strangertrails 's review for:

The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee

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I am so unsure how to rate this. After finishing, I was so eager to read everyone's reviews on it. I agree with most of you on the fact that this book isn't far from an episode of Gossip Girl. And that alone was enough to make some readers not even bother with the rest of the book. I guess I can't blame them for that. But I was able to get through all 400+ pages of it. And I have so much to say...

Setting: Probably my favorite part about this book. Yes, it is futuristic, but I wouldn’t say strongly dystopian, which is a [somewhat rare] plus. Even in the beginning when I was unsure how to feel about what was going on, I found all the technology and concepts utterly amazing, well-thought out and not entirely impossible. It's just... really cool.

Plot: Some readers I've noticed did not like the "drag" to the cliff hanger at the end, which was found to be disappointing. I certainly don't think so. I love how it all fits together.

Characters: Oh boy. Okay. Let's start with Leda, because I have the clearest feelings of utter hatred for her and have since forever, basically. I mean, there were times where I genuinely felt bad for her, but it wasn't enough to cover up for all that crap she was pulling. Eris bothered me for a while with her money-hungry-ness, even though I understand her reason for being. She wasn't my favorite, she was okay,

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but I didn't exactly feel bad when she fell off the thousandth floor...

. Rylin is probably most like me. And I don't mean the involvement in all the

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drugs and sketch

. She's very obedient, which is a blessing and curse (more so a curse...). I am still rooting for her and her relationship with

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Cord

, and I personally hope she gets the happy ending she deserves. Watt is pretty cool. His secret is bittersweet, but I like where he ends up; I see the good in him, he's cool. And Avery. Sheesh, okay. I know some readers were kind of disgusted by her choice in, um... lover, I guess, and again, I don't blame them. But honestly, Avery is the most tolerable to me. I'm rooting for her and

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Atlas

. It just feels right. Mariel was always likeable. When she started getting more involved with

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Eris

though, I got a little tired of her because I thought she was being kind of smart-alecky, but that's probably just me. I'm so on her team now though. Thanks, cliff hanger.

Conclusion: So yeah. In retrospect, this was great. The use of tragic flaws and manipulation and secrets is phenomenal, in my opinion. This book really satisfied me, and other times it really made me mad, thanks to the characters and irony. I mean, I really think that was what McGee was going for here, so that's the part of me that makes me think I need to give this, like, a gazillion stars.

I'd say Katharine McGee did an outstanding job for her first novel. She really knows what she's doing.