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squids_can_read's Reviews (706)
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.
I think that this book would be better as a limited run TV show. Which feels strange to say as someone who typically thinks that the book is better than the movie/tv show. However, I think that this book was very surface level and that it would have done better as a TV show. Basically, this book is about a group of siblings(two women and a man) who have to stop a terrorist plot.
The characters in this book were very surface-level. They had motivations but I never really understood them. The characters state that they were doing something for someone but never really showed care for the other characters. There really isn’t a huge change in the characters because we don’t get much of them before they start to change. Their changes also felt very surface level. Also some of the characters talk about religion but in a weird way that feels like the characters don’t actually care about religion and are just using it for some reason.
The overall plot of the book was fine. It was pretty typical of a political thriller. The plot did only start after about 100 pages which was very strange because the exposition was just unnecessary for the plot of the book. A lot of the plot points just came out of nowhere and didn’t make sense in the book.
The setting was actually the shining star. This author excelled at describing the environment around the characters and it was really beautiful. However, the setting really can’t carry this type of book where the characters and the plot are the focus.
Honestly, I would only recommend this book if you really love political thrillers and I mean really love political thrillers. Otherwise, I think this one is a pass.
I think that this book would be better as a limited run TV show. Which feels strange to say as someone who typically thinks that the book is better than the movie/tv show. However, I think that this book was very surface level and that it would have done better as a TV show. Basically, this book is about a group of siblings(two women and a man) who have to stop a terrorist plot.
The characters in this book were very surface-level. They had motivations but I never really understood them. The characters state that they were doing something for someone but never really showed care for the other characters. There really isn’t a huge change in the characters because we don’t get much of them before they start to change. Their changes also felt very surface level. Also some of the characters talk about religion but in a weird way that feels like the characters don’t actually care about religion and are just using it for some reason.
The overall plot of the book was fine. It was pretty typical of a political thriller. The plot did only start after about 100 pages which was very strange because the exposition was just unnecessary for the plot of the book. A lot of the plot points just came out of nowhere and didn’t make sense in the book.
The setting was actually the shining star. This author excelled at describing the environment around the characters and it was really beautiful. However, the setting really can’t carry this type of book where the characters and the plot are the focus.
Honestly, I would only recommend this book if you really love political thrillers and I mean really love political thrillers. Otherwise, I think this one is a pass.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Violence, Kidnapping
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, War
Minor: Gun violence, Infidelity, Torture, Toxic relationship, Trafficking
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-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
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Ava Reid cannot write a bad book and this book is no exception. This book is a love letter to ya dystopian and girls who are just looking to love. It has been a while since a book has made me cry and this book definitely made me tear up.
This is a book about people trying to thrive in the face of a buisness-run government and a world that is dying around them. The characters are beautifully written. The world is amazing. The prose is heartbreaking. It’s just an amazing book that has such deep themes. The decisions that the characters make are understandable based on their characterization.
This might be on of my new favorite books. I would recommend this to absolutely anyone because I think there is something to learn and enjoy in this book for everybody.
Ava Reid cannot write a bad book and this book is no exception. This book is a love letter to ya dystopian and girls who are just looking to love. It has been a while since a book has made me cry and this book definitely made me tear up.
This is a book about people trying to thrive in the face of a buisness-run government and a world that is dying around them. The characters are beautifully written. The world is amazing. The prose is heartbreaking. It’s just an amazing book that has such deep themes. The decisions that the characters make are understandable based on their characterization.
This might be on of my new favorite books. I would recommend this to absolutely anyone because I think there is something to learn and enjoy in this book for everybody.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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:
Yes
Thank you Atria for the Advanced Copy.
A multigenerational story of love, family, and the magic hiding in the world around us.
The characters in this story were really good. They had depth to them and I was interested about their motivations. I actually wanted to know more about the male main character but this book was more about the women, which I didn’t mind. While I didn’t always agree with the decisions of some of the characters, I could always understand why they did it. The character development was awe-inspiring.
The setting was probably my favorite part. This book takes place both in South Carolina and London and one of its suburbs. The setting was so rich and I could see the world this book took place in. I loved the way that the suburb of London was described because it felt really magical. I also really enjoyed the hints of Irish history and folktale sprinkled throughout.
This book is definitely on the slower side and nothing much actually happens. However, this book was so beautiful. I would recommend this book to anyone.
A multigenerational story of love, family, and the magic hiding in the world around us.
The characters in this story were really good. They had depth to them and I was interested about their motivations. I actually wanted to know more about the male main character but this book was more about the women, which I didn’t mind. While I didn’t always agree with the decisions of some of the characters, I could always understand why they did it. The character development was awe-inspiring.
The setting was probably my favorite part. This book takes place both in South Carolina and London and one of its suburbs. The setting was so rich and I could see the world this book took place in. I loved the way that the suburb of London was described because it felt really magical. I also really enjoyed the hints of Irish history and folktale sprinkled throughout.
