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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-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
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a very different reading experience than your typical murder mystery thriller. I loved the sci-fi components, and the AI POV. I also loved how the layers of the mystery are unveiled piece by piece, until the end when there’s only one character left who could’ve been responsible (and yes, I did figure it out before it was finally revealed). I definitely had to take my time reading it though because there were so many moving parts.
2.8?? I found the first half of this book wildly more entertaining and engaging than the latter half.
I think the ending really wrapped it up well, but the sci fi apocalypse vibes, world, villagers, and all the rich history between characters was just so much more interesting than the murder itself. Once we get about a third of the way through it really starts to drag over this murder, the dialogue is just constant and I feel there wasn’t enough breaks between information. Emory I found to be very dull, and I think I was supposed to like her wild steadfast conviction against the powers that be despite it all, but I found her very one note. It’s like, yes! Sherlock Holmes!! But like none of the interesting bits that make the best versions of Holmes good. Give her a wild drug addiction or something! Idk! Near the end Emory just felt like she started just getting things randomly because the plot needed it and she’s just the smartest coolest villager in the village, not because she’s doing any actual thinking. Everyone’s just like ‘wow Emory how are you sooooo smart’. And she’s like ‘because I don’t think like THE ELITE tells me to.’ As if it’s Emory herself that’s saved everyone all by herself and not like… the village of lovers of beauty and togetherness like Niema supposedly did this wholllleee charade for in the first place. Like I mentioned before too, the constant dialogue was jarring to try to keep up with the mystery, and I don’t think it was me just not being able to follow along.
Once the end wrapped up I was back and invested, Abi being a root system in the ground was literally so cool, because they mentioned before it was a biological network. I think if this novel leaned more into the sci fi and less into the murder mystery it would’ve been much stronger. I liked the ending for the story that was written, but it’s interesting reading a bit more into it. Do we think humanity is evil and should be replaced by a new kind of people that are biologically kinder? I think people are already naturally kind and nurturing….especially in small groups like the villagers are… But maybe an island that started full of billionaires and scientists creating slaves for their use in the future aren’t the best picks from the pile. I did like that Abi has been planting seeds for a long time, but I think that revelation came too late in the game to be as impactful as it could’ve been.
All in all I still really DID enjoy my time with it, especially in the first half. I might give it a reread one day just to understand the ‘murder’ itself more. I may have missed some things in the last third given the amt of dialogue, so I think a reread is in order eventually. I would probably recommend this to people who love mysteries still.
I think the ending really wrapped it up well, but the sci fi apocalypse vibes, world, villagers, and all the rich history between characters was just so much more interesting than the murder itself. Once we get about a third of the way through it really starts to drag over this murder, the dialogue is just constant and I feel there wasn’t enough breaks between information. Emory I found to be very dull, and I think I was supposed to like her wild steadfast conviction against the powers that be despite it all, but I found her very one note. It’s like, yes! Sherlock Holmes!! But like none of the interesting bits that make the best versions of Holmes good. Give her a wild drug addiction or something! Idk! Near the end Emory just felt like she started just getting things randomly because the plot needed it and she’s just the smartest coolest villager in the village, not because she’s doing any actual thinking. Everyone’s just like ‘wow Emory how are you sooooo smart’. And she’s like ‘because I don’t think like THE ELITE tells me to.’ As if it’s Emory herself that’s saved everyone all by herself and not like… the village of lovers of beauty and togetherness like Niema supposedly did this wholllleee charade for in the first place. Like I mentioned before too, the constant dialogue was jarring to try to keep up with the mystery, and I don’t think it was me just not being able to follow along.
Once the end wrapped up I was back and invested, Abi being a root system in the ground was literally so cool, because they mentioned before it was a biological network. I think if this novel leaned more into the sci fi and less into the murder mystery it would’ve been much stronger. I liked the ending for the story that was written, but it’s interesting reading a bit more into it. Do we think humanity is evil and should be replaced by a new kind of people that are biologically kinder? I think people are already naturally kind and nurturing….especially in small groups like the villagers are… But maybe an island that started full of billionaires and scientists creating slaves for their use in the future aren’t the best picks from the pile. I did like that Abi has been planting seeds for a long time, but I think that revelation came too late in the game to be as impactful as it could’ve been.
All in all I still really DID enjoy my time with it, especially in the first half. I might give it a reread one day just to understand the ‘murder’ itself more. I may have missed some things in the last third given the amt of dialogue, so I think a reread is in order eventually. I would probably recommend this to people who love mysteries still.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m giving up on this at 39%, I don’t care enough about anything and it’s a total snooze fest.
No point in trying more.
No point in trying more.