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flavours_of_fiction's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
sherryl's review against another edition
4.0
Loved the writing and character development. Wished there had been more emphasis on the dark academia/mystery element and less on the primary love triangle, which was obvious. Great little twist at the end, but again not enough time spent on this aspect of the story. For anyone who's read a lot of Agatha Christie it was also expected, but that's okay - I wanted more of it.
george_and_books's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
eherold's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mirasmitty's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Flat characters, weird pacing, and a plot that can't decide if it wants to be a thriller or not makes this one a real miss for me. If you're picking this up on the promise of "a group of clever and eccentric misfits", I'd recommend putting it back down.
emleemay's review against another edition
DNF - pg 115
This is what I get for only looking at the U.K. marketing:
If I had seen the U.S. cover and read the comparisons to [b:The Secret History|29044|The Secret History|Donna Tartt|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1451554846l/29044._SY75_.jpg|221359], I would have better understood what this book was aiming for, and that it wasn't a book for me. Instead, I thought I was getting some Agatha Christie-inspired thriller and a bit of a first love story.
This is the kind of book that is trying very hard to elevate itself above the level of a standard fun thriller into the realm of literary fiction. By doing so, it is made dry and unengaging. Jess is such a forgettable protagonist and both the guy and professor she is obsessed with don't actually seem half as interesting as she constantly tells us they are.
Outside of my personal distaste for books like [b:The Secret History|29044|The Secret History|Donna Tartt|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1451554846l/29044._SY75_.jpg|221359], I can still see why [a:Tartt|8719|Donna Tartt|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1409871301p2/8719.jpg] is lauded as a writer. There is a density and complexity to her writing and plot that books like this one try and fail to emulate. I found this neither engaging enough to finish, nor smart or well-written enough to really push toward [b:The Secret History|29044|The Secret History|Donna Tartt|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1451554846l/29044._SY75_.jpg|221359] fans.
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This is what I get for only looking at the U.K. marketing:
If I had seen the U.S. cover and read the comparisons to [b:The Secret History|29044|The Secret History|Donna Tartt|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1451554846l/29044._SY75_.jpg|221359], I would have better understood what this book was aiming for, and that it wasn't a book for me. Instead, I thought I was getting some Agatha Christie-inspired thriller and a bit of a first love story.
This is the kind of book that is trying very hard to elevate itself above the level of a standard fun thriller into the realm of literary fiction. By doing so, it is made dry and unengaging. Jess is such a forgettable protagonist and both the guy and professor she is obsessed with don't actually seem half as interesting as she constantly tells us they are.
Outside of my personal distaste for books like [b:The Secret History|29044|The Secret History|Donna Tartt|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1451554846l/29044._SY75_.jpg|221359], I can still see why [a:Tartt|8719|Donna Tartt|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1409871301p2/8719.jpg] is lauded as a writer. There is a density and complexity to her writing and plot that books like this one try and fail to emulate. I found this neither engaging enough to finish, nor smart or well-written enough to really push toward [b:The Secret History|29044|The Secret History|Donna Tartt|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1451554846l/29044._SY75_.jpg|221359] fans.
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bookoffimreading's review against another edition
3.0
I was so pleased to be able to tag along on the Tandem Collective readalong of The Truants by Kate Weinberg. I did enjoy this book even though it was a very slow burner, I think i was about 60% of the way through and I started to wonder if I really cared enough about the characters to carry on reading but because it was so well written I did, and I’m glad I did, because things definitely started to get more interesting.
We follow Jess as she navigates life as an awkward first year student at university and the new, and subsequently life changing, relationships that she forms and in particular with her teacher, Lorna.
I would say that this mysterious story is full of intriguing, yet not necessarily likeable characters, love triangles and deceit. I enjoyed the Agatha christie theme more than I thought I would. Jess herself has to turn into Poirot to find answers to her questions, and I was glad to have all the loose strands tied up brilliantly at the end.
I would definitely recommend this to fans of literary fiction (I think English lit students would love it) as it reminded me a lot, as others have said, of The Secret History by Donna Tartt, particularly the incredible writing style.
We follow Jess as she navigates life as an awkward first year student at university and the new, and subsequently life changing, relationships that she forms and in particular with her teacher, Lorna.
I would say that this mysterious story is full of intriguing, yet not necessarily likeable characters, love triangles and deceit. I enjoyed the Agatha christie theme more than I thought I would. Jess herself has to turn into Poirot to find answers to her questions, and I was glad to have all the loose strands tied up brilliantly at the end.
I would definitely recommend this to fans of literary fiction (I think English lit students would love it) as it reminded me a lot, as others have said, of The Secret History by Donna Tartt, particularly the incredible writing style.
athos's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The book is advertised as a "murder mystery" and a "whodunnit" - but this really isn't the case. Many plot points begin, but end up with no importance. The ending was weak, anti-climactic and kinda confusing.
However, I was drawn to the characters and the first half of the book was great. It was well-written, especially the reoccurring theme of disappearance and wanting to be found (Agatha christie). But the second half of the book didn't satisfy me.
Nick deserved better.
However, I was drawn to the characters and the first half of the book was great. It was well-written, especially the reoccurring theme of disappearance and wanting to be found (Agatha christie). But the second half of the book didn't satisfy me.
Nick deserved better.