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willow_reads1's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
sunshinemagik's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
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
4.0
yodamom's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars Mind Blowing. Complicated, time warping, intense, twisted, genetically bent, confusing, scientific, mathematical, controlling, maniacal, murderous and so much more. This was a lot of book. I will be re-reading it, there was so much I need a second pass. Sadly it wasn't all perfect, it felt too long. The goal a place that was never explained. I waited to find out about the mysterious Imposible City that was mentioned over and over, it had to be great right ? I read the whole book and still don't get what it is. The truth was poked at so many times without resolution, till the end. The time jumping took me back so many times, restarting, going over the same event again. It was an amazing concept, but lost me in the process.
People built from parts of other, genetically designed for the ultimate twisted scientific tests. Twins born, are torn apart, kept together, tortured, or... ? They are the key to power. The story follows one pair Roger and Doger. One is a mathematical genius, the other a language genius. They have that weird bond twins have but elevated. Oh their backstory on this is so twisted. Mostly the story follow this pair, as they discover each other, who and what they are. I shuttered as each new truth finally unfolded, some were just horrific.
I don't want to ruin this for you, I'm stopping here.
I picked this book to read by cover and author's name alone. I had no clue what it was about I didn't even read the book blurb.
Trigger Warning: suicide, depression and violence
I was provided a copy for my honest review
People built from parts of other, genetically designed for the ultimate twisted scientific tests. Twins born, are torn apart, kept together, tortured, or... ? They are the key to power. The story follows one pair Roger and Doger. One is a mathematical genius, the other a language genius. They have that weird bond twins have but elevated. Oh their backstory on this is so twisted. Mostly the story follow this pair, as they discover each other, who and what they are. I shuttered as each new truth finally unfolded, some were just horrific.
I don't want to ruin this for you, I'm stopping here.
I picked this book to read by cover and author's name alone. I had no clue what it was about I didn't even read the book blurb.
Trigger Warning: suicide, depression and violence
I was provided a copy for my honest review
catlion27's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
My first novel of Seanan McGuire's did not disappoint. It has all of her effortless, stark, beautiful prose that I've grown to love from Wayward Children, but it doesn't feel like a Wayward Children book (though there's a bit of thematic overlap).
The beginning throws you in the deep end, but push through. Ride the waves of confusion to the shore. Then fall in love with Roger and Dodger like I did. Their relationship is the emotional core that really fueled this for me.
The book also tackles a tricky plotthe time loop aspect really well, in a way that doesn't feel confusing. Gold star there too.
The beginning throws you in the deep end, but push through. Ride the waves of confusion to the shore. Then fall in love with Roger and Dodger like I did. Their relationship is the emotional core that really fueled this for me.
The book also tackles a tricky plot
vengefuldime's review against another edition
3.0
Alchemy, a hidden world, immortality, time, powers linked to mathematics and language, family, violence… I believe that these are all pretty good starting ingredients. The main characters helped me understand and like them as they became closer to each other, while the sinister plans for them waited in the background. They age from young children to adults mostly unknowing of their influences. I enjoyed it, and then I liked it, and then I started to no longer appreciate my time reading. To me, it felt like (thematically enough) the same push and pull over and over again lost its effectiveness, as the characters reunited and left continually. I became tired of the characters and lost interest in their conflicts, as for a long time the personal was the focus (without forward movement). Admittedly the writing is not my style, but I believe that many other people would enjoy it. I don’t think that this is great, but it might interest a YA audience more.
amspence's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
regano_reads's review against another edition
1.0
1.5: disappointing & misleading. The jacket implies a plot that truly never develops, and it has serious pacing issues.
Just a couple quaint little characters that amble on in their vague, pretentious lives for 500 pages, that were meant to carry cosmological gravitas… somehow. Oh, and there are some mad scientists for a bit in the beginning that aren’t mad enough to stay interesting, or quaint enough to be main characters (I can only assume that’s the criteria.)
To say that I don’t understand the hype would be an understatement.
Just a couple quaint little characters that amble on in their vague, pretentious lives for 500 pages, that were meant to carry cosmological gravitas… somehow. Oh, and there are some mad scientists for a bit in the beginning that aren’t mad enough to stay interesting, or quaint enough to be main characters (I can only assume that’s the criteria.)
To say that I don’t understand the hype would be an understatement.
bookph1le's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
What I really love about Seanan McGuire is she always does really interesting things with her books. They're innovative and imaginative, and they contain diverse casts of characters.
That said, I sometimes find her writing so dense that it pulls me out of her books a bit. This one in particular has a lot of great ideas, but there were sections where I felt completely lost because there was a lot of Up-and-Under alchemist speech going on. Erin perplexed both me and Roger.
Ultimately, I liked this book, but it took me a long time to read it because I found myself wanting to take breaks to do other things instead.
What I really love about Seanan McGuire is she always does really interesting things with her books. They're innovative and imaginative, and they contain diverse casts of characters.
That said, I sometimes find her writing so dense that it pulls me out of her books a bit. This one in particular has a lot of great ideas, but there were sections where I felt completely lost because there was a lot of Up-and-Under alchemist speech going on. Erin perplexed both me and Roger.
Ultimately, I liked this book, but it took me a long time to read it because I found myself wanting to take breaks to do other things instead.
tabatha_shipley's review against another edition
4.0
What I Did Like:
-Time noted. I once said I didn’t like chapters that started with dates and times because I feel obligated to keep track of them and how much time has passed. This one TELLS you how much has passed (two years later, same day, etc) and that is just BRILLIANT!
-Intriguing concept. Tough to explain, hard to grasp, but still intriguing. I love books that make me think after I close the pages and this one is definitely that!
-Time travel with a twist. I always like when something that’s been done gets explored in a new way. This one definitely has a unique take on time travel and I LOVED the ending as it relates to that.
Who Should Read This One:
-Fantasy fans who want something more thought-provoking and intelligent than ones written for YA.
-Urban fantasy fans who want a book set in the here and now that brings magic.
My Rating: 4 Stars. This book will please Adult urban fantasy fans.
For Full Review (including what I didn’t love): https://youtu.be/1uoYpVzux5c
-Time noted. I once said I didn’t like chapters that started with dates and times because I feel obligated to keep track of them and how much time has passed. This one TELLS you how much has passed (two years later, same day, etc) and that is just BRILLIANT!
-Intriguing concept. Tough to explain, hard to grasp, but still intriguing. I love books that make me think after I close the pages and this one is definitely that!
-Time travel with a twist. I always like when something that’s been done gets explored in a new way. This one definitely has a unique take on time travel and I LOVED the ending as it relates to that.
Who Should Read This One:
-Fantasy fans who want something more thought-provoking and intelligent than ones written for YA.
-Urban fantasy fans who want a book set in the here and now that brings magic.
My Rating: 4 Stars. This book will please Adult urban fantasy fans.
For Full Review (including what I didn’t love): https://youtu.be/1uoYpVzux5c
candizluv4books's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.0