You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
I'm not sure that the author knows much about radiation. The book was ok but the bits about the intergalactic space turtle coming to earth because it was so deliciously radioactive sort of threw me out of the story.
That said, I'm not a nuclear scientist, so maybe I'm the one that doesn't know how radiation works...
That said, I'm not a nuclear scientist, so maybe I'm the one that doesn't know how radiation works...
Fresh, exciting, and filled with the fiery legends and wonder of Hawaii...what a setting! Very impressed with Aslan's expert use of imagery, Leilani's character (I love a strong female lead), and the powerful relationship between father and daughter. A great story. I loved it! Can't wait for the next one!
I love how Hawaiian culture is recognized. I have never read a book that included it!
Not bad, but I was never quite able to get past the idea that the author was more interested in making some sort of political point, rather than simply telling the damn story. And the longer the book went on, the more tiresome this injection o' politics became, ultimately becoming a very clumsy sledge hammer at the end. That being: Nuclear power is the spawn of Satan. Bet you never knew. How very 1970s of him. See here for what I was thinkin', fairly or not.
Pity, because the characters were at first quite believable, the author had a VERY unique take -- damn near an ingenious one -- on alien visitations, and he clearly knows his stuff vis a vis geography, geology, science generally and Hawaiian history. He was also not afraid to shy away from the racial tensions that I've been told are a VERY real thing in Hawaii, and in this novel, almost uniquely these days, the bad guys ain't necessarily the ones with white skin.
Will I read the sequels? Dunno. Maybe. But I could personally do with more story and less sermonizing.
Pity, because the characters were at first quite believable, the author had a VERY unique take -- damn near an ingenious one -- on alien visitations, and he clearly knows his stuff vis a vis geography, geology, science generally and Hawaiian history. He was also not afraid to shy away from the racial tensions that I've been told are a VERY real thing in Hawaii, and in this novel, almost uniquely these days, the bad guys ain't necessarily the ones with white skin.
Will I read the sequels? Dunno. Maybe. But I could personally do with more story and less sermonizing.
This was a unique take on post-apocalyptic, and dripping with Hawaiian culture. The premise was a bit much to swallow, but descriptive and scientific enough for it to be believable. Overall, very well written and a fast-paced story that anyone who likes light sci-fi and survival stories will enjoy.
I will give this book due credit for its originality. The setting was interesting, the circumstances of the drama was.....I'll just say that there were many times when I caught myself rolling my eyes; I mean it goes REALLY out there. On the border of la-la land.
I loved the setting and the interesting challenges resulting from that setting. I enjoyed the father-daughter dynamic WAY more than I thought I would. But there were so many times when the book took the whole "Hawaii Lore" way too seriously. It works in a campy b-movie kind of way, but as an end of days book kind of silly.
I wish the fantastical (disguised as "scientific") aspects had been pushed farther, or explored more. Like if you're going to have such bizarre...elements, then make EVERYTHING really bizarre. In the vein of "Drag Me to Hell" and "Cabin in the Woods". Cult and campy, you can't go wrong.
3.5
I loved the setting and the interesting challenges resulting from that setting. I enjoyed the father-daughter dynamic WAY more than I thought I would. But there were so many times when the book took the whole "Hawaii Lore" way too seriously. It works in a campy b-movie kind of way, but as an end of days book kind of silly.
I wish the fantastical (disguised as "scientific") aspects had been pushed farther, or explored more. Like if you're going to have such bizarre...elements, then make EVERYTHING really bizarre. In the vein of "Drag Me to Hell" and "Cabin in the Woods". Cult and campy, you can't go wrong.
3.5
I clearly have a weakness for young adult, post-apocalyptic stories. There are a lot out there to choose from. But this was a fresh take - the setting (Hawai'i), sure, but also the relationship between the main character and her father, the source of the apocalypse, and just the feel of it all. I really enjoyed it.
"We're all werewolves under a green full moon."
Plot: 4/5 The survival aspect of this story is very well done and feels genuine. I was captivated. A well thought out plot. The paranormal aspect was a little less satisfying.
Characters: 4/5 I really love the main characters, the father/daughter aspect of this was remarkably done.
The Feels: 3.5/5 From Leilani's undoubtedly scary seizure's to the end of world struggle for survival and their quest to get home to the rest of their family, it was gripping.
Theme: 4/5
Flow: 4.2/5 The flow of the story was a little off, I had to reread some things to understand them. I also had a hard time with all the Hawaiian words. I always want to pronounce words correctly, even if it is just in my head…so I was constantly tripped up by them.
Originality: 4.5/5 I’ve never read an apocalyptic story that is set in Hawaii and furthermore, I’m quite sure I wouldn’t want to be there when the world ends.
Book Cover: 5/5 Stunning cover.
Sex Factor: None
Backdrop: 5/5 I love the beauty that is Hawaii. When helping my daughter in elementary school with her state project on Hawaii, I learned a lot about the islands of Hawaii. I became fascinated with it. Hopefully I can visit there, someday.
Ending: 3.5/5 The oddly paranormal aspect to the ending in this book, lost me a little. Cliffhanger: …to be continued.
Will I continue the series? Quite possibly…
I'm not sure why, but I was little miffed with the spiritually paranormal-ish aspect to this story, it's interspersed throughout the story and it mostly left me feeling distracted. By the end, though, it becomes somewhat more clear where this is going…I think. Maybe, I need to read the second book; for this aspect of the story to really click with me.
** Side Note: This book has a super long title, but it’s very fitting.
Short and to the point, this embodies the destruction that comes about with Armageddon. When mankind is left to its own defenses, and able to just run amok. It especially illustrates, how it comes about in this particular story.
Plot: 4/5 The survival aspect of this story is very well done and feels genuine. I was captivated. A well thought out plot. The paranormal aspect was a little less satisfying.
Characters: 4/5 I really love the main characters, the father/daughter aspect of this was remarkably done.
The Feels: 3.5/5 From Leilani's undoubtedly scary seizure's to the end of world struggle for survival and their quest to get home to the rest of their family, it was gripping.
Theme: 4/5
Flow: 4.2/5 The flow of the story was a little off, I had to reread some things to understand them. I also had a hard time with all the Hawaiian words. I always want to pronounce words correctly, even if it is just in my head…so I was constantly tripped up by them.
Originality: 4.5/5 I’ve never read an apocalyptic story that is set in Hawaii and furthermore, I’m quite sure I wouldn’t want to be there when the world ends.
Book Cover: 5/5 Stunning cover.
Sex Factor: None
Backdrop: 5/5 I love the beauty that is Hawaii. When helping my daughter in elementary school with her state project on Hawaii, I learned a lot about the islands of Hawaii. I became fascinated with it. Hopefully I can visit there, someday.
Ending: 3.5/5 The oddly paranormal aspect to the ending in this book, lost me a little. Cliffhanger: …to be continued.
Will I continue the series? Quite possibly…
I'm not sure why, but I was little miffed with the spiritually paranormal-ish aspect to this story, it's interspersed throughout the story and it mostly left me feeling distracted. By the end, though, it becomes somewhat more clear where this is going…I think. Maybe, I need to read the second book; for this aspect of the story to really click with me.
** Side Note: This book has a super long title, but it’s very fitting.
I read The Islands At The End of The World on the plane to Honolulu, along with Big Little Lies. I’d been reading a lot about Hawaii before my trip, and I’m always interested in post-apocalyptic stories, so I enjoyed this story about surviving on Oahu after electronics mysteriously fail worldwide. Teenage Leilani and her dad are on Oahu for Leilani’s experimental epilepsy treatment when communications and electricity start to fail, and in the new world that opens, they have to use their wits to survive and make it back home to Leilani’s mom, grandfather, and little brother. It’s a solid adventure story, with believable factions and a supernatural twist. (It’s also the first post-apocalyptic story I’ve read in which a girl loots a razor to shave her legs, and, honestly, I’d be plucking my eyebrows in the post-civilization world.)
But I have to say that I didn’t fully get this novel until I was in Hawaii, and had been here a couple weeks. A lot of the story relies on an understanding of Hawaii and Hawaiian life, on the simultaneous nearness and incredible distance of the islands, and one the constant contrast of old and new lives. I thought of this book when my coworkers noticed the wild chickens running around, and joked that Hawaiians could catch and pick a dinner if they wanted. I thought of this book when I saw the gorgeous beaches and plastic trash. The whole thing really shows the exploitation of Hawaii for (foreign) tourism, from the weird lack of ferries between islands (which completely blows my mind — how is there no commuter line or tourist cruise between the islands???) to the conflict between locals and visitors, Hawaiians and haoles, wealthy and struggling, all just under the surface on the beautiful islands.
