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3.42 AVERAGE
3.42 AVERAGE
Okay writing, okay plot.
BUT! The characters.... So unrealistic and two-dimensional. I mean, I know the protagonist is sort of odd, since she has the, but she is SO darn annoying. Nobody is actually like this. She is simply a badly developed character, with an ego-problem and "no feelings". Please, people. Authors, readers, EVERYONE. Do not be fooled by this, or things similar. Everyone has feelings, and nobody is completely cold. Don't try to suppress your own feelings, as though it's possible to ignore them and have them just go away.
That was a bit off-topic, and I will stop my tirade here. However, just understand that if you're reading this, it's not very realistic.
BUT! The characters.... So unrealistic and two-dimensional. I mean, I know the protagonist is sort of odd, since she has the
Spoiler
genes of a serial killer and allThat was a bit off-topic, and I will stop my tirade here. However, just understand that if you're reading this, it's not very realistic.
I knew I would enjoy Killer Instinct from the very first page because of the voice and l’m so happy to say that I was more than satisfied, kind of in love with the voice of the main character, Lane, also known as Slim. Keep in mind though, Lane is twisted but aside from that, she’s just blunt. And shameless in her choice of words, so that might rub some people the wrong way. I thought it was realistic and challenged the status quo and I loved it.
Then, seeing Lane’s family, friends, and foes through her eyes was highly entertaining, especially that between Lane and the ex-girlfriend of the boy she is talking to. Yikes. The tension is thick in just about every relationship we see that Lane has and it all feels so different. I love it. Lane’s got issues, that’s for sure. I definitely didn’t agree with many of the things that she said but I don’t read books to agree with every character’s viewpoints. So…
As for the story, it was kind of predictable in that you must know Lane is connected to the serial killer somehow, right? So really, it’s just a matter of finding out how. And the how I wasn’t so won over by. It all felt so mechanical and not organic enough. So, was I in love with the story? Not necessarily. It was what I wanted but it at the basic level but didn’t go beyond that which was disappointing. That said, I really enjoyed the pacing of the book overall and the imagery which was so incredibly vivid and loved that it’s a quick day read/listen.
As for the audiobook, I think that the narrator, Emily Woo Zeller was the absolute perfect choice for this book. She embodied the voice of this character (young, appears innocent but is very mature and disturbed) in a way that wouldn’t have worked as well had it been anybody else. She also narrates Vault of Dreamers and Under A Painted Sky which are both on my list of books to read, so I’ll have to make a note to listen to those as well.
So, would I recommend this book? I don’t need to, I’d say you know if this is the book for you or not on the very first page. The voice is killer and is worth the read for that alone; I loved it so much, I may just read the sequel!
Then, seeing Lane’s family, friends, and foes through her eyes was highly entertaining, especially that between Lane and the ex-girlfriend of the boy she is talking to. Yikes. The tension is thick in just about every relationship we see that Lane has and it all feels so different. I love it. Lane’s got issues, that’s for sure. I definitely didn’t agree with many of the things that she said but I don’t read books to agree with every character’s viewpoints. So…
As for the story, it was kind of predictable in that you must know Lane is connected to the serial killer somehow, right? So really, it’s just a matter of finding out how. And the how I wasn’t so won over by. It all felt so mechanical and not organic enough. So, was I in love with the story? Not necessarily. It was what I wanted but it at the basic level but didn’t go beyond that which was disappointing. That said, I really enjoyed the pacing of the book overall and the imagery which was so incredibly vivid and loved that it’s a quick day read/listen.
As for the audiobook, I think that the narrator, Emily Woo Zeller was the absolute perfect choice for this book. She embodied the voice of this character (young, appears innocent but is very mature and disturbed) in a way that wouldn’t have worked as well had it been anybody else. She also narrates Vault of Dreamers and Under A Painted Sky which are both on my list of books to read, so I’ll have to make a note to listen to those as well.
So, would I recommend this book? I don’t need to, I’d say you know if this is the book for you or not on the very first page. The voice is killer and is worth the read for that alone; I loved it so much, I may just read the sequel!
