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loop_laurens's Reviews (38)
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A unique, engaging mystery with a completely unexpected ending that would make a second read through an entirely different experience.
The main character was a highlight of the book; it was refreshing to read from the persepctive of the type of person who doesn't often get to be the main character - older, poor, dyslexic - and he truely felt like a real person. The current plot and past memories were well balanced, and the transcript format of the mystery made for a fun and different read.
I haven't decided if I liked the plot twist at the end, but it was incredibly clever and definitely unexpected, and does want to make me want to reread the book to see how knowing the twist changes the reading experience.
Overall, would highly recommend.
The main character was a highlight of the book; it was refreshing to read from the persepctive of the type of person who doesn't often get to be the main character - older, poor, dyslexic - and he truely felt like a real person. The current plot and past memories were well balanced, and the transcript format of the mystery made for a fun and different read.
I haven't decided if I liked the plot twist at the end, but it was incredibly clever and definitely unexpected, and does want to make me want to reread the book to see how knowing the twist changes the reading experience.
Overall, would highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A unique and gripping read that confronts the reality and aftermath of being a teenage chosen one.
Chosen Ones forces the reader to view the familiar trope in a new light, exploring the trauma and aftermath of being, in essence, groomed to fight an evil. The combination of a flawed, complicated antihero, realistic depictions of how different people cope with trauma, an engaging plot, and the well paced snippets of backstory in the format of reports and articles made this a difficult to put down, thouroughly immersive read.
Chosen Ones forces the reader to view the familiar trope in a new light, exploring the trauma and aftermath of being, in essence, groomed to fight an evil. The combination of a flawed, complicated antihero, realistic depictions of how different people cope with trauma, an engaging plot, and the well paced snippets of backstory in the format of reports and articles made this a difficult to put down, thouroughly immersive read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicide
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The most bizarrely enjoyable book I've read in a long while. The plot is utterly ridiculous and yet so well written it somehow works, and perhaps because of the sheer ridicuousness it was a joy to read.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A really unique story that combines a wonderful love story with incredible word building and beautiful prose.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, War
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Yet another example of the author's masterful storytelling.
The individual stories wrap together in impeccable ways, each subtly linked to the others until they cumulate in the grand conclusion. Despite being the focus for only a single chapter, each character feels like a real person with a multifaceted personality and connections to the people and places around them that cement them as the kind of people you find in any city apartment. Each of their decent into the supernatural is perfectly paced and tailored to their character, and the final chapter brings them together for an engaging, narratively satifying conclusion.
The individual stories wrap together in impeccable ways, each subtly linked to the others until they cumulate in the grand conclusion. Despite being the focus for only a single chapter, each character feels like a real person with a multifaceted personality and connections to the people and places around them that cement them as the kind of people you find in any city apartment. Each of their decent into the supernatural is perfectly paced and tailored to their character, and the final chapter brings them together for an engaging, narratively satifying conclusion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood
Minor: Cannibalism
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
An intriguing mystery with an enjoyably unique format.
Framing the story as a podcast immediately made this story something different, and the introduction of a new perspective on the same events with each subsequent 'episode' only added to the puzzle and intricacy of a complelling mystery. The plot twist at the end felt slightly clumsy, perhaps overcomplicated in an attempt to be unpredictable, but was still written well enough for this book to warrent its 5-star rating.
Framing the story as a podcast immediately made this story something different, and the introduction of a new perspective on the same events with each subsequent 'episode' only added to the puzzle and intricacy of a complelling mystery. The plot twist at the end felt slightly clumsy, perhaps overcomplicated in an attempt to be unpredictable, but was still written well enough for this book to warrent its 5-star rating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Drug use, Murder, Alcohol
Minor: Animal death
challenging
informative
medium-paced
An extremely well-researched, well-explained, and well-reasoned in-depth account of poverty in the UK, the issues with current responses, and evidence- and Bible-based suggestions for action.
Firmly grounded in extensive and reliable research, this is nevertheless clear and comprehensive, with an overarching narrative and plentiful anecdotes relating the research data to real life situations.
An enlightening and challenging read that not only inspires action and change, but provides practical advice for doing so.
Firmly grounded in extensive and reliable research, this is nevertheless clear and comprehensive, with an overarching narrative and plentiful anecdotes relating the research data to real life situations.
An enlightening and challenging read that not only inspires action and change, but provides practical advice for doing so.