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emilylovejoy's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
hjrey's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The man I had built up layer by layer upon the canvas was in pain. But that pain was not the only new element present. There was malice there, too, and deception, and vengefulness; but all showing in their slightest aspects. Like minor chords, or the faintest ripples from a pond-dropped stone.
About: All Ben wants is to marry Cara, but when she gets a job for one of the wealthiest men in the world, it requires her to leave for his private island. Once there, she decides not to come back. Something happened to her on that island. Something changed her. And Ben is determined to find out what - no matter what it might cost him.
Thoughts
This was a strange one for me. There were a lot of elements that I really enjoyed. Such as Ben as a character. He felt real and fleshed out; his love for Cara as well as the issues in their relationships, his schooling years, the views he had on wealth, and the passion he had for art, all of these aspects of his character were well written and made him an interesting character to follow. John was likewise a compelling character and the mystery of his true end goal did have me turning the pages. There was an atmosphere here and a uniqueness to the story that I found really engaging.
However it didn't quite hit the mark on a few points. Although I liked the writing of the characters, I didn't like the writing for the setting, or for it being a thriller. It felt like one long, endless tour of the island. We got so many repetitive descriptions of what the place looked like and every discovery was written in a way that made me feel like a distant observer rather than part of the action. There just wasn't much excitement for me. Scenes were recycled. Ben explores the island, Ben goes to dinner, Ben talks to Bianca, Ben talks to John... it was a series of doing the same action with little to no variation.
I also didn't understand why Ben would trust John in one moment, and distrust him in the next. Bianca's mixed feelings made more sense as the daughter seeking approval but also seeking the truth, but Ben flip flops so often after such a short amount of time of knowing John. The idea of the cult persona didn't justify this change around enough for me and kept feeling jarring.
The ending was pretty mixed for me too. You're left with a rather poetic image at the end that felt like the close of an epic and I really enjoyed that aspect of it, but it didn't address a lot of the questions I still had.
Overall, this didn't read much like a thriller as it was a bit too slow paced. The characters and mystery were interesting, but I was left feeling like part of the climax was missing and not enough of the reveals had been given.
tysuckz's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Immense. What a wild book from start to finish. I absolutely did not anticipate the twist at the end.
I loved the way it was written. I saw a lot of reviews mentioning how it was slow at the beginning, but I enjoyed it. It kind of felt like the calm before the storm because once it gets going, it never stops.
Fantastic writing, beautiful imagery. Loved it.
Only thing I wish: a longer ending. I would’ve loved to have had a short epilogue detailing briefly what happened next. That being said, the open ended-ness of it is somewhat fun and I feel like it leaves it open to interpretation?
I loved the way it was written. I saw a lot of reviews mentioning how it was slow at the beginning, but I enjoyed it. It kind of felt like the calm before the storm because once it gets going, it never stops.
Fantastic writing, beautiful imagery. Loved it.
Only thing I wish: a longer ending. I would’ve loved to have had a short epilogue detailing briefly what happened next. That being said, the open ended-ness of it is somewhat fun and I feel like it leaves it open to interpretation?
jwrites1991's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-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
4.75
l00by_loo's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
bethfishreads's review against another edition
3.5
As climate collapse starts to reach the breaking point, the world's wealthiest man moves to an island, where he has a built a paradise, which he hopes will be the seedbed for a better future.
When Ben's longtime girlfriend, Cara, stops communicating with him, he finds a way to get to the island where she's been working as a temporary consultant to John, the richest man in the world. Despite tight security and dangerous waters, Ben makes it to Sanctuary Rock, where he finds a peaceful society run by a charming man, who appears think only of the well-being of the people he's invited to the island.
Ben expected to hate John and is initially suspicious when he learns he won't be able to see Cara for a few days. Yet the more time Ben spends with John, the more his doubts fade into the background.
Yet, whenever Ben is about to be completely won over by John, he is confronted with something that raises questions no one will answer. For example, he asks: Where is Cara? What happened to the person who used to live in the room he's been assigned? What's the meaning of puzzling conversations he's overheard? How did John make his money?
The action is slow to develop, and sometimes I wanted to shake Ben to wake him up. But overall the novel prompts us to reflect on several relevant issues: how humans treat each other and the natural world, the economic divide and wealthy people's obligations to the less well off, ageism, isolationism, and genetic engineering.
All in all a solid, entertaining read.
The audiobook was read by the author, who is an experienced audiobook narrator. He did a fine job keeping me engaged and connecting me to Ben's shifting moods and loyalties.
Thanks to the audiobook publishers and libro.fm for the review copy.
When Ben's longtime girlfriend, Cara, stops communicating with him, he finds a way to get to the island where she's been working as a temporary consultant to John, the richest man in the world. Despite tight security and dangerous waters, Ben makes it to Sanctuary Rock, where he finds a peaceful society run by a charming man, who appears think only of the well-being of the people he's invited to the island.
Ben expected to hate John and is initially suspicious when he learns he won't be able to see Cara for a few days. Yet the more time Ben spends with John, the more his doubts fade into the background.
Yet, whenever Ben is about to be completely won over by John, he is confronted with something that raises questions no one will answer. For example, he asks: Where is Cara? What happened to the person who used to live in the room he's been assigned? What's the meaning of puzzling conversations he's overheard? How did John make his money?
The action is slow to develop, and sometimes I wanted to shake Ben to wake him up. But overall the novel prompts us to reflect on several relevant issues: how humans treat each other and the natural world, the economic divide and wealthy people's obligations to the less well off, ageism, isolationism, and genetic engineering.
All in all a solid, entertaining read.
The audiobook was read by the author, who is an experienced audiobook narrator. He did a fine job keeping me engaged and connecting me to Ben's shifting moods and loyalties.
Thanks to the audiobook publishers and libro.fm for the review copy.
bethreedreads's review against another edition
mysterious
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? It's complicated
2.25
Eh.
tillyholland's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
charlottethebookharlot's review against another edition
4.0
In the future there are cramped poor living conditions in cities and the rich living in 'villages' where the poor are only allowed entrance in order to serve the rich. Ben Parr is a artist who makes a living painting portraits of the rich in the villages; however, when Cara his girlfriend tells him that she won't return to the city and will instead stay on the island where she has been working alongside the mysterious Sir John the creator of this new utopia he decides to travel there himself and find her at all costs. However, instead of Cara what he does discover is nothing that he ever could have predicted.
This was a fast paced and interesting dystopian thriller. I loved Ben's journey to the island and then his slowly facilitating feelings towards Sir John as his suspicions grew and then were allayed as this brought a sense of paranoia and questioning of what was really happening. A gripping and exciting read that kept me hooked until the very last second.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review
This was a fast paced and interesting dystopian thriller. I loved Ben's journey to the island and then his slowly facilitating feelings towards Sir John as his suspicions grew and then were allayed as this brought a sense of paranoia and questioning of what was really happening. A gripping and exciting read that kept me hooked until the very last second.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review