Scan barcode
chitownbookworm's review
adventurous
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? Yes
5.0
tk_'s review against another edition
4.0
I'm a big fan of this series, and this book was good, but definitely not Harmon's best work. The frequent use of acronyms, rushed pacing, perspective switching, and oversized cast just left something lacking.
Repercussions felt forced, as though Harmon was fighting through writer's block to complete it, and the prose suffers for it. Many new characters are introduced and not at all described, even in terms of basic appearance, events being and coalesce without much gravitas, and even the death of a major character feels like a brief footnote while the plot just moves along.
All told, the villains in this one felt too conveniently wrapped up as well, and a plot thread that's now been dangling for a few books was closed in ways that felt very deus ex machina, with a major power upgrade being acquired at seemingly random because... Well, Hope has to win, after all.
This was not at all a *bad* book, but it was very far from an excellent one. I hope with all the setup this book poses that Harmon can move forward with a better pace and flow in the next.
I'm generously giving this four stars. It's probably more of a 3.5 at best, but I'm considering it within the overall arc of the series, which as a whole I'd happily give four or five stars.
Repercussions felt forced, as though Harmon was fighting through writer's block to complete it, and the prose suffers for it. Many new characters are introduced and not at all described, even in terms of basic appearance, events being and coalesce without much gravitas, and even the death of a major character feels like a brief footnote while the plot just moves along.
All told, the villains in this one felt too conveniently wrapped up as well, and a plot thread that's now been dangling for a few books was closed in ways that felt very deus ex machina, with a major power upgrade being acquired at seemingly random because... Well, Hope has to win, after all.
This was not at all a *bad* book, but it was very far from an excellent one. I hope with all the setup this book poses that Harmon can move forward with a better pace and flow in the next.
I'm generously giving this four stars. It's probably more of a 3.5 at best, but I'm considering it within the overall arc of the series, which as a whole I'd happily give four or five stars.
silverlion's review
5.0
A fantastic continuation of the series. Though it takes some very different and long-lasting turns. I'm hopeful and excited about the direction it seems to be going. I'm fully surprised by the change but I won't spoiler it. It is very exciting, though the future of this book series to new books in the future is going to be charting an interesting course.
I've loved almost every book in this series, though not so much Artemis solo' book. (Hopefully, we'll see her join up with Hope again in the new path being charted.) Just like the previous book I was well entertained and surprised by the turns it took, and how it has broken some genre conventions while embracing others.
I've loved almost every book in this series, though not so much Artemis solo' book. (Hopefully, we'll see her join up with Hope again in the new path being charted.) Just like the previous book I was well entertained and surprised by the turns it took, and how it has broken some genre conventions while embracing others.
hteph's review
4.0
Very interesting
This series really pick up speed and getting a darker depth, however the story contains two things I don't like, the mix of super powers and "magic" (but the author starts to consolidate the world-building and distance himself from the more free wheeling ideas) and "US evangelicalism". There is just traces of the latter but I have a intense allergy to it. I reall, really hope the author do not delve on it further.
Aside from those very subjective feelings, this is a very good book, perhaps the best in the series as story and plot get the chance to grow and form at a slower pace than earlier in the series.
This series really pick up speed and getting a darker depth, however the story contains two things I don't like, the mix of super powers and "magic" (but the author starts to consolidate the world-building and distance himself from the more free wheeling ideas) and "US evangelicalism". There is just traces of the latter but I have a intense allergy to it. I reall, really hope the author do not delve on it further.
Aside from those very subjective feelings, this is a very good book, perhaps the best in the series as story and plot get the chance to grow and form at a slower pace than earlier in the series.
More...