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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
adventurous
dark
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Hmmm I’m finding that my reviews are not saved if I don’t mark “finished” and then review it.
This was one of my first audible forays into YA dystopian fiction. I enjoyed the story in book one, the romance was annoying (just FYI I’m NOT a fan of books that describe kisses and desire etc, they can just leave all of that out if you ask me) and rather unrealistic, but not too bad. However in book 2 and 3 the romance gets worse, and the story seems to go nowhere. I finally returned the three books I had in the series after I realized there are WAY better books on audible.
This was one of my first audible forays into YA dystopian fiction. I enjoyed the story in book one, the romance was annoying (just FYI I’m NOT a fan of books that describe kisses and desire etc, they can just leave all of that out if you ask me) and rather unrealistic, but not too bad. However in book 2 and 3 the romance gets worse, and the story seems to go nowhere. I finally returned the three books I had in the series after I realized there are WAY better books on audible.
adventurous
challenging
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
the world building is really good and it's what initially drew me to read it, the novel had so much potential with the main plot. but honestly i just hated this book so much. the characters were awful and mostly two dimensional, some of them felt like they were only there for plot convenience purposes and some of the relationships just felt unrealistic. i was not a fan of the romance and the writing is so inexplicably cringe at times it made me close the book for several minutes until i recovered from the absolute ridiculousness of the descriptions or dialogue. although it's YA and i don't expect it to have excessively poetic writing, some of the phrasing is genuinely abysmal
3.5/5 ⭐.
I have a LOT to say about this book, but am pressed for time right now, so until I can give this review justice, here are some thoughts:
Overall the book is pretty solid. It's enjoyable enough to read, even with some pacing issues and some characters and relationships falling very flat to me. I like the concept and found myself really loving the descriptions of the Tower and the people within. A lot of the writing felt immature, but it's YA so I don't think this is a legitimate gripe. I really loved the book-- thought some of the things the characters got away with were definitely far-fetched, especially for the strictness of the Tower in which they were living, but I mean... It was fun to read. Moments that were supposed to be twists and or hurt/shock you fell extremely flat each time; the shocking moments were revealed in world-building and dialog, to be honest. The ending-- not even just the very ending, but about the last seven chapters, just felt... Bad. Not Bad in a Good, dystopian way-- but poorly written. I did not really enjoy them, and the twist at the very end did not leave me wanting to read more. It honestly made me just want to read a summary of the next books. The ending was very abrupt and built for a cliffhanger, which is just... A crutch that authors need to stop relying on to sell their series.
Anyways, I'm a sucker for dystopia, especially super weird far-fetched ones, so... Whatever.
I was expecting something terrible after reading A Shade of Vampire and hating it. But this book is solid.
I have a LOT to say about this book, but am pressed for time right now, so until I can give this review justice, here are some thoughts:
Overall the book is pretty solid. It's enjoyable enough to read, even with some pacing issues and some characters and relationships falling very flat to me. I like the concept and found myself really loving the descriptions of the Tower and the people within. A lot of the writing felt immature, but it's YA so I don't think this is a legitimate gripe. I really loved the book-- thought some of the things the characters got away with were definitely far-fetched, especially for the strictness of the Tower in which they were living, but I mean... It was fun to read. Moments that were supposed to be twists and or hurt/shock you fell extremely flat each time; the shocking moments were revealed in world-building and dialog, to be honest. The ending-- not even just the very ending, but about the last seven chapters, just felt... Bad. Not Bad in a Good, dystopian way-- but poorly written. I did not really enjoy them, and the twist at the very end did not leave me wanting to read more. It honestly made me just want to read a summary of the next books. The ending was very abrupt and built for a cliffhanger, which is just... A crutch that authors need to stop relying on to sell their series.
Anyways, I'm a sucker for dystopia, especially super weird far-fetched ones, so... Whatever.
I was expecting something terrible after reading A Shade of Vampire and hating it. But this book is solid.
