Scan barcode
emleemay's review against another edition
2.0
2 1/2 stars. Hmm. I didn't expect to have much to say about the second book in a spin-off series of another popular six-book series, but I guess there's still things I want to talk about.
I'm a huge fan of Grant's Gone series, and also enjoyed the first book in this spin-off - Monster. I love the action, the grit, the diverse and flawed characters. I've definitely had some issues with parts of it but, overall, the positive has outweighed the negative.
The problem is that this book makes it feel like the series is losing steam. Monster appeared to breathe new life into the story by introducing new characters and higher stakes... yet this book feels like filler, propelled by mindless action and ever more ludicrous additions to the mutants. I think the addition of cyborgs is an odd choice and doesn't quite work-- it reads like a desperate attempt to drag something new into a series that is running out of ideas.
I also felt nothing towards the villain. I'm not talking about Drake - who gets very little page time here - but the new guy, Dillon, who Grant tries to turn into a complex villain. His story is somewhat interesting at first, but he quickly became lame and comical. His decision to cause so much trouble and kill people is done almost on a whim. A lot of this book feels a little like that - pointless action and gore without meaning or something bigger behind it.
And a quick warning-- this book is gross. It is gory and graphic and there were scenes that literally made me feel ill. There's descriptions of Drake's torture victims, some of which he even crucified. This is truly one of the most gruesome books I've ever read, and I don't just mean in YA.
Also not sure why we need to be reminded every chapter that Dekka is a lesbian. Like, I get it. Your rep of LGBTQ characters has been noted already. Let's move on.
I do think Grant is a great writer, but I also think I'm ready for something new from him. Mindless action scenes have never really been my thing and sometimes the most important part of writing a good series is knowing when to stop. Who knows? Maybe the story will get a boost in the next book, but right now it feels stale.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube
I'm a huge fan of Grant's Gone series, and also enjoyed the first book in this spin-off - Monster. I love the action, the grit, the diverse and flawed characters. I've definitely had some issues with parts of it but, overall, the positive has outweighed the negative.
The problem is that this book makes it feel like the series is losing steam. Monster appeared to breathe new life into the story by introducing new characters and higher stakes... yet this book feels like filler, propelled by mindless action and ever more ludicrous additions to the mutants. I think the addition of cyborgs is an odd choice and doesn't quite work-- it reads like a desperate attempt to drag something new into a series that is running out of ideas.
I also felt nothing towards the villain. I'm not talking about Drake - who gets very little page time here - but the new guy, Dillon, who Grant tries to turn into a complex villain. His story is somewhat interesting at first, but he quickly became lame and comical. His decision to cause so much trouble and kill people is done almost on a whim. A lot of this book feels a little like that - pointless action and gore without meaning or something bigger behind it.
And a quick warning-- this book is gross. It is gory and graphic and there were scenes that literally made me feel ill
Spoiler
like the opening chapter where Dillon forces a man to lick vomit off the floorAlso not sure why we need to be reminded every chapter that Dekka is a lesbian. Like, I get it. Your rep of LGBTQ characters has been noted already. Let's move on.
I do think Grant is a great writer, but I also think I'm ready for something new from him. Mindless action scenes have never really been my thing and sometimes the most important part of writing a good series is knowing when to stop. Who knows? Maybe the story will get a boost in the next book, but right now it feels stale.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube
jasonlaw77's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jade_ls_lee's review against another edition
What a way to shit on your own legacy.
m4ferglez's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
2.75
grzech's review against another edition
2.0
It's been a year since I read the previous book, which I'm not a fan of, but It wasn't bad. I dare to say that one is much worse. I must admit, I'm reading the series mostly because of a Gone nostalgia.
Thr first issue that I've had with this book is that it doesn't bring anything new or interesting to the universe. Introducing the cyborgs is just strange... It feels like a typical filler between Monster and Hero. The whole plot seems... pointless?!
I also couldn't symphathize with new characters. I was only waiting for 'old friends' to show up. There was a brief apperance of Sam, Astrid, and Drake, and yet these short cameos are not satysfying.
The main villain in this book is lame, and his are just dumb, and illogical. There's nothing interesting behind his intencions.
The thing which I like in this book, it tries to explain who's behind the FYAZ. Unfortunetly, this informations are given to us in a small amount (I hope that, that aspect will be expanded in the last book).
Yeah, I know the book is gross, and very graphic, but I doesn't bother me much.
It's two stars from me. I'll read the next one, just to see how it ends.
Thr first issue that I've had with this book is that it doesn't bring anything new or interesting to the universe. Introducing the cyborgs is just strange... It feels like a typical filler between Monster and Hero. The whole plot seems... pointless?!
I also couldn't symphathize with new characters. I was only waiting for 'old friends' to show up. There was a brief apperance of Sam, Astrid, and Drake, and yet these short cameos are not satysfying.
The main villain in this book is lame, and his are just dumb, and illogical. There's nothing interesting behind his intencions.
The thing which I like in this book, it tries to explain who's behind the FYAZ. Unfortunetly, this informations are given to us in a small amount (I hope that, that aspect will be expanded in the last book).
Yeah, I know the book is gross, and very graphic, but I doesn't bother me much.
It's two stars from me. I'll read the next one, just to see how it ends.
shidin's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
firefly8041's review against another edition
4.0
3.75. Too much fight vs anything else. Dillon got boring, too. Disappointed.
nadiamer's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved it, it was surprisingly a very emotional read for me towards the end. This book is so great for thinking about powers you would've never heard of. Not the usual basics and I love it! I feel like I wasn't supposed to feel bad for the bad people but I did and I was so sad when things happened to them because of being in the head of them and yes they did bad things but the dark watchers attacking vulnerable people really is what's bad here.
nicoco628's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5