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bluebeereads's review against another edition
4.0
Quite The Novel Idea ~ Words from the Clouds
This was a very strange and quirky little book. In a very unique way Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies deals with family, friendship, choosing your own path in life and empathy. However, I wouldn't call it paranormal. It feels more like magical realism to me. That's a genre I don't read a lot of and I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed it. And because a quirky book like this deserves more than a normal review, here are 4 reasons you should read it too!
♦ The story is unique and unlike anything I've read before. This can be good or bad, depending on your own tastes. Some people are going to read this and hate it and I'd completely understand. But if anything I'm saying in this review makes you want to read it, please do. Because it was so much fun to see this story unfold and learn the mysteries of Three Peaks and the Quick family.
♦ The magic was just as unique as the story. The Quick family can steal things from people. Emotions, personality traits, scars, memories,... They "reach" inside and take them away. This magic of theirs could easily be cliche or too difficult to understand but it was neither. It was unique and very believable. It's easy to understand and at first you can see the benefits of having abilities like that. But as the story unfolds, you learn the negative side effects it has. And I really liked that.
♦ The writing was excellent and gave a pitch-perfect atmosphere. The writing hooked me from page one and I couldn't get enough of it. I loved how the author slowly showed us Aspen's story, never revealing too much. The atmosphere constantly went back and forth between creepy, mysterious & magical and often was a mix of that. And I loved the hopeful note it ended on.
♦ The main character Aspen is the star of the show. However good the story & the writing are, how much you will end up liking this story depends on how you like Aspen. He starts out as... well, as an asshole. But strangely enough, I loved him from the start. And as the story goes on, you learn why he who he is. And he does change by the end of it all. As he learns the mystery of Three Peaks and the truth behind their powers, he becomes a better person. And you really feel for him. Or at least I did.
Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies is a strange but awesome book. It's not for everyone, but I encourage you to try it out. The story unfolds like a map and you have to read the whole book to get the whole picture. And for me personally, it was absolutely worth it.
This was a very strange and quirky little book. In a very unique way Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies deals with family, friendship, choosing your own path in life and empathy. However, I wouldn't call it paranormal. It feels more like magical realism to me. That's a genre I don't read a lot of and I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed it. And because a quirky book like this deserves more than a normal review, here are 4 reasons you should read it too!
♦ The story is unique and unlike anything I've read before. This can be good or bad, depending on your own tastes. Some people are going to read this and hate it and I'd completely understand. But if anything I'm saying in this review makes you want to read it, please do. Because it was so much fun to see this story unfold and learn the mysteries of Three Peaks and the Quick family.
♦ The magic was just as unique as the story. The Quick family can steal things from people. Emotions, personality traits, scars, memories,... They "reach" inside and take them away. This magic of theirs could easily be cliche or too difficult to understand but it was neither. It was unique and very believable. It's easy to understand and at first you can see the benefits of having abilities like that. But as the story unfolds, you learn the negative side effects it has. And I really liked that.
♦ The writing was excellent and gave a pitch-perfect atmosphere. The writing hooked me from page one and I couldn't get enough of it. I loved how the author slowly showed us Aspen's story, never revealing too much. The atmosphere constantly went back and forth between creepy, mysterious & magical and often was a mix of that. And I loved the hopeful note it ended on.
♦ The main character Aspen is the star of the show. However good the story & the writing are, how much you will end up liking this story depends on how you like Aspen. He starts out as... well, as an asshole. But strangely enough, I loved him from the start. And as the story goes on, you learn why he who he is. And he does change by the end of it all. As he learns the mystery of Three Peaks and the truth behind their powers, he becomes a better person. And you really feel for him. Or at least I did.
Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies is a strange but awesome book. It's not for everyone, but I encourage you to try it out. The story unfolds like a map and you have to read the whole book to get the whole picture. And for me personally, it was absolutely worth it.
cornmaven's review against another edition
4.0
At first this appears to be a light, high school romance kind of novel, but quickly you realize it is anything but. It is actually a paranormal tale about a family with an interesting power to “reach” into someone and steal something about them – calmness, sobriety, desire, even a physical characteristic like a mole.
Aspen Quick’s family is tasked with keeping the Cliff from collapsing on their small town through a ritual involving objects donated by townspeople and tourists. They get downright panicky if someone in the ritual triad does do their part. But as you move through the story, you find there are layers to it – secrets between family members, between friends, secrets that turn into falsehoods spoken as deflection from the truth.
