analyze it too closely.
However,
Spoiler
while I don't mind having to suspend belief while reading, characters still have to act in ways logical to their development. I had a really hard time accepting that Avery would just get on a plane with two strangers and not even contact her mother until much, much later the next day--especially if going to the prom was her idea of breaking the rules. Yes, she wanted to meet her dad, but that much and in that way?All that being said, if book two were out right now, I'd probably still read it. The ending
Spoiler
was the worst kind of cliffhanger...no closure of anything, just chop off the scene right in the middle. It's possible to write trilogies without such dramatic and unsatisfying conclusionsFun YA read, just don't analyze it too closely.
Very good book, I can’t wait for the next one. Loving this series so far.
1st read: August 8-11, 2017
2nd read: July 20-22, 2017
Oh my gosh. This book was amazing. I am obsessed. Gimme gimme gimme book 2 now.
Check out my full non-spoiler review here -> https://youtu.be/G7qKE1ErKSc
This felt like a cross between The Da Vinci Code, Chasing Liberty, and National Treasure, and I loved every bit of it. I am a MASSIVE fan of treasure-hunting, conspiracy, government cover-up plot lines and mysteries. So, this was a recipe for obsession.
The main conspiracy of the storyline revolves around the life of Alexander the Great. I just recently read and LOVED Legacy of Kings by Eleanor Herman. So although that is a fictional series, she is a historian and pulls a lot of information from history into that book. Therefore reading this, I felt like I was reading about my friends. I felt like I knew Alexander and understood him hahaha. He seemed like another character although he isn't really.
The one thing that really bothered me about this book was the beginning. Avery, very naively, jumps on a plane to France with people she doesn't know, who threatened her with a knife, because they have potential information about the father she never knew. Insert eye roll here. And the whole time all Avery is worried about is whether her mom will be upset with her for leaving the house and going to prom. I mean, what??? Come on, Avery. What I did like about this though is that it propelled the story forward very quickly. Almost instantly we are thrown in the action and craziness of this secret world. As someone who doesn't like a story to take ages to get started, this was so refreshing. Even if it did create a less stable and little rocky introduction.
I think this would make an AMAZING movie. It felt like I had a movie playing in my head. This was such a fun fast paced action filled read. Definitely one of my favorite books of the year thus far.
2nd read: July 20-22, 2017
Oh my gosh. This book was amazing. I am obsessed. Gimme gimme gimme book 2 now.
Check out my full non-spoiler review here -> https://youtu.be/G7qKE1ErKSc
This felt like a cross between The Da Vinci Code, Chasing Liberty, and National Treasure, and I loved every bit of it. I am a MASSIVE fan of treasure-hunting, conspiracy, government cover-up plot lines and mysteries. So, this was a recipe for obsession.
The main conspiracy of the storyline revolves around the life of Alexander the Great. I just recently read and LOVED Legacy of Kings by Eleanor Herman. So although that is a fictional series, she is a historian and pulls a lot of information from history into that book. Therefore reading this, I felt like I was reading about my friends. I felt like I knew Alexander and understood him hahaha. He seemed like another character although he isn't really.
The one thing that really bothered me about this book was the beginning. Avery, very naively, jumps on a plane to France with people she doesn't know, who threatened her with a knife, because they have potential information about the father she never knew. Insert eye roll here. And the whole time all Avery is worried about is whether her mom will be upset with her for leaving the house and going to prom. I mean, what??? Come on, Avery. What I did like about this though is that it propelled the story forward very quickly. Almost instantly we are thrown in the action and craziness of this secret world. As someone who doesn't like a story to take ages to get started, this was so refreshing. Even if it did create a less stable and little rocky introduction.
I think this would make an AMAZING movie. It felt like I had a movie playing in my head. This was such a fun fast paced action filled read. Definitely one of my favorite books of the year thus far.
*The Conspiracy of Us feels like a 1960's Cold War film. It's a constant game of cat and mouse, as Avery is thrust into a world in which a prophecy will plot out her life. She fights it, yet she can't do it alone. She must turn to the one person she can trust, a very hot guy with an English accent (Jack) or the very hot Russian (Stellan) with an accent. It's not YA without the hot accents.
*The exotic locales bring out the history of Alexander the Great and Napoleon Bonaparte. I adored this. It's often looked over in the US high school curriculum.
*It's a giant game of Where's the Clues, instead of Where's Waldo? I'm still confused on how the clues actually work. Something something about finding Napoleon's tomb... I still don't get the significance.
*The one and the girl with the purple eyes shall rule them all. Okay, the Mandate/prophecy didn't word it like that exactly, but I'm sorry my Lord of the Rings slipped in there every time they talked about 'The One'.
*The Circle and The Order are the two societies that are at odds with each other. They are ancient. The Circle is mighty, the Order is a little bit less than mighty but they are slowly gaining the upper hand. My question is of all the names to call themselves, why did they choose the Circle and the Order? It's like no one but 5 year-olds showed up to put names forth on naming day.
*If you ever get a chance to listen to Julia Whelan narrate a book, you'll cherish the experience for ever and ever. She brings each character to life with a distinguishable voice. I'm still in awe of her talent.
*The exotic locales bring out the history of Alexander the Great and Napoleon Bonaparte. I adored this. It's often looked over in the US high school curriculum.
*It's a giant game of Where's the Clues, instead of Where's Waldo? I'm still confused on how the clues actually work. Something something about finding Napoleon's tomb... I still don't get the significance.
*The one and the girl with the purple eyes shall rule them all. Okay, the Mandate/prophecy didn't word it like that exactly, but I'm sorry my Lord of the Rings slipped in there every time they talked about 'The One'.
*The Circle and The Order are the two societies that are at odds with each other. They are ancient. The Circle is mighty, the Order is a little bit less than mighty but they are slowly gaining the upper hand. My question is of all the names to call themselves, why did they choose the Circle and the Order? It's like no one but 5 year-olds showed up to put names forth on naming day.
*If you ever get a chance to listen to Julia Whelan narrate a book, you'll cherish the experience for ever and ever. She brings each character to life with a distinguishable voice. I'm still in awe of her talent.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated