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bie's review against another edition
3.0
DNF @ 80%
i kept trying... and trying... and trying... but this book is not for me. don't get me wrong, i did like the amount i read, the idea is super interesting and unique, but my small brain wasn't the biggest fan of the heavy writing. some books are too smart for you, and this one was for me. but this is definitely on me, cause i'm not into this type of fantasy/sci-fi thingy so i should've known i will have a hard time reading it. i really liked the combination between the actual story and the story within the story though, the metaphors were fun to read.
when it comes to the characters – at first – i couldn't care less about them, but i grew to really like dodger and even roger at times, though he did come off as slightly annoying (and dumb). to be honest i don't even remember the names of the other characters so i can't talk about them, but they were alright s'pose. erin was pretty cool! (even though i had to open the book to remember her name) love me a morally grey legend.
what i did do was read the ending... i don't usually do that but i just knew there's no way i will finish this so i felt the need to Know cause i'm curious. and i think it's interesting! i can't say i saw it coming cause i was never that into it so i can pay full attention to what is happening and come up with theories, but as far as endings go, it's a good one. i think there's gonna be a sequel even though i'm not sure what can it possibly be about, but good for them.
TL;DR: interesting idea, but not for me. dodger protection squad.
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trigger warnings: bullying, parental gaslighting and emotional abuse, murder, major character death, arson, graphic depiction of suicide attempt, light swearing.
i kept trying... and trying... and trying... but this book is not for me. don't get me wrong, i did like the amount i read, the idea is super interesting and unique, but my small brain wasn't the biggest fan of the heavy writing. some books are too smart for you, and this one was for me. but this is definitely on me, cause i'm not into this type of fantasy/sci-fi thingy so i should've known i will have a hard time reading it. i really liked the combination between the actual story and the story within the story though, the metaphors were fun to read.
when it comes to the characters – at first – i couldn't care less about them, but i grew to really like dodger and even roger at times, though he did come off as slightly annoying (and dumb). to be honest i don't even remember the names of the other characters so i can't talk about them, but they were alright s'pose. erin was pretty cool! (even though i had to open the book to remember her name) love me a morally grey legend.
what i did do was read the ending... i don't usually do that but i just knew there's no way i will finish this so i felt the need to Know cause i'm curious. and i think it's interesting! i can't say i saw it coming cause i was never that into it so i can pay full attention to what is happening and come up with theories, but as far as endings go, it's a good one. i think there's gonna be a sequel even though i'm not sure what can it possibly be about, but good for them.
TL;DR: interesting idea, but not for me. dodger protection squad.
---
trigger warnings: bullying, parental gaslighting and emotional abuse, murder, major character death, arson, graphic depiction of suicide attempt, light swearing.
wellduhiread's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
evelina96's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
3.0
This was an interesting book. I'm not fully sure I understand all of it though. I liked the main characters fine and they were interesting. I especially enjoyed how math and language were central parts of the book. I would have preferred the villains to be a bit more nuanced as they felt a bit flat. It took a long time for me to get into the book and I can't tell if it's because the worldbuilding was difficult to understand or if was the writing style. Overall I would say I enjoyed the book, but I feel a bit conflicted.
liz1502's review
5.0
Ed ecco Middlegame che straccia tutte le altre letture dell’anno e si piazza tra i miei preferiti del 2020. Devo uscire dalla mia comfort zone più spesso, se questi sono i risultati.
In questo libro seguiamo la crescita di Roger e Dodger, gemelli creati in laboratorio e separati alla nascita, collegati da un legame quantico che permette loro di parlare nella mente dell’altro e vedere con gli occhi dell’altro anche con un intero continente fra loro.
Roger ha il dono delle parole, le storie e il linguaggio. Dodger il dono per i numeri, i calcoli, la matematica e la scienza. Due metà della Dottrina, gli unici in grado di percorrere la strada improbabile e raggiungere la Città Impossibile, meta agognata da Reed, l’alchimista che li ha creati e che monitora la loro esistenza per assicurarsi che tutto proceda secondo i piani. Reed agogna il potere, il divino, per controllare le leggi dell’universo.
Non serve che vi dica che non è una buona cosa, giusto?
Quello che mi è piaciuto di più è sicuramente la psicologia dei protagonisti, la loro crescita personale e la crescita del loro rapporto, iniziando dall’infanzia, poi quegli anni imbarazzanti che precedono l’adolescenza, l’adolescenza e infine l’età adulta.
Per me è stato impossibile non affezionarmi. Già mi mancano.
La trama ideata dalla scrittrice non manca certo di inventiva, tutto è infatti studiato nei minimi dettagli e non mancano avvenimenti che ti catturano e ti fanno proseguire la lettura perché devi sapere cosa accadrà. L’atmosfera oscura della storia è la ciliegina sulla torta del grande mistero.
La scrittrice gestisce tutto a meraviglia, ho amato tutto!
Posso tornare indietro nel tempo e leggerlo di nuovo?
In questo libro seguiamo la crescita di Roger e Dodger, gemelli creati in laboratorio e separati alla nascita, collegati da un legame quantico che permette loro di parlare nella mente dell’altro e vedere con gli occhi dell’altro anche con un intero continente fra loro.
Roger ha il dono delle parole, le storie e il linguaggio. Dodger il dono per i numeri, i calcoli, la matematica e la scienza. Due metà della Dottrina, gli unici in grado di percorrere la strada improbabile e raggiungere la Città Impossibile, meta agognata da Reed, l’alchimista che li ha creati e che monitora la loro esistenza per assicurarsi che tutto proceda secondo i piani. Reed agogna il potere, il divino, per controllare le leggi dell’universo.
Non serve che vi dica che non è una buona cosa, giusto?
Quello che mi è piaciuto di più è sicuramente la psicologia dei protagonisti, la loro crescita personale e la crescita del loro rapporto, iniziando dall’infanzia, poi quegli anni imbarazzanti che precedono l’adolescenza, l’adolescenza e infine l’età adulta.
Per me è stato impossibile non affezionarmi. Già mi mancano.
La trama ideata dalla scrittrice non manca certo di inventiva, tutto è infatti studiato nei minimi dettagli e non mancano avvenimenti che ti catturano e ti fanno proseguire la lettura perché devi sapere cosa accadrà. L’atmosfera oscura della storia è la ciliegina sulla torta del grande mistero.
La scrittrice gestisce tutto a meraviglia, ho amato tutto!
Posso tornare indietro nel tempo e leggerlo di nuovo?
pterawaters's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
okjaaaaa's review against another edition
5.0
i'm confused. but in the best way possible - holy shit.
mastersal's review against another edition
2.0
Well... I finished - and I probably shouldn't have.
Very briefly:
This book was overlong and overwritten and not much of the plot or characters resonated with me. The only reason I finished was that the audio was pleasant enough to listen to while taking a break (even though I detested the voice the narrator did for Roger). Some pleasant lines which reflected the power and whimsy I would expect from the author but mostly I was bored.
Must be me .... ah well...
Very briefly:
This book was overlong and overwritten and not much of the plot or characters resonated with me. The only reason I finished was that the audio was pleasant enough to listen to while taking a break (even though I detested the voice the narrator did for Roger). Some pleasant lines which reflected the power and whimsy I would expect from the author but mostly I was bored.
Must be me .... ah well...
sarahtribble's review
DNF at page 264, because I just could not do it anymore. If you ask me, this book is sooooo needlessly long and overly-descriptive. It could be, like, 200 pages shorter if McGuire just got to the fuckin point instead of describing everything in super flowery detail. I used to love McGuire’s writing, but now it’s driving me a little bit insane.
saradawn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5