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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Cannibalism
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
To start, I should begin with how I read this book. The first hundred or so pages took me two or three sittings to get through. The next 200-odd pages I read in one sitting. The final couple dozen pages (running from the middle of the climax to the end) I tried to read, couldn't focus on, and came back to a day later to finish.
That was ultimately my experience of the book. This was the first book of this author that I have read, and I am generally a newcomer to the thriller genre. I picked it up because of the truly compelling setting: a sort of Ice Age Jurassic Park in Colorado catering to the mega-wealthy. I love the Ice Age and I love the American West, so when I saw it on display in my local library I had to pick it up! Unsurprisingly, many of my favorite parts were the occasions when the book slows down for a paragraph or two to revel in that setting.
I found the beginning and end of the book to both not really be my cup of tea, but once it had a chance to pick up, the middle of the book was fun. I really enjoyed the chase scenes in particular, which I thought made great use of the setting. The twist was a little predictable, but it was a great time getting there.
MAJOR SPOILER below for discussion of the twist:
Ultimately, I was super disappointed with the portrayal of the Neanderthals. For as much as the book talks about empathy being the big psychological difference between Sapiens and Neanderthals, it didn't seem to have much empathy for the Neanders! While the Afterword did help me understand where the author was coming from and what he was drawing from with that portrayal, I can't help but wish they were given more depth. At the very least, I wish that they hadn't been depicted in such an uncomplicated way as an entire species of "sociopaths," to use the comparison from the book. Especially given the fact that the circumstances of their creation and lives were objectively messed-up: them escaping and even revolting makes perfect sense, and it's easy to imagine a parallel story where (if they weren't so over-the-top in their violence) they're the protagonists rebelling against a dystopian world. An evil creepy caveman cult is evocative, but if we ever do de-extinct Neanderthals I doubt they'd appreciate this book!
That was ultimately my experience of the book. This was the first book of this author that I have read, and I am generally a newcomer to the thriller genre. I picked it up because of the truly compelling setting: a sort of Ice Age Jurassic Park in Colorado catering to the mega-wealthy. I love the Ice Age and I love the American West, so when I saw it on display in my local library I had to pick it up! Unsurprisingly, many of my favorite parts were the occasions when the book slows down for a paragraph or two to revel in that setting.
I found the beginning and end of the book to both not really be my cup of tea, but once it had a chance to pick up, the middle of the book was fun. I really enjoyed the chase scenes in particular, which I thought made great use of the setting. The twist was a little predictable, but it was a great time getting there.
MAJOR SPOILER below for discussion of the twist:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Violence, Cannibalism, Murder
Moderate: Ableism, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Grief, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Genocide, Sexism, Torture, Pregnancy
Further warning for eugenics and some allusions to the Holocaust.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Cannibalism
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gun violence, Cannibalism, Injury/Injury detail
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I was a little disappointed with this book. I think Mr. Preston writes better in collaboration with Lincoln Child. My three complaints about this book are: 1) I didn't find the FMC very likeable or relatable, 2) It dragged in the middle, and 3) the "reveal" wasn't as shocking as I'd expected. I can't say more without spoilers. Read The Ice Limit instead.