Aspen makes his way through his teenage life focused on typical teenage things, never questioning how he uses his power. He's kind of flippant about it, even when he sees the effect of his theft on the people around him. But he finds that while good intentions may dictate their use, things go awry and the good intention itself becomes a moral dilemma that must be examined.
Leah is Aspen’s strong sounding board. She doesn’t abide pity, and is quick to point out twisted thinking. At first I didn’t like her, but the more I got into the story, the more I realized she was one of the only truly grounded characters.
The ending, where truth wins out, is very well done.
Note: This review will appear on my library's social media book review channel in the near future.
Aspen Quick’s family is tasked with keeping the Cliff from collapsing on their small town through a ritual involving objects donated by townspeople and tourists. They get downright panicky if someone in the ritual triad does do their part. But as you move through the story, you find there are layers to it – secrets between family members, between friends, secrets that turn into falsehoods spoken as deflection from the truth.
Aspen makes his way through his teenage life focused on typical teenage things, never questioning how he uses his power. He's kind of flippant about it, even when he sees the effect of his theft on the people around him. But he finds that while good intentions may dictate their use, things go awry and the good intention itself becomes a moral dilemma that must be examined.
Leah is Aspen’s strong sounding board. She doesn’t abide pity, and is quick to point out twisted thinking. At first I didn’t like her, but the more I got into the story, the more I realized she was one of the only truly grounded characters.
The ending, where truth wins out, is very well done.
Note: This review will appear on my library's social media book review channel in the near future.
bonzaklibo's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
wrightdobiez's review against another edition
3.0
a perfect trashy book to read in between classes with a very interesting plot idea but classic YA melodrama
bookph1le's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this. It had some interesting themes and felt fresh. More complete review to come.
Full review:
Though the premise of this novel makes it sound like an urban fantasy, I'm not sure I'd classify it that way. While there are clearly fantastical elements to the book, I thought the magic part of it was more metaphorical than anything. This book tackles some really interesting existential questions, but I felt like some of it didn't go as deeply as it should have. Spoilers to follow.
The description says this book has a smart, arrogant protagonist. I'm not sure I thought he was particularly smart, and I don't think arrogant is the right word for him either. Instead, I think rather lazy and entitled would be much more applicable adjectives. He and his father's side of the family are pretty unlikable, which is just fine with me when it comes to protagonists. In some ways I did empathize with him, but mostly I think the main character is essentially a spoiled brat who is used to getting his way and has no problem with using and discarding people, like so many toys. That might make him sound completely irredeemable, but I didn't think he necessarily was because he has reasons for being the way he is. Now, that may sound like a cop-out, like a classic case of excusing the bad guy because he comes from a bad background, but part of what this book meditates on is the sense of entitlement many, many people feel, particularly when they're young and have less life experience under their belts.
Magical elements aside, I'd argue that Aspen's upbringing is fairly typical, and an interesting depiction of the mentality of a boy raised under a helicopter parent. His father essentially smooths his path for him, removing all obstacles and bad feelings out of a misguided sense that he's helping his son by saving him from pain. His mother is far less comfortable with this, but her efforts to check her husband's and son's excesses aren't successful. In this case, it's because of the magical elements of the book, but I think the magic is really a metaphor for the type of power that the ruling majority enjoys over minorities--though there may be an argument here about how society views Millenials in general. What I really liked about this aspect is the book does an excellent job of showing how even benevolent intentions can have serious repercussions.
There's also a pronounced strain here of Aspen's sense of male entitlement, though I definitely think that his grandmother has a very healthy sense of entitlement as well. Still, there are a lot of parallels between how Aspen treats Brandy and the overall objectification of women. Aspen convinces himself that he's in love with Brandy, but what he takes for love is an entirely self-serving emotion. Whenever Brandy manifests the slightest sign that she may not be exactly who Aspen wants her to be, he's quick to use his powers over her to manipulate her and force her right back in line. He never once stops to consider her feelings or to ask himself what his actions are doing to her, instead treating her like a coveted toy he has no qualms about stealing. He thinks he's looking at her as a whole person because he considers her interests, but the only reason he considers those is because she happens to share a lot of the same interests he does, and that made me think that the bulk of his attraction to her was because he thought she was a hot female version of himself.
As the book widens its scope, it becomes more apparent that Aspen's manipulation of Brandy isn't unique. Bits and pieces of the story reveal the many ways in which Aspen abuses his powers--and why wouldn't he, when his father and his father's whole family have modeled this behavior for him? Their casual dismissal of the autonomy of others is really disturbing. They've become so good at justifying their actions that they feel no qualms about some of the truly terrible things they do to other people.