This book is definitely on the slower side and nothing much actually happens. However, this book was so beautiful. I would recommend this book to anyone.
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Typically I start my reviews with a quick summary of the book, like a rewording of the back of the book. However, I don’t think that this book needs a summary. I think it just needs three words. Historical Soap Opera.
I was excited for this book about a piece of history that I didn’t know much about. The boy actors that were used to act as women and what happens after they grow up. However, this is honestly rarely mentioned. It is used as an explanation for Sander(the boy actor)’s actions but the actual consequences of it are hardly mentioned or explored. Instead, the plot is about people in court and their petty squabbles, not even really touching on the people that get caught between.
I honestly hated both characters too. Sander makes bad decisions at every turn and each time says that he will learn but he doesn’t, not really. His explanations always seem shallow but he always gets away with it. Joan is annoying for a different reason and it is because she’s a flat character. Oh she learns a lot about science, in her apprenticeship with Francis Bacon, but she doesn’t change through the whole novel. I also hated the romance between the two of them because they are stated at the beginning of the book as being long-time friends but
SLIGHT SPOILER
the only thing they do after getting together is argue and have sex. They even “resolve” their issues with sex. It was unnecessary and I felt like it diminished any development that either character might have had.
END OF SPOILER
Honestly, I just don’t think that this was my cup of tea. If the words Historical Soap Opera sounds good to you, give it a read. But I just didn’t like it.
I was excited for this book about a piece of history that I didn’t know much about. The boy actors that were used to act as women and what happens after they grow up. However, this is honestly rarely mentioned. It is used as an explanation for Sander(the boy actor)’s actions but the actual consequences of it are hardly mentioned or explored. Instead, the plot is about people in court and their petty squabbles, not even really touching on the people that get caught between.
I honestly hated both characters too. Sander makes bad decisions at every turn and each time says that he will learn but he doesn’t, not really. His explanations always seem shallow but he always gets away with it. Joan is annoying for a different reason and it is because she’s a flat character. Oh she learns a lot about science, in her apprenticeship with Francis Bacon, but she doesn’t change through the whole novel. I also hated the romance between the two of them because they are stated at the beginning of the book as being long-time friends but
SLIGHT SPOILER
the only thing they do after getting together is argue and have sex. They even “resolve” their issues with sex. It was unnecessary and I felt like it diminished any development that either character might have had.
END OF SPOILER
Honestly, I just don’t think that this was my cup of tea. If the words Historical Soap Opera sounds good to you, give it a read. But I just didn’t like it.
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Percy has a lot of opinions about music but can’t make it. Joey can make the music but can’t always articulate the way he wants to. When these two get together, the music is magic, and the tension is palpable. But will the music they both love drive them apart?
The overall story for this was interesting. It takes place between 2000 and around 2008, from when Percy and Joe are in college to when they are in a more professional line of work. The book dives deep into the music that was both popular and unpopular during this time. However, this book honestly didn’t have much plot and was much more focused on the characters.
Speaking of characters, I absolutely loved Percy and Zoe. They were both such strong female characters who really knew what they liked, even if Percy took a long time to accept that she actually wanted to do something with music. This whole book is filled with takes on music by Percy that take on such a personal. They just felt so real and personal but also broad and easy to relate to. Zoe, I loved because she didn’t care what people thought about her, and I loved that for her. However, I really hated Joey and I really couldn’t understand why either Zoe or Percy cared at all about him. He was really kind of a loser who could sing. I was just really disappointed with the fact that both Zoe and Percy kept him in their lives when he really was bad for both of them and was generally just a jerk after deciding to follow the music.
The writing was overall really beautiful and lyrical. I literally devoured this book and the only downfall really was Joey.
Definitely recommend this book to any one who even slightly loves music.
The overall story for this was interesting. It takes place between 2000 and around 2008, from when Percy and Joe are in college to when they are in a more professional line of work. The book dives deep into the music that was both popular and unpopular during this time. However, this book honestly didn’t have much plot and was much more focused on the characters.
Speaking of characters, I absolutely loved Percy and Zoe. They were both such strong female characters who really knew what they liked, even if Percy took a long time to accept that she actually wanted to do something with music. This whole book is filled with takes on music by Percy that take on such a personal. They just felt so real and personal but also broad and easy to relate to. Zoe, I loved because she didn’t care what people thought about her, and I loved that for her. However, I really hated Joey and I really couldn’t understand why either Zoe or Percy cared at all about him. He was really kind of a loser who could sing. I was just really disappointed with the fact that both Zoe and Percy kept him in their lives when he really was bad for both of them and was generally just a jerk after deciding to follow the music.
The writing was overall really beautiful and lyrical. I literally devoured this book and the only downfall really was Joey.
Definitely recommend this book to any one who even slightly loves music.