Honest review: I liked a small portion of this book. It had some really interesting parts and some really boring parts. Of course it ended on a cliffhanger that actually (sort of) makes me want to read the second book. Will I? I have not yet decided. I have read another series by Bella Forrest that I really enjoyed so I was a little bummed that this one was not as exciting.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
OK... I am going to be honest... It took me a bit to get into this book. Whether it was the writing, or my distracted brain I just don't know, but I am veyr glad I have a personal policy to read at LEAST 100 pages before I give up completely.
When this book picked up, it really picked up! I had a hard time putting it down once the real action started.
Bella Forrest does it again. Good Job.
When this book picked up, it really picked up! I had a hard time putting it down once the real action started.
Bella Forrest does it again. Good Job.
[b:1984|5470|1984|George Orwell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1348990566s/5470.jpg|153313] meets [b:Logan's Run|73654|Logan's Run (Logan, #1)|William F. Nolan|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1302038737s/73654.jpg|1011736] meets [b:Wool|12287209|Wool (Wool, #1)|Hugh Howey|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327889474s/12287209.jpg|17263666] meets the Matrix with a splash of [b:Divergent|13335037|Divergent (Divergent, #1)|Veronica Roth|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1328559506s/13335037.jpg|13155899].
300 years after a nuclear exchange, the only known humans to still be alive live in "The Tower". The Tower is everything and without it no one would survive. In order for the Tower to work, it is run by an all controlling A.I. call Scipio and the only way for things to succeed is for complete devotion and service to Scipio.
All humans are implanted with a neural link and receive a indicator that links them to Scipio and monitors their vital signs, emotional states and job performance - which is indicated by a displayed number for all to see. The best of the best are 10's. They are the ones who are in complete emotional control and have unwavering faith in the system. The more independant of thought you are, the more creative for the sake of creativity rather than the "greater good", the more you question the wisdom of Scipio, the lower your ranking drops. If you are a 4 you are encouraged to get medical assistance to help you regulate your emotions and thinking. 3's are mandated to get medication. 2's are removed from the common population for compulsory retraining and 1's are completely removed, never to return to society as they are considered lost.
Liana is a 4, much to her level 10 parents' consternation. But after a particularly bad day, she drops to a 3. She is forced onto the medication to help regulate her emotions. But somehow she is able to break free of the medicated state and begins to see things for what they really are, the Tower is not what it seems to be, the illusion is just that and she takes it upon herself, with the help of some trusted others to find a way to fix things before what is left of humanity stops being what is means to be human.
I enjoyed this book and will look to continue the series as I can. It did cause some deep thinks, which I think good dystopian fiction should do. What makes us "human"? What are the ramifications to unquestioning faith? Where is the line between self-serving and society-serving and what do each of those mean?
If you liked Divergent or Wool, I think you would like this series.
300 years after a nuclear exchange, the only known humans to still be alive live in "The Tower". The Tower is everything and without it no one would survive. In order for the Tower to work, it is run by an all controlling A.I. call Scipio and the only way for things to succeed is for complete devotion and service to Scipio.
All humans are implanted with a neural link and receive a indicator that links them to Scipio and monitors their vital signs, emotional states and job performance - which is indicated by a displayed number for all to see. The best of the best are 10's. They are the ones who are in complete emotional control and have unwavering faith in the system. The more independant of thought you are, the more creative for the sake of creativity rather than the "greater good", the more you question the wisdom of Scipio, the lower your ranking drops. If you are a 4 you are encouraged to get medical assistance to help you regulate your emotions and thinking. 3's are mandated to get medication. 2's are removed from the common population for compulsory retraining and 1's are completely removed, never to return to society as they are considered lost.
Liana is a 4, much to her level 10 parents' consternation. But after a particularly bad day, she drops to a 3. She is forced onto the medication to help regulate her emotions. But somehow she is able to break free of the medicated state and begins to see things for what they really are, the Tower is not what it seems to be, the illusion is just that and she takes it upon herself, with the help of some trusted others to find a way to fix things before what is left of humanity stops being what is means to be human.
I enjoyed this book and will look to continue the series as I can. It did cause some deep thinks, which I think good dystopian fiction should do. What makes us "human"? What are the ramifications to unquestioning faith? Where is the line between self-serving and society-serving and what do each of those mean?
If you liked Divergent or Wool, I think you would like this series.