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A review by talia_redhotink
The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
2.0
I so wanted to like it, damn! But nope. It was a major disappointment. The plot was fine, sure. The whole flashback structure that eventually tied all the loose ends together is the reason I gave the book two stars.
Let me explain what I loved about the first two volumes, first.
1-The psychological/messed up stuff.
2- Noah and Mara bantering, flirting ect.
3- Mara's internal struggle.
4- The funny dinamics with Jamie, Daniel etc.
That's what I expected to find in the "retribution of Mara Dyers" as well.
Instead, what I got were endless pages of scientific explanation about genetics!
And Noah? Okay, let's talk about Noah.
But I was willing to forget about it all since the plot was good and the bantering with Jamie was there but them the whole scene played like some kind of Romeo and Juliet ending. She begs him to kill her, he does and then saves her by killing himself.
And in the meanwhile we have poor Jude just standing there practically begging to be killed too. THe end was so messed up. It felt like the authore wanted to solve three book of complicated plots in a single chapter, leaving no space whatsoever to the feelings or the emotions. Or whatever other thing that had made the other two books so memorable in my opinion. Noah is barely descripted, like he's a mere tool to push the plot forward. No. No. That's not the first Noah, the volitive, strong, arrongant Noah we've learned to love.
That's not what I wanted this book to be, not at all.
Not to talk about Mara herself. I don't know if it was due to the fact that it took the writer years to end the story, but it looked like to me as if the Mara in the first two books was a complitely different character. She was caring, scared by her own powers and she had morals!
But that doesn't matter, because eveyone loves her nonetheless. Like: Hey dude I almost killed two people last night because they were jerks, but don't worry I'm completely sane and who says the contrary is crazy. Because I know what's right and wrong. I make the rules.
Right, Mara. 'Cause you're God. Oh, no sorry, you're some kind of demon thing.
The ending then was purely disappointing. After she's repeteadly been warned that she will indeed love him to ruins, she decides to stay with him... but, wait. Does she really decides? We. Don't. Know. And that's the point.
The story ends with another sort of cliffhanger. Will they be all right? Will she kill him? We don't know.
I'm sorry, but I was so excited about this book... and instead now I'm banging my head against the wall wishing I'd stopped at the second volume. Sure, Noah would still be dead, but a dead Noah is still better than an alive non-Noah.
Last but not least, just because I feel the need to save this book somehow, I'll say that a particular scene at the end was refreshing and original. The different POV were good, too.
In conclusion, if you're dying to know how it all ends, then suit yourself. But don't expect fireworks of a lot of Noah-Mara dinamics in here, 'cause you'll find none.
Let me explain what I loved about the first two volumes, first.
1-The psychological/messed up stuff.
2- Noah and Mara bantering, flirting ect.
3- Mara's internal struggle.
4- The funny dinamics with Jamie, Daniel etc.
That's what I expected to find in the "retribution of Mara Dyers" as well.
Instead, what I got were endless pages of scientific explanation about genetics!
And Noah? Okay, let's talk about Noah.
Spoiler
He's supposed to be dead, right? Yet, Mara is one hundred per cent sure he's just desappeared. I get they are like soul mates and that she would feel it in her bones if he'd actually died. But seriously, she does never even think about the possibility. And that's how it happens that Noah shows up out of the nothing about one hundred pages before the ending.But I was willing to forget about it all since the plot was good and the bantering with Jamie was there but them the whole scene played like some kind of Romeo and Juliet ending. She begs him to kill her, he does and then saves her by killing himself.
And in the meanwhile we have poor Jude just standing there practically begging to be killed too. THe end was so messed up. It felt like the authore wanted to solve three book of complicated plots in a single chapter, leaving no space whatsoever to the feelings or the emotions. Or whatever other thing that had made the other two books so memorable in my opinion. Noah is barely descripted, like he's a mere tool to push the plot forward. No. No. That's not the first Noah, the volitive, strong, arrongant Noah we've learned to love.
That's not what I wanted this book to be, not at all.
Not to talk about Mara herself. I don't know if it was due to the fact that it took the writer years to end the story, but it looked like to me as if the Mara in the first two books was a complitely different character. She was caring, scared by her own powers and she had morals!
Spoiler
in the retribution she doens't even flinch at the thought of killing people. I get she's changed, this is Mara 2.0 and all that. But Mara 2.0 is supposed to be Mara nonetheless. Instead, no. Gooobye realistic good-evil Mara. Welcome crul, merciless bitch.But that doesn't matter, because eveyone loves her nonetheless. Like: Hey dude I almost killed two people last night because they were jerks, but don't worry I'm completely sane and who says the contrary is crazy. Because I know what's right and wrong. I make the rules.
Right, Mara. 'Cause you're God. Oh, no sorry, you're some kind of demon thing.
The ending then was purely disappointing. After she's repeteadly been warned that she will indeed love him to ruins, she decides to stay with him... but, wait. Does she really decides? We. Don't. Know. And that's the point.
The story ends with another sort of cliffhanger. Will they be all right? Will she kill him? We don't know.
I'm sorry, but I was so excited about this book... and instead now I'm banging my head against the wall wishing I'd stopped at the second volume. Sure, Noah would still be dead, but a dead Noah is still better than an alive non-Noah.
Last but not least, just because I feel the need to save this book somehow, I'll say that a particular scene at the end
Spoiler
the sex sceneIn conclusion, if you're dying to know how it all ends, then suit yourself. But don't expect fireworks of a lot of Noah-Mara dinamics in here, 'cause you'll find none.