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fieryfred's review
adventurous
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
claytell's review against another edition
3.0
It was interesting. I like how the kids D&D play was a part of an alternate story within A story. Multiverse and time travel with yet another spin. It was alright.
juliasilge's review against another edition
4.0
This is the second DnD-themed book I have read in a row
humanignorance's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. The plot and characters were pretty consistently engaging, but none of the ideas were particularly new or unique. Several things happened (or didn’t) which seemed suspiciously like contrivances to make the plot go a certain way rather than as elements of good story-telling. The time travel aspect was well-handled, at least: this is a subgenre in which it is very easy to go wrong. The conclusion was satisfying.
sluna's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
apeeks's review against another edition
2.0
I decided to read this book after a glowing review from one of my favorite fantasy authors, Robin Hobb. The first half of the book is extremely slow but hits a decent stride once the plot is revealed. I was genuinely interested in the second half of the book but the end left me with two strong feelings.
First - The book does not payoff on many plot lines introduced. There are some very interesting ideas started in the second half that are almost abandoned as the book reaches conclusion.
Second - While I didn't enjoy the ending of the book the story reaches an adequate conclusion. Lately I've ran into too many fiction books that end on total cliff hangers.
Although this is a trilogy, I don't feel compelled to read any additional books. The story was OKAY, the characters are rather bland, and the story is a bit predictable.
First - The book does not payoff on many plot lines introduced. There are some very interesting ideas started in the second half that are almost abandoned as the book reaches conclusion.
Second - While I didn't enjoy the ending of the book the story reaches an adequate conclusion. Lately I've ran into too many fiction books that end on total cliff hangers.
Although this is a trilogy, I don't feel compelled to read any additional books. The story was OKAY, the characters are rather bland, and the story is a bit predictable.
bethtabler's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this story in exchange for my open and honest review.
There is a magic power associated with adolescence. It is a collection of moments where you step out of the warm and safe embrace of childhood. And stick your proverbial toe in the cold waters of adulthood. It can be exhilarating. It can be terrifying in equal and confusing parts — all newness of experiences and the rush of first-times.
Now throw in cancer into childhood. The big C. The silent lurking predator that ravages your body and soul while you attempt to survive while being stripped and flayed alive. Cancer is the stuff of nightmares for adults, but for children who have enough mental juggling going on, it is world changing. It is hard to talk about adolescence and cancer without going down the dark path of maudlin. But this story isn't about swimming through the muck and mire of disease.
It could have been in lesser authorial hands, but it isn't.
What this story is, is a nostalgic trip into childhood built with the strength and craft of someone who remembers what it was like. This is written by someone who knows the sweet and enduring pleasures of friendship, the fantastic wild fun of D&D, and the relationships those two can create. This story was an absolute treat to read.
One Word Kill starts like a lot of stories do with a boy and his friends. I'll introduce his friends, but that's it. All of Lawrence's stories hold their own. They don't need me to run down the plot, because that is no fun for anyone. Meet Nick, the narrator of the story, the protagonist in 1980's London, newly diagnosed with leukemia, has a brilliant and advanced mind bent towards Quantum Theory. Simon, who can do mental computations in seconds. Elton, who can move like a spider and practices kung fu with his five brothers. John, the rich and cool kid that is written without stereotypes. And Mia. Mia is a smart, goth girl who is the heart of the story in so many ways. Friendships like these are what can make a person brilliant as an adult. Lawrence combines so much into such a short and excellent story. Cancer, adolescence, friendship, physics, D&D, time travel, and a charming love story. It has everything you would expect from Lawrence as a writer plus so much more you didn't know he had in him. Lawrence, thank you for the nostalgia of my childhood growing up in the 1980s. Thank you for the friendship and these fascinating characters that I get to take with me. Thank you.
