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emmanovella's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed The Island despite having worked out what I assume was intended as some big shocking twist. Pretty much from the second Link arrived on the island, I called it. Usually this would really ruin my enjoyment of the book but I felt the pacing was good and, although I feel the characters could have worked out the situation better, they were still really interesting.
I enjoyed this because of them. Seeing how they reacted to the situation was fascinating.
One thing I really enjoy about M A Bennett's stories are the schools. Although they're not necessarily the main location of the books, the characters attend private school's that are... different, and that gives us a unique cast of characters from a unique situation. It allows us to believe somewhat farfetched things could actually happen just due to the nature of the environment around them. I often get the feeling that these books aren't set in our world but a somewhat parallel or alternative.
I really can't articulate my thoughts. I wouldn't say I LOVE this book. But it wasn't just "OK" despite the 3 star rating. It was the same with S.T.A.G.S. Enjoyed it. 3 stars. But the second I saw D.O.G.S at YALC I bought it. I think they get three stars because I find them somewhat predictable but then I find myself thinking about them constantly so... i guess my rating system just doesn't work for this author because these books are so unique.
I enjoyed this because of them. Seeing how they reacted to the situation was fascinating.
One thing I really enjoy about M A Bennett's stories are the schools. Although they're not necessarily the main location of the books, the characters attend private school's that are... different, and that gives us a unique cast of characters from a unique situation. It allows us to believe somewhat farfetched things could actually happen just due to the nature of the environment around them. I often get the feeling that these books aren't set in our world but a somewhat parallel or alternative.
I really can't articulate my thoughts. I wouldn't say I LOVE this book. But it wasn't just "OK" despite the 3 star rating. It was the same with S.T.A.G.S. Enjoyed it. 3 stars. But the second I saw D.O.G.S at YALC I bought it. I think they get three stars because I find them somewhat predictable but then I find myself thinking about them constantly so... i guess my rating system just doesn't work for this author because these books are so unique.
alongreader's review against another edition
4.0
This is a very difficult book to review. The idea of it is brilliant; posh private school kids are stranded on an island, and the only one with any survival knowledge is the oppressed bully victim, leading to a reversal of the 'natural' order of things. (Even at that, though, there's never any mention that they should be boiling their drinking water, not even a "I curse the lack of equipment, as boiled water would be much safer" or anything like that. Minor complaint, I know, but still.)
It's an interesting read, and I was never tempted to put it down. Parts of it are difficult to read, though. Link, our 'hero', goes through some ugly phases, and though they're understandable they're still not easy to read. His parents also put me right off near the end. The rest of the characters are mostly ciphers, which is of course the whole point. And the ending of this one wasn't nearly as upsetting as the ending of [b:S.T.A.G.S|35154365|S.T.A.G.S|M.A. Bennett|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1494944813s/35154365.jpg|56480955].
I'll definitely continue reading MA Bennett, and I hope to read many more.
Receiving an ARC did not affect my review in any way.
It's an interesting read, and I was never tempted to put it down. Parts of it are difficult to read, though. Link, our 'hero', goes through some ugly phases, and though they're understandable they're still not easy to read. His parents also put me right off near the end. The rest of the characters are mostly ciphers, which is of course the whole point. And the ending of this one wasn't nearly as upsetting as the ending of [b:S.T.A.G.S|35154365|S.T.A.G.S|M.A. Bennett|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1494944813s/35154365.jpg|56480955].
I'll definitely continue reading MA Bennett, and I hope to read many more.
Receiving an ARC did not affect my review in any way.
taylahkruisdyk's review against another edition
1.0
Link gives me major incel vibes.
the whole ‘serve me in a mini skirt and perform or i’ll starve you’ thing made me super uncomfy, and he literally starved a girl because she said no. Flora was the only good part of the book, always challenging Link’s reign, but then she went and married him. wtf.
