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yodamom's review against another edition
3.0
2.5
I'm glad is was a short book. That is not a great way to feel after finishing a book is it ? The idea was good, the doors to other worlds each connected to a persons heart/soul, it was fresh and full of promises. I never felt those promises come true. I fell asleep too many times while reading this and just didn't get to know the characters enough to care about them.
The persons who had been kicked out of their other worlds were living in this school for wayward kids. Their parents, didn't want them, didn't understand them, didn't want to deal with them. They only wanted to go back through their weird little doors to the other places. It was therapy sessions and high school cliquish drama-rama, till somebody was killed. Then it got semi creepy with unusual ways of handling this issue, no spoilers here I can't share more. More bodies more weird handling of things and more cliquish drama, sigh. The blame game started and then it was suddenly finished with what should have been dramatic but was barely noticed on the emotional scale. One went home the book ended,
Are you kidding me ? That was the ending, Pffiiit ! I never got to delve into these interesting worlds, didn't get to meet any of the "Masters" nor did I get a final look at the other side. I didn't enjoy the story but I did love some of the lines in the book. This was my first read from this author I don't know if I'll try another book from her or not.
I'm glad is was a short book. That is not a great way to feel after finishing a book is it ? The idea was good, the doors to other worlds each connected to a persons heart/soul, it was fresh and full of promises. I never felt those promises come true. I fell asleep too many times while reading this and just didn't get to know the characters enough to care about them.
The persons who had been kicked out of their other worlds were living in this school for wayward kids. Their parents, didn't want them, didn't understand them, didn't want to deal with them. They only wanted to go back through their weird little doors to the other places. It was therapy sessions and high school cliquish drama-rama, till somebody was killed. Then it got semi creepy with unusual ways of handling this issue, no spoilers here I can't share more. More bodies more weird handling of things and more cliquish drama, sigh. The blame game started and then it was suddenly finished with what should have been dramatic but was barely noticed on the emotional scale. One went home the book ended,
Are you kidding me ? That was the ending, Pffiiit ! I never got to delve into these interesting worlds, didn't get to meet any of the "Masters" nor did I get a final look at the other side. I didn't enjoy the story but I did love some of the lines in the book. This was my first read from this author I don't know if I'll try another book from her or not.
docaphra's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
anxietygirl89's review against another edition
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
the_nik83's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
3.5
penguin428's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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? No
4.0
skogsheks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Murder, Transphobia, Bullying, and Blood
essjay's review against another edition
4.25
Re-reading this series aloud to the 13y/o before bed. I have read them all once. They have read them all at least 10 times. This is their rating.
I love this series, and while it is NOT my favourite (I prefer the evens for the most part, IYKYK), it is still a wonderful introduction to the series and the many MANY worlds it contains.
I love this series, and while it is NOT my favourite (I prefer the evens for the most part, IYKYK), it is still a wonderful introduction to the series and the many MANY worlds it contains.
crowsandprose's review against another edition
3.0
I really love Seanan's work. Love it to death. But... this I didn't love.
This book left me cold for reasons I both can and can't explain. It wasn't a bad book, but neither was it the phenomenal read on a subject I thought she'd both give both life and love to. Disappointing, in a word. Not because it's bad, but because it's merely okay.
There's a heavy handedness here. A bit of preaching, a lot of wonder, worlds that needed to be built and expanded upon, words that those of us who have walked, in our way, the Portals will get... but while the characters were vibrant the world felt like a half-baked cake. Sure, it would still be tasty on the tongue (and who doesn't like batter?), but it'd still not be what I expected or wanted.
I feel like it needed to be longer, better fleshed. We needed more time with these really vibrant characters to really care that they start snuffing it. But we didn't get that.
So-- a half-baked cake of a book. Tasty, but not what it should have been. So, three starts.
This book left me cold for reasons I both can and can't explain. It wasn't a bad book, but neither was it the phenomenal read on a subject I thought she'd both give both life and love to. Disappointing, in a word. Not because it's bad, but because it's merely okay.
There's a heavy handedness here. A bit of preaching, a lot of wonder, worlds that needed to be built and expanded upon, words that those of us who have walked, in our way, the Portals will get... but while the characters were vibrant the world felt like a half-baked cake. Sure, it would still be tasty on the tongue (and who doesn't like batter?), but it'd still not be what I expected or wanted.
I feel like it needed to be longer, better fleshed. We needed more time with these really vibrant characters to really care that they start snuffing it. But we didn't get that.
So-- a half-baked cake of a book. Tasty, but not what it should have been. So, three starts.