If you would like to read more of my reviews, please check out my blog at www.beforewegoblog.com
There is a magic power associated with adolescence. It is a collection of moments where you step out of the warm and safe embrace of childhood. And stick your proverbial toe in the cold waters of adulthood. It can be exhilarating. It can be terrifying in equal and confusing parts — all newness of experiences and the rush of first-times.
Now throw in cancer into childhood. The big C. The silent lurking predator that ravages your body and soul while you attempt to survive while being stripped and flayed alive. Cancer is the stuff of nightmares for adults, but for children who have enough mental juggling going on, it is world changing. It is hard to talk about adolescence and cancer without going down the dark path of maudlin. But this story isn't about swimming through the muck and mire of disease.
It could have been in lesser authorial hands, but it isn't.
What this story is, is a nostalgic trip into childhood built with the strength and craft of someone who remembers what it was like. This is written by someone who knows the sweet and enduring pleasures of friendship, the fantastic wild fun of D&D, and the relationships those two can create. This story was an absolute treat to read.
One Word Kill starts like a lot of stories do with a boy and his friends. I'll introduce his friends, but that's it. All of Lawrence's stories hold their own. They don't need me to run down the plot, because that is no fun for anyone. Meet Nick, the narrator of the story, the protagonist in 1980's London, newly diagnosed with leukemia, has a brilliant and advanced mind bent towards Quantum Theory. Simon, who can do mental computations in seconds. Elton, who can move like a spider and practices kung fu with his five brothers. John, the rich and cool kid that is written without stereotypes. And Mia. Mia is a smart, goth girl who is the heart of the story in so many ways. Friendships like these are what can make a person brilliant as an adult. Lawrence combines so much into such a short and excellent story. Cancer, adolescence, friendship, physics, D&D, time travel, and a charming love story. It has everything you would expect from Lawrence as a writer plus so much more you didn't know he had in him. Lawrence, thank you for the nostalgia of my childhood growing up in the 1980s. Thank you for the friendship and these fascinating characters that I get to take with me. Thank you.
If you would like to read more of my reviews, please check out my blog at www.beforewegoblog.com
bethtabler's review against another edition
5.0
There is a magic power associated with adolescence. It is a collection of moments where you step out of the warm and safe embrace of childhood. And stick your proverbial toe in the cold waters of adulthood. It can be exhilarating. It can be terrifying in equal and confusing parts — all newness of experiences and the rush of first-times.
Now throw in cancer into childhood. The big C. The silent lurking predator that ravages your body and soul while you attempt to survive while being stripped and flayed alive. Cancer is the stuff of nightmares for adults, but for children who have enough mental juggling going on, it is world changing. It is hard to talk about adolescence and cancer without going down the dark path of maudlin. But this story isn't about swimming through the muck and mire of disease.
It could have been in lesser authorial hands, but it isn't.
What this story is, is a nostalgic trip into childhood built with the strength and craft of someone who remembers what it was like. This is written by someone who knows the sweet and enduring pleasures of friendship, the fantastic wild fun of D&D, and the relationships those two can create. This story was an absolute treat to read.
One Word Kill starts like a lot of stories do with a boy and his friends. I'll introduce his friends, but that's it. All of Lawrence's stories hold their own. They don't need me to run down the plot, because that is no fun for anyone. Meet Nick, the narrator of the story, the protagonist in 1980's London, newly diagnosed with leukemia, has a brilliant and advanced mind bent towards Quantum Theory. Simon, who can do mental computations in seconds. Elton, who can move like a spider and practices kung fu with his five brothers. John, the rich and cool kid that is written without stereotypes. And Mia. Mia is a smart, goth girl who is the heart of the story in so many ways. Friendships like these are what can make a person brilliant as an adult. Lawrence combines so much into such a short and excellent story. Cancer, adolescence, friendship, physics, D&D, time travel, and a charming love story. It has everything you would expect from Lawrence as a writer plus so much more you didn't know he had in him. Lawrence, thank you for the nostalgia of my childhood growing up in the 1980s. Thank you for the friendship and these fascinating characters that I get to take with me. Thank you.
