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20emilyb401's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
twicebaked's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyed it, mostly for the unique world/plot idea, but not so much for the execution. Got way too many questions after reading the last book of the series (tho I do appreciate that she only wrote two instead of nine like a lot of fantasy authors do).
For those of you who've read the book, maybe you can help clear up some confusion for me:
Is the cube actually Incarceron
How could the sun go out and 1) the weather doesn't drop to crazy cold in 8 min 2) not be a sign that the realm isnt actually the real world but is instead another world like Incarceron, bc how would they be able to do the era stuff like skinwands n stupid stuff like that, bc that's not how the real world works anyway
can ppl actually go from one to the other, and if yes, then why did the feed get cut between Incarceron and outside (like the portal), why did the wardens voice and Jared's voice fade out, if they can go from one to the other and it'll be left open for anyone who wants?
Is Finn actually Giles or no
What even is their plan now since outside has p much fallen apart
Is Caspar gonna be executed or left or what
What happened to the fits that Finn was having??? He thought they would stop once he remembered everything, but they didn't, so then he was troubled and worried, so what's that about?? Why is he still having them then
If jaspers gonna die in less than two years anyway then where does that leave Incarceron, bc one of two options: 1) once hes dead, it's right back to Incarceron and the warden and obv that didn't go anywhere, the warden even says the prison isn't controllable anymore and he has no power over it etc OR 2) if he's not gonna die, why did we even have him constantly thinking ab it or using meds to stop it AND 3) if he can't die when he's sapphique then he lied ab being able to go from world to world and it rly just leaves him stuck in incarceron
For those of you who've read the book, maybe you can help clear up some confusion for me:
Spoiler
Is Jared actually sapphique or is he just a stand inIs the cube actually Incarceron
How could the sun go out and 1) the weather doesn't drop to crazy cold in 8 min 2) not be a sign that the realm isnt actually the real world but is instead another world like Incarceron, bc how would they be able to do the era stuff like skinwands n stupid stuff like that, bc that's not how the real world works anyway
can ppl actually go from one to the other, and if yes, then why did the feed get cut between Incarceron and outside (like the portal), why did the wardens voice and Jared's voice fade out, if they can go from one to the other and it'll be left open for anyone who wants?
Is Finn actually Giles or no
What even is their plan now since outside has p much fallen apart
Is Caspar gonna be executed or left or what
What happened to the fits that Finn was having??? He thought they would stop once he remembered everything, but they didn't, so then he was troubled and worried, so what's that about?? Why is he still having them then
If jaspers gonna die in less than two years anyway then where does that leave Incarceron, bc one of two options: 1) once hes dead, it's right back to Incarceron and the warden and obv that didn't go anywhere, the warden even says the prison isn't controllable anymore and he has no power over it etc OR 2) if he's not gonna die, why did we even have him constantly thinking ab it or using meds to stop it AND 3) if he can't die when he's sapphique then he lied ab being able to go from world to world and it rly just leaves him stuck in incarceron
barbaraskalberg's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 It got to the point where I just wanted it to be over. The plot lines got overly complicated and muddled. Key pieces were left with no or hazy explanation. As much as I wanted it to wrap up, the ending seemed rushed.
keziahrose's review against another edition
4.0
I really thoroughly enjoyed this book! fun, not too complex, interesting end…the main characters kind of became unlikable in this second book( with the exception of Jared…who I feel is the surprise hero). Overall….very much fun and I was glued to the book for the last 100 pages or so.
venpyre's review against another edition
3.0
I honestly can't tell if this book is genius or just as farcical as the "era" illusion of the Realm.
There are so many aspects that almost click together in a satisfying way...but not quite. I liked the characters much more in this book, though they never reached a truly fleshed out status to fully endear them to me. I'd say the poetic prose is a strong point, but I can see it turning some readers away. I do give this series credit for how imaginative it is.
Overall I was left feeling like that quote from Knives Out: "It makes no damn sense.....compels me though."
There are so many aspects that almost click together in a satisfying way...but not quite. I liked the characters much more in this book, though they never reached a truly fleshed out status to fully endear them to me. I'd say the poetic prose is a strong point, but I can see it turning some readers away. I do give this series credit for how imaginative it is.
Overall I was left feeling like that quote from Knives Out: "It makes no damn sense.....compels me though."
cimorene1558's review against another edition
4.0
Pretty good, and a much happier ending than I thought was possible under the circumstances.
betwixt_the_pages's review against another edition
3.0
Finn has escaped Incarceron, but Keiro and Attia are still Inside. Outside, things are not at all what Finn expected - and both Finn's and Claudia's very lives hang on Finn convincing the Court that he is the lost prince. Back Inside, Keiro and Attia are on the hunt for Sapphique's glove, which legend says he used to escape. In order to find it, they must battle the prison itself. Incarceron has built itself a body and it wants to go Outside - just like Sapphique, the only prisoner Incarceron ever loved.
Rating: 3/5 Stars
Quick Reasons: awesome world-building; intriguing twists and unexpected turns; semi-flat characters/relationships; great pacing/build up; beautiful prose
This was a pretty quick read--I think I flew through it faster than I did the first book, [b:Incarceron|332775|Incarceron (Incarceron, #1)|Catherine Fisher|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327414514s/332775.jpg|323310]. And while I really enjoyed how well-written and thought-out the world of these books is, how much I grew to rely on the characters in the first book... I wasn't quite as invested in this one.
I feel as if sometime between the closing paragraph of the first book and the beginning of this one, Catherine Fisher might have lost a bit of her characters. There's a lot of pulse-pounding, sit-at-the-edge-of-your-seat action...but the relationships and character growth I was searching so desperately for in this sequel fell a bit flat for me.
In the first book, these characters were really brought to life. I hated some of them, I rooted for others, I was hurt by still more. Maybe it's because I've read so many awesome books with finely-tuned characters/motivations/relationships, but this didn't hold my emotions hostage the way I was expecting when I picked it up.
The writing is gorgeous, though, and I have to admit, I didn't see a lot of the unexpected plot twists coming. I feel like perhaps Catherine Fisher invested more of her time on the plot of the story--on catching readers by surprise and experimenting with new/unique ideas--than on the characters, which is only a very small problem in my opinion. While I'm disappointed that I didn't get to see them continue to grow WITH each other--most of this book is focused more on the fact that the characters have all fallen APART than on bringing them together in their ways--the world continues to grow and shift around them, which made up for the "stuck" feeling.
I just wish I had more character interactions to love! Because to be honest, here...the only character I really found myself rooting for was the Prison. Oh well. I suppose that's the way the book pages turn, right?
Overall, I enjoyed this read! I'd recommend it for anyone looking for a fast-paced read with awesome world-building and unexpected loopholes/twists to the story!
Rating: 3/5 Stars
Quick Reasons: awesome world-building; intriguing twists and unexpected turns; semi-flat characters/relationships; great pacing/build up; beautiful prose
This was a pretty quick read--I think I flew through it faster than I did the first book, [b:Incarceron|332775|Incarceron (Incarceron, #1)|Catherine Fisher|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327414514s/332775.jpg|323310]. And while I really enjoyed how well-written and thought-out the world of these books is, how much I grew to rely on the characters in the first book... I wasn't quite as invested in this one.
I feel as if sometime between the closing paragraph of the first book and the beginning of this one, Catherine Fisher might have lost a bit of her characters. There's a lot of pulse-pounding, sit-at-the-edge-of-your-seat action...but the relationships and character growth I was searching so desperately for in this sequel fell a bit flat for me.
In the first book, these characters were really brought to life. I hated some of them, I rooted for others, I was hurt by still more. Maybe it's because I've read so many awesome books with finely-tuned characters/motivations/relationships, but this didn't hold my emotions hostage the way I was expecting when I picked it up.
