Reviews

All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders

lifelivedwildly's review against another edition

challenging funny hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

kdahlo's review against another edition

4.0

I really liked this, very engaging, cool fantasy and sci-fi ideas. Close to being a 5-star book for me, I think maybe the only thing holding me back from that was that I didn't really enjoy the main characters that much? They were just a tad flat for me. But this book is packed with cool ideas and Charlie Jane Anders is a total genius.

maryeverettb's review against another edition

dark hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

gellinasreads's review against another edition

4.0

A very, very weird book and different from anything I've read. If you're interested in reading something different this book made for a interesting read. It started slow and took a little bit to get use to the different style of writing and story telling, but once I adjusted I found myself unable to put the book down.

lex_y's review against another edition

adventurous challenging inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

dembury's review against another edition

2.0

I'm not going to finish this book. I started back in February and I've picked it up multiple times since then but just can't seem to get past the 55/60% point. Anders writing style is solid, but the plot is all over the place and the characters seem very distant to me. I really enjoyed the first couple chapters (there was a real Terry Pratchett-y feel throughout them) but then all my interest was lost. It's been over three years since I've started a book and haven't finished it, so that says something for me.

I'd be tempted to pick up something else by Anders and try reading it, but this particular novel just isn't for me. Honestly, I'd rather just set this aside indefinitely and focus on reading the books I'm more interested in.

I'm rating this book on this 60% or so that I read of it.

rache1_07's review against another edition

1.0

I was so excited to read this book seeing the praise it received. A proclaimed 'instant classic' with a profound story that sounds like Harry Potter meets Back to the Future. The set up was amazing and it's been on my to-read list forever.

Needless to say, my hopes were let down. It has absolutely no plot and reads like a five-year-old taking their transformer and wizard figurines and making them kiss... or should I say an iPhone and a stick? I knew I was going to be disappointed by the ending but that was something else.

drridareads's review against another edition

2.0

This book was weird.
It's about two misfits (a geek and a witch) who befriend each other in middle school. Both are destined for great things like saving or destroying the world.
I have a lot of problems with this book. I felt like the characters never developed. The whole emotional connection between Patricia and Laurence seemed pretty forced to me. The AI was just weird, I expected so much from it.

Spoiler

but it just became something like a dating app?

Way too many loose threads.

2 stars for the idea. This book was definitely nothing like I've ever read.

tinyhands15's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book was hard for me to finish, and I think I wanted it to be longer. I loved the concept and characters. Toward the end, though, neither of the main characters felt like they had enough time in the sun to fully ripen. I think there was a lot of unused potential in this story, and the result, for me, was feeling a rush to the conclusion.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying

Moderate: Drug use, Forced institutionalization, and Emotional abuse

crimsoncor's review against another edition

5.0

I barely know where to start with this book, but it is one of the best things I've read in a long time. The writing and world-building are fantastic; brings to mind maybe Nick Harkaway (Angelmaker, perhaps) or Carlos Ruiz Zafón. But even with those comparisons, this is a unique and wonderful novel. One of those books you read in fear of it ending.