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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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:
Yes
I was not super into this, until the last 10% and then I think my jaw dropped a few times at all the twists and turns. I have to say though- working in healthcare absolutely ruined multiple aspects of this book for me. For example, what in the world kind of “vaccine” did they have for an actual insect that was destroying brain tissue. Not a microorganism- a physical insect. Plus they literally turned off sedation and allowed a patient to self-extubate. Yes I know it was fantasy, it still annoyed me.
Oh my god. Oh my god oh my god. I’m speechless.
The storytelling, the characters, the plot, the complexities, EVERYTHING! This book excels in every category! I was hooked!! I feel like I couldn’t get completely into it at first but then all of a sudden I was just tearing through this book without realizing. A completely immersive experience! It was just so good. Everything was amazing !!!!
My favorite part is just how alive and human every single character is. Even the “side” characters felt fleshed out and Chloe Gong still kept the focus on her protagonists. (Because it’s annoying when there’s TOO MUCH about side characters, just feels like filler and takes away from the focus, but Gong did it a perfect amount).
I also loved loved loved the progression of Roma and Juliette. SO GOOOOOOD.
I’m gonna call my library right now to get my hands on the sequel!
The storytelling, the characters, the plot, the complexities, EVERYTHING! This book excels in every category! I was hooked!! I feel like I couldn’t get completely into it at first but then all of a sudden I was just tearing through this book without realizing. A completely immersive experience! It was just so good. Everything was amazing !!!!
My favorite part is just how alive and human every single character is. Even the “side” characters felt fleshed out and Chloe Gong still kept the focus on her protagonists. (Because it’s annoying when there’s TOO MUCH about side characters, just feels like filler and takes away from the focus, but Gong did it a perfect amount).
I also loved loved loved the progression of Roma and Juliette. SO GOOOOOOD.
I’m gonna call my library right now to get my hands on the sequel!
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It was simply an "okay" read. The concept of the book intrigued me, but the execution came up short in my opinion. I didn't find myself loving the main characters (Juliette and Roma) or their dynamic. They just felt too flat for my taste and by the end of the book I wasn't even rooting for them to end up together... Benedikt and Marshall were unexpectedly my favorite side characters, but because of their standing, their story unfortunately wasn't very developed. On to the good part: Gong's writing is pleasant, clear and very lifelike. Her descriptions of the world are also great, although the world building itself isn't that fleshed out (if at all).
I'm still not sure if I'll read the follow-up book, but if I do it's just so I can get a sense of closure regarding this story.
I'm still not sure if I'll read the follow-up book, but if I do it's just so I can get a sense of closure regarding this story.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-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:
Yes
A fantasy in 1920s Shanghai? Sign me up - or so I had thought. I kept reading until the end hoping that whatever I expected from this book would happen but no. All we really get is a sense of "shit's about to go down" but none of the things that happen seemed to have much of an impact on me as a reader. The characters were there, present, but I felt like I was kept at a distance from them and never got to know them in a way that would be meaningful. I've read more references to who uses what language at the moment than actually meaningful things about any of the characters. It was frustrating, actually, and I'm sad to say that I was very disappointed in this book.
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
medium-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
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-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:
Yes
It was fun ig... a little boring
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence