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theaudioauditor's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-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? Yes
5.0
ghumpherys's review against another edition
5.0
Loved listening to this! What an awesome middle grade story! I loved the world building -- the city built into a mountain where creativity is pretty much illegal. Loved the main characters and their growing friendship. Loved the dragon! Loved it!
scostner's review against another edition
4.0
Living in COVE is supposed to keep everyone safe from the outside world, a world too dangerous to live in because of the pollution from too much technology. So there are rules against creativity or against unauthorized tinkering, rules that tell you what foods to eat on which days, and rules for just about everything else. But Trenton has a very inquisitive mind and strong mechanical skills; he just can't help wanting to take things apart and improve them. When he discovers a strange metal tube, his curiosity leads him to Kallista, another inquisitive mechanic. Their search to find other pieces like the tube and to solve the mystery of why Kallista's father left all these pieces leads them to a secret big enough to endanger their lives.
This story reminded me of The City of Ember for many reasons. There is the setting itself, a city buried underground away from a world that is dangerous to humans. Then there are the main characters who are both teenagers working to solve the puzzle of what the city's founders were really trying to do. School is another similarity - the students all are assigned jobs in the city when they reach a certain age and many of them are not placed in the jobs they hope to get. Even the secret passed down from a family member happens in both stories, although the secret in Ember is misplaced due to the sudden death of the secret's keeper.
If you like stories where characters are fighting a system that restricts them from what they are truly born to do, or where kids are trying to do the right thing and dishonest leaders are trying to stop them, or even if you just like large mechanical dragons - then this book is for you. Be careful though, because it will hook you and then you will have to read the rest of the series.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher for review purposes.
This story reminded me of The City of Ember for many reasons. There is the setting itself, a city buried underground away from a world that is dangerous to humans. Then there are the main characters who are both teenagers working to solve the puzzle of what the city's founders were really trying to do. School is another similarity - the students all are assigned jobs in the city when they reach a certain age and many of them are not placed in the jobs they hope to get. Even the secret passed down from a family member happens in both stories, although the secret in Ember is misplaced due to the sudden death of the secret's keeper.
If you like stories where characters are fighting a system that restricts them from what they are truly born to do, or where kids are trying to do the right thing and dishonest leaders are trying to stop them, or even if you just like large mechanical dragons - then this book is for you. Be careful though, because it will hook you and then you will have to read the rest of the series.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher for review purposes.
libscote's review against another edition
4.0
I easily finished this in one afternoon, so it is quite readable. It's a world where invention and creativity are taboo, as "we are all cogs in a great machine." Trenton can't help himself though. He has to try to improve things. This desire (and the trouble it brings him) lead him to Kallista Bambridge, someone else who loves to tinker. Can they save their city before it's too late?
Quick moving with chapter breaks. I liked it.
Quick moving with chapter breaks. I liked it.
tiredmomliving's review against another edition
3.0
My son chose this as the read aloud for our family, and it took us forever because of short attention spans. Wouldn’t recommend it unless all of your children 8+ or so.
The story was fun enough with some twists, and some of the characters were interesting, but I’m not so engrossed in the story that I feel the need to read the next book. I’m happy with how it ended and will leave it at that.
My son, who breathes dragons and enjoys steampunk, adored the series and says they’re his favorite books he’s ever read.
The story was fun enough with some twists, and some of the characters were interesting, but I’m not so engrossed in the story that I feel the need to read the next book. I’m happy with how it ended and will leave it at that.
My son, who breathes dragons and enjoys steampunk, adored the series and says they’re his favorite books he’s ever read.
nbwessler's review against another edition
3.0
Starts out pretty reminiscent of works like City of Ember and The Giver, and there were a lot of bits that felt a bit too predictable. But then there’s a twist that I really didn’t see coming and which shifts to the plot into something more unique. There were times I really couldn’t wait to see what would happen and others when I had to force myself to keep reading. (I’m not sure if this is a fault of the pacing or my own interests and impatience.) Overall, a solid read. And I am interested to find out where the story will go in the sequel.
Librarian perspective alert: This book really ties into the whole maker culture thing. It’s a very STEM-y/STEAM-y book. Definitely worth incorporating in your collection if you’ve got a population of middle-grade makers!
ARC provided by Net Galley.
Spoiler
(I was really intrigued by the concept of the constant advance of technology destroying the environment and causing us to move underground. Since, y'know, it isn’t outside the realm of possibility, see e-waste. A little disappointed with how this wasn’t quite the case.)Librarian perspective alert: This book really ties into the whole maker culture thing. It’s a very STEM-y/STEAM-y book. Definitely worth incorporating in your collection if you’ve got a population of middle-grade makers!
ARC provided by Net Galley.
a_l_deleon's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book in one day. It's a good story but more for a younger audience than myself. Overall, I enjoyed reading it.
tbrxrae's review against another edition
4.0
In a #dystopian city under a mountain #trenton can't help but tinker with things. All to impress a girl. He ends up getting in major trouble and vows to never be creative, but he accidentally gets sucked into a mystery with the wild and impossible #kallista . Nothing is as they learned it and #dragons
Overall I'd give this a 4 out of 5 for pre teens and teens. Its got a great balance of curiosity killed the cat vs curiosity being extremely helpful.
Spice - none, a kids book
Heat- I'm all for Kallista x Trenton but not sure where this possibility goes
Tears - Trentons mom and Kallistas dads stories are pretty sad and there are a few moments when you are scared for Trenton.
The suspence comes at the end of the story when Kallista and trenton make headway with their mystery all the way until the end of the book.
Friendship stans- kallista x trenton , trenton x clyde , Symonie x trenton
Inspo - there is an element of curiosity and creativity being inspiring in the book.
Reading level - advanced 4th grade readers to possibly 9th grade readers.
I grabbed this book on whim and I am very pleased I picked it up. I'm impressed with kallista and I will probably read the next in the series.
Overall I'd give this a 4 out of 5 for pre teens and teens. Its got a great balance of curiosity killed the cat vs curiosity being extremely helpful.
Spice - none, a kids book
Heat- I'm all for Kallista x Trenton but not sure where this possibility goes
Tears - Trentons mom and Kallistas dads stories are pretty sad and there are a few moments when you are scared for Trenton.
The suspence comes at the end of the story when Kallista and trenton make headway with their mystery all the way until the end of the book.
Friendship stans- kallista x trenton , trenton x clyde , Symonie x trenton
Inspo - there is an element of curiosity and creativity being inspiring in the book.
Reading level - advanced 4th grade readers to possibly 9th grade readers.
I grabbed this book on whim and I am very pleased I picked it up. I'm impressed with kallista and I will probably read the next in the series.
drowninginthewords_jessica's review against another edition
3.0
mild spelling mistakes, sentence grammar that held WTF moments and several read throughs to understand what was being said. overall nicely put together story. characters great and innovative