synniestar's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
erinarkin20's review against another edition
4.0
Overall I enjoyed this one. It had some solid characters, a good story, and quite a bit of action.
Bea, Quinn and Alina are the main characters in the story. I thought Crossan did a great job of weaving their stories together to get the reader to where the story needed to go. Bea is smart and tough but considered lower class, Quinn is a privileged upper class citizen and somehow they have become close friends. Bea clearly wishes for more and Quinn seems a bit clueless initially but thankfully he catches on. Alina, I'm afraid to say, is a bit of a B but she has her reasons and ultimately, it fits into the story.
With all of the dystopian books coming out these days, this book has a bit of a twist that others don't have in that there is a need for oxygen tanks and based on class, availability is impacted.
I am looking forward to the next book in the series as this one was well done and left me interested in learning more about the characters and what will happen next.
Bea, Quinn and Alina are the main characters in the story. I thought Crossan did a great job of weaving their stories together to get the reader to where the story needed to go. Bea is smart and tough but considered lower class, Quinn is a privileged upper class citizen and somehow they have become close friends. Bea clearly wishes for more and Quinn seems a bit clueless initially but thankfully he catches on. Alina, I'm afraid to say, is a bit of a B but she has her reasons and ultimately, it fits into the story.
With all of the dystopian books coming out these days, this book has a bit of a twist that others don't have in that there is a need for oxygen tanks and based on class, availability is impacted.
I am looking forward to the next book in the series as this one was well done and left me interested in learning more about the characters and what will happen next.
lawbooks600's review against another edition
3.0
7/10, now that I look back this book was enjoyable at times but it was mostly a monotonous dystopian snoozefest but at least there were some action scenes and other interesting moments that helped me to keep reading this book. There were three characters who probably shouldn't even be called characters but rather they should be called archetypes. Quinn was just a rich boy and Bea and Alina were just the rebellious strong protagonists and led a rebellion against the classic evil oppressive government but why would they suck all the air out just for the few rich people to live, I don't really know. The story begins with Bea and Alina somehow escaping the Pod but I don't know how they escaped since it's supposed to be impossible to escape the Pod and it also mentions some science jargon about the Pod giving its population extra oxygen so they get used to it however some cities outside it can survive on less oxygen which was extremely confusing and there was also one person who made her own oxygen pack to live outside the Pod which was perplexing to me as well. A few hundred sluggish pages later I finally got to the ending where the three main characters fight against the city and then it ends in a cliffhanger, how underwhelming. I would like to read the second book in the series however I highly doubt that my library would get it. If you like dystopian books this one is for you.
cancourtneyread's review against another edition
4.0
If I had to describe this book in one word. INTENSE!
emilyusuallyreading's review against another edition
3.0
What I Liked
A damaged world without enough oxygen for mankind to survive is a perfectly horrifying post-apocalyptic setting. Some parts of the world-building are very applicable to American teens' view of society. Abuse of capitalism, for example, by taxing people for the very air they breathe. The concept of Breathe is brilliant. The moment I heard about the book, I was eager to read and explore the idea about people struggling to survive on a ruined world almost devoid of oxygen.
What I Didn't Like
The points of view in the book switch between Alina, Bea, and Quinn. Alina is a firecracker resistance member, Bea is an auxiliary who is secretly in love, and Quinn is the only male narrator and a premium. However, all three voices sound the same. I had significant trouble remembering in a given chapter who was talking, except for when the other two characters were mentioned by name. They didn't seem to have strong goals or motives. The supporting characters also fell flat for me. Petra was fascinating, but she was never fully explored as a character. The Pod Minister and Quinn's father seemed forced instead of sympathetic or believable.
The lack of characterization made it difficult for me as the reader to deeply care what happened to any of the characters. The tension faded away for me and I struggled to keep my interest throughout the story.
A damaged world without enough oxygen for mankind to survive is a perfectly horrifying post-apocalyptic setting. Some parts of the world-building are very applicable to American teens' view of society. Abuse of capitalism, for example, by taxing people for the very air they breathe. The concept of Breathe is brilliant. The moment I heard about the book, I was eager to read and explore the idea about people struggling to survive on a ruined world almost devoid of oxygen.
What I Didn't Like
The points of view in the book switch between Alina, Bea, and Quinn. Alina is a firecracker resistance member, Bea is an auxiliary who is secretly in love, and Quinn is the only male narrator and a premium. However, all three voices sound the same. I had significant trouble remembering in a given chapter who was talking, except for when the other two characters were mentioned by name. They didn't seem to have strong goals or motives.
Spoiler
Quinn's entire focus for the first half is to chase after Alina like a lovesick puppy, and then his goal is to follow after Bea like a lovesick puppy. And then he suddenly decides to rebel against his entire family and everything he's known to start a war.The lack of characterization made it difficult for me as the reader to deeply care what happened to any of the characters. The tension faded away for me and I struggled to keep my interest throughout the story.
nata_sa_b's review against another edition
3.0
3* po (ne)dlhom premýšľaní...
Originálny nápad, bohužiaľ postavy by som najradšej miestami prefackala, avšak aj napriek tomu dajte mi pokračovanie!!!!
Originálny nápad, bohužiaľ postavy by som najradšej miestami prefackala, avšak aj napriek tomu dajte mi pokračovanie!!!!
mslessthan3's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
claire_melanie's review against another edition
5.0
Such a great book. The premise is terrifying but also probably not too distant in the future. Loved the complexity of the characters - not at all simplistic or one dimensional. This was a total page turner. Can't wait to get my hands on the second in the series.