9.59k reviews for:

Silos

Hugh Howey

4.1 AVERAGE

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

3.5 stars for me. This is actually a very cool story idea, but it was really slow to start. It wasn’t until around 25% that it started getting interesting to me. After that, it started building up and really became interesting about the halfway mark. I know it’s a series, but it just kind of stopped at the end without referencing some of the people in the last 3/4 of the book who really should have at least been mentioned.

The idea of self-contained silos and all of the drama definitely should make for an interesting Netflix series. I’m looking forward to watching it.

I haven’t decided if I’m reading book 2. My husband says it happens before book 1 and explains how the silos are built and that it’s as slow as the beginning of book 1.

I wanted to like the book a lot more. There were parts that were 4-5 stars, but the beginning was just so slow that it made me just want to finish the book and be done with it. The abrupt ending didn’t help me like it more.


There's lots of good stuff here: I liked Jules as a protagonist, and quite liked the idea of the silos, although some of the narrative unfolding within it was a bit tedious. Maybe that was the point - the deadening effect of the environment to oppress its inhabitants. And the initial hora d'oeuvre, with the husband going out in search of his wife was quite a clever way of introducing the world. So, as I said, lots of good stuff, but it didn't really make me want to obsess over the world and read on onto the later volumes.
adventurous dark sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

The opening section of the book is gripping. The time spent in the characters heads as a window to this world was very well done, but as soon as the plot kicks in, the approach to the book becomes more action oriented. While action occurred in the first section, it was balanced by deep humanizing reflections and moments. The rest of the book felt like a movie outline. 

The premise is interesting. The book constantly does a switcheroo on things and creates danger that gets quickly resolved so it just doesn't really have the weight I wanted it to. If the world building want as strong and the metaphor wasn't as strong, this would be a 3.25. the .25 is for the excellent opening. 

I will read the next book, and realize this might just be more pulpy sci-fi than the opening lead me to believe. 
adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
dark mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Exciting, different, so interesting. Great book. Some language, but bearable and realistic.
adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Wonderful book! Read after seeing the first two seasons of silo- both incredible in their own ways, though I would suggest reading the books first! 

book 1 was wonderful, a short story full of questions 
book 2 was a little slow, and some of the writing felt childish and silly
book 3 was exciting, I only wished it was longer- it felt slightly rushed as we entered the climax of book 4
books 4 and 5 were nothing short of perfect, compelling in their entirety, and melted away faster than I expected! 

Overall, I am very excited for book 2 :)

good writing and fresh setting of a post apocalyptic world but i didnt feel attach to any of the characters. Sometimes it’s too long and unnecessary descriptive - like why it si all about the stairs. At the end i still had to s of questions.