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dianacantread 's review for:
The Conference of the Birds
by Ransom Riggs
Lots o' fun, as per usual. Although this one suffers from acute middle book syndrome (if we're looking at narrative arc, then this one falls perfectly in the middle of the story arc ranging from books four to six) and thus feels a bit limp. I like the way the relationships are built and portrayed. These characters are delightful to read about together, though Jacob is still the most boring part of the series (he's getting better, tbh). The real standout continues to be Riggs's writing, which gets better and better with every book in terms of eloquence and diction. It does have the unfortunate side effect of making Jacob sound closer to 48 than 17, but I can let it slide.
Biggest complaint: nothing really happens? Like, a lot happens, but a lot of it either happens off screen, like the conference, or feels extraneous, like Jacob proving again and again that he can control hollowghasts. For some people, this will work because it's what they expect from this series. I personally preferred A Map of Days because of the episodic feel as they discover new loops throughout America. The Conference of the Birds's plot is more akin to an oozing miasma that occasionally gets stuck, only to swallow whatever obstacle is in its way and move past.
Still, I'm majorly looking forward to the final book!
3.5/5 stars
Biggest complaint: nothing really happens? Like, a lot happens, but a lot of it either happens off screen, like the conference, or feels extraneous, like Jacob proving again and again that he can control hollowghasts. For some people, this will work because it's what they expect from this series. I personally preferred A Map of Days because of the episodic feel as they discover new loops throughout America. The Conference of the Birds's plot is more akin to an oozing miasma that occasionally gets stuck, only to swallow whatever obstacle is in its way and move past.
Still, I'm majorly looking forward to the final book!
3.5/5 stars