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justlily's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
I really did enjoy this. I actually added a bunch of John Saul's other books to my TBR about halfway through this book. The lost stars come from 2 things.
1) It was a little long. Books are long, I got that. But it just felt unnecessary in parts. I think he easily could have shaved off about a hundred pages and still told the same story.
2) It wasn't what I thought it was going to be. Which also happens, but in this case... I just wanted your garden variety fucked up boarding school novel, you know? Which isn't quite what I got. Still interesting, still kept me guessing, just not entirely what I signed up for.
I really did enjoy this. I actually added a bunch of John Saul's other books to my TBR about halfway through this book. The lost stars come from 2 things.
1) It was a little long. Books are long, I got that. But it just felt unnecessary in parts. I think he easily could have shaved off about a hundred pages and still told the same story.
2) It wasn't what I thought it was going to be. Which also happens, but in this case... I just wanted your garden variety fucked up boarding school novel, you know? Which isn't quite what I got. Still interesting, still kept me guessing, just not entirely what I signed up for.
molekkasa's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/4
The book was promising. I was excited within the first 3 chapters and continued so till the part of the book where things start to happen.
Once I knew what was happening it went downhill for me. I felt that there were too much details when I wanted to just know what happens. It lingered a bit too long on the whole kidnapping/killing/tech.
Overall it was ok but I skipped certain words especially towards the end. This was my first John Saul's book and I didn't know what to expect. It's certainly not the horror I imagined the book to be.
3.5 coz it's better than a 3 but not near enough a 4 where I would keep the book and probably read again.
The book was promising. I was excited within the first 3 chapters and continued so till the part of the book where things start to happen.
Once I knew what was happening it went downhill for me. I felt that there were too much details when I wanted to just know what happens. It lingered a bit too long on the whole kidnapping/killing/tech.
Overall it was ok but I skipped certain words especially towards the end. This was my first John Saul's book and I didn't know what to expect. It's certainly not the horror I imagined the book to be.
3.5 coz it's better than a 3 but not near enough a 4 where I would keep the book and probably read again.
readinglegend's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5
I powered though this book til page about 250 I wanted to love this book cause I read the unwanted by him when I was younger and loved it at that time. the reason I DNFED THIS BOOK WAS CAUSE A CHARTER STARTED TORTURING ANIMALS
NOT FOR YOUNG CHILDREN OR IN MY Opinion DONT WASTE YOUR TIME LIKE I DID ON THIS BOOK
NOT FOR YOUNG CHILDREN OR IN MY Opinion DONT WASTE YOUR TIME LIKE I DID ON THIS BOOK
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty
gimchi's review against another edition
3.0
i read this way back in high school (?) and all i really remember is that it creeped me the F*CK out.
jesujuwonlo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
blacque's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting concept by itself, but the cliches were everywhere.
allyreadabook's review against another edition
dark
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? No
1.0
Plodding and at times almost lascivious in its descriptions of violence against children. This book has not aged well. Obviously no one can predict what future technology will be like, but this understanding of computers and AI feels outdated even for the time it was written. There are lots of twists and turns in the plot, but most fall apart on even the lightest inspection. The book is light on horror or thrill but there’s plenty of gore if that’s your thing. Overall not something I can recommend. It feels like the author thought “ooh, wouldn’t it be spooky of HAL from 2001 was actually a small child” and tried to write a book around that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Suicide, Child abuse, Child death, and Violence
Minor: Bullying
octa's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
constant_reader_19's review against another edition
4.0
This is a CREEPY story!!! I found the concept interesting (very scientific and a detailed journey into the possibility of Artificial Intelligence). Not too excited that the targets, ummm....main characters in the story were gifted children, but it did give the book a nice plot to work with. A good deal of suspense and creepiness, if you like that sort of thing...this book is for you!
cami1107's review against another edition
5.0
english/español
I really liked that the book has not had compassion for the characters, although I thought it was exaggerated the fact that- almost- all died, but their deaths are justifiable and logical. I do not know if I didn't read a part but do not define what happened with The Language Teacher (I do not remember his name).
Me gusto bastante que la obra no haya tenido compasión por los personajes, aunque me pareció exagerado el hecho que -casi- todos murieran, sin embargo sus muertes son justificables y lógicas. No se si me salte una parte pero no definen que pasó con El Profesor de lengua(No recuerdo su nombre).
I really liked that the book has not had compassion for the characters, although I thought it was exaggerated the fact that- almost- all died, but their deaths are justifiable and logical. I do not know if I didn't read a part but do not define what happened with The Language Teacher (I do not remember his name).
Me gusto bastante que la obra no haya tenido compasión por los personajes, aunque me pareció exagerado el hecho que -casi- todos murieran, sin embargo sus muertes son justificables y lógicas. No se si me salte una parte pero no definen que pasó con El Profesor de lengua(No recuerdo su nombre).