If you would like to read more of my reviews, please check out my blog at www.beforewegoblog.com
Now throw in cancer into childhood. The big C. The silent lurking predator that ravages your body and soul while you attempt to survive while being stripped and flayed alive. Cancer is the stuff of nightmares for adults, but for children who have enough mental juggling going on, it is world changing. It is hard to talk about adolescence and cancer without going down the dark path of maudlin. But this story isn't about swimming through the muck and mire of disease.
It could have been in lesser authorial hands, but it isn't.
What this story is, is a nostalgic trip into childhood built with the strength and craft of someone who remembers what it was like. This is written by someone who knows the sweet and enduring pleasures of friendship, the fantastic wild fun of D&D, and the relationships those two can create. This story was an absolute treat to read.
One Word Kill starts like a lot of stories do with a boy and his friends. I'll introduce his friends, but that's it. All of Lawrence's stories hold their own. They don't need me to run down the plot, because that is no fun for anyone. Meet Nick, the narrator of the story, the protagonist in 1980's London, newly diagnosed with leukemia, has a brilliant and advanced mind bent towards Quantum Theory. Simon, who can do mental computations in seconds. Elton, who can move like a spider and practices kung fu with his five brothers. John, the rich and cool kid that is written without stereotypes. And Mia. Mia is a smart, goth girl who is the heart of the story in so many ways. Friendships like these are what can make a person brilliant as an adult. Lawrence combines so much into such a short and excellent story. Cancer, adolescence, friendship, physics, D&D, time travel, and a charming love story. It has everything you would expect from Lawrence as a writer plus so much more you didn't know he had in him. Lawrence, thank you for the nostalgia of my childhood growing up in the 1980s. Thank you for the friendship and these fascinating characters that I get to take with me. Thank you.
If you would like to read more of my reviews, please check out my blog at www.beforewegoblog.com
hank's review against another edition
4.0
I feel like I am running out of words for my reviews. Reading through some of my prior ones, it seems like I use many of the same descriptions for all of them. This will be no different. Ha!
I am a huge fan of Lawrence and of course that brings expectations. This is a departure from his usual fantasy and it took me a couple of chapters to get used to it. His writing when describing an otherworldly fantasy scene can be understated and subtle which just adds mystery to a made up world. When describing an urban environment we are all somewhat familiar with it can feel flat and not descriptive enough. A couple of chapters in however and I too was in.
These are the sci-fi stories that I love. Ones that intelligently twist your mind with some foreshadowing that makes you somewhat confident you know what is going to happen but not positive and your brain keeps winding down different paths exploring what could happen.
I can't say much about the book because I feel like just about everything could be a spoiler. The characters, premise and story were all very good. The ending excellent, the middle a bit aimless and the bad guy seemed a bit cartoonish and shoved in to make a plot.
4.5 stars because I love Lawrence -.5 because IMO he his urban sci-fi needs something I can't put my finger on. Definitely going to read the next in the trilogy but I can't for the life of me figure out how the story continues.
I am a huge fan of Lawrence and of course that brings expectations. This is a departure from his usual fantasy and it took me a couple of chapters to get used to it. His writing when describing an otherworldly fantasy scene can be understated and subtle which just adds mystery to a made up world. When describing an urban environment we are all somewhat familiar with it can feel flat and not descriptive enough. A couple of chapters in however and I too was in.
These are the sci-fi stories that I love. Ones that intelligently twist your mind with some foreshadowing that makes you somewhat confident you know what is going to happen but not positive and your brain keeps winding down different paths exploring what could happen.
I can't say much about the book because I feel like just about everything could be a spoiler. The characters, premise and story were all very good. The ending excellent, the middle a bit aimless and the bad guy seemed a bit cartoonish and shoved in to make a plot.
4.5 stars because I love Lawrence -.5 because IMO he his urban sci-fi needs something I can't put my finger on. Definitely going to read the next in the trilogy but I can't for the life of me figure out how the story continues.