Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.43 AVERAGE
3.43 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I had to read this book for school, which is one of the reasons why I’ve given this novel three stars; it’s a universal rule to hate any book that school makes you read. Another thing I don’t like about this book is how many of the Worldshakers’s mechanics don’t work.
However, Richard Harland’s WORLDSHAKER is an interesting novel, and the author proves himself to be a good writer.
However, Richard Harland’s WORLDSHAKER is an interesting novel, and the author proves himself to be a good writer.
adventurous
challenging
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This was a fast and light read. And it was mostly enjoyable, though definitely a young adult book. I knew it was YA, and I'm not entirely sure what I expected, but I couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed.
The writing was very simplistic. And Col's naivety and flip-flopping bothered me a lot. I mean, I suppose it's understandable given the situation, but I found he came to life-changing conclusions too simply and suddenly. Also, the treatment of female characters in the book was not impressive. Again, I can let some of it go because of the world in which the novel was set, but it still bothered me. But really, all the characters did in one way or another. They all seemed too two dimensional, the way they acted and reacted. Very little of the development felt genuine.
That said, the world created is a marvel. And I feel as though it has a lot more potential than what was realized in this book. I think it fell short for me overall because it wasn't fully realized and what was realized was far too simplistic. The short bursts of chapters (hardly even that, at about 3-5 pages each) were also jarring. The scene skips made sense, but there's no reason not to include a scene break instead of starting a whole new chapter. ... But now I'm just being picky.
Overall, again, light and easy reading. A bit of a disappointment though.
The writing was very simplistic. And Col's naivety and flip-flopping bothered me a lot. I mean, I suppose it's understandable given the situation, but I found he came to life-changing conclusions too simply and suddenly. Also, the treatment of female characters in the book was not impressive. Again, I can let some of it go because of the world in which the novel was set, but it still bothered me. But really, all the characters did in one way or another. They all seemed too two dimensional, the way they acted and reacted. Very little of the development felt genuine.
That said, the world created is a marvel. And I feel as though it has a lot more potential than what was realized in this book. I think it fell short for me overall because it wasn't fully realized and what was realized was far too simplistic. The short bursts of chapters (hardly even that, at about 3-5 pages each) were also jarring. The scene skips made sense, but there's no reason not to include a scene break instead of starting a whole new chapter. ... But now I'm just being picky.
Overall, again, light and easy reading. A bit of a disappointment though.
Similar to Downsiders, The Seventh Tower series, etc. it's a story of someone being so stuck in their worldview that it completely shakes them when they realize they've been lied to. Not a horrible story, but it just reminded me of so many other books that were realized a bit more fully.
Katharine is a judge for the Sara Douglass 'Book Series' Award. This entry is the personal opinion of Katharine herself, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of any judging panel, the judging coordinator or the Aurealis Awards management team.
I won't be recording my thoughts (if I choose to) here until after the AA are over.
I won't be recording my thoughts (if I choose to) here until after the AA are over.
Q: What do you get if you take the Hungry City Chronicles and remove most of the subtlety from them?
A: "Worldshaker."
Yes, Richard Harland's steampunk adventure "Worldshaker" does not manage to do much that is new, but it does a fairly decent job exploring the setting of a vast, moving country. Hs lead characters are likable and well-developed, but unfortunately the morality ends up being too black-and-white for most teen readers.
Col Porpentine has just been named the successor of his grandfather, who is the commander of the Worldshaker (think a portable England). He lives the elite lifestyle of the upper classes, while mute "menials" serve them, and unseen "filthies" keep the Worldshaker constantly moving. Col has lived like this all his life, and his destiny seems to be set.
You can guess what happens: he encounters an escaped Filthy girl named Riff, which shatters Col's comfortable worldview. As he learns more about the Worldshaker and the cruelty of the people who command it, he also finds that his sympathies are rapidly shifting to the Filthies.
I love futuristic steampunk adventures, and I adore the Hungry City Chronicles. But "Worldshaker" just... didn't click for me. Perhaps it's the chasm-like divide between the villains and heroes -- the villains are Evilly Evil for the sake of Evilness, while the good guys are pure of heart. No subtlety, no shades of grey.
But despite the familiar premise, it is a well-developed story. Harland devotes a lot of time to the social strata of the Worldshaker, and the class war that is rapidly brewing from the lower decks -- as well as how the upper classes are trained not to even see the Filthies as humans. He does do a good job of that.
As for Col and Riff, they are sadly the only characters given a thorough fleshing out. They're likable, but nothing special -- he's an ignorant rich boy, while she's a plucky poor girl who is trying to evade the mysterious process that turns Filthies into menials. Actually, I would have liked to see more from her perspective.
"Worldshaker" is... okay. It's not too original and there's little moral greyness, but it's still a light, enjoyable steampunk read.
A: "Worldshaker."
Yes, Richard Harland's steampunk adventure "Worldshaker" does not manage to do much that is new, but it does a fairly decent job exploring the setting of a vast, moving country. Hs lead characters are likable and well-developed, but unfortunately the morality ends up being too black-and-white for most teen readers.
Col Porpentine has just been named the successor of his grandfather, who is the commander of the Worldshaker (think a portable England). He lives the elite lifestyle of the upper classes, while mute "menials" serve them, and unseen "filthies" keep the Worldshaker constantly moving. Col has lived like this all his life, and his destiny seems to be set.
You can guess what happens: he encounters an escaped Filthy girl named Riff, which shatters Col's comfortable worldview. As he learns more about the Worldshaker and the cruelty of the people who command it, he also finds that his sympathies are rapidly shifting to the Filthies.
I love futuristic steampunk adventures, and I adore the Hungry City Chronicles. But "Worldshaker" just... didn't click for me. Perhaps it's the chasm-like divide between the villains and heroes -- the villains are Evilly Evil for the sake of Evilness, while the good guys are pure of heart. No subtlety, no shades of grey.
But despite the familiar premise, it is a well-developed story. Harland devotes a lot of time to the social strata of the Worldshaker, and the class war that is rapidly brewing from the lower decks -- as well as how the upper classes are trained not to even see the Filthies as humans. He does do a good job of that.
As for Col and Riff, they are sadly the only characters given a thorough fleshing out. They're likable, but nothing special -- he's an ignorant rich boy, while she's a plucky poor girl who is trying to evade the mysterious process that turns Filthies into menials. Actually, I would have liked to see more from her perspective.
"Worldshaker" is... okay. It's not too original and there's little moral greyness, but it's still a light, enjoyable steampunk read.
I really liked this book it had a really interesting concept it was well written I enjoyed all parts of this book. I really liked the characters especially Col and Riff I liked their interactions and how they met which was her hiding under his bed because of her Col started seeing things how they really were and not how he had thought they were. I really liked the plot of this book it was very compelling I loved everything about it from start to finish. I liked how the plot unraveled gradually with Col figuring out things were not quite right and figuring how horrible many of the people around him actually were. I liked how it came to a head and everything started to be resolved it was a really good read. So overall I loved this book I will finish the series soon.
Interesting Steam Punk but not set in Victorian times but the 1940s so a little nontraditional. Some interesting characters and situations, but some seem to easy and drawn to make a point.