They aren't alone in this, either. While Leah had a serious problem with the way Aspen and his family behave, she's not above asking him to use his powers for her own selfish reasons either. I think that's important because I think it speaks to the inherent hypocrisy in a lot of humans. Behaviors that strike us as abhorrent when we're on the outside looking in suddenly seem okay when we have something personal at stake.
More than anything, I'd argue that this is a book not about a teenage boy's magical abilities, but about human psychology. Though magic isn't real, there are plenty of people skilled at manipulating and using others to get what they want, and I read this book as a meditation on that subject. The entire arc of the novel is basically Aspen's journey toward self-awareness, as it begins to dawn on him that he's failed to see how he's used his powers to encroach on the rights of others. The forces surrounding him have enabled his willful blindness, and I thought the book did a good job of showing that, and of articulating Aspen's struggle as he tries to figure out how to break free of his pattern of behavior.
The book's weakness to me, though, was that his behavior toward Brandy struck me as much darker than the novel acknowledges. I think it tries to walk a fine line, and I felt it came perilously close to crossing that line. While Aspen does acknowledge that what he did to Brandy was wrong, I'm not certain he felt the full brunt of it. Instead, the book kind of treats this particular offense as something like a love potion wearing off, but it was so much more than that. What Aspen does to Brandy is abuse, plain and simple, and I wish the book had dealt a lot more explicitly with that, especially since dating abuse is so rampant among teenagers. Aspen literally steals Brandy's agency, and I would have liked to see a much deeper discussion of what effect his behavior may have on her future, rather than leaving it at his feeling sad for her leaving. The book ends just at the point where his thinking might have evolved enough for him to see his behavior more clearly, and I think leaving the story there was an unfortunate decision.
Still, on the whole, despite its flaws it's an interesting book, one that delves deeply into the heinous possibilities inherent in people's power to take away others' free will. Unlike a lot of YA literature that does little more than scratch the surface of big issues, this one tackled some fairly deftly, and it made me think.
Full review:
Though the premise of this novel makes it sound like an urban fantasy, I'm not sure I'd classify it that way. While there are clearly fantastical elements to the book, I thought the magic part of it was more metaphorical than anything. This book tackles some really interesting existential questions, but I felt like some of it didn't go as deeply as it should have. Spoilers to follow.
The description says this book has a smart, arrogant protagonist. I'm not sure I thought he was particularly smart, and I don't think arrogant is the right word for him either. Instead, I think rather lazy and entitled would be much more applicable adjectives. He and his father's side of the family are pretty unlikable, which is just fine with me when it comes to protagonists. In some ways I did empathize with him, but mostly I think the main character is essentially a spoiled brat who is used to getting his way and has no problem with using and discarding people, like so many toys. That might make him sound completely irredeemable, but I didn't think he necessarily was because he has reasons for being the way he is. Now, that may sound like a cop-out, like a classic case of excusing the bad guy because he comes from a bad background, but part of what this book meditates on is the sense of entitlement many, many people feel, particularly when they're young and have less life experience under their belts.
Magical elements aside, I'd argue that Aspen's upbringing is fairly typical, and an interesting depiction of the mentality of a boy raised under a helicopter parent. His father essentially smooths his path for him, removing all obstacles and bad feelings out of a misguided sense that he's helping his son by saving him from pain. His mother is far less comfortable with this, but her efforts to check her husband's and son's excesses aren't successful. In this case, it's because of the magical elements of the book, but I think the magic is really a metaphor for the type of power that the ruling majority enjoys over minorities--though there may be an argument here about how society views Millenials in general. What I really liked about this aspect is the book does an excellent job of showing how even benevolent intentions can have serious repercussions.
There's also a pronounced strain here of Aspen's sense of male entitlement, though I definitely think that his grandmother has a very healthy sense of entitlement as well. Still, there are a lot of parallels between how Aspen treats Brandy and the overall objectification of women. Aspen convinces himself that he's in love with Brandy, but what he takes for love is an entirely self-serving emotion. Whenever Brandy manifests the slightest sign that she may not be exactly who Aspen wants her to be, he's quick to use his powers over her to manipulate her and force her right back in line. He never once stops to consider her feelings or to ask himself what his actions are doing to her, instead treating her like a coveted toy he has no qualms about stealing. He thinks he's looking at her as a whole person because he considers her interests, but the only reason he considers those is because she happens to share a lot of the same interests he does, and that made me think that the bulk of his attraction to her was because he thought she was a hot female version of himself.