Link looooves using people’s insecurities against them. he’s always spouting these random facts that no one asked for, or cares about. imo, he deserved every bit of bullying he went thru :)
i will never touch this book again
the whole ‘serve me in a mini skirt and perform or i’ll starve you’ thing made me super uncomfy, and he literally starved a girl because she said no. Flora was the only good part of the book, always challenging Link’s reign, but then she went and married him. wtf.
Link looooves using people’s insecurities against them. he’s always spouting these random facts that no one asked for, or cares about. imo, he deserved every bit of bullying he went thru :)
i will never touch this book again
btpbookclub's review against another edition
4.0
I have loved the S.T.A.G.S series by this author so I had to give this standalone a go and I wasn’t disappointed. The perfect young adult mystery. What turned out to be a planned two week school holiday takes a turn for the worse… Lies. Deceit. Fights. Anger. Power. Love. Hate. Bonding. Team work. This story has it all. Five totally different kids stranded on a remote island, what will they do?
Link, I loved his character. The main character, the lowest, nerdy child in the whole school becomes the clever, nerdy leader on the island and for once doesn’t face the reality of being bullied… But for how long? I don’t want to give anything away but there is a HUGE twist to this story that I never saw coming in a million years. The twist made this story for me!
It’s brilliant. A real page turner. You just want to know how they will cope… Will they get rescued. It would make a brilliant film. I loved it. Highly recommend. Four stars from me.
Link, I loved his character. The main character, the lowest, nerdy child in the whole school becomes the clever, nerdy leader on the island and for once doesn’t face the reality of being bullied… But for how long? I don’t want to give anything away but there is a HUGE twist to this story that I never saw coming in a million years. The twist made this story for me!
It’s brilliant. A real page turner. You just want to know how they will cope… Will they get rescued. It would make a brilliant film. I loved it. Highly recommend. Four stars from me.
janinnn's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
booksandlemonsquash's review against another edition
3.0
I received this book from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the middle part of this book, where they were beginning to sort things out and before it started getting weird. But I have issues with the start and the end.
The start, mostly because I didn’t feel that Lincoln’s parents would send him to that school in the first place! They’ve done no sports with him at all and send him to a sports centric school? I get that there’s a deal with the university but just didn’t seem right at all. Other than that though, while it was a little long winded, I really liked how well it showed the impact of the bullying.
The end is more complicated. I’ll talk about the middle first - I loved the start on the island. I liked how Lincoln took charge, and I even liked how he was pushing to keep it and how he dealt with every thing initially. I liked how the team pulled together (mostly!) and settled into island life.
I’m not going to spoil anything, but it’s hard to talk about the end without doing so! I saw part of the twist. I didn’t see the main bit, though wasn’t that surprised by it. But I sort of liked how far things all went, even if I was busy being creeped out by it all. The main issue I had was with basically everything post twist. I would NOT have been okay with that reveal.
Also the epilogue was definitely ott for me. Unnecessary!
The other thing I want to mention is that, for a British author, there were definitely some moments that weren’t. Not just cause of link either - one of the others says High School at some point which threw me. Oh and also, in year 9, when Link would have started, Seb was already toppers? Ahead of all the other people in the entire school? Seemed unrealistic even if he is the only quarters man in the school. And I know private schools are odd, but the whole system being based on one race time, down to what unrelated clubs you could join? Ugh.
This is a lot of rant for a book I didn’t hate, and I think that’s because I really wanted there to be more to it.
I really enjoyed the middle part of this book, where they were beginning to sort things out and before it started getting weird. But I have issues with the start and the end.
The start, mostly because I didn’t feel that Lincoln’s parents would send him to that school in the first place! They’ve done no sports with him at all and send him to a sports centric school? I get that there’s a deal with the university but just didn’t seem right at all. Other than that though, while it was a little long winded, I really liked how well it showed the impact of the bullying.
The end is more complicated. I’ll talk about the middle first - I loved the start on the island. I liked how Lincoln took charge, and I even liked how he was pushing to keep it and how he dealt with every thing initially. I liked how the team pulled together (mostly!) and settled into island life.
