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alexinitalics's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
2.25
This book has everything, Malorie Blackman's writing, a forbidden romance, murder mystery and it's set in space! So why did I leave it on hiatus for over a year?
I don't like dnf-ing books but then I put this book back on the shelf and found I had very little motivation to finish reading it. I didn't particularly connect to any of the characters but especially the main romance and its drama, I just had no interest in reading about. And the murder mystery, one of my favourite genres, felt very pushed to the side. It's hard to talk properly about this book given I read the first half so long ago but I will say the major reveal of the book I felt was well done. I will go back and re read this whole book one day and maybe then I'll enjoy it more. Or I'll just be reminded why I struggled to finish reading it the first time. A bit disappointing but mainly due to me having such high standards for it
I don't like dnf-ing books but then I put this book back on the shelf and found I had very little motivation to finish reading it. I didn't particularly connect to any of the characters but especially the main romance and its drama, I just had no interest in reading about. And the murder mystery, one of my favourite genres, felt very pushed to the side. It's hard to talk properly about this book given I read the first half so long ago but I will say the major reveal of the book I felt was well done. I will go back and re read this whole book one day and maybe then I'll enjoy it more. Or I'll just be reminded why I struggled to finish reading it the first time. A bit disappointing but mainly due to me having such high standards for it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual content, and Child death
Minor: Classism, Pandemic/Epidemic, and War
hilary_h's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
slow-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
3.25
This book had some great plot twists I can't lie. But the one of the biggest ones was so obvious that anyone could see it from a mile a way (the person who was causing all the trouble and murders).
The main relationship in the book really made my blood boil. It wasn't a relationship at all, it was just a bunch of miscommunications, mistrust and "fixing" these problems with the lazy simple solution every other chapter(if yk what I mean) which doesn't actually solve anything. Nate and Vee agree to something in the beginning of the book <they get married after knowing each other for like 2 months🤦‍♀️>that proves my point that Vee was just caught up in her feelings because she hadn't had contact with another boy other than her brother for 3 years, and Nate was irresponsible for taking advantage and thinking they were a good idea when Vee was so vulnerable. Not to mention she's only 19.
I would have given this book a bit of a higher rating if the end didn't go on for so long. Blackman definitely could have cut out some pages as they were so unnecessary as the biggest twist had already happened and all problems were solved. It made the last 50 pages or so such a bore to read as it wasn't getting anymore interesting but I still had an hour and a half of reading to do to finish it.
I'd give this book a lower rating as I can go on and on about all the things I don't like about it, but the few breath-taking plot twists save it ever so slightly. But I wouldn't recommend this.
(also we could also really do with some sort of warning or hint at the blurb or something that the intimate scenes are so graphic and detailed before diving into the book!)
The main relationship in the book really made my blood boil. It wasn't a relationship at all, it was just a bunch of miscommunications, mistrust and "fixing" these problems with the lazy simple solution every other chapter(if yk what I mean) which doesn't actually solve anything. Nate and Vee agree to something in the beginning of the book <they get married after knowing each other for like 2 months🤦‍♀️>that proves my point that Vee was just caught up in her feelings because she hadn't had contact with another boy other than her brother for 3 years, and Nate was irresponsible for taking advantage and thinking they were a good idea when Vee was so vulnerable. Not to mention she's only 19.
I would have given this book a bit of a higher rating if the end didn't go on for so long. Blackman definitely could have cut out some pages as they were so unnecessary as the biggest twist had already happened and all problems were solved. It made the last 50 pages or so such a bore to read as it wasn't getting anymore interesting but I still had an hour and a half of reading to do to finish it.
I'd give this book a lower rating as I can go on and on about all the things I don't like about it, but the few breath-taking plot twists save it ever so slightly. But I wouldn't recommend this.
(also we could also really do with some sort of warning or hint at the blurb or something that the intimate scenes are so graphic and detailed before diving into the book!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Sexual content
Moderate: Blood
12dejamoo's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
It makes me sad to give this 2 stars because I would honestly do anything for Malorie Blackman. I've never been a fan of that insta love thing, and some of the conflicts seemed really silly, like these people were just a bit too immature at times.
I do really love Malorie Blackman's writing in general, even when the book itself (in this case) isn't my favourite. You can just tell she's from London and that always feels very comfy.
Spoiler-y bit
I honestly can't believe this is the second book I've read where the couple get married off-screen and then announce it really randomly. After knowing each other for like 2 weeks as well! They had such an easy and fun banter going on, and I actually giggled out loud at some point, but then the next chapter they were married and then their relationship no longer had any intrigue. I did really like how it ended though - I saw how few pages were left and I was worried we'd have a quick turnaround moment but the fact that we didn't just proves to me how great Malorie Blackman is.
I also didn't mind the Aidan robot reveal. It felt a little abrupt but in a 'this is a ya book' way, not in a 'this is bad writing' way. And I think Vee's grief over it was pretty good, although I feel she'd probably be a bit more torn up.
I think in general Vee was a really interesting character and I mostly liked spending time in her head, and although I think the third act conflict was blown slightly out of proportion, in her defence she was manipulated into believing a certain thing, and rather than calmly talk to her, Nathan went on the defensive and then was shocked that she was still angry
I do really love Malorie Blackman's writing in general, even when the book itself (in this case) isn't my favourite. You can just tell she's from London and that always feels very comfy.
Spoiler-y bit
I also didn't mind the Aidan robot reveal. It felt a little abrupt but in a 'this is a ya book' way, not in a 'this is bad writing' way. And I think Vee's grief over it was pretty good, although I feel she'd probably be a bit more torn up.
I think in general Vee was a really interesting character and I mostly liked spending time in her head, and although I think the third act conflict was blown slightly out of proportion, in her defence she was manipulated into believing a certain thing, and rather than calmly talk to her, Nathan went on the defensive and then was shocked that she was still angry
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Murder, Slavery, Xenophobia, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity and Xenophobia
devyngh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
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