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A review by blakeandbooks
The Bad Ones by Melissa Albert
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
3.75⭐️
Thank you to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I want to start off by saying that Albert’s writing is incredible. It is so captivating and immersive, and I truly had such a great time reading this story. I loved how the book started out. I was so invested in the missing persons cases. It was so creepy; and a great YA horror, supernatural mystery. Nora was a great protagonist, and I felt that she was a great developed character, who was smart and focused on trying to find out exactly what was going on in her town and where her best friend went. I loved all of the clues scattered throughout the book, including Beeca’s POVs that happened several months previously and what Nora, James, and others are able to discover while searching for the truth.
I think what made this fall short for me was how long it took to get to the resolution. If it were shorter, possibly 50-75 pages less, I think it would’ve worked better for me not to be able to get distracted so much within the last 3rd of the book.
Overall, I think it was a really fun read, and I am looking forward to reading more of Albert’s work in the future.
Thank you to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I want to start off by saying that Albert’s writing is incredible. It is so captivating and immersive, and I truly had such a great time reading this story. I loved how the book started out. I was so invested in the missing persons cases. It was so creepy; and a great YA horror, supernatural mystery. Nora was a great protagonist, and I felt that she was a great developed character, who was smart and focused on trying to find out exactly what was going on in her town and where her best friend went. I loved all of the clues scattered throughout the book, including Beeca’s POVs that happened several months previously and what Nora, James, and others are able to discover while searching for the truth.
I think what made this fall short for me was how long it took to get to the resolution. If it were shorter, possibly 50-75 pages less, I think it would’ve worked better for me not to be able to get distracted so much within the last 3rd of the book.
Overall, I think it was a really fun read, and I am looking forward to reading more of Albert’s work in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Homophobia, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail