Reviews

Extras, by Scott Westerfeld

cwareham's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

mrlister's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

I liked how this had new main characters, but it still had the old.

aschmerb's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

The book itself was okay but it did not fit the rest of the series and felt like an after thought.

emmymbee's review

Go to review page

4.0

I really liked this book. Towards the end of the Trilogy I was tiring of Tally a little, as she became more and more unlikable. Aya is a breathe of fresh air and I love the new aspects of the world they introduced. All in all very enjoyable.

faesissa's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I think I enjoyed this one the most? Being inside of Aya's head was a fresh perspective on the world of the Uglies series. Particularly in a post book 3 landscape.

novelinsights's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Check out my video review of the whole series here: https://youtu.be/gRUsm1eEXJ8

When I originally learned that this was an additional, companion-style novel to the Uglies trilogy and not a true fourth book of the Tally Youngblood saga, I expected disappointment, but this is actually one of my favorite of Scott Westerfeld's books that I've read so far. This depicts the world of the Uglies series three and a half years after the events of Specials and half a world away (in futuristic Japan rather than the futuristic USA of the original series), and I enjoyed the way that society had developed in that intervening time and alternate cultural bubble. The new worldbuilding layered onto the original story well and allowed for the addition of new themes, such as fame and truthfulness, to be added to those of the original story. I found the plot of this book somewhat less predictable that that of the original trilogy and I liked the freshness that it brought to the series. I look forward to continuing on to the new Imposters series now.

mbattiest's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

This "extra" to the original trilogy just wasn't as interesting. It had some parts that grabbed my attention, but was a pretty boring read for the most part (as demonstrated by my taking a full month to read it).

I just felt like the plot had been used over and over. Tally trying to save humanity, someone gets in the way, the system reveals itself after almost imploding.

It was definitely interesting to see that the crazy bubble headedness was world wide, not just in Tally's world. It did take me a while to figure out they were in Japan though.

Ok enough to finish the series, but I'm glad to be moving on to my next book.

jessgock's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

I don't think I've liked any of the books in the [book: Uglies] series as much as the first one, but Extras was better than I expected. It takes place a few years after the other books in the series and deals with a different main character - Tally, the heroine of the other three, is talked about, but doesn't make an appearance till the very end. Inexplicably, this book takes place in Japan, but Tally still manages to be close at hand (that part really confused me). Protagonist Aya lives in a city where popularity and wealth are determined by your rank, which is to say your "buzz" - the more people talk about you, the higher your rank is, and the better access you have to the best housing, possessions, and parties. Aya, being young and not having done anything spectacular to date, has a rank so low she's an "extra." However, she uncovers a huge story and sees her rank shoot through the roof - only to discover that her story is much bigger than she realized and that she's now in mortal danger.

readerofdafuk's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

The new world is cool. Where, instead of being pretty is the best, popularity is everything. Your wealth and fame is determind by your rank. People try to be popular in any way possible, by changing their bodies, making stories, or being in a cult. That part is cool, but the plot isn't. I didn't know that the Aya lived in Japan, until the middle of the book when she told her camera to follow her and Tally is Japanese. And when they were looking at the "missile" at the end, I knew it was rocket, they were just stupid. The plot could have been better.

stiricide's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

Not the strongest of the series, but I appreciated the look in to other parts of the world affected by the Prettytime.