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3.42 AVERAGE
3.42 AVERAGE
Killer Instinct is a first draft parading around as a YA novel.
No, I did not like this book. Here's why in rant form:
What I Liked : The Concept: This had the potential to be Dexter for the YA genre--it had everything going for it. But, like The Decapitator mutilated its victims, S.E. Green mutilated the book's potential. Severely disappointed.
What I Disliked/Hated Lane: What started out as dissociative, distant character, turned into an out-of-character hypocrite. When first introduced, we are expecting to see a young girl that's different--that has darker thought, darker urges that only darker actions can quell. And yet, she never quite goes all the way to who she should be. If you are going to say this girl is a killer/wants to be and characterize her in that mind-set, then there must be follow through. What made everyone love the character Dexter was that he was so unrelatable that his quest to understand the actions of society and his ongoing struggle with "normal" is what made him so fascinating. On the other hand, you have Lane, who is unrelatable because she is given all the societal derived "good" qualities--a good daughter, smart, loves her brother/family, won't hurt animals, only goes after bad people, and, at times, shows compassion/caring for those around her. But, she has an itch to inflict harm...why? Typical, cliche back-story, of course.
Anyways, she slut-shames her sister, but is not much of a prude herself. She claims she is emotionally detached, but gets angry/sad/hurt/confused/conflicted/and the rest of the spectrum of emotion, not to mention how many people she likes. Apparently doesn't care about other's opinions of her, yet whines about other's opinions of her throughout the entirety of the novel. So, in all, she contradicts herself, making her infuriating and unrelatable--not because she does "bad" things and is not "normal," but because she is the biggest hypocrite of a character I have ever had the unfortunate displeasure of reading.
The Plot: Again, so so much potential. When I mean this read like a rough first draft, I truly mean it. The characters aren't fleshed out, relationships shallow and unexplored, every scene doesn't add anything new to the story (and are outlandish--sure, she just stumbles into a and manages to overcome everything with ease), there are no details to truly develop the world/setting or give the reader a break from Lane's thoughts, the pacing is way too fast and everything is rushed with no build-up or tension, the twist in the end is horrible and conveniently ties up everything through dialogue with no actual tension or threat, and it all feels like everyone involved neglected what makes a book work because the premise of the book is such a strong hook--Dexter for Teens.
If this can get published, I'm feeling better about my odds if I ever attempt to.
The Pacing/Build: No tension. For a book about serial killers and a conflicted/almost one, I expected suspense and curiosity and complex, thrilling scenes. Instead, I got minute-scenes that left me in the same place I started--bored. A novel builds towards a climax and a murder mystery builds towards a reveal--the whodunit--and yet this novel doesn't explore the characters enough to throw in clues, red herrings, and clear, unique motivation, but relies on stereotype and expects the idea idea of the scene to lead the novel, rather than putting in the work to create what needed to be there.
Side Characters: In a good mystery, where the killer is the big reveal, side characters should be complex and with their own clear motivations. All the characters in this book were one-dimensional. Yes, they all could have been the serial killer in the end, but when there is nothing to go on, no real clues to follow, or dynamics in the characters, it didn't matter who it was in the end. This proved true. The reveal happened on the first page in a new chapter. In all honesty, the identity could have been revealed to be anyone and had made just as much sense--which is saying something. What is it saying? It's saying that the reveal was so anti-climatic and poorly thought out that it would have made as much sense (none).
Overall, no matter how much the concept intrigues you, save yourself the frustration, and pass on this one--for your sake.
No, I did not like this book. Here's why in rant form:
What I Liked : The Concept: This had the potential to be Dexter for the YA genre--it had everything going for it. But, like The Decapitator mutilated its victims, S.E. Green mutilated the book's potential. Severely disappointed.
What I Disliked/Hated Lane: What started out as dissociative, distant character, turned into an out-of-character hypocrite. When first introduced, we are expecting to see a young girl that's different--that has darker thought, darker urges that only darker actions can quell. And yet, she never quite goes all the way to who she should be. If you are going to say this girl is a killer/wants to be and characterize her in that mind-set, then there must be follow through. What made everyone love the character Dexter was that he was so unrelatable that his quest to understand the actions of society and his ongoing struggle with "normal" is what made him so fascinating. On the other hand, you have Lane, who is unrelatable because she is given all the societal derived "good" qualities--a good daughter, smart, loves her brother/family, won't hurt animals, only goes after bad people, and, at times, shows compassion/caring for those around her. But, she has an itch to inflict harm...why? Typical, cliche back-story, of course.
Spoiler
EXCEPT for the fact that at THREE YEARS OLD, I REPEAT, THREE YEARS OLD, she suggested to her evil mother/father serial killer parents to cut off someone's head. Seriously?!?! WTF, she was three. I can suspend reality, but I didn't know I was reading fantasy. I literally want to scream.Anyways, she slut-shames her sister, but is not much of a prude herself. She claims she is emotionally detached, but gets angry/sad/hurt/confused/conflicted/and the rest of the spectrum of emotion, not to mention how many people she likes. Apparently doesn't care about other's opinions of her, yet whines about other's opinions of her throughout the entirety of the novel.
Spoiler
In the end she just kills her mother like its nothing, but yet wanted to protect her for the majority of the bookThe Plot: Again, so so much potential. When I mean this read like a rough first draft, I truly mean it. The characters aren't fleshed out, relationships shallow and unexplored, every scene doesn't add anything new to the story (and are outlandish--sure, she just stumbles into a and manages to overcome everything with ease), there are no details to truly develop the world/setting or give the reader a break from Lane's thoughts, the pacing is way too fast and everything is rushed with no build-up or tension, the twist in the end is horrible and conveniently ties up everything through dialogue with no actual tension or threat, and it all feels like everyone involved neglected what makes a book work because the premise of the book is such a strong hook--Dexter for Teens.
If this can get published, I'm feeling better about my odds if I ever attempt to.
The Pacing/Build: No tension. For a book about serial killers and a conflicted/almost one, I expected suspense and curiosity and complex, thrilling scenes. Instead, I got minute-scenes that left me in the same place I started--bored. A novel builds towards a climax and a murder mystery builds towards a reveal--the whodunit--and yet this novel doesn't explore the characters enough to throw in clues, red herrings, and clear, unique motivation, but relies on stereotype and expects the idea idea of the scene to lead the novel, rather than putting in the work to create what needed to be there.
Side Characters: In a good mystery, where the killer is the big reveal, side characters should be complex and with their own clear motivations. All the characters in this book were one-dimensional. Yes, they all could have been the serial killer in the end, but when there is nothing to go on, no real clues to follow, or dynamics in the characters, it didn't matter who it was in the end. This proved true. The reveal happened on the first page in a new chapter. In all honesty, the identity could have been revealed to be anyone and had made just as much sense--which is saying something. What is it saying? It's saying that the reveal was so anti-climatic and poorly thought out that it would have made as much sense (none).
Overall, no matter how much the concept intrigues you, save yourself the frustration, and pass on this one--for your sake.
I absolutely loved this book. It was everything I wanted and more and kept me on my feet the entire time.
I was really excited to read this book and then I got it and I was just like ehh. The ending just seemed out of nowhere. The main character was okay, though the constant slut shaming towards her sister was annoying as hell. I thought it was alright. I mean it wasn't what I expected but I wouldn't say it was terrible.
I dunno if I should rate this 1 star or 2 stars. Latter most probably.
I was reminded of Dexter a lot whilst reading this. Seeing that I only made it to season 2 of Dexter and have no interest in continuing on watching it is one proof that I find this not up my alley.---
And that ending was such a disappointment. I was surprised but it felt like a little too much. Disturbing is one word to describe the book. Scary, too, in that behavioral regard.
Ugh.I kept on reading once I had started so there's that. Skipped many of Lane's thought processes the disturbing kind. I had a theory or two about Zach and the Dr. To say this book had it's flaws would not be a wrong thing to say. :/
I was reminded of Dexter a lot whilst reading this. Seeing that I only made it to season 2 of Dexter and have no interest in continuing on watching it is one proof that I find this not up my alley.---
And that ending was such a disappointment. I was surprised but it felt like a little too much. Disturbing is one word to describe the book. Scary, too, in that behavioral regard.
Ugh.I kept on reading once I had started so there's that. Skipped many of Lane's thought processes the disturbing kind. I had a theory or two about Zach and the Dr. To say this book had it's flaws would not be a wrong thing to say. :/
Amazing and compelling! Check out my full review here: alyshamichelle.wordpress.com
The characterization of the narrator is contradictory. The way she treats her sister is horrible ie slut shaming. The writing also would randomly contradict itself throughout the story. The plot was interesting enough to keep reading, but it didn't seem all that original. I think the author can write a compelling story and just needs to hone her skill a bit more, cut out the slut shaming, and use a more unique plot.
4 stars. A little disappointed with the ending, but a good read!
I liked this book? But with a grain of salt or rather an entire salt shaker. The treatment of female characters in the book besides the main character is problematic. If you can ignore that, the story is fun enough. RTC
Lane was one of the most unlikeable protagonists that I've read in a long time. The relentless sister hate in this story drove me crazy, and Lane's constant slut shaming of her own little sister presents an internal sexism that I absolutely despite to see in books. Her constant internal hatred and intense attacks towards her sister for being sexually active is something that I find absolutely repulsive, and still to this day makes me blood boil just thinking about it. I felt no connection with Lane and had no desire to see her succeed through this book. Her character turned a story with possibility into a deeply unenjoyable experience where I found myself hating every thought that crossed her mind, and every word that came out of her mouth.