A review by hapalyn
The Island by Natasha Preston

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

3.0

This book was enjoyable if you're looking for something fast-paced and filled with lots of action. Preston's books are definitely for younger teens, but I enjoyed this as a 19 year old just for a fun mystery.

Would've been maybe a 3.5 or 4 star (based on enjoyment not because the writing and plot and etc. was objectively the next Shakespeare) but the ending was lazy (unnecessary cliffhanger to avoid writing proper resolutions)

by lazy i mean this is the LAST line bro:
the fmc finally is getting saved from the murderer and last minute the murderer jumps on her and drags her into the ocean - "The last thing I see before I'm dragged underwater is Reeve's horrified expression" -
  like Natasha Preston is known for her ridiculous endings (her other books: The Lake, The Lost) or plot twists at the end and leaving you like wtf after finishing the book (The Lake.....), but this felt like a cop out of writing a satisfying ending for a reader. I've been reading her books since I was 13 or 14 and I'm 19 now, so I'm not necessarily the target audience; however, I think this particular ending is maybe the 2nd worst of all her books (Looking at you The Lake or The Twin for #1). Just disappointing because I enjoyed everything (the action was fun) until that last line. Literally CRIMINAL okay. 
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