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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Years after an unexplained cataclysm has shaken England - and presumably the world - to its core, Scarlett roams the outskirts of the walled towns that protect what's left of civilisation, stealing and killing where she has to - but only where she has to. She's quite moral, actually. And that very morality gets her into trouble when she meets the sole survivor of a bus crash. Against her better judgement, she offers to escort him to the nearest town. And that's when the trouble starts...
Ok, confession time; I haven't read any other Stroud books. They published when I was too old to read children's books, before I was old enough to know I could read anything I bloody well wanted to. I'm glad I read this one. Jonathan has a deft hand with the characters; narration sounds completely different depending on which character is doing it, which is something that doesn't always happen in dual narration books.
The countryside they travel through is well described and thought out, but there's no real explanation as to what happened to turn everything upside down. And, although it's clearly been a long time, there's petrol all over the place. Who's refining petrol and selling it in Wild West level England?
I really enjoyed this read. Jonathan wisely lets a good part of the book go by before we start figuring out what's up with Albert. but once the revelations start coming they come thick and fast. There's something in Scarlett's backstory we don't know about yet, but hopefully that'll come up in a later book.
BE AWARE, although Scarlett is not gratuitously violent, she has no hesitation in injuring or killing people who are trying to kill or injure her.
This is a great read and I'm really looking forward to the rest of the series.
Ok, confession time; I haven't read any other Stroud books. They published when I was too old to read children's books, before I was old enough to know I could read anything I bloody well wanted to. I'm glad I read this one. Jonathan has a deft hand with the characters; narration sounds completely different depending on which character is doing it, which is something that doesn't always happen in dual narration books.
The countryside they travel through is well described and thought out, but there's no real explanation as to what happened to turn everything upside down. And, although it's clearly been a long time, there's petrol all over the place. Who's refining petrol and selling it in Wild West level England?
I really enjoyed this read. Jonathan wisely lets a good part of the book go by before we start figuring out what's up with Albert. but once the revelations start coming they come thick and fast. There's something in Scarlett's backstory we don't know about yet, but hopefully that'll come up in a later book.
BE AWARE, although Scarlett is not gratuitously violent, she has no hesitation in injuring or killing people who are trying to kill or injure her.
This is a great read and I'm really looking forward to the rest of the series.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book ticks a lot of boxes:
* World-building - true, the causes of the dystopian Britain aren't fully explained, but that's why the series needs more books, right?
* Humor and snark - most of the latter provided by Scarlett.
* Complex, interesting characters that play off of each other well, and leave you wanting to know what happens to them next - although the baddies could perhaps use some shades of gray.
* Action, adventure, and travel - in spades.
* Character development - Mostly Albert finding his nerve, but again, some room for growth in future books in the series.
4.5 stars, and a certain amount of impatience for the next book.
* World-building - true, the causes of the dystopian Britain aren't fully explained, but that's why the series needs more books, right?
* Humor and snark - most of the latter provided by Scarlett.
* Complex, interesting characters that play off of each other well, and leave you wanting to know what happens to them next - although the baddies could perhaps use some shades of gray.
* Action, adventure, and travel - in spades.
* Character development - Mostly Albert finding his nerve, but again, some room for growth in future books in the series.
4.5 stars, and a certain amount of impatience for the next book.
If Stroud's name weren't on the cover, I never would have guessed he wrote it. It is missing his signature sly humor and any sort of character development. It is basically just one similar event after another happening to culminate in a rather predictable ending.
4.5 stars. This was such a romp and a masterclass in comedic timing. This takes place in an eerie future that I don't understand all the ins and outs of, with lots of banter and dark humor that somehow fits this perfectly. Scarlet and Albert are wonderful characters and the stakes are always high (though the plot somehow felt a tad flat). They're surrounded by death and suffering, but they build each other up and help the other see the wonder in the world around them. This was a really really lovely book, and the writing was so excellent.
Nothing wrong with it, it just didn't grip me in the way I was hoping a Stroud would.
Really solid. I’m a sucker for Stroud, and enjoyed the voices, particularly the villains. I’m excited to read the next book!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
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:
Yes
Totally went somewhere I wasn't expecting! Synopsis doesn't even begin to cover it. Amazing immersive world building with one of the scariest short scenes I've ever read out of the corner of my eye.
Only drawback was why one of the characters put up with the others. Kinda explained but ...meh.
Only drawback was why one of the characters put up with the others. Kinda explained but ...meh.