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underscoresyd's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Medical content, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Torture and Murder
Minor: Pregnancy
hannamarin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ashley marin best fictional mom in every form of media
sharonsm_28's review against another edition
5.0
It is a great sense of mystery. Ali is always one step ahead and all the details make sense. She is always thinking of a new way out or anything that can go wrong. Its always exciting to see what comes next. She also develops the characters well and their stories are well thought out. There are no gaps in the story. It is most important in mysteries.
tee_24's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
brooke_holcombe's review against another edition
3.0
“No one here gets out alive.” -Jim Morrison
3/5 stars…After the original eight books, Deadly is a shocking return to form. Deadly is much less light-hearted than its predecessors, and it's better for it. While A and the murder storyline is omnipresent, it's the everyday lives of the characters that propel the story forward, and PLL readers have had to endure some truly ridiculous subplots. I'm usually pretty lenient on forgiving that sort of meandering because this series is meant for an audience much younger than I am, and it adds to that aforementioned light-heartedness. Deadly seems to throw all that nonsense out the window and focus solely on the “A” storyline, while any of the relationship/family drama we've come to expect sprouts up naturally around that central focus. This may be off-putting to some because this definitely isn't a "fun" installment - these characters' lives are falling apart worse than ever before - but anything beats some of the things we've been forced to read over the last few entries in this series.
Any PLL reader who has made it this far knows that suspension of disbelief is necessary whenever reading these plots, and this novel is no exception. The ending somewhat renewed my hope in this series arc. It seems like Sara Shepard had no idea what she was doing throughout the last six books, so it was nice to see that she could salvage all of those loose ends into a genuinely surprising plot twist. The big “A” reveal managed to tie up basically every loose end possible. I'm not sure where this series is going to go from here - there doesn't seem to be enough left to constitute two more books + one audio only book - but it was a nice feeling to find myself truly enjoying one of these books again.
3/5 stars…After the original eight books, Deadly is a shocking return to form. Deadly is much less light-hearted than its predecessors, and it's better for it. While A and the murder storyline is omnipresent, it's the everyday lives of the characters that propel the story forward, and PLL readers have had to endure some truly ridiculous subplots. I'm usually pretty lenient on forgiving that sort of meandering because this series is meant for an audience much younger than I am, and it adds to that aforementioned light-heartedness. Deadly seems to throw all that nonsense out the window and focus solely on the “A” storyline, while any of the relationship/family drama we've come to expect sprouts up naturally around that central focus. This may be off-putting to some because this definitely isn't a "fun" installment - these characters' lives are falling apart worse than ever before - but anything beats some of the things we've been forced to read over the last few entries in this series.
Any PLL reader who has made it this far knows that suspension of disbelief is necessary whenever reading these plots, and this novel is no exception. The ending somewhat renewed my hope in this series arc. It seems like Sara Shepard had no idea what she was doing throughout the last six books, so it was nice to see that she could salvage all of those loose ends into a genuinely surprising plot twist. The big “A” reveal managed to tie up basically every loose end possible. I'm not sure where this series is going to go from here - there doesn't seem to be enough left to constitute two more books + one audio only book - but it was a nice feeling to find myself truly enjoying one of these books again.
aimeecassx's review against another edition
5.0
Okay so, I know the dates make it seem like it took me forever to get through this book, when in reality I put it down weeks ago as I have been back at University. Well today I decided I needed to finish this book as I need to know the answers! I read pretty much from the beginning and it only took me a couple hours to get through it all!
This was by far the best or one of the best books in the series. I couldn’t put it down, I knew I was finishing it in one sitting.
This book was so different than the others. So much was going on, it was so chaotic.
I think we all knew who A was all along.. it’s pretty obvious and Sara Shepard isn’t trying to hide it. While reading the reviews I thought we’d only find out who Helper A was but nope.. we found out about both!
The reveal didn’t take pages and pages to explain why Helper A did all of this, it just gave closure to clues we already knew; everything fit into place.
Who Helper A was though, was very surprising... I really liked the reveal.
I think this could have been a great ending to the series, they should have captured both Helper A and A. Especially since we know who A is now....
I am sad to see the end of the series but seriously, two more books? We know who A is so why do we have to spend 2 more books just hunting them down?
Nevertheless I will continue reading to the end. If you’re currently on like book 11/12 and it’s getting a bit dull (like it was for me) I would highly recommend just hanging in there and reading this book. It is worth it in my opinion and after all, you’ve gotten this far.
This was by far the best or one of the best books in the series. I couldn’t put it down, I knew I was finishing it in one sitting.
This book was so different than the others. So much was going on, it was so chaotic.
I think we all knew who A was all along.. it’s pretty obvious and Sara Shepard isn’t trying to hide it. While reading the reviews I thought we’d only find out who Helper A was but nope.. we found out about both!
The reveal didn’t take pages and pages to explain why Helper A did all of this, it just gave closure to clues we already knew; everything fit into place.
Who Helper A was though, was very surprising... I really liked the reveal.
I think this could have been a great ending to the series, they should have captured both Helper A and A. Especially since we know who A is now....
I am sad to see the end of the series but seriously, two more books? We know who A is so why do we have to spend 2 more books just hunting them down?
Nevertheless I will continue reading to the end. If you’re currently on like book 11/12 and it’s getting a bit dull (like it was for me) I would highly recommend just hanging in there and reading this book. It is worth it in my opinion and after all, you’ve gotten this far.
_bookswithgrace_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
hannahmve's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
goosegiraffe's review against another edition
DNF - gotten way too ridiculous to continue.
fennecsgirl's review against another edition
2.0
How do I even begin with this book...or with the series and how it should have ended a long time ago.
*Spoliers*
1) How do these girls not know by now to have lawyers *before* involving the police?
2) Lie detector test. Enough said.
3) Everything seems to fall into place for the PLL by the end of the book.
4) I'd have rather seen the girls shipped off. Bet it would make the next book better.
5) Obviously, the answers should be apparent to the PLL. Ali is smarter than they are.
6) How long until the name Noel used to contact Ali is thought about by one of the PLLs?
7) I can't believe I read another one of these, and that I'll keep reading this series because I'm invested and I want to know how it ends.
*Spoliers*
1) How do these girls not know by now to have lawyers *before* involving the police?
2) Lie detector test. Enough said.
3) Everything seems to fall into place for the PLL by the end of the book.
4) I'd have rather seen the girls shipped off. Bet it would make the next book better.
5) Obviously, the answers should be apparent to the PLL. Ali is smarter than they are.
6) How long until the name Noel used to contact Ali is thought about by one of the PLLs?
7) I can't believe I read another one of these, and that I'll keep reading this series because I'm invested and I want to know how it ends.