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aaliya87's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
cupcakescol's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mazza57's review
3.0
I received this as an ARC in return for an honest review.
Casey and Miranda are investigative reporters who find evidence of a group that can arrange human safaris. In order to uncover the full story they race against time and into ever more dangerous situations.
I really struggled with the writing style, indeed the first 20% really didn't make a great deal of sense to me I felt like the author had too many threads and not enough connections. As a journalist the author has obviously taken facets of her job and expanded them into a book but she has done this in the clipped style of a journalist and for large parts of the book I just wanted more narrative.
She has a really exciting, realistic plot line and some of the scenes are done really well. There is definitely horror and thrill within the book it just required better style
Casey and Miranda are investigative reporters who find evidence of a group that can arrange human safaris. In order to uncover the full story they race against time and into ever more dangerous situations.
I really struggled with the writing style, indeed the first 20% really didn't make a great deal of sense to me I felt like the author had too many threads and not enough connections. As a journalist the author has obviously taken facets of her job and expanded them into a book but she has done this in the clipped style of a journalist and for large parts of the book I just wanted more narrative.
She has a really exciting, realistic plot line and some of the scenes are done really well. There is definitely horror and thrill within the book it just required better style
readingmypages's review against another edition
2.0
This book was just not for me. I found it to be very choppy and hard to read. There are random chapters about an unknown persons past that are never explained, I felt like the situation with Ed needed to be expanded on and that the ending needed an actual ending or at the very least an epilogue. I was very surprised when I went for the next page and it was over. It does give good insight on what could go on when you are investigating to get that big scoop.
Thank you to netgalley & Dutton for the copy in exchange for the honest review! To The Lions publishes on September 3rd, 2019!
Thank you to netgalley & Dutton for the copy in exchange for the honest review! To The Lions publishes on September 3rd, 2019!
energyrae's review
4.0
I requested this gem from Dutton because I was intrigued by the vague blurb. I think Watt did a good job in her freshman novel. Casey is a reporter for the Post in the UK, and in the midst of her undercover work, she catches a tip, people are hunting humans. Surely that can't be what is going on, but worse things have happened in the history of humans. With the help of Miranda, another reporter that she works closely with, they set out to uncover what exactly is going on and how they can bring it to light for the world.
Watt covers quite a few things in To The Lions, including the refugee crisis, human smuggling, the starvation, the extent of sexual assault, and the suffering people endured under Gadaffi. I also think, whether intentional or not, she exposes some of the filth that is the world of reporting, the lengths people will go to "get the story", and Ed's character does a great job at sharing the feelings of the distaste at the fact the line is always moving, the lengths and risk always growing bigger.
The book had a bit of a slow start for me, there was a lot of groundwork to get the story in place and we were thrown a lot of characters at once. But once the story picked up, it turned fast-paced, and you found yourself anxiously turning pages. Casey and Miranda were exceptionally strong characters and this was very well-written. Nicely done.
Watt covers quite a few things in To The Lions, including the refugee crisis, human smuggling, the starvation, the extent of sexual assault, and the suffering people endured under Gadaffi. I also think, whether intentional or not, she exposes some of the filth that is the world of reporting, the lengths people will go to "get the story", and Ed's character does a great job at sharing the feelings of the distaste at the fact the line is always moving, the lengths and risk always growing bigger.
The book had a bit of a slow start for me, there was a lot of groundwork to get the story in place and we were thrown a lot of characters at once. But once the story picked up, it turned fast-paced, and you found yourself anxiously turning pages. Casey and Miranda were exceptionally strong characters and this was very well-written. Nicely done.
ptaradactyl's review against another edition
3.0
That was a ride. I was fascinated by the plot and mostly enjoyed it overall, but I was deeply annoyed by Casey in a few places.
carleneinspired's review against another edition
4.0
I don't know where to start with this gripping political thriller, it was such an incredible read, but I fear my review will just fall short in describing the talent Holly Watt presents in the pages. Told from the perspective of journalist Casey Benedict, To the Lions follows Casey and her investigative journalist crew as they dive into a story about the influx of migrants, wealthy hedge fund and political leaders, and the depraved desires these men seek to fulfill. A secret hunt, one man's apparent suicide, and a beautiful journalist who knows how to slip into any character for the scoop. To the Lions is a fast-paced read with one horrifying plot and yet I couldn't put it down.
I could feel the power rolling of the wealthy magnates in waves, I could understand how their cracks appeared, how the corruption leaked in like black gas turning them into blood hungry monsters. The public doesn't see it, they don't want to, but Casey wants to get to the bottom of whatever the hunt is. I loved Casey as a character, though she certainly has some holes in her background that would have made the story a 5 star read for me. She's imaginative, driven to a fault, and truly has the best interest of the world at heart. She's an authentic journalist and I so appreciated her perspective. She felt authentic and that lent itself to every character and every situation encountered in this novel. It made the far off lands of Libya and Africa come to life, the desperation of the migrant families was palpable, and the terrifying events felt as though I'd read them in a newspaper and not a novel.
Thought-provoking, intriguing, and far more horrifying than I can put to words, To the Lions is one of those reads that takes current political issues just one step further, to the point of making you question if you can even imagine it. Holly Watt makes it so you can.
I could feel the power rolling of the wealthy magnates in waves, I could understand how their cracks appeared, how the corruption leaked in like black gas turning them into blood hungry monsters. The public doesn't see it, they don't want to, but Casey wants to get to the bottom of whatever the hunt is. I loved Casey as a character, though she certainly has some holes in her background that would have made the story a 5 star read for me. She's imaginative, driven to a fault, and truly has the best interest of the world at heart. She's an authentic journalist and I so appreciated her perspective. She felt authentic and that lent itself to every character and every situation encountered in this novel. It made the far off lands of Libya and Africa come to life, the desperation of the migrant families was palpable, and the terrifying events felt as though I'd read them in a newspaper and not a novel.
Thought-provoking, intriguing, and far more horrifying than I can put to words, To the Lions is one of those reads that takes current political issues just one step further, to the point of making you question if you can even imagine it. Holly Watt makes it so you can.
thebackyardowl's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
janamarialiechti's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
azaera's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0