Reviews

The Year of the Locust by Terry Hayes

jaclynrose_reads's review against another edition

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3.0

I wish I could put in 3.5 stars, because it feels like it’s better than 3 stars but not 4. Anyhow… just like many of us we’ve waited years for this book (a decade!) and just like many I was a big fan of his debut. I mean, he is still in my top 3 books best reads. It was intelligent and so well written, that my hopes were really up for this one.

The beginning of this book reminded me why I loved the first one. The way Hayes paints scenarios in such a detail, that he really brings you to that place and that moment. A few moments I was holding my breath until the next page was unfold.

Because I was so stupid upfront to read a few reviews (why?? Would I do that?!) I had this little voice in my head saying that it would be weird and sci-fi at the second part. So I was waiting for the tables to turn but to be honest, the most part of the book is an old fashioned page turner. That being said, as soon as I came into the odd part of the story, I instantly had to think about an 80’ sci fi movie called: “The thing”, thinking Hayes might be inspired by stories like that. It might be over the top, but to be honest, the way he wrote it, I thought it was believable. It mostly felt like a movie, so that’s how I read the last part.

It’s interesting that Hayes chose to really dive deep into the first 3 parts, some bits felt stretched and then when we arrive at “the moment” it feels more rushed.

One thing I love about stories are the epilogues well written. I want to know what happens after the big moment, and Hayes satisfied me with that in his epilogue.

I would read his next book, he made me a fan 10 years ago, and the fact that I kept reading and couldn’t stop reading until it was finished, means I’m still a fan. Well done Hayes, but please maybe this time a bit sooner than 10 years.

caraamcc's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

sirisolh's review against another edition

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

2.0

Sometimes it would be good to take a step back, before hitting publish. What a strange book.  

charliek_1970's review against another edition

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adventurous slow-paced

2.5

gc30snowy's review against another edition

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

5.0

leighmowzer's review against another edition

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It has been a while since I read his other book and I remembered it very fondly
 However, my feminist eyes have been opened in the meantime and there are no female characters in the books. I'm done reading books written by men about men.

cris7516's review against another edition

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adventurous tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

bigd1711's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-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? No

3.5

kfogg's review against another edition

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4.0

Read this in the searing heat of the Egyptian desert and it really made me feel what the guy was going through. Parts 1 to 3, absolutely fantastic with intense action scenes and some inspired writing. Really threw myself into it and struggled to put it down. Part 4 was gibberish and I felt it spoilt what could have been anyone’s book of the year. Got no idea why the author went in that direction but it spoilt it for me.

thelaurafoley's review

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3.0

Liked the book. The spacing and font size made it feel as though I was making no progress at all though.