Reviews

The Paths Between Worlds by Paul Antony Jones

earendil1992's review against another edition

3.0

I did enjoy this for the most part - the concept is very intriguing and it was a pretty easy read. However, I think this story went into a different direction to the one I was expecting; and to be honest some of it is downright bizarre. The main character Meredith is pretty bland, she has little to no personality traits beyond her rather underdeveloped backstory. The plot itself is what kept me going on this one, and some of the other characters she meets are at least somewhat interesting. I liked that this story combines science fiction and survival, but I feel like both of those elements were under-utilized. I will say I don't think I've read anything quite like this, it was absolutely not what I expected. I wouldn't say I'm disappointed necessarily, I just... wish it had gone in a different direction.
This book doesn't have a great deal of depth, it's more just entertainment at face value. There are more than a few instances of "telling not showing"; and some rather unnecessary metaphors that overly describe something that was already adequately described. It's almost amateurish, like the author is trying too hard to make his descriptions memorable.
Overall, I think I'd still recommend this book - it was entertaining enough but I don't think I'll continue on with the series. It's yet another case of where I loved the concept, but the execution was flawed.

miss_mary's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.25

hybridhavoc's review against another edition

3.0

Interesting book. Nothing earth-shattering happening here but a good read nonetheless. Very clearly a beginning to something bigger, and really not much here as a stand-alone novel.

christyjoreads's review against another edition

3.0

Though heavy in exposition and info dumping, this novel is a better version of Riverworld. (Of course any re-imaging of Riverworld would be better than that misogynistic dumpster fire.) Sooooo Meredith is about to commit suicide as a voice asks her if she wants to live. Poof! She is now is a strange new world, confused and overwhelmed by her new reality. It's difficult to describe the book without giving anything away. But it is a curious tale that will leave you scratching your head. It is a quick read, but I am not sure if I really care enough to continue this trilogy. Interesting, but not interesting enough....

victoriakc's review against another edition

5.0

I will read anything Paul writes. I LOVED his "Extinction point" series and have re-read it many times so you can imagine my excitement when Paul asked me to read this book last year and give feedback. I devoured it.

I was not disappointed and I don't want to say too much but the characters are fantastic and having people from different parts of history makes a diverse and interesting read. I can't wait for the next one to see what happens.

Currently enjoying the audiobook version and it is very well done, would highly recommend this book in audio or paper form.

kelleybean1981's review against another edition

5.0

Wow, this was good. It was basically Lost with aliens and (more) robots.

vailynst's review against another edition

3.0

Mini-Review:

4.5 Stars for Narration by Kate Reading
3.5 Stars for Characters
3 Stars for Story

I would have liked the book more

Spoiler

if it was more than just a setup.

It's a good layout for a series and the characters are great. I'll keep an eye out for the next book because I want to see what direction the plot will take. While the opening is rather bleak, the rest of the story has a very positive vibe for a tale shrouded in greys.

brady2387's review against another edition

5.0

Loved it! One of the best books I’ve read all year. Twists and turns, and very unique story. I’m not sure how the 2nd book of this trilogy will unfold, and that’s a good thing. Can’t wait for the next book!

blackash13's review

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Main character, Meredith, loses a promising future in law after the death of her closest friend in a car accident that also left her addicted to painkillers. At the moment that she chooses to end it all, a disembodied voice asks her if she wants to be saved. Choosing yes leaves her in an unknown land trying to figure out how she got there and what she's supposed to do next.

This was an enjoyable time travel/alternate universe story. The story moves at a nice steady clip and didn't really suffer from any dead spots. My interest was held throughout. This book ends in a clear cliffhanger so don't expect to read this book without the rest of the series. There's no resolution here.

When

Wild Bill Hickok

made an appearance early on in the story, I rolled my eyes, thinking that there was going to be a string of corny occursnces in this book, but that was not the case at all. Also, at one point in the audiobook, a character whose name is Edward, was referred to as William. I don't know if this occurred in print or not. These were my only real issues with this book. I really enjoyed and will be moving on to the next book in the series.