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jeffdecker's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.25
anna3101's review against another edition
2.0
I expected a bit more from Utopia. Usually Child's books are sinister and exciting but this one somehow was neither. I didn't get to like the characters as much as usual and there was no rush to turn the page over. Just a standard thriller with a predictable ending. Not much mystery - that's one of the reasons I didn't really enjoy it.
echo123's review against another edition
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
flerpi's review against another edition
3.0
I like amusement parks. I don't necessarily like a lot of the rides -roller coasters and other popular "thrill" rides don't interest me - but I like some of the shows and tamer rides. At Universal Studios, I particularly liked the new Harry Potter Diagon Alley section, in part because of how immersive it felt. So how about a book set in Utopia, an imaginary theme-park made famous for its immersive visitor experience?
Utopia is a park with four themed sections: Boardwalk, Camelot, Victorian Gaslight, and Callisto/space station. All visible crew members dress in theme-accurate costumes based on whatever section they're in. In fact, theme/historical accuracy is so important, that the park creators hired historians and specialists of all sorts; even the plants/landscaping is theme-accurate. If Utopia was real, I would go on a pilgrimage to get there.
plz make it a thing
I liked and cared more about Utopia than I did about any of the characters. So naturally, Lincoln Child used Utopia not just as a setting, but as a hostage. The bad guys and good guys duke it out behind the scenes, the bad guys killing people by tampering with/blowing up rides and the good guys quietly trying to stop them. All the while, the park guests are blissfully ignorant. So now I can't fully enjoy imagining a park like Utopia, because I remember that Lincoln Child is having tourists die there. And the next time a theme park ride breaks while I'm on it - which has happened (Men In Black at Universal) - I can pass the time wondering if it'll blow up.
y would u do dis to me?
The book was fine for what it was. I can't say there was anything particularly good or bad about the plot, characters, or story-telling. The only part that really stuck out in my mind was the park itself, but that was marred by the whole burning-and-killing-tourists thing. Is my reaction to the book logical? Probably not, unless Lincoln Child intended for readers to consider the Utopia park a character in and or itself. But that's ok; reactions and opinions don't have to be logical. I read it, it was fine, and it's time to move on.
Rating: 6/10
https://bewareofsloth.wordpress.com/2015/06/01/utopia/
Utopia is a park with four themed sections: Boardwalk, Camelot, Victorian Gaslight, and Callisto/space station. All visible crew members dress in theme-accurate costumes based on whatever section they're in. In fact, theme/historical accuracy is so important, that the park creators hired historians and specialists of all sorts; even the plants/landscaping is theme-accurate. If Utopia was real, I would go on a pilgrimage to get there.
plz make it a thing
I liked and cared more about Utopia than I did about any of the characters. So naturally, Lincoln Child used Utopia not just as a setting, but as a hostage. The bad guys and good guys duke it out behind the scenes, the bad guys killing people by tampering with/blowing up rides and the good guys quietly trying to stop them. All the while, the park guests are blissfully ignorant. So now I can't fully enjoy imagining a park like Utopia, because I remember that Lincoln Child is having tourists die there. And the next time a theme park ride breaks while I'm on it - which has happened (Men In Black at Universal) - I can pass the time wondering if it'll blow up.
y would u do dis to me?
The book was fine for what it was. I can't say there was anything particularly good or bad about the plot, characters, or story-telling. The only part that really stuck out in my mind was the park itself, but that was marred by the whole burning-and-killing-tourists thing. Is my reaction to the book logical? Probably not, unless Lincoln Child intended for readers to consider the Utopia park a character in and or itself. But that's ok; reactions and opinions don't have to be logical. I read it, it was fine, and it's time to move on.
Rating: 6/10
https://bewareofsloth.wordpress.com/2015/06/01/utopia/
kyle120888's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jacqueshol's review against another edition
3.0
Frankly I'm not too sure about how I want to score this book. For most part I was convinced that it would get 4 starts. Perhaps even 5 stars, depending on how good the ending would be.
Imagine my surprise when everything came to almost an abrupt halt. The rest of the story was beautifully balanced and the pace just the way I like it. However, it felt as if the author suddenly realized that he had a another pressing engagement and rushed the end.
The story had everything going for it: well-known author, intriguing storyline, well setup, nice pace and good prose. However, it is probably one of those books that could've been a 100 - 150 pages longer to better develop characters and to wrap loose ends up in the end. The characters weren't too bad, but not nearly as "fleshed out" as characters of, say, Stephen King or Tom Clancy.
Am I disappointed with the book's ending? Sure. Will I read another book of Lincoln Child considering this was my first experience of his books? Of course. He seems to be a great author with great ideas. It was just a shame that Utopia didn't get that killer ending that it deserved.
I'll give another book of his a chance. I believe Deep Storm isn't a bad book to read... and, oh how I love to read about Atlantis and other mystical places...
Imagine my surprise when everything came to almost an abrupt halt. The rest of the story was beautifully balanced and the pace just the way I like it. However, it felt as if the author suddenly realized that he had a another pressing engagement and rushed the end.
The story had everything going for it: well-known author, intriguing storyline, well setup, nice pace and good prose. However, it is probably one of those books that could've been a 100 - 150 pages longer to better develop characters and to wrap loose ends up in the end. The characters weren't too bad, but not nearly as "fleshed out" as characters of, say, Stephen King or Tom Clancy.
Am I disappointed with the book's ending? Sure. Will I read another book of Lincoln Child considering this was my first experience of his books? Of course. He seems to be a great author with great ideas. It was just a shame that Utopia didn't get that killer ending that it deserved.
I'll give another book of his a chance. I believe Deep Storm isn't a bad book to read... and, oh how I love to read about Atlantis and other mystical places...
ayaktruk's review against another edition
2.0
pre - Found a copy on a used book rack and picked it up. LC always entertains so...
post - Not LC's greatest effort. Struggled a tad to get through it. Maybe I've read too many thrillers and they're starting to feel staid and predictible.
Still and all, some harrowing moments for the masses and enough technobabble for the ubegeeks and codewriters among us to keep me interested to the end.
post - Not LC's greatest effort. Struggled a tad to get through it. Maybe I've read too many thrillers and they're starting to feel staid and predictible.
Still and all, some harrowing moments for the masses and enough technobabble for the ubegeeks and codewriters among us
wdecora's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the overall story (especially the character of Poole), but for some reason reading this book was a total slog for me. I'm not sure why it took me so long to get through it. This is the first solo Lincoln Child book I've read, and I'm curious if his other solo books read like this.
connie575's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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? No
5.0
ljw's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder