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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I chowed through this book like popcorn, thanks to the story constantly plunging forward into thicker and thicker plot. The speculative side of the story is minimal for much of it (think "Orange is the New Black" plus a ghost now and then) but I was still super absorbed. Towards the end, though, the speculative element veers into REALLY COOL, really surreal territory. I got "Annihilation" vibes from it. I can't decide if I wish there was more of that throughout the book, or if its appearance at the end made it stronger for not having been drawn out. There are definitely some imperfections (including a certain revelation that at first made me go "WOW" and then go "Wait, how?"), and I didn't always love the prose, but I'm giving it 5 stars for how much it gripped me.
I'm one of those annoying people who can't stop talking about "The Girl With All the Gifts" shoving it at everyone I know that enjoy reading (and a few others). Starting in on this book I knew it wouldn't be like TGWATG, but I was curious because I loved M.R. Carey's writing style. . The language flows easily and contributes to drawing the reader in. That is the case with this book as well.
I liked the bluntness in which the characters were described and how flawed they all were. Sometimes the characters more than toed the line of cliches.
Unfortunately, to me, the story was not all that arresting. I can't put my finger on what bugged me but I occasionally felt my interest draining.
I liked the bluntness in which the characters were described and how flawed they all were. Sometimes the characters more than toed the line of cliches.
Unfortunately, to me, the story was not all that arresting. I can't put my finger on what bugged me but I occasionally felt my interest draining.
It started out interesting but as more characters and plots were added, it got messy. I only cared about Alex and Jess' story - the other characters were either too difficult to like or just weren't interesting. About halfway through, I started skipping chapters because they centered around specific characters. This book could have been half as long.
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the advanced review e-copy!
It's an interesting idea, and Carey writes well. I don't want to give a lot away because there is an interesting idea at the center of the book that is worth not being super-spoiled for. But it felt too much "~*~Orange is the New Black, Now With Added Spooky Mystery!~*~" at times for me to really enjoy it. Which sucks because a lot of the characters are complex people filled with internal conflict, and Jess Moulson is an intriguing heroine.
It just didn't grab me the way I was hoping it would until the very end. And for a book that's almost 500 pages long that's too long of a period for me to go feeling like I'm struggling to finish. I also found some of the twists easy to guess, which was kind of a downer. It just felt like two books in one and it was weird being stuck between the two at times. Is it a crime drama? Is it a horror story?
That said, if you like complex characters and intriguing redemption arcs, this book may be for you.
It's an interesting idea, and Carey writes well. I don't want to give a lot away because there is an interesting idea at the center of the book that is worth not being super-spoiled for. But it felt too much "~*~Orange is the New Black, Now With Added Spooky Mystery!~*~" at times for me to really enjoy it. Which sucks because a lot of the characters are complex people filled with internal conflict, and Jess Moulson is an intriguing heroine.
It just didn't grab me the way I was hoping it would until the very end. And for a book that's almost 500 pages long that's too long of a period for me to go feeling like I'm struggling to finish. I also found some of the twists easy to guess, which was kind of a downer. It just felt like two books in one and it was weird being stuck between the two at times. Is it a crime drama? Is it a horror story?
That said, if you like complex characters and intriguing redemption arcs, this book may be for you.
I really enjoyed this genre-hopping novel and it was my first audio (Audible) book of 2017. Part legal thriller, part "Orange is the new Black" novel and a healthy dose of the supernatural. I enjoyed the book but was preparing myself for a "safe" ending but I was pleasantly surprised. A really enjoyable read and excellently narrated by Flinty Williams.
I enjoyed this book, but it didn't cohere into a whole for me. Jess, the main character, didn't have much personality, I didn't get a good read on her. The various parts were not integrated with one another well. There's the main character's ability to walk dreams, the drug mule prison drama, and the mystery of who committed the murder Jess went to prison for, and I think they could have been woven together better.