As the book widens its scope, it becomes more apparent that Aspen's manipulation of Brandy isn't unique. Bits and pieces of the story reveal the many ways in which Aspen abuses his powers--and why wouldn't he, when his father and his father's whole family have modeled this behavior for him? Their casual dismissal of the autonomy of others is really disturbing. They've become so good at justifying their actions that they feel no qualms about some of the truly terrible things they do to other people.
They aren't alone in this, either. While Leah had a serious problem with the way Aspen and his family behave, she's not above asking him to use his powers for her own selfish reasons either. I think that's important because I think it speaks to the inherent hypocrisy in a lot of humans. Behaviors that strike us as abhorrent when we're on the outside looking in suddenly seem okay when we have something personal at stake.
More than anything, I'd argue that this is a book not about a teenage boy's magical abilities, but about human psychology. Though magic isn't real, there are plenty of people skilled at manipulating and using others to get what they want, and I read this book as a meditation on that subject. The entire arc of the novel is basically Aspen's journey toward self-awareness, as it begins to dawn on him that he's failed to see how he's used his powers to encroach on the rights of others. The forces surrounding him have enabled his willful blindness, and I thought the book did a good job of showing that, and of articulating Aspen's struggle as he tries to figure out how to break free of his pattern of behavior.
The book's weakness to me, though, was that his behavior toward Brandy struck me as much darker than the novel acknowledges. I think it tries to walk a fine line, and I felt it came perilously close to crossing that line. While Aspen does acknowledge that what he did to Brandy was wrong, I'm not certain he felt the full brunt of it. Instead, the book kind of treats this particular offense as something like a love potion wearing off, but it was so much more than that. What Aspen does to Brandy is abuse, plain and simple, and I wish the book had dealt a lot more explicitly with that, especially since dating abuse is so rampant among teenagers. Aspen literally steals Brandy's agency, and I would have liked to see a much deeper discussion of what effect his behavior may have on her future, rather than leaving it at his feeling sad for her leaving. The book ends just at the point where his thinking might have evolved enough for him to see his behavior more clearly, and I think leaving the story there was an unfortunate decision.
Still, on the whole, despite its flaws it's an interesting book, one that delves deeply into the heinous possibilities inherent in people's power to take away others' free will. Unlike a lot of YA literature that does little more than scratch the surface of big issues, this one tackled some fairly deftly, and it made me think.
kaylamoran's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
3.5
renee_c's review against another edition
3.0
More reviews at reinereviews.blogspot.com !
3/5
Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies tells the story of a family that has the ability to take things from other people, such as physical traits like freckles or personality quirks like one's love for ice cream. The novel follows Aspen Quick as he learns more about his ability and what role he wants it to play in his life.
Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies is a suspenseful mystery, but has similar vibes to Patrick Ness's The Rest of Us Just Live Here, with a conflicted male lead and his growth being a focus of the novel. Aspen is a pretty horrible person who does many unethical things, but Lindsay Ribar captures what motivates him and I was able to understand him. I enjoyed following his internal conflict, his intellect, and his actions, however immoral.
I didn't realize how supernatural this novel was going to be so I was a little surprised at where the plot was going as the novel progressed, but Ribar's idea is very creative and interesting so I went with the flow. I appreciated how well Ribar explains the workings of the Quick family's ability and how it affects each of their relationships. I would recommend Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies as a quick read for those who like mystery, supernatural abilities, or internal conflict in the veins of morality and identity.
3/5
Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies tells the story of a family that has the ability to take things from other people, such as physical traits like freckles or personality quirks like one's love for ice cream. The novel follows Aspen Quick as he learns more about his ability and what role he wants it to play in his life.
Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies is a suspenseful mystery, but has similar vibes to Patrick Ness's The Rest of Us Just Live Here, with a conflicted male lead and his growth being a focus of the novel. Aspen is a pretty horrible person who does many unethical things, but Lindsay Ribar captures what motivates him and I was able to understand him. I enjoyed following his internal conflict, his intellect, and his actions, however immoral.
I didn't realize how supernatural this novel was going to be so I was a little surprised at where the plot was going as the novel progressed, but Ribar's idea is very creative and interesting so I went with the flow. I appreciated how well Ribar explains the workings of the Quick family's ability and how it affects each of their relationships. I would recommend Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies as a quick read for those who like mystery, supernatural abilities, or internal conflict in the veins of morality and identity.
rainbowbookworm's review
2.0
I listened to this one on a road trip and while I was engaged, the ending lost me a little. I wish the climax and resolution had played out differently.
kathrynkao's review against another edition
4.0
Full review here: http://mrskaoreads.com/book/rocks-fall-everyone-dies/