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dandelionsteph's review
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Making a book Choose Your Own Adventure-style in a series where that normally isn't the case was a bold move. It was thematically woven in well, with the conceit of rewinding time to the start of the day. However, making room for dead-end paths and converging paths necessarily reduces the number of pages dedicated to the main plot, risking simplifying the plot and reducing character development.
I was a little disappointed that all the challenges to get the unlock code were dinosaur-themed, and even re-used the same few kinds of dinosaurs. (I think Owen himself complained about the lack of herbivores.) If they must all be situated in South Dakota in the Cretaceous, they could at least use different dinosaurs, and it would be even better if they used lesser-seen species like Spinosaurus or Alvarezsaurus (or South Dakota stand-ins, if it must be scientifically accurate).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Death
whyalea's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
salmamander's review against another edition
5.0
So Kara is now my all time favorite fictional character and I really have no regrets
eliana_robins20's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
verkisto's review
4.0
The whole Story Thieves series has been pretty clever so far, but Riley raises that cleverness a notch by turning the fourth novel into a choose-your-own-adventure story. Since the series frequently breaks the fourth wall for Owen and Bethany's adventures, Riley brings the reader in as an important character in the story, which makes sense, since most of the CYOA books were written in the second person. Pick the Plot, though, is not.
This time around, Owen is trapped in a time prison back in prehistoric times, and the prison is set up so that it resets at the end of each day, putting the prisoners back on their first day there, with no memories of what happened in the previous day. Since the story sometimes sends the readers back to the beginning of the story to pick the next choice in a situation, the conceit works well, even if it means the story is pretty much on rails. As I was reading, I cheated with some choices so I could make sure I read the whole book, but it turns out that Riley will still steer you in the direction he wants you to go. There is a divergence in the story that alters part of the plot, but it reconnects with the ending so there's still only one complete plot. For a book in a series, though, this is to be expected; if there were different endings, it would affect the next book.
Speaking of which, it looks like Story Thieves is coming to an end with the next book. While I wouldn't mind seeing more stories set in this universe, I'm glad that Riley is working toward a known ending, instead of carrying the series out through too many books. It's been a fun ride, thanks in part to how clever it's been, but it feels like it will be going out on a good note. I'll be starting the final book immediately after this one, so I'll let y'all know.
This time around, Owen is trapped in a time prison back in prehistoric times, and the prison is set up so that it resets at the end of each day, putting the prisoners back on their first day there, with no memories of what happened in the previous day. Since the story sometimes sends the readers back to the beginning of the story to pick the next choice in a situation, the conceit works well, even if it means the story is pretty much on rails. As I was reading, I cheated with some choices so I could make sure I read the whole book, but it turns out that Riley will still steer you in the direction he wants you to go. There is a divergence in the story that alters part of the plot, but it reconnects with the ending so there's still only one complete plot. For a book in a series, though, this is to be expected; if there were different endings, it would affect the next book.
Speaking of which, it looks like Story Thieves is coming to an end with the next book. While I wouldn't mind seeing more stories set in this universe, I'm glad that Riley is working toward a known ending, instead of carrying the series out through too many books. It's been a fun ride, thanks in part to how clever it's been, but it feels like it will be going out on a good note. I'll be starting the final book immediately after this one, so I'll let y'all know.
kabamango22's review
3.0
While I'm not much of a fan nowadays of "Choose Your Own Adventure", or "Pick the Plot", books as I was back in childhood, this wasn't a bad book. It stuck with the previous novel in the serious and continued on with Owen at the end of Secret Origins.
That being said - I dislike having to flip back and forth through books like that. I'm not sure how I feel about this whole series dragging us readers into this whole mess with the fourth wall breaks and all that. When I'd started this series, I had a different idea of what this was about. I'm not disappointed, per se, and I will finish this series (one left).
That all being said, this books is good for its position in the Story Thieves series and definitely a break from the first three (even if it's not a format I would have liked to read).
That being said - I dislike having to flip back and forth through books like that. I'm not sure how I feel about this whole series dragging us readers into this whole mess with the fourth wall breaks and all that. When I'd started this series, I had a different idea of what this was about. I'm not disappointed, per se, and I will finish this series (one left).
That all being said, this books is good for its position in the Story Thieves series and definitely a break from the first three (even if it's not a format I would have liked to read).
katiejackson's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
informative
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? No
5.0
jesbee's review against another edition
5.0
I don’t have words for this review. My mind is honestly still reeling from trying to comprehend it all! I mean, it was written in a choose your own adventure style of writing, there’s still the whole aspect of nonfictional people in fictional worlds, then throw in some time travel, too...plus it all still moved the storyline forward even with the reader (me) making choices. That was wild. I need to sit and think for a bit, haha!!
bangerlm's review against another edition
5.0
This book is so clever and fun. So many things to love:dinosaurs, time travel, choose your own adventure, super complicated plot that questions your own existence, super powers, magic, and a lot of villains. You might think that all of that is too over the top, but it is executed so well, that it is just awesome.
trs24's review
5.0
4.5 Golden Stars
93%
3rd Best of 2021
wow! the end(s) gave me goosebumps! now I don't know I should go to the next book or just stare at the wall.
Pick the Plot (literally!)
Sci-fi themed
it was such a fun Interactive book, exciting experience as I followed all the options!
& it really felt like Owen talking to me! AWESOME!
I laughed a lot! every book, I noticed I really missed Owen!
At first it was a little confusing, then, especially after the challenges, it paced up! (the first part was great too, but the second, was just BRILLIANT!) full of twists & surprises that I didn't see them coming! like at all!
I enjoyed it a lot!
Wow! I love this series!
so Unique!
every book has a sub-genre theme inside this whole general fantasy.
I just can't say how much I loved it!
-
P.S.
& it was the best choice to read as I am in Loki fangirling mood! (& it was kind of fun because it published 4 years ago, but had the same vibes. even its end, like the Loki finale) you see what I mean if you read it & watched Loki :D
93%
3rd Best of 2021
wow! the end(s) gave me goosebumps! now I don't know I should go to the next book or just stare at the wall.
Pick the Plot (literally!)
Sci-fi themed
it was such a fun Interactive book, exciting experience as I followed all the options!
& it really felt like Owen talking to me! AWESOME!
I laughed a lot! every book, I noticed I really missed Owen!
At first it was a little confusing, then, especially after the challenges, it paced up! (the first part was great too, but the second, was just BRILLIANT!) full of twists & surprises that I didn't see them coming! like at all!
I enjoyed it a lot!
Wow! I love this series!
so Unique!
every book has a sub-genre theme inside this whole general fantasy.
I just can't say how much I loved it!
-
P.S.
& it was the best choice to read as I am in Loki fangirling mood! (& it was kind of fun because it published 4 years ago, but had the same vibes. even its end, like the Loki finale) you see what I mean if you read it & watched Loki :D