I’m not going to spoil anything, but it’s hard to talk about the end without doing so! I saw part of the twist. I didn’t see the main bit, though wasn’t that surprised by it. But I sort of liked how far things all went, even if I was busy being creeped out by it all. The main issue I had was with basically everything post twist. I would NOT have been okay with that reveal.
Also the epilogue was definitely ott for me. Unnecessary!
The other thing I want to mention is that, for a British author, there were definitely some moments that weren’t. Not just cause of link either - one of the others says High School at some point which threw me. Oh and also, in year 9, when Link would have started, Seb was already toppers? Ahead of all the other people in the entire school? Seemed unrealistic even if he is the only quarters man in the school. And I know private schools are odd, but the whole system being based on one race time, down to what unrelated clubs you could join? Ugh.
This is a lot of rant for a book I didn’t hate, and I think that’s because I really wanted there to be more to it.
charlmax's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
scrollsofdragons's review against another edition
1.0
Wow. If you want a book about a shitty group of people who do fucked up stuff to one another that all gets forgiven in the end and get given everything they ever wanted then you're welcome to this book. But none of them, even the adults, deserved shit and I am so mad that nobody made the price.
These are some things that pissed me off about this book because I'm too mad to write a review:
1. Seriously Seb who treated Gil like a slave, who bullied and harassed him until another victim came along they later end up together? And then Link who starved Flora because she wouldn't perform for him later gets married to her? Gil and Flora where's your respect for yourselves?
Also, what a bad, bad message to send to teens since this is a YA book that you should end up with someone abused you.
2. I can't believe these kids all ended up in the careers they wanted. They don't deserve it. Like what's the life lesson here-be awful and you're still get what you want? Fuck off.
3. Link as president. Are you having a laugh? Seriously? He's gonna run the states? Fuck me, I feel for the American public. (And I mean, there already fucked and when they think it's over, nope they got Link next.)
4. Are private schools really like what? How horrific.
5. Worst parents ever. What kind of parents approve for their kids to be drugged, dropped out of an airplane into a deserted island, watched by cameras without their consent and forced to hunt, kill and be treated like shit for a experiment.
Shitty ones that's who. Especially Link's parents being behind it all, who does that to their son when you know he is already getting bullied (though you swear you don't know how bad which fine whatever you say) they don't ever apologize and Link hardly gets mad at them, they are forgiven like in a instant.
I am so angry on behalf of these kids.
6. Where are the ethics in such a experiment? There's none. And at the end of the novel, this experiment is not even portrayed as a bad thing. What the fuck?
Spoiler
These are some things that pissed me off about this book because I'm too mad to write a review:
1. Seriously Seb who treated Gil like a slave, who bullied and harassed him until another victim came along they later end up together? And then Link who starved Flora because she wouldn't perform for him later gets married to her? Gil and Flora where's your respect for yourselves?
Also, what a bad, bad message to send to teens since this is a YA book that you should end up with someone abused you.
2. I can't believe these kids all ended up in the careers they wanted. They don't deserve it. Like what's the life lesson here-be awful and you're still get what you want? Fuck off.
3. Link as president. Are you having a laugh? Seriously? He's gonna run the states? Fuck me, I feel for the American public. (And I mean, there already fucked and when they think it's over, nope they got Link next.)
4. Are private schools really like what? How horrific.
5. Worst parents ever. What kind of parents approve for their kids to be drugged, dropped out of an airplane into a deserted island, watched by cameras without their consent and forced to hunt, kill and be treated like shit for a experiment.
Shitty ones that's who. Especially Link's parents being behind it all, who does that to their son when you know he is already getting bullied (though you swear you don't know how bad which fine whatever you say) they don't ever apologize and Link hardly gets mad at them, they are forgiven like in a instant.
I am so angry on behalf of these kids.
6. Where are the ethics in such a experiment? There's none. And at the end of the novel, this experiment is not even portrayed as a bad thing. What the fuck?