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hazelmoon's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
I was drawn to this book because the format/concept is interesting, and in terms of pulling off that concept, it worked. However, while the novel at the center of this story was intriguing and the story told through the notes in the margins was too at first, the novelty wore off before I had finished my first pass through of reading the notes.
For one thing, the justification for Jen and Eric continuing to write in the book rather than use other communication methods sometimes felt forced. And while it originally made sense for them to discuss their personal lives in the notes, once they had started meeting in person, it made less sense, and became more like a distraction from the main focus of the authorship question.
On the topic of the authorship question, that, and related questions, are set up as the main focus of story told through the marginalia, but not only are most of the questions brought up never actually answered (at least not without having to solve puzzles/codes/etc. on my own, which is not the premise I was sold this book on), that often feels like a side issue from the actual main focus: romance.
I put aphobia as a content warning for this book because not only is "[romantic] love is the most important thing in life, it's what makes us human" a consistent theme, at one point Jen writes, in response to the possibility that VMS had never had a crush, "News flash: he was human," the clear implication being that all humans have crushes, and anyone who doesn't isn't human. Even aside from that, romance pervades almost every aspect of this story. It's less prevalent in the text of Ship of Theseus itself, but in the story in the margins, Jen and Eric are falling in love, and discussing how FXC was in love with VMS, and talking about various other romances among other figures. The romance felt like the main focus more often than the mystery did.
TL;DR: If the format/concept of this book is interesting to you and you like copious amounts of romance in your supposed mystery stories, you'll probably enjoy this. But if you're hoping to read characters actually thoroughly and satisfyingly break down a mystery and/or you're not that interested in romance, probably pass on this one.
For one thing, the justification for Jen and Eric continuing to write in the book rather than use other communication methods sometimes felt forced. And while it originally made sense for them to discuss their personal lives in the notes, once they had started meeting in person, it made less sense, and became more like a distraction from the main focus of the authorship question.
On the topic of the authorship question, that, and related questions, are set up as the main focus of story told through the marginalia, but not only are most of the questions brought up never actually answered (at least not without having to solve puzzles/codes/etc. on my own, which is not the premise I was sold this book on), that often feels like a side issue from the actual main focus: romance.
I put aphobia as a content warning for this book because not only is "[romantic] love is the most important thing in life, it's what makes us human" a consistent theme, at one point Jen writes, in response to the possibility that VMS had never had a crush, "News flash: he was human," the clear implication being that all humans have crushes, and anyone who doesn't isn't human. Even aside from that, romance pervades almost every aspect of this story. It's less prevalent in the text of Ship of Theseus itself, but in the story in the margins, Jen and Eric are falling in love, and discussing how FXC was in love with VMS, and talking about various other romances among other figures. The romance felt like the main focus more often than the mystery did.
TL;DR: If the format/concept of this book is interesting to you and you like copious amounts of romance in your supposed mystery stories, you'll probably enjoy this. But if you're hoping to read characters actually thoroughly and satisfyingly break down a mystery and/or you're not that interested in romance, probably pass on this one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Acephobia/Arophobia
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