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looseleafellie's reviews
250 reviews
Destined by Alexandra Moody
4.0
This review is going to be a little long, because I have SO MANY THOUGHTS, so please bear with me ....
I've been waiting for Destined for a while, and I'm pleased to say that it provides a very satisfying conclusion to the ARC series.
I liked seeing Elle develop her powers, and how she adapted to the different challenges she was faced with. She is my favorite kind of strong female character -- she's kind and loving, but she's also no damsel in distress. If anything, she's the knight in shining armor, riding to save her loved ones even when victory seems impossible.
I also liked Hunter's character development. I'm thrilled that.
And RYAN. Oh my goodness, I did not see that coming. I did feel like there were a few flaws in the solution, though. Still, props to the author for a brilliant reveal.
And the ending, the most crucial part of any series? In my opinion, absolutely stellar. I kid you not, I genuinely thought for a second that they weren't going to make it. There was just the right amount of threat (lots), death (not saying whose, though!), and ultimately, happiness. Perhaps it was a bit frolicking-off-into-the-sunset right at the very end, but whatever, I'm a sucker for happy(ish) endings.
One final note before I finish. The grammar in this book isn't the best. There are a few run-on sentences, lots of adverbs, and passive voice. Also, if I had a nickel for the number of times when Elle's heart was "beating in her chest" ... well, actually, I'd have 90 cents. I just searched on my Kindle and it happened 18 times in the entire book, which I guess isn't bad for a 400-page novel (seriously, though, where else is your heart going to be beating? Your big toe?).
My overall verdict is four stars. As a series ender, Destined works perfectly. Now that it's all wrapped up, I can safely say that the ARC series is perfect for anyone who loves YA dystopia, superheroes, or just a cracking good story.
I've been waiting for Destined for a while, and I'm pleased to say that it provides a very satisfying conclusion to the ARC series.
I liked seeing Elle develop her powers, and how she adapted to the different challenges she was faced with. She is my favorite kind of strong female character -- she's kind and loving, but she's also no damsel in distress. If anything, she's the knight in shining armor, riding to save her loved ones even when victory seems impossible.
I also liked Hunter's character development. I'm thrilled that
Spoiler
he wasn't really a bad guy. Perhaps the whole I-was-just-being-mind-controlled thing is a little corny, but I can forgive it because I was devastated when he supposedly turned on Elle in [b:Fractured|26205966|Fractured (The ARC, #3)|Alexandra Moody|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1441142266s/26205966.jpg|46184516]And RYAN. Oh my goodness, I did not see that coming. I did feel like there were a few flaws in the solution, though.
Spoiler
For example, despite the fact that he's wearing contacts and is about thirteen years older, I found it a little unbelievable that Elle wouldn't recognize her childhood friend. Also how did Elle not know that Sebastian's middle name is Ryan?And the ending, the most crucial part of any series? In my opinion, absolutely stellar. I kid you not, I genuinely thought for a second that they weren't going to make it. There was just the right amount of threat (lots), death (not saying whose, though!), and ultimately, happiness. Perhaps it was a bit frolicking-off-into-the-sunset right at the very end, but whatever, I'm a sucker for happy(ish) endings.
One final note before I finish. The grammar in this book isn't the best. There are a few run-on sentences, lots of adverbs, and passive voice. Also, if I had a nickel for the number of times when Elle's heart was "beating in her chest" ... well, actually, I'd have 90 cents. I just searched on my Kindle and it happened 18 times in the entire book, which I guess isn't bad for a 400-page novel (seriously, though, where else is your heart going to be beating? Your big toe?).
My overall verdict is four stars. As a series ender, Destined works perfectly. Now that it's all wrapped up, I can safely say that the ARC series is perfect for anyone who loves YA dystopia, superheroes, or just a cracking good story.
Roko's Labyrinth by Michael Blackbourn
5.0
Having read [b:Roko's Basilisk|29635837|Roko's Basilisk|Michael Blackbourn|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1459167325s/29635837.jpg|49994045], I was excited to read Roko's Labyrinth. The story is set sixteen years after the events of the first book, and follows a young computer programmer, Nick Rose, as he is tasked with breaking into an AI system to find the secret to saving humanity.
I loved the advances in technology since the first book. Most notably, humans have now developed a way of splicing robotic cells into their bloodstream, which give them the ability to slow down the senses and give them more time to think. The AIs have also evolved -- Roko's Basilisk has multiplied into hundreds of individual AIs, all of them fighting against humanity and each other.
As for the actual story, it was filled with twists and turns. There were a couple of Big Reveals which I loved, and the entire plot kept me on edge. The descriptions of how Nick breaks into the AI system (and then breaks into several other systems trying to find out the truth about his employer) were reminiscent of the hacking scenes in [b:Ready Player One|9969571|Ready Player One|Ernest Cline|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1406383612s/9969571.jpg|14863741]. I love scenes like this, partly because they're great fun to read, and partly because they make me feel like a genius hacker myself.
The ending is, in my opinion, the perfect ending for the middle of the series -- there is closure, but I want to know what happens next.
In a nutshell, Roko's Labyrinth is a must-read if you like stories about computers and AI. I'd recommend starting with Roko's Basilisk, so you get the full story.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author, though I am reviewing it of my own volition.
I loved the advances in technology since the first book. Most notably, humans have now developed a way of splicing robotic cells into their bloodstream, which give them the ability to slow down the senses and give them more time to think. The AIs have also evolved -- Roko's Basilisk has multiplied into hundreds of individual AIs, all of them fighting against humanity and each other.
As for the actual story, it was filled with twists and turns. There were a couple of Big Reveals which I loved, and the entire plot kept me on edge. The descriptions of how Nick breaks into the AI system (and then breaks into several other systems trying to find out the truth about his employer) were reminiscent of the hacking scenes in [b:Ready Player One|9969571|Ready Player One|Ernest Cline|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1406383612s/9969571.jpg|14863741]. I love scenes like this, partly because they're great fun to read, and partly because they make me feel like a genius hacker myself.
The ending is, in my opinion, the perfect ending for the middle of the series -- there is closure, but I want to know what happens next.
In a nutshell, Roko's Labyrinth is a must-read if you like stories about computers and AI. I'd recommend starting with Roko's Basilisk, so you get the full story.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author, though I am reviewing it of my own volition.