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A review by lara_bookish_turtle
Railhead by Philip Reeve
2.0
When I reflect back on this, it was an excellent book with such unique concepts, mostly great characters and excellent world-building. But I just never got into it when I was reading. The writing style just didn't appeal to me and I didn't feel that it fit with the story.
The concept and setting were both brilliant. It is a really unique world, rich in detail which Reeve has created. I loved the way the society was structured. The way details were gradually revealed throughout the novel was quite well done, and I was really fascinated by the concept of K-gates.
Also, there are plot twists everywhere! This book is so unpredictable. Just when I thought I knew what was going on, something new would happen and I would be questioning everything all over again. I could never guess what would happen next.
Sometimes I found the storyline confusing and hard to follow though. There was a lot of new terminology in addition to the unusual names for people and places. Even with the glossary at the back I still thought that the story was hard to follow.
Some of the dialogue was also inconsistent and I didn't think it flowed very well. Some chunks were really quite blunt, cute and funny like this:
"You came back for me?"
"Yes!"
"Well, that was stupid," she said. "And very nice of you."
But then there were parts which were borderline meaningful but I just thought were weird:
"When I was up there, and I thought I'd never see you again, I felt as if my heart would break. My heart is not made of self-repairing compounds, Zen Starling."
The dialogue just didn't work for me.
Also, Zen as a character was complex and well written, but I just didn't like him. At all.
Anyways, it was a great concept and brilliant world which was created, but it just didn't work for me. Maybe I'll read the sequel, maybe I won't. It ended on a cliff-hanger, but I'm not sure if I can be bothered to read it. I don't think it's fair to give this book only two stars, it probably deserves three or four, but this is how I felt about it so I'm going to do it anyway.
The concept and setting were both brilliant. It is a really unique world, rich in detail which Reeve has created. I loved the way the society was structured. The way details were gradually revealed throughout the novel was quite well done, and I was really fascinated by the concept of K-gates.
Also, there are plot twists everywhere! This book is so unpredictable. Just when I thought I knew what was going on, something new would happen and I would be questioning everything all over again. I could never guess what would happen next.
Sometimes I found the storyline confusing and hard to follow though. There was a lot of new terminology in addition to the unusual names for people and places. Even with the glossary at the back I still thought that the story was hard to follow.
Some of the dialogue was also inconsistent and I didn't think it flowed very well. Some chunks were really quite blunt, cute and funny like this:
"You came back for me?"
"Yes!"
"Well, that was stupid," she said. "And very nice of you."
But then there were parts which were borderline meaningful but I just thought were weird:
"When I was up there, and I thought I'd never see you again, I felt as if my heart would break. My heart is not made of self-repairing compounds, Zen Starling."
The dialogue just didn't work for me.
Also, Zen as a character was complex and well written, but I just didn't like him. At all.
Spoiler
"If he could steal Nova back from death perhaps it would make up for all the deaths he caused at Spindlebridge." Um, what?! You just killed all those people, and without you Nova would never be in the situation. Just because you went back for her you think that covers it? Also, does he ever feel any remorse? Because it doesn't seem like it!Anyways, it was a great concept and brilliant world which was created, but it just didn't work for me. Maybe I'll read the sequel, maybe I won't. It ended on a cliff-hanger, but I'm not sure if I can be bothered to read it. I don't think it's fair to give this book only two stars, it probably deserves three or four, but this is how I felt about it so I'm going to do it anyway.