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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
So this was a reread and a very good one at that. I loved this author and the outsider looking in vibes this very well written murder mystery had
just finished this book this afternoon. i thought this was rather boring and the way that the story was told reminded me of the guest list which i didn't like. having scenes flashing forward to the "tragic night" made me figure everything out. there was no intrigue on who died. i knew who died once the characters were introduced. i guessed where the different plot twists because they were so obvious it was like beating your head with it. i think this is just like every thriller i've read with wow *insert person who died* no one likes them and they were terrible?!?! why should i care they are dead? i don't. the trio POV i found hard to differentiate at times as well. just a bland thriller imo.
So I wouldn't exactly say that this was the best or worst YA thriller/mystery I've ever read but it was definitely a crazy ride. The plot was fairly good, the way the story was told backwards with scenes of the disaster night in between the POVs of 3 girls was interesting and a cool idea. I really think that that built up tension to the unraveling of the events in the end. I also like how through multiple POVs the readers can see each character's differences, the flaws and the perfections. Also how a girl is spiralling into unknown chaos (Isobel is my favourite still). I love the many secrets woven into the story despite the fact that the plot twists did not really surprise me (the thing that did surprise me was who the victim was). I love how this book shows how one tiny, little thing that seems harmless can be the trigger to something chaotic. And I love the multiple roles of loyalty and love in this. Loyalty to blood and loyalty to friendship, bound by one secret. However, the style of writing was just somewhat slow at the beginning and not really engaging at times and the whole Legacy/Club thing was really confusing at the start because nothing made much sense. All in all, I would recommend this to people who liked "We were liars" or books with a 'secret society with lots of secrets' vibe.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Disclaimer: I was provided an ARC of The Legacies by Jessica Goodman in exchange for my honest review.
Let me start off by saying, I absolutely LOVED this book. Because I was reading a lot of stuff for work, it’s been a while since I’ve been able to just turn by brain off and enjoy a book. But this snapped me out of that funk. It was enjoyable, dramatic, and stuffed with all the naughty things the rich and powerful get up to when the public isn’t looking.
The Legacies is about a group of students— Bernie, Isobel, Skyler, Kendall, and Tori— who all attend the Excelsior Prep, which is as wealthy and stuck-up as it sounds. There’s a special club— calling it a club is understating it a bit, but for our purposes it works— that seniors can be nominated for every year, which then gives them the connections they need to succeed at life. Bernie, Isobel, Skyler, and Kendall were shoo-ins: they know the right people. But Tori, the local scholarship student, was a twist no one saw coming. In addition to getting admitted into the club, the students compete for a scholarship of 25,000 dollars. Unlike the other students, Tori really needs that money. But each of the students has a secret to hide— and on the night of the Legacy Ball, one of them becomes desperate enough to kill.
But who?
So immediately, you can see the drama. Everyone has a secret that could ruin their reputation if it gets out, and they’re willing to do anything to get what they want. In a lot of ways, it’s like a teenage version of Succession: none of the main characters are necessarily *good* people per say. Their secrets often cause them to act in ways that most people wouldn’t consider morally correct. They are, of course, teenagers, so it’s not like they are completely awful, but… there’s definitely a line that almost all of them cross at some point. And, in a really twisted sort of way, it’s really fun to watch them do it.
The novel switches between the past and present— that is, the events leading up to the Legacy Ball, and the events preceding it. The author does this super well; the transitions are firm and easy to keep track of. Additionally, the author doesn’t let you in on who died until the last possible minute. It’s great: I was still guessing up until the last minute, and even once I thought I had figured it out, I was completely wrong.
The author also switches between a couple characters’ perspectives, namely Bernie, Isobel, and Tori; she did a really great job with it. Sometimes switching POVs like that can get confusing and muddy, but the author avoided that pitfall artfully.
The ending was also great; it was a cliffhanger that I simultaneously loved and hated: loved because it was done so well, and hated because I wanted to know what happened next!!!
One thing I will say— and this is a little bit nitpicky— is that I wish that Tori’s relationship with her family/girlfriend was explored a little bit more. I feel like there were opportunities for it to be a little more nuanced— especially in the case of Tori’s relationship with her girlfriend— that fell short. But overall, I really loved this book and would absolutely recommend checking it out.
Let me start off by saying, I absolutely LOVED this book. Because I was reading a lot of stuff for work, it’s been a while since I’ve been able to just turn by brain off and enjoy a book. But this snapped me out of that funk. It was enjoyable, dramatic, and stuffed with all the naughty things the rich and powerful get up to when the public isn’t looking.
The Legacies is about a group of students— Bernie, Isobel, Skyler, Kendall, and Tori— who all attend the Excelsior Prep, which is as wealthy and stuck-up as it sounds. There’s a special club— calling it a club is understating it a bit, but for our purposes it works— that seniors can be nominated for every year, which then gives them the connections they need to succeed at life. Bernie, Isobel, Skyler, and Kendall were shoo-ins: they know the right people. But Tori, the local scholarship student, was a twist no one saw coming. In addition to getting admitted into the club, the students compete for a scholarship of 25,000 dollars. Unlike the other students, Tori really needs that money. But each of the students has a secret to hide— and on the night of the Legacy Ball, one of them becomes desperate enough to kill.
But who?
So immediately, you can see the drama. Everyone has a secret that could ruin their reputation if it gets out, and they’re willing to do anything to get what they want. In a lot of ways, it’s like a teenage version of Succession: none of the main characters are necessarily *good* people per say. Their secrets often cause them to act in ways that most people wouldn’t consider morally correct. They are, of course, teenagers, so it’s not like they are completely awful, but… there’s definitely a line that almost all of them cross at some point. And, in a really twisted sort of way, it’s really fun to watch them do it.
The novel switches between the past and present— that is, the events leading up to the Legacy Ball, and the events preceding it. The author does this super well; the transitions are firm and easy to keep track of. Additionally, the author doesn’t let you in on who died until the last possible minute. It’s great: I was still guessing up until the last minute, and even once I thought I had figured it out, I was completely wrong.
The author also switches between a couple characters’ perspectives, namely Bernie, Isobel, and Tori; she did a really great job with it. Sometimes switching POVs like that can get confusing and muddy, but the author avoided that pitfall artfully.
The ending was also great; it was a cliffhanger that I simultaneously loved and hated: loved because it was done so well, and hated because I wanted to know what happened next!!!
One thing I will say— and this is a little bit nitpicky— is that I wish that Tori’s relationship with her family/girlfriend was explored a little bit more. I feel like there were opportunities for it to be a little more nuanced— especially in the case of Tori’s relationship with her girlfriend— that fell short. But overall, I really loved this book and would absolutely recommend checking it out.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I definitely like Jessica Goodman's writing style, so this one was no different. I didn't expect the twists at all! Definitely earned the 4.75 but I could round up for a 5 for the great narration in the audiobook (I read physical/ebook w/audiobook for an immersive experience)