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honeyreads1066's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
First off, this book was just as mysterious as promised with an interesting setting and brilliant characters.
The book follows 6 separate people and their lives in Hong Kong, they're all connected by the same event but even they don't know how. The past begins to catch up to them, pulling them into a race to figure out just how much everyone else knows and what they'll do to complete this mystery.
The characters themselves were extremely complex. Various sections of their lives were shown which gives you a brilliant understanding of why they are the way they are but also connect to the characters better.
A lot of the characters were not supposed to be likeable and of course, they were so human so a lot of them are not exactly loveable but I didn't like any of them. Because of this, it meant that I was not rooting for any character and didn't care very much for their fates.
The setting itself is full of a lot of subtleties that make your idea of this place. It also makes the setting seem so animated and alive which is great since I have never been to Hong Kong.
The mystery itself is as confusing as you would expect. I found the introduction to everyone and their pieces very layered and puzzling at times and did get frustrating since it took so long for the mystery to unravel. Despite this, the ending is worth it. Some sections were easy to put together, others, it took them saying for you to understand where it fits but it was also nicely tied up.
Overall, it was difficult to get immersed, however, the mystery and the end was worth it.
The book follows 6 separate people and their lives in Hong Kong, they're all connected by the same event but even they don't know how. The past begins to catch up to them, pulling them into a race to figure out just how much everyone else knows and what they'll do to complete this mystery.
The characters themselves were extremely complex. Various sections of their lives were shown which gives you a brilliant understanding of why they are the way they are but also connect to the characters better.
A lot of the characters were not supposed to be likeable and of course, they were so human so a lot of them are not exactly loveable but I didn't like any of them. Because of this, it meant that I was not rooting for any character and didn't care very much for their fates.
The setting itself is full of a lot of subtleties that make your idea of this place. It also makes the setting seem so animated and alive which is great since I have never been to Hong Kong.
The mystery itself is as confusing as you would expect. I found the introduction to everyone and their pieces very layered and puzzling at times and did get frustrating since it took so long for the mystery to unravel. Despite this, the ending is worth it. Some sections were easy to put together, others, it took them saying for you to understand where it fits but it was also nicely tied up.
Overall, it was difficult to get immersed, however, the mystery and the end was worth it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Cancer, Drug abuse, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Car accident, and Death of parent
Minor: Trafficking
theweebookreader's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
hopereads_'s review against another edition
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
zukythebookbum's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
artbreakerbookclub's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
juliannar's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thank you to NetGalley, the Author and the Publisher for this free copy in exchange for an honest review.
I originally requested this book because of a few things: the summary intrigued me, the cover was so pretty, and I had never read a book that had taken place in Hong Kong before. The story is a mystery which follows the stories of 6 or so individuals whose lives are intertwined because of various tragedies and past connections. The beginning of the story caught my attention, and I appreciated the in-depth detail about the characters, and the subsequent chapters that provide even more detail about them; the characters were really fleshed out in this way. The ending was satisfying as well. However, the middle of the book dragged on for me, and I almost DNF-ed the book. I will say that the setting of Hong Kong and the looming presence of pro-democracy riots added another layer of intrigue, and I do want to learn more about the 2014 Umbrella Revolution, especially. I do think the protests could have been woven into the stories of more characters, rather than just two since there are so many characters in the novel.
I originally requested this book because of a few things: the summary intrigued me, the cover was so pretty, and I had never read a book that had taken place in Hong Kong before. The story is a mystery which follows the stories of 6 or so individuals whose lives are intertwined because of various tragedies and past connections. The beginning of the story caught my attention, and I appreciated the in-depth detail about the characters, and the subsequent chapters that provide even more detail about them; the characters were really fleshed out in this way. The ending was satisfying as well. However, the middle of the book dragged on for me, and I almost DNF-ed the book. I will say that the setting of Hong Kong and the looming presence of pro-democracy riots added another layer of intrigue, and I do want to learn more about the 2014 Umbrella Revolution, especially. I do think the protests could have been woven into the stories of more characters, rather than just two since there are so many characters in the novel.
samireads's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
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