Scan barcode
A review by savaburry
Truly, Devious by Maureen Johnson
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I’m trying to branch into mysteries, but this book wasn’t it. This was one of those YAs that felt very much for that demographic, which is fine. It just wasn’t for me.
- I didn’t care for Stevie. She felt like she was better than everyone else and was weirdly judgmental about things that otherwise felt arbitrary.
- There were way too many characters. And it would’ve been fine if they served a purpose, but none of them were developed enough to warrant being present. It was just like adding more clutter to a plot that already had enough moving parts.
- the concept of the school just didn’t make sense to be to begin with. A school for? Mystery solvers? Idk like the entire premise of the story was weird to me and I was never able to find the meaning in. I know that I don’t have to, but it hindered my enjoyment.
Maybe this would’ve been better if I was familiar w the tropes of the genre? Idk. My eyes were partially glazed over for most of this, and I’ve since removed it from my memory. It’s def me and not the book
- I didn’t care for Stevie. She felt like she was better than everyone else and was weirdly judgmental about things that otherwise felt arbitrary.
- There were way too many characters. And it would’ve been fine if they served a purpose, but none of them were developed enough to warrant being present. It was just like adding more clutter to a plot that already had enough moving parts.
- the concept of the school just didn’t make sense to be to begin with. A school for? Mystery solvers? Idk like the entire premise of the story was weird to me and I was never able to find the meaning in. I know that I don’t have to, but it hindered my enjoyment.
Maybe this would’ve been better if I was familiar w the tropes of the genre? Idk. My eyes were partially glazed over for most of this, and I’ve since removed it from my memory. It’s def me and not the book