Reviews

The Predator by K.A. Applegate

orsuros's review against another edition

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4.0

I feel this one did a great job at upping the stakes while introducing even more new and complex things to worry about in future books. From start to finish, it managed to be intense and ended in a more meaningful way than some of the previous ones.

meemzter's review against another edition

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5.0

"It’s scary. It’s so scary that sometimes you wish you could just go ahead and die because it’s easier than dealing with the terror"

THIS IS ONLY BOOK 5 AND WE'RE ALREADY AT THIS LEVEL OF WOE

This review contains spoilers

The first Marco book just delivers, okay? I think this is the best book yet. It is JAM-PACKED with content. The inaugural Ax-goes-to-the-mall scene. Lobster morphs. We are back at Chapman's! Ant morphs, which go down in history as a peak horrific moment in this series. Oh and btw these actual children are going to try and steal a bug fighter! Oops, they got captured by Visser Three and all is lost. WAIT MARCO'S MOM IS VISSER ONE. There is no more satisfying plot twist in history and you can quote me on that. Plus them being freed because of political infighting? Obsessed.

But this book also presents the JOY of being in Marco's POV. The other books have already mentioned that Marco is a shrewd, strategic thinker, but this book we actually get to see the inner-workings. We see that Marco's humor is an intentional and fully aware way of dealing with fear and sadness. We see Marco feel guilty for being too harsh but also being like "I said what I said." We see him feeling vulnerable and trying to hide it. Basically: Marco is just the best and this book is the indisputable evidence.

Marco's decision to leave the Animorphs has been heavily foreshadowed in every single book - he has been the most reluctant of the Animorphs from day 1 and very clear about his reasons why. But it still hits like a gut punch when he actually plans to leave. Obviously meeting Visser One changes that outcome, but I like to think that Marco wouldn't have been able to stay away even if he hadn't learned that his mom was alive.

Hidden gem scene: Rachel lashing out at Jessica in the cafeteria and Marco stepping in to break up the fight. I love their whole secret agent thing at school and love even more when they end up in each other's business because, well, they are all responsible for each other. Rachel/Marco are one of my favorite dynamics in the group anyway - they bicker constantly and are the loudest/most opinionated in the group but ultimately balance each other out.

Highlights: tobias riding around on marco's shoulder, visser one's hork-bajir speaking perfect english, cassie nuzzling jake rip, ax and tobias debating who has better bird vision, jake / marco being the most beautiful bffs

missjuliamazing's review against another edition

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adventurous dark sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

3.75

sleepingnerd's review against another edition

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4.0

I have to say, Marco is growing on me. He has this smart-ass, always joking attitude, but he's actually very smart and has such dept of emotion (as all characters do, tbh). I also really like Ax (the mall scene was funny). And then there are the horrors. You wouldn't think they would come mostly from turning into animals, but it does. I know I'd never wish to turn into an ant.

All in all, I am enjoying this book series so far. It's fast and fun to read, while also exploring some really deep, difficult matters, like the horrors of war, trauma, moral dilemmas, etc. Besides the aforementioned body horror, which as a horror fan I can't help but enjoy.

yet's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-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

4.0

iftheshoef1tz's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

absolutelyfatal's review against another edition

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

4.0

ceeonearth's review against another edition

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adventurous dark lighthearted relaxing 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? Yes

4.0

Rough one for Marco! 

bookishbarnowl's review against another edition

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5.0

The UK cover of this book had Marco morphing into a lobster on the front cover. I have a fond memory of having nominal cash and browsing the Scholastic book fair at primary school. I guess lobster boy on the cover was enough to catch the attention of 9 year old me and it was the book I went away with that day. It was an odd place to start - 5 books in. However, it was clearly enough to have me begging my mum to buy me the first four and I was hooked.

This book has a very satisfying twist that 33 year old me forgot about.

megpancoast's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0