But I have to say that I didn’t fully get this novel until I was in Hawaii, and had been here a couple weeks. A lot of the story relies on an understanding of Hawaii and Hawaiian life, on the simultaneous nearness and incredible distance of the islands, and one the constant contrast of old and new lives. I thought of this book when my coworkers noticed the wild chickens running around, and joked that Hawaiians could catch and pick a dinner if they wanted. I thought of this book when I saw the gorgeous beaches and plastic trash. The whole thing really shows the exploitation of Hawaii for (foreign) tourism, from the weird lack of ferries between islands (which completely blows my mind — how is there no commuter line or tourist cruise between the islands???) to the conflict between locals and visitors, Hawaiians and haoles, wealthy and struggling, all just under the surface on the beautiful islands.
When I first started reading THE ISLANDS AT THE END OF THE WORLD, I really was enjoying it.
I liked that the setting was unique to me, taking place in Hawaii, and I liked that Leilani, the 16 year old protagonist, seemed like a fun, laid back gal with a medical condition, that was unfortunately, defining her.
Leilani has epilepsy, and she and her father leave their home on Hilo (the Big Island) to Oahu, for Leilani to take an experimental drug to help with her epileptic seizures. While on Oahu, the lights of Hawaii go out and mass chaos ensues.
No one knows why the lights have gone out or why technological devices have seemingly turned off. Leilani and her father are stuck in a tourist-y area, but they want to make it home to Hilo. And so they try.
Of course, Leilani, being an epileptic, and forced to go back on her regular medication vs. the experimental, has seizures that slow her father and her down in their journey. Also, everyone goes batshit crazy in Hawaii.
Seriously, society devolves so quickly and so thoroughly, it was absolute insanity to read. And I guess that’s where I started feeling ‘meh’ about the whole story. If this where to happen, I absolutely see some of society going this route.
Absolutely, no doubts in my mind, there would be militias and gangs popping up for turf, but it felt like these groups in the book were organized way faster than I think is natural.
Maybe not. And then, there was a lot of farfetchery going on with the plot itself. What’s causing Hawaii and all of the planet to lose power and everything else, well, Leilani says it’s pretty much like a galactic sea turtle, having come to Earth’s atmosphere to breed and raise its young. How does a 16 year old know this?When she has a seizure, she can hear what it’s thinking, and it told her. ...Yeah...that’s a thing in this book.
This ended up being a miss for me. Maybe the second book will be better, especially with all of the human conflicts surely to arise from this, but I don’t think I’m going to end up finding out.
I liked that the setting was unique to me, taking place in Hawaii, and I liked that Leilani, the 16 year old protagonist, seemed like a fun, laid back gal with a medical condition, that was unfortunately, defining her.
Leilani has epilepsy, and she and her father leave their home on Hilo (the Big Island) to Oahu, for Leilani to take an experimental drug to help with her epileptic seizures. While on Oahu, the lights of Hawaii go out and mass chaos ensues.
No one knows why the lights have gone out or why technological devices have seemingly turned off. Leilani and her father are stuck in a tourist-y area, but they want to make it home to Hilo. And so they try.
Of course, Leilani, being an epileptic, and forced to go back on her regular medication vs. the experimental, has seizures that slow her father and her down in their journey. Also, everyone goes batshit crazy in Hawaii.
Seriously, society devolves so quickly and so thoroughly, it was absolute insanity to read. And I guess that’s where I started feeling ‘meh’ about the whole story. If this where to happen, I absolutely see some of society going this route.
Absolutely, no doubts in my mind, there would be militias and gangs popping up for turf, but it felt like these groups in the book were organized way faster than I think is natural.
Maybe not. And then, there was a lot of farfetchery going on with the plot itself. What’s causing Hawaii and all of the planet to lose power and everything else, well, Leilani says it’s pretty much like a galactic sea turtle, having come to Earth’s atmosphere to breed and raise its young. How does a 16 year old know this?
This ended up being a miss for me. Maybe the second book will be better, especially with all of the human conflicts surely to arise from this, but I don’t think I’m going to end up finding out.