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3.43 AVERAGE
3.43 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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:
Complicated
I mean, it was okay. I sped through it, it's a very fast read. A fast-paced story with no pesky complexities to slow it down. I liked the main character, Grace, getting her mojo going and investigating what is going on. I liked the idea that there could be this metaphysical magick-y timey-wimey thing happening. But despite enjoying it and reading it like my hair was on fire, it ultimately did not deliver.
I guess it came down to the last 1/4 of the book, or less.
I guess it came down to the last 1/4 of the book, or less.
Spoiler
Because by then, you would think that you'd understand how exactly the bad guy is "stealing time" from the victim. But the explanation is weak. The bad guy is so ridiculous, and why or how does he catch bullets out of the air? What? Makes no sense. I did like that "the universe built an explanation for Ana's being gone" though.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Sci fi/mystery, fast paced, liked it
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I loved Ben Winters Underground Airlines. This book was written in the more trendy style of different narrators — I love how the author cares so much about societal issues and ultimately his books are a commentary on corporate greed. The action scenes are great, and it was a little obvious who the evil person would be. The characters didn’t feel fully flushed out and I didn’t really understand the daughter or mother dynamic. Being the year 2025, I appreciated him including a transgender character. Overall a fun read, but kind of confusing, and the characters were not that believable nor where some of the plot holes. Honestly, I had a hard time believing in the first few chapters that this was the same author.
I liked the first 3/4 of the book, but the last 1/4, not so much.
Great page-turner with important themes. I appreciated the diversity of the characters and how well this male writer did with female interiority, particularly Grace, who I identified with more than the other two characters (presumably as most readers will).
adventurous
dark
funny
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:
No
You never know what Ben Winters is going to write, but they are always something original and turn out completely different than you expects. And here comes another one. The premise is another what-if, what if everyone's time is quantifiable and can be moved from one person to another? The old adage time is money? People do very bad things for money.
Surprisingly, this story doesn't read like science fiction, it reads fast and furiously like a thriller as seen through the eyes of three characters. Ana is the "victim," who wakes up tied up in the backseat of a car and remembers being kidnapped with her daughter (taken by someone else), so naturally does everything in power to get away and find her daughter. Grace works for the medical device branch of the FDA and is called in for overtime to research a device found on a comatose patient (Ana) in a hospital. She brings new meaning to the term overtime. Desiree is the professional who was supposed to deliver Ana to a client when things went off the rails. For her time is money, and she's wasting too much of it. She is not happy.
And off they go.
And if you're confused, well, so are they. Very confused. But very persistent. And all extremely well realized characters, as well as the secondary ones. Grace's boss, don't we all know him? And her non-binary teen is wonderful. It all makes for a fabulous ride whether you know what's going on or not (you will want to). And it all comes clear in the end.
And hopefully it is 100% fiction. Hopefully,
Highly recommended.
Surprisingly, this story doesn't read like science fiction, it reads fast and furiously like a thriller as seen through the eyes of three characters. Ana is the "victim," who wakes up tied up in the backseat of a car and remembers being kidnapped with her daughter (taken by someone else), so naturally does everything in power to get away and find her daughter. Grace works for the medical device branch of the FDA and is called in for overtime to research a device found on a comatose patient (Ana) in a hospital. She brings new meaning to the term overtime. Desiree is the professional who was supposed to deliver Ana to a client when things went off the rails. For her time is money, and she's wasting too much of it. She is not happy.
And off they go.
And if you're confused, well, so are they. Very confused. But very persistent. And all extremely well realized characters, as well as the secondary ones. Grace's boss, don't we all know him? And her non-binary teen is wonderful. It all makes for a fabulous ride whether you know what's going on or not (you will want to). And it all comes clear in the end.
And hopefully it is 100% fiction. Hopefully,
Highly recommended.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No