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ufohnooo's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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
3.75
mb_slaughter's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was hard to get into at first, but when the action picked up my interest increases. I think the sub-characters are more intriguing than the main narrator. Definitely points for creativity.
kimlovestocook63's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
simplicitea_'s review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.0
emchen7's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.5
pznightingale's review against another edition
2.0
... Can anyone explain some of the gaping plot holes to me?
Was the main character actually *35* years old? She acted like she was in her twenties. She took crazy bad behaviour from her father and her boyfriend and said and did nothing. Seriously, her dad got her fired from the job she got a PhD to get, because he said that she was doing work on low-priority things that wasn't necessary, and she was like "okayy" and lives the rest of his life without speaking to him, and now she is a pariah in the community. What? And Felix breaks up with her again and again for the worst reasons I've probably ever heard of, and yet she forgives him (even apologises?) What?
Did she actually have a PhD in cartography? I do not have a PhD in cartography and I knew some of the things about maps that she was shocked to find out about.
Did the bad guy have a motivation for what he was doing? This is a serious question. Please, if you know, let me know. Why was he doing these things at all (and why did our protagonists care?)
The plot holes were huge, but also, the writing was honestly pretty bad. There were weird, lazy proclamations like, "It isn't a map that makes a place real. It's the people." What does that actually mean, though? And, as usual, the editing errors were annoying. Please, someone, anyone, everyone, hire an editor. Just a cheeky little proofreader. I promise it's ok to.
It gets two stars instead of one because until it completely unravelled, parts of it were entertaining.
Was the main character actually *35* years old? She acted like she was in her twenties. She took crazy bad behaviour from her father and her boyfriend and said and did nothing. Seriously, her dad got her fired from the job she got a PhD to get, because he said that she was doing work on low-priority things that wasn't necessary, and she was like "okayy" and lives the rest of his life without speaking to him, and now she is a pariah in the community. What? And Felix breaks up with her again and again for the worst reasons I've probably ever heard of, and yet she forgives him (even apologises?) What?
Did she actually have a PhD in cartography? I do not have a PhD in cartography and I knew some of the things about maps that she was shocked to find out about.
Did the bad guy have a motivation for what he was doing? This is a serious question. Please, if you know, let me know. Why was he doing these things at all (and why did our protagonists care?)
Spoiler
The ending. It makes no sense. The reveal seems to make our bonkers protagonist happy, instead of absolutely furious that it was hidden from her for her entire life. Tam could have left at any point, been with her daughter, but she didn't because "the Youngs are stubborn." The Youngs are stupid.The plot holes were huge, but also, the writing was honestly pretty bad. There were weird, lazy proclamations like, "It isn't a map that makes a place real. It's the people." What does that actually mean, though? And, as usual, the editing errors were annoying. Please, someone, anyone, everyone, hire an editor. Just a cheeky little proofreader. I promise it's ok to.
It gets two stars instead of one because until it completely unravelled, parts of it were entertaining.
calih's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
pandasbookclub's review against another edition
mysterious
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
3.75
robynlynae's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. The plot was really unique to me and it passed my 'escape test'. It gave me so many of the things I delight in: libraries, academia, and secret places. I thought the structure of this book with it's different POVs was really effective and interesting. I was at time frustrated by the characters, but that made them feel genuine.
Even in a book where you can create and actually travel to fake places on maps, the ending where Nell's mother is actually alive felt a little forced and unrealistic. Suspension of belief can only take me so far. But that was really my only criticism.
Even in a book where you can create and actually travel to fake places on maps, the ending where Nell's mother is actually alive felt a little forced and unrealistic. Suspension of belief can only take me so far. But that was really my only criticism.