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karenreadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I adored these two books and the short story and these characters. Read through both books in 3 days because I truly couldn't put them down.
The Archived: Such an interesting concept in the worldbuilding. I felt so much for Mackenzie and her family for what they were going through with the loss of Ben. Love Wesley (Guyliner!) and their dynamic. Intense action at the end.
The Unbound: Oh, Mackenzie, you don't have to do everything all on your own. So many people are willing and able to help you. Wesley especially. Just let him in. Intense action again at the end. Riveting storyline.
The short story from Wesley's POV: Brings some resolution to the character arcs, especially between Mac and Wesley...or should I call him...(yes, we learn his first name!)
The Archived: Such an interesting concept in the worldbuilding. I felt so much for Mackenzie and her family for what they were going through with the loss of Ben. Love Wesley (Guyliner!) and their dynamic. Intense action at the end.
The Unbound: Oh, Mackenzie, you don't have to do everything all on your own. So many people are willing and able to help you. Wesley especially. Just let him in. Intense action again at the end. Riveting storyline.
The short story from Wesley's POV: Brings some resolution to the character arcs, especially between Mac and Wesley...or should I call him...(yes, we learn his first name!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
daffodill37's review against another edition
(Paper back)
I attempted to read this starting Dec 2023 but made it 52 pages in a month so I decided to give up and try something else. Perhaps I'll attempt again in the future. This might be one where I need to read via audio instead.
I attempted to read this starting Dec 2023 but made it 52 pages in a month so I decided to give up and try something else. Perhaps I'll attempt again in the future. This might be one where I need to read via audio instead.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
aviery's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Violence, Self harm, Car accident, and Child death
Moderate: Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Murder, Medical content, Grief, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Cursing and Child abuse
writingcaia's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I knew absolutely nothing of what I was going to read besides the book being a duology collection from one of my favourite writers, that was enough. And, it did not disappoint, in fact, it was exceedingly awesome and I only hoped, and wanted more of it by the end.
Mackenzie hunts lost dead people, aka histories, a job left to her at a very young age by her dying grandfather. It is a job controlled by the Archive where the dead are guarded after death, like story and image versions of their past lives, but sometimes they rise confused and it is to her and the the ones like her to get them back. Because of this inherited work, this reality she knows off, unlike the rest of the people, she’s forced to lie and conceal from everyone, including those she loves the most.
After tragically losing her younger brother, her family moves to an old building to live and start a new business, which means she’ll have a new hunting ground. Here’s where the plot starts, this grand building where tragedy and secrets are buried, where dangerous dead will roam, and where two boys will surprisingly show up to help her, confuse her, love her. Or will they?
The MC is brave, selfish sometimes, badass for sure, and just a girl trying to also be a “normal” teenager.
Throughout the story of the books we see not only this paranormal, action filled story develop and conclude, but also, and obviously the goal of the story and characters, we see grief and death, and how people deal with it, differently, but always the pain and suffering, the anger, the helplessness.
It is thus a story about the dead, truths and lies, and those they leave behind.
Really terrific, I hope Schwabb decides to go back to this world one day, as the ending does leave it open for it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Grief, Death, Blood, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Child death
Mackenzie hunts lost dead people, aka histories, a job left to her at a very young age by her dying grandfather. It is a job controlled by the Archive where the dead are guarded after death, like story and image versions of their past lives, but sometimes they rise confused and it is to her and the the ones like her to get them back. Because of this inherited work, this reality she knows off, unlike the rest of the people, she’s forced to lie and conceal from everyone, including those she loves the most.
After tragically losing her younger brother, her family moves to an old building to live and start a new business, which means she’ll have a new hunting ground. Here’s where the plot starts, this grand building where tragedy and secrets are buried, where dangerous dead will roam, and where two boys will surprisingly show up to help her, confuse her, love her. Or will they?
The MC is brave, selfish sometimes, badass for sure, and just a girl trying to also be a “normal” teenager.
Throughout the story of the books we see not only this paranormal, action filled story develop and conclude, but also, and obviously the goal of the story and characters, we see grief and death, and how people deal with it, differently, but always the pain and suffering, the anger, the helplessness.
It is thus a story about the dead, truths and lies, and those they leave behind.
Really terrific, I hope Schwabb decides to go back to this world one day, as the ending does leave it open for it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Grief, Death, Blood, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Child death
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture, Blood, Death, Grief, Self harm, and Violence
Minor: Child death
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