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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read this first about three years ago and just re-read it and actually appreciated it more on re-read! I think part of it is that I'd already read the two following books so I know where the story's going.
I think the world-building in this series is well-considered and clever, and the establishment of stakes and conflict in a post-death situation works really well.
I think I rated it only 3 stars the first time b/c the interpersonal dynamics don't necessarily work super well for me - in particular, I think the felt the Nick/Mary romance was contrived - but it's a small enough part of the story [in terms of actual space it occupies on the page] that I can get past it.
The only other thing is that Nick is half-Japanese, and the way he's described towards the beginning (like, "a touch of Asian to his features" etc.) felt weird to me (a white person). If I were Neal Shusterman's editor I might have asked him to change that, especially since it happens like five times.
I think the world-building in this series is well-considered and clever, and the establishment of stakes and conflict in a post-death situation works really well.
I think I rated it only 3 stars the first time b/c the interpersonal dynamics don't necessarily work super well for me - in particular, I think the felt the Nick/Mary romance was contrived - but it's a small enough part of the story [in terms of actual space it occupies on the page] that I can get past it.
The only other thing is that Nick is half-Japanese, and the way he's described towards the beginning (like, "a touch of Asian to his features" etc.) felt weird to me (a white person). If I were Neal Shusterman's editor I might have asked him to change that, especially since it happens like five times.
Not only was this book recommended by a fellow friend and Goodreads user, I needed something to read of Shusterman as I eagerly awaited the release of "UnWholly". I super-loved "Unwind" so much. This book series, also by Shusterman, was also unique and a fun read, but what started off great kinda just took a turn for silly and ridiculous. This is a story about two teens dying in a car wreck and getting knocked off course away from the light, ending up in a sort of limbo for children. It's a dark plot and it starts off really great, and the theme of "skinjacking" or possession was also a creepy twist. So why are they fighting a pirate who sounds like Sloth from the Goonies who strings up children from their feet to "chime" them? No one feels pain in this limbo. Another strange turn was when two of the main characters get sealed inside a pickle barrel for a couple weeks. Uh, okay. Anyway, it was a brilliant idea, and it does play out pretty nicely, but the dark vibe I got from it at first was ruined by too many juvenile and goofy happenings. It ended on a note that I can accept and not feel I have to read any more in the series. Oh well, on to "UnWholly"!
Pros-
The pros about this book were that it had twists that I never imagined coming. I think that was my favorite part about the book. You weren't just waiting for something to happen, and usually half the time something happened, it didn't happen the way I thought it would. Also, some of the conversations the characters had were really heartwarming and made me not want to put the book down.
Cons-
The cons in this book are that the characters annoyed me at some parts and the pacing was really fast. I kind of wish the book slowed down at some chapters even though the twists were my favorite part.
The pros about this book were that it had twists that I never imagined coming. I think that was my favorite part about the book. You weren't just waiting for something to happen, and usually half the time something happened, it didn't happen the way I thought it would. Also, some of the conversations the characters had were really heartwarming and made me not want to put the book down.
Cons-
The cons in this book are that the characters annoyed me at some parts and the pacing was really fast. I kind of wish the book slowed down at some chapters even though the twists were my favorite part.
adventurous
mysterious
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:
Yes
Definitely original, but I never really emotionally connected to the characters, with the possible exception of The McGill.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm not even sure how to get started on this review. There were so many elements to this story that was unique and kinda out there and I'm not sure if I've processed it all yet.
I think the world-building was my favorite part. Learning the rules of Everlost along with the characters was so much fun and I was always fascinated with how everything worked. I also really liked reading from a dead person's point of view because it's quite different from a living one's. The characters were pretty bizarre. They were all pretty realistic until halfway through when something happened, and all of a sudden they were just... completely different. There was also a random romance thrown in there that didn't make any sense whatsoever.
Overall, I thought it was a very interesting story and I enjoyed reading it, but not enough to continue on with the series.
I think the world-building was my favorite part. Learning the rules of Everlost along with the characters was so much fun and I was always fascinated with how everything worked. I also really liked reading from a dead person's point of view because it's quite different from a living one's. The characters were pretty bizarre. They were all pretty realistic until halfway through when something happened, and all of a sudden they were just... completely different. There was also a random romance thrown in there that didn't make any sense whatsoever.
Overall, I thought it was a very interesting story and I enjoyed reading it, but not enough to continue on with the series.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No