The writing is gorgeous, though, and I have to admit, I didn't see a lot of the unexpected plot twists coming. I feel like perhaps Catherine Fisher invested more of her time on the plot of the story--on catching readers by surprise and experimenting with new/unique ideas--than on the characters, which is only a very small problem in my opinion. While I'm disappointed that I didn't get to see them continue to grow WITH each other--most of this book is focused more on the fact that the characters have all fallen APART than on bringing them together in their ways--the world continues to grow and shift around them, which made up for the "stuck" feeling.
I just wish I had more character interactions to love! Because to be honest, here...the only character I really found myself rooting for was the Prison. Oh well. I suppose that's the way the book pages turn, right?
Overall, I enjoyed this read! I'd recommend it for anyone looking for a fast-paced read with awesome world-building and unexpected loopholes/twists to the story!
booksong's review against another edition
4.0
While not quite up to par with the tour-de-force that was Incarceron, I was very satisfied with this sequel and close to a fascinating tale of a living Prison and the Prisoners both inside and out.
Finn has Escaped Incarceron, but he's not at all sure that he's free anymore. Trapped by a web of court intrigue and palace enemies, Finn still isn't sure in his heart of hearts that he is the lost prince Giles. And his moodiness draws doubt from those around him, even his strong supporters like Claudia and her gentle mentor, the Sapient scholar Jared. And when an Impostor arrives at court claiming to be Giles as well, Finn is going to have to make a choice once and for all as to the fate of the Realm.
Within the depths of Incarceron, the former slave Attia and Finn's wild oathbrother Keiro are still trapped, left behind in the wake of his Escape. Claudia's father the Warden also skulks somewhere within the prison. But Incarceron is more unstable than ever before, and some think even it is dreaming of escape.
With the world both inside and outside on the verge of breakdown, each character will have to come to terms with true reality, if they can discern what it even means anymore.
The plot sometimes jumped around too much or had odd pacing, and I would have liked some scenes with the inhabitants of Incarceron to have been extended (like the Cygni). The plot itself was slower-paced and not as riveting as the first book, but I must say I really enjoyed the last few chapters and ending. I thought the author's writing shone when the truly mystical, mind-bending twists and aspects of the story finally came to light and everything was tied together, and that really touched me. The ending was surprisingly satisfying to me, despite its abruptness, and I liked that it hinted at so much in the future while leaving much to the imagination.
In the end, a wonderful duality with an incredibly original idea and characters.
Finn has Escaped Incarceron, but he's not at all sure that he's free anymore. Trapped by a web of court intrigue and palace enemies, Finn still isn't sure in his heart of hearts that he is the lost prince Giles. And his moodiness draws doubt from those around him, even his strong supporters like Claudia and her gentle mentor, the Sapient scholar Jared. And when an Impostor arrives at court claiming to be Giles as well, Finn is going to have to make a choice once and for all as to the fate of the Realm.
Within the depths of Incarceron, the former slave Attia and Finn's wild oathbrother Keiro are still trapped, left behind in the wake of his Escape. Claudia's father the Warden also skulks somewhere within the prison. But Incarceron is more unstable than ever before, and some think even it is dreaming of escape.
With the world both inside and outside on the verge of breakdown, each character will have to come to terms with true reality, if they can discern what it even means anymore.
The plot sometimes jumped around too much or had odd pacing, and I would have liked some scenes with the inhabitants of Incarceron to have been extended (like the Cygni). The plot itself was slower-paced and not as riveting as the first book, but I must say I really enjoyed the last few chapters and ending. I thought the author's writing shone when the truly mystical, mind-bending twists and aspects of the story finally came to light and everything was tied together, and that really touched me. The ending was surprisingly satisfying to me, despite its abruptness, and I liked that it hinted at so much in the future while leaving much to the imagination.
In the end, a wonderful duality with an incredibly original idea and characters.
brandypainter's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars if I could
My review of [b:Incarceron|332775|Incarceron (Incarceron, #1)|Catherine Fisher|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51baJ9ujjcL._SL75_.jpg|323310]with some added thoughts on this one can be found here.
My review of [b:Incarceron|332775|Incarceron (Incarceron, #1)|Catherine Fisher|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51baJ9ujjcL._SL75_.jpg|323310]with some added thoughts on this one can be found here.