**Won this book from an audio contest held by the author**
I've always been against audiobooks. I don't know, the more someone talks at me, instead of to me, the more I tune them out; so, naturally, I didn't think I would ever read an audiobook. Then I won this one and was basically obligated. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be: I actually enjoyed it for the most part. (I listened to it on my way to work every morning and on the way back home. Took me about 5 days to complete it.) I will say that I wasn't the biggest fan of the narrator, though. Her male impressions were horrible. Anyways, enough on the medium, let's get down to the story: It's a mix of Dexter and Criminal Minds in the form of a teenage girl. Lane's character will confuse the heck out of you: One minute she wants to know what it feels like to kill, the next she's letting people off without death. I also didn't appreciate the derogatory way she spoke about her little sitter. Slut shaming, even in book form, is getting on my nerves. I know, my feminism is showing. The action in the book was awesome to listen to, and I often found myself reacting audibly, much like those annoying individuals that go to the movies and feel the need to comment on everything happening on screen. But I was in my car, so no harm done. The ending, though -_- It really leaves you hanging and left feeling like you wasted time with the rest of the book. You have no idea what kind of person Lane will end up being. I honestly don’t know if I would recommend this one. The first two-thirds of the book make me want to say “yes, do read it,” but that last little bit of the novel gives me pause—I hate that. I know I won’t be reading it again if that helps...***UPDATE*** Found out this is a series, which makes me happy, so I'll be checking out the next one!
I've always been against audiobooks. I don't know, the more someone talks at me, instead of to me, the more I tune them out; so, naturally, I didn't think I would ever read an audiobook. Then I won this one and was basically obligated. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be: I actually enjoyed it for the most part. (I listened to it on my way to work every morning and on the way back home. Took me about 5 days to complete it.) I will say that I wasn't the biggest fan of the narrator, though. Her male impressions were horrible. Anyways, enough on the medium, let's get down to the story: It's a mix of Dexter and Criminal Minds in the form of a teenage girl. Lane's character will confuse the heck out of you: One minute she wants to know what it feels like to kill, the next she's letting people off without death. I also didn't appreciate the derogatory way she spoke about her little sitter. Slut shaming, even in book form, is getting on my nerves. I know, my feminism is showing. The action in the book was awesome to listen to, and I often found myself reacting audibly, much like those annoying individuals that go to the movies and feel the need to comment on everything happening on screen. But I was in my car, so no harm done. The ending, though -_- It really leaves you hanging and left feeling like you wasted time with the rest of the book. You have no idea what kind of person Lane will end up being. I honestly don’t know if I would recommend this one. The first two-thirds of the book make me want to say “yes, do read it,” but that last little bit of the novel gives me pause—I hate that. I know I won’t be reading it again if that helps...***UPDATE*** Found out this is a series, which makes me happy, so I'll be checking out the next one!
This was a book that kept me turning the pages to find out what happened, definitely living up to it's 'thriller' billing. I was rec'ed this because I love Dexter and I think maybe that hindered my enjoyment of the book rather than helped it. You know those YA books you read (as an adult) and throughout the story you can't help but feel that if this were an adult novel the author could/would really 'go for it'. This was one of those books. However, I will say that the author's reticence to 'go for it' did pay off with the ending and I found myself understanding/forgiving the decision not to 'go for it'. I did feel it was a little heavy handed in the intentional 'mis' foreshadowing. In the end, I enjoyed the book but perhaps someone who is a little tentative about straight on murder-thrillers would enjoy it more. There's a sequel and I'm undecided yet whether I'm going to pick it up. It depends on whether my brain lingers on Lane and her life and how she handles things or not.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A thriller for all ages. The author has a unique twist on a classic thriller by having the main character identify with other serial killers, understanding why they want to do these terrible things. Lane takes it upon herself to rid the world of killers she discovers. Throughout the book, Lane tries to discover the identity of the serial killer targeting her family. Lane has to make a tough decision at the end of the book due to a shocking twist of events.
If you love those gory, murder-mystery Lifetime movies as much as I do then you REALLY need to read. this. book. now.
A review will hopefully be up on my blog in the coming weeks.
A review will hopefully be up on my blog in the coming weeks.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
An easy read. Was a bit comical at times. Definitely YA but I don't want to penalize it just because I'm not the intended audience. What I am penalizing it for is that the protagonist was not likable at all, which is maybe the point? I don't know, I feel like even though she doesn't really have empathy for people she's not related to, a skilled author should be able to make you feel empathy for her. Main character (17) crushes on and at one point kisses a 25 year old, and this in no way affects the plot. The age difference is never addressed.
This book was so poorly written that I didn’t make it even half way through before stopping. The main character is your stereotypical “I’m not like other girls” character with a superiority complex. She’s constantly slut-shaming her own sister in the grossest ways, and hitting the reader over the head with how smart she is every five sentences. The writing style was not enjoyable, regardless of the actual content. I felt as if I was reading a bad wattpad story and I hated every moment of it.
I was very hesistant about this book originally. But the farther I got into it the more I enjoyed it.
Out of my normal reads but pretty good. Dexter meets Veronica Mars.
Out of my normal reads but pretty good. Dexter meets Veronica Mars.