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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
fast-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:
No
Really cool premise, not great execution and very unsatisfying second half
mysterious
medium-paced
The most unique and creative book I’ve read in a long time.
I loved jumping between different characters as they experienced various struggles during The Unmapping. Great character development and climate change conversation.
I loved jumping between different characters as they experienced various struggles during The Unmapping. Great character development and climate change conversation.
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book.*
While I found the original set-up of "The Unmapping" interesting and enjoyed how the narrative wove the stories of the different focalisers together, I think my main point of critique is the lack of convincing world-building. The suspense of disbelief does not work and some of the characters were a bit too annoying to my liking. I also found the ending quite weak. However, the book was well written and the initial idea or novum is intriguing, the resolve, sadly, not as much.
While I found the original set-up of "The Unmapping" interesting and enjoyed how the narrative wove the stories of the different focalisers together, I think my main point of critique is the lack of convincing world-building. The suspense of disbelief does not work and some of the characters were a bit too annoying to my liking. I also found the ending quite weak. However, the book was well written and the initial idea or novum is intriguing, the resolve, sadly, not as much.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It just didn't grab me - bounced off the writing style, didn't connect with the characters, and there are so many other books on my TBR that I didn't want to keep trying. Maybe I'll pick it up again later, the premise is still interesting
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book wasn't for me. It might be a better fit for fans of light interpersonal drama - Backman, I guess?? - but I, personally, didn't find the human aspect compelling either. The author sets up several different threads and then (imo!) neglects the more absorbing ones while focusing on two of the least fantastic options. The story I found most interesting, the boy stuck in the wall, ends up concluding in the very peripherals of the main characters' arcs. Also all the culty lucid dreaming stuff??? that peters out into nothing.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really wanted to like this book. I'm trying to figure out what didn't work for me. I'll come back later when I have a better idea of it.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Arc - came out June 1st
I really wanted to adore this book but I think ultimately, it was just not for me. It had a super unique premise which I was so excited to dig into. But I feel like the plot eschews this premise for the interpersonal human drama more often than not, and frequently to the story’s detriment.
Right away, I didn’t really like any of the characters. I didn’t like Marcus at all but that was mainly because of how Esme describes herself as feeling “lucky” to be with him. It was frustrating reading about her driving herself crazy worrying about him when you as the reader can tell that he’s trash. I think this is a big part of why I could not connect with Esme’s chapters. She focused on Marcus way too much which is understandable for the character. I just didn’t care.
Arjun was weirdly endearing and creepy at the same time. But the more time the narrative spent with him, the more unbearable I found him. And I couldn’t get past that.
The few other POV narratives had such random stuff happening with them that it made the story feel disjointed.
I found I was frequently flipping back and forth with my enjoyment of the book. I found the premise and the environmental disaster/mystery really interesting but the character work I did not connect with. I felt the characters and the way the plot line jumped around left me feeling very scattered.
Around the middle of the book in one of the side POVs, the plot had a strange, jump the shark moment that I didn’t know what to think of. And it lost me around that point and never fully got me back.
There was a point around the 70% mark where something happens in the interpersonal relationships with a couple of the characters that literally made me say “ew, gross” out loud
It feels unfair to rate this book lowly because it is creative and well written. But the story and I just did not vibe.