v1ct0ry's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This book disappointed me, not enough for me to dnf it but significantly for a book that got hype on every media platform and a movie adaptation 6 years after its initial release.
I have a few comments. First, Ruby's mentality is difficult to grasp at the beginning of the book, and it's difficult to understand her motivations behind some of her actions and inactions. In the first 7 chapters, Ruby is telling a story, not living. Until she gets out of her first prison (physical prison, her mind is a prison too) you could count all her dialogue on your hands. We spend a lot of time in her head reading her complaints, worries, and regrets for chapters.
Secondly, the instant love with Liam is very hard to get behind. And I tried. The pair, along with Chubs and Zu spend around two weeks driving around together and despite their minimal meaningful conversation, little trust, and being literal strangers, halfway through the book they convince themselves that they're in love. It's weird because they go from 0 to 100 with like zero romantic progression. Honestly, she seems closer to Chubs, not romantically, but we watched their friendship grow through multiple conversations, positive or negative, intimate or surface. Same with Zu.
Thirdly, the IAAN disease itself just doesn't seem to make sense. If the disease emerges at puberty (which is an age range), why was nearly everyone mentioned presenting/dying at age 10 exactly? It just seemed odd for a country with millions of kids and for people whose powers are vastly different. Also, why imprison kids just to abuse them or off them? Why not just kill them all or train them all to hone their skills so you don't wipe out an entire generation? I usually don't care to nitpick that stuff but it was consistently being mentioned and the disease is a massive force in the story so I wish details around it were better developed.
Fourth, during the entire car trip in Betty, I was SO confused about how they were sitting and the layout of the car. The only constant was that while Liam was driving, Zu always sat behind him. Also, the action scenes are difficult to comprehend. I was re-reading car chases, fights, and ambushes to figure out what was going on, where people were, and how everything was happening.
Other than this, it was a great story. 3 stars for Zu, Chubs, Liam's backstory and conflict, the well-built background characters, and the fact that it reminds me of the X-men.
I have a few comments. First, Ruby's mentality is difficult to grasp at the beginning of the book, and it's difficult to understand her motivations behind some of her actions and inactions. In the first 7 chapters, Ruby is telling a story, not living. Until she gets out of her first prison (physical prison, her mind is a prison too) you could count all her dialogue on your hands. We spend a lot of time in her head reading her complaints, worries, and regrets for chapters.
Secondly, the instant love with Liam is very hard to get behind. And I tried. The pair, along with Chubs and Zu spend around two weeks driving around together and despite their minimal meaningful conversation, little trust, and being literal strangers, halfway through the book they convince themselves that they're in love. It's weird because they go from 0 to 100 with like zero romantic progression. Honestly, she seems closer to Chubs, not romantically, but we watched their friendship grow through multiple conversations, positive or negative, intimate or surface. Same with Zu.
Thirdly, the IAAN disease itself just doesn't seem to make sense. If the disease emerges at puberty (which is an age range), why was nearly everyone mentioned presenting/dying at age 10 exactly? It just seemed odd for a country with millions of kids and for people whose powers are vastly different. Also, why imprison kids just to abuse them or off them? Why not just kill them all or train them all to hone their skills so you don't wipe out an entire generation? I usually don't care to nitpick that stuff but it was consistently being mentioned and the disease is a massive force in the story so I wish details around it were better developed.
Fourth, during the entire car trip in Betty, I was SO confused about how they were sitting and the layout of the car. The only constant was that while Liam was driving, Zu always sat behind him. Also, the action scenes are difficult to comprehend. I was re-reading car chases, fights, and ambushes to figure out what was going on, where people were, and how everything was happening.
Other than this, it was a great story. 3 stars for Zu, Chubs, Liam's backstory and conflict, the well-built background characters, and the fact that it reminds me of the X-men.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Blood, Violence, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic, Child death, Murder, Cursing, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Child abuse
am314's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
First read: 5🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This has to be one of my most favorite books ever. I loved it so much I couldn’t put it down. I loved it so much that I hated the characters they hated, loved the ones they loved, and found myself bawling by the end. I can’t wait to read the next one, as well as every single one after that. I can already tell I will be sad when this series ends.
Second read: 4🌟🌟🌟🌟
Wow. I never expected to like this book less, but here we are😭. Don’t get me wrong, it was still great and I enjoyed reading it, it just didn’t hit like it did the first time. I didn’t experience the extreme shock and surprise and crazy emotions that came with it originally. Still, it was a great book with characters I absolutely loved and absolutely hated (but those ones just make the plot better don’t they?), and I am very excited to continue to read the series.
This has to be one of my most favorite books ever. I loved it so much I couldn’t put it down. I loved it so much that I hated the characters they hated, loved the ones they loved, and found myself bawling by the end. I can’t wait to read the next one, as well as every single one after that. I can already tell I will be sad when this series ends.
Second read: 4🌟🌟🌟🌟
Wow. I never expected to like this book less, but here we are😭. Don’t get me wrong, it was still great and I enjoyed reading it, it just didn’t hit like it did the first time. I didn’t experience the extreme shock and surprise and crazy emotions that came with it originally. Still, it was a great book with characters I absolutely loved and absolutely hated (but those ones just make the plot better don’t they?), and I am very excited to continue to read the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Death, Car accident, Gun violence, Murder, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Cursing
my3bb8's review
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Grief, Torture, Murder, Toxic relationship, Violence, Toxic friendship, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Death, Dementia, Gaslighting, Gore, and Gun violence
lizardbet's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Death, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Terminal illness, Physical abuse, Car accident, Child death, and Trafficking
secretuser_12's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
tbh i was doubting the book bc i couldn’t get into it for the first few pages but i forced myself to sit through this and i am not complaining. was literally on the edge of my seat every page, and i really, really love the characters and was instantly attached to them.
teared up a bit with that cliffhanger, and i am still crying rn so i’m really looking forward to the next one!!
teared up a bit with that cliffhanger, and i am still crying rn so i’m really looking forward to the next one!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Confinement, Grief, Kidnapping, and Murder
Minor: Sexual assault
knifewifestan's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Car accident, Gun violence, Grief, Gore, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual assault, and Violence
mypatronusisajedi's review
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Murder, Violence, and Child abuse
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