Scan barcode
A review by katiebookqueen
Jinxed by Amy McCulloch
4.0
Full review at: http://www.queenofteenfiction.co.uk/2018/08/review-jinxed-by-amy-mcculloch.html
Plot
Jinxed is set in the not-too-far-off future, in a world that has advanced past the general use of smartphones. Inventor, Monica Chan, was inspired by her addiction to her smartphone to create robotic, animal companions that are able to do everything that a smartphone could, and more. These animals have become part of everyday life for people all around the world.
Characters
Our main character in this story is Lacey Chu. A creator herself, Monica is her ultimate hero. She dreams of working for the company that Monica started, Moncha, the company that her father also used to work for. Her ambitious and determined nature is something I admired about her character throughout the story. She had a goal that she would do anything to reach, but I appreciated how her opinions shifted as she learned more about the situation around her.
Lacey discovers an abandoned cat baku and rebuilds it, calling it Jinx. I adored Jinx just as much as Lacey did. His witty comments were brilliant, and I was on edge waiting to find out what would happen to him next. Lacey’s growing bond with Jinx is one of the highlights of this story. With Jinx at her side, she ends up going to her dream school, Profectus.
At Profectus, Lacey finds a friend in fellow student, Tobias. It’s pretty clear from the moment he’s introduced that he’s going to be a love interest, so there is a hint of romance within their story. What was more important to me, though, was Lacey’s relationship with her best friend, Zora, and her growing friendship with her whole team at Profectus.
Reasons to Love
- Engineering. Lacey is a scientific badass with creator skills to be envied. We need more Mechanical Queens in YA.
- Friendship. The friendship between Lacey and Zora is adorable and I want more of it. Also, the bond between people and their bakus is so interesting. Which leads me to…
- Bakus. Oh boy, do I want a baku. Like, today. The idea of reaching a certain age and then getting to hurl your phone across a room to go and get a cute animal replacement? Count me in.
- Mystery. There are so many things to wonder about in this story, and we end up with more questions than answers by the end of it. I’m not saying prepare yourself for a cliffhanger before you delve into this book, but be warned.
Overall Thoughts
This is such an exciting concept that I had a feeling I’d love it before I even turned the first page. And I was right. There were chapters I absolutely could not put down, and the fast-paced ending had me on edge. The only thing that didn’t really work as much as the rest of the story for me was the romance between Lacey and Tobias. For some reason, I just didn’t feel the chemistry between them. But this is the first in a series, so I’ll probably change my mind further down the line!
Plot
Jinxed is set in the not-too-far-off future, in a world that has advanced past the general use of smartphones. Inventor, Monica Chan, was inspired by her addiction to her smartphone to create robotic, animal companions that are able to do everything that a smartphone could, and more. These animals have become part of everyday life for people all around the world.
Characters
Our main character in this story is Lacey Chu. A creator herself, Monica is her ultimate hero. She dreams of working for the company that Monica started, Moncha, the company that her father also used to work for. Her ambitious and determined nature is something I admired about her character throughout the story. She had a goal that she would do anything to reach, but I appreciated how her opinions shifted as she learned more about the situation around her.
Lacey discovers an abandoned cat baku and rebuilds it, calling it Jinx. I adored Jinx just as much as Lacey did. His witty comments were brilliant, and I was on edge waiting to find out what would happen to him next. Lacey’s growing bond with Jinx is one of the highlights of this story. With Jinx at her side, she ends up going to her dream school, Profectus.
At Profectus, Lacey finds a friend in fellow student, Tobias. It’s pretty clear from the moment he’s introduced that he’s going to be a love interest, so there is a hint of romance within their story. What was more important to me, though, was Lacey’s relationship with her best friend, Zora, and her growing friendship with her whole team at Profectus.
Reasons to Love
- Engineering. Lacey is a scientific badass with creator skills to be envied. We need more Mechanical Queens in YA.
- Friendship. The friendship between Lacey and Zora is adorable and I want more of it. Also, the bond between people and their bakus is so interesting. Which leads me to…
- Bakus. Oh boy, do I want a baku. Like, today. The idea of reaching a certain age and then getting to hurl your phone across a room to go and get a cute animal replacement? Count me in.
- Mystery. There are so many things to wonder about in this story, and we end up with more questions than answers by the end of it. I’m not saying prepare yourself for a cliffhanger before you delve into this book, but be warned.
Overall Thoughts
This is such an exciting concept that I had a feeling I’d love it before I even turned the first page. And I was right. There were chapters I absolutely could not put down, and the fast-paced ending had me on edge. The only thing that didn’t really work as much as the rest of the story for me was the romance between Lacey and Tobias. For some reason, I just didn’t feel the chemistry between them. But this is the first in a series, so I’ll probably change my mind further down the line!