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aceinit's review against another edition
4.0
It’s been a very, very long time since I’ve read an entire, adult-length book in one day. With the exception of the first 40 or so pages of Averill’s The Beautiful Land, I read the entire book over the course of a particularly slow day at the office. Averill’s debut novel is at once fun, quirky and engaging, with just the right about of heartbreak.
The basic premise can be read in the Goodreads summary of the book, so I won’t repeat it here. What I will say is that Averill tells a solid narrative, and that both Tak and Samira are characters you quickly come to relate to and root for. The secondary characters—primarily in the form or Judith and Dr. Yates—are not nearly as fully-rounded, but manage not to fall into cliché or trope territory, either.
The chapters are fairly short and go by quickly, each one giving you just enough to make you want to keep reading, all without resulting to some overly-dramatic faux-cliffhanger (I mention this because the book I read just prior to this one was by Dan Brown, and the man doesn’t seem to realize you can actually end a chapter without a Dramatic!Moment!. The sudden lack of them here was refreshing.)
The Beautiful Land is not without its flaws. There a number of plot points that make the journey to restore the world a little too easy for our intrepid heroes.
There conveniently happens to be another Machine that was constructed in secret.
It conveniently happens to be so secret that it’s not well-guarded.
There conveniently happens to be another briefcase unit, with more permanent traveling capabilities than Tak’s version.
The “birds” conveniently ignore those who have used the Machine.
And The Beautiful Land itself conveniently adheres to the will of its inhabitants.
So, while there is a sense of wonder at what’s going to happen next that will keep you turning the pages, there’s not necessarily a sense of urgency, or of wondering what crafty plans Tak and Samira will have to come up with to overcome their obstacles. Most of those obstacles are never an issue to begin with.
Still, as I said before, the book pulls you in and is worth a read, if for no other reason than for the world Averill has created. I am definitely looking forward to future works from this author.
The basic premise can be read in the Goodreads summary of the book, so I won’t repeat it here. What I will say is that Averill tells a solid narrative, and that both Tak and Samira are characters you quickly come to relate to and root for. The secondary characters—primarily in the form or Judith and Dr. Yates—are not nearly as fully-rounded, but manage not to fall into cliché or trope territory, either.
The chapters are fairly short and go by quickly, each one giving you just enough to make you want to keep reading, all without resulting to some overly-dramatic faux-cliffhanger (I mention this because the book I read just prior to this one was by Dan Brown, and the man doesn’t seem to realize you can actually end a chapter without a Dramatic!Moment!. The sudden lack of them here was refreshing.)
The Beautiful Land is not without its flaws. There a number of plot points that make the journey to restore the world a little too easy for our intrepid heroes.
There conveniently happens to be another Machine that was constructed in secret.
It conveniently happens to be so secret that it’s not well-guarded.
There conveniently happens to be another briefcase unit, with more permanent traveling capabilities than Tak’s version.
The “birds” conveniently ignore those who have used the Machine.
And The Beautiful Land itself conveniently adheres to the will of its inhabitants.
So, while there is a sense of wonder at what’s going to happen next that will keep you turning the pages, there’s not necessarily a sense of urgency, or of wondering what crafty plans Tak and Samira will have to come up with to overcome their obstacles. Most of those obstacles are never an issue to begin with.
Still, as I said before, the book pulls you in and is worth a read, if for no other reason than for the world Averill has created. I am definitely looking forward to future works from this author.
peteroneill's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
bear_reads_books's review against another edition
5.0
I was interested in this book but didn't expect to like it so much. I'm having good luck with time travel novels, I guess. Anyway, it's a short (for me) but wonderful story, full of action and drama but it's funny too. I want to read more from Mr. Averill.
bunrab's review against another edition
4.0
Another random grab from the "new books" shelf at the library pays off. This has really interesting protagonists, an excellent mad scientist villain, and rather an uncommon spin on alternate universes.
ohsodeluxe's review against another edition
4.0
Really good sci-fi story with excellent characters and a plot that is interesting till the very end, and it managed to avoid becoming implausible or silly.
I enjoyed it very much, and finished it very quickly.
I enjoyed it very much, and finished it very quickly.
xiomi's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this so much. the characters' emotions were so vivid and so haunted. The story just pulled me in and I couldnt stop.
kaylielongley's review against another edition
2.0
The Beautiful Land had a lot of potential. Its quick pacing and stumbling protagonists provide a pleasant, albeit easily forgettable, read. The problem with this short novel is the fact that some details are not fully fleshed out and are instead told, not shown. Averill gives Tak and Samira sad backstories with little other characterization. Tak, a former survival show host, is the typical hero protagonist: a bit nerdy, with a quick wit in times of trouble. Samira, a translator in the war, is unstable from her memories. Though childhood brought them together, after reading this book, I wonder why they stayed together. Each has faced trials, from parental neglect to watching their friends die, but these traumas are not enough to sustain a relationship, let alone an entire book.
The Beautiful Land has a startling opening. Bored and lonely, Tak decides to kill himself. Upon receiving a call from a secret corporation urging him to become their ‘explorer’ of time, he soon leads a different life. Tak begins his adventures, but when he learns the corporation plans to obliterate all other dimensions, including the people within these worlds, he drags Samira with him so she will not die. The Beautiful Land could have easily become a generic good versus evil thriller, and I’m glad it didn't. Instead, Tak and Samira travel through the increasingly decrepit world, and their relationship is explored while they attempt to save it.
Averill’s first novel lacks creativity, as much of The Beautiful Land’s plot is stereotypical and convenient, from the generic mad scientist to the bird villains who manage to kill everyone but Tak and Samira. I never once found the birds horrifying. Time-travelling is nothing new for science fiction, but the physics behind parallel universes is not fully realized. This results in a book with little depth. Overall, The Beautiful Land is a quick read but not an urgent one.
The Beautiful Land has a startling opening. Bored and lonely, Tak decides to kill himself. Upon receiving a call from a secret corporation urging him to become their ‘explorer’ of time, he soon leads a different life. Tak begins his adventures, but when he learns the corporation plans to obliterate all other dimensions, including the people within these worlds, he drags Samira with him so she will not die. The Beautiful Land could have easily become a generic good versus evil thriller, and I’m glad it didn't. Instead, Tak and Samira travel through the increasingly decrepit world, and their relationship is explored while they attempt to save it.
Averill’s first novel lacks creativity, as much of The Beautiful Land’s plot is stereotypical and convenient, from the generic mad scientist to the bird villains who manage to kill everyone but Tak and Samira. I never once found the birds horrifying. Time-travelling is nothing new for science fiction, but the physics behind parallel universes is not fully realized. This results in a book with little depth. Overall, The Beautiful Land is a quick read but not an urgent one.
eacolgan's review against another edition
4.0
reeeeeeeeeaally not sure how i feel about the ending, but man, this was very, very good. totally fulfilled every expectation.
kaylaacakes's review against another edition
4.0
This was such an unexpected read for me. I saw the book and left it, and then decided to go back to it because of the beautiful cover. It was very interesting, as I’ve never really read sci-fi before. But I totally love it. I finished it over the span of 2 days. The ending was just slightly confusing for me.
glory317's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0