Reviews

The Edge of the Water by Elizabeth George

machteld_booklover_meinou's review against another edition

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4.0

I loved this book! However, I don't think it was not good translation, I read it in Dutch. I had expected it to be better, But I loved the storyline anyway!

melissa_parks's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced

4.25

eenlettermeergraag's review against another edition

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4.0

Ik had Stormgevaar, het eerste deel in de serie Het Fluistereiland, al een hele tijd terug geleden gelezen. Het duurde dus even voor ik weer wist wat er allemaal gebeurd was in dit deel. Achteraf gezien was het beter geweest om deel één eerst nog eens te herlezen.

Het verhaal in dit boek vond ik erg leuk en soms zelfs spannend. Becca komt aan het woord, maar ook andere mensen zoals Jenn Daniels. Het verhaal gaat voornamelijk om een zwarte zeehond genaamd Nera. Elk jaar komt ze terug naar het eiland en de mensen zijn erg gek op haar. Toch is er iets vreemds aan haar. Sommigen denken dat ze een mutatie is of een nieuw soort zeehond. Het is in ieder geval duidelijk dat er een mysterieus sfeertje rond de zeehond hangt.

Doordat het boek draait om het uitzoeken wat er nu precies met Nera aan de hand is, voelde het voor mij als een soort detective. Ik wilde weten wat Nera precies was. Maar ik had van tevoren nooit verwacht dat het verhaal over een zeehond zou gaan. Ik heb daarom wel het idee dat de blurb niet helemaal past bij het verhaal.

Ik zal eerlijk zijn. Ik weet wat je denkt is niet een enorm spannend boek. Het is wel een lekker boek voor tussendoor. Ik vind de gave van Becca (het kunnen horen van andermans gedachten) enorm stoer. Dit is een gave die ik als kind altijd wilde hebben (naast vliegen en onzichtbaar zijn en kunnen verdwijnselen/verschijnselen) en het is interessant om te lezen hoe vervelend het eigenlijk is om deze gave te hebben. Becca hoort continu mensen lelijke dingen over haar denken. Hoe zij hierop reageert is soms een tikkeltje te aardig naar mijn smaak. Ik was al lang uit mijn slof geschoten als ik wist dat mensen mij in hun gedachten een dik zwijn noemden.

Ik weet wat je denkt was anders dan ik had verwacht, maar dat wil niet zeggen dat het minder vermakelijk was. Ik vond het een leuk boek om te lezen en ik weet zeker dat ik het volgende deel ook wil lezen.

mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition

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4.0

Okay there were definitely flaws in this one. But it was such a joy to have a quick fast paced read. Part of that is because it's a book two and there's no reason to set the scene. And part of it because it's a book 2 but it's not just a longer version of book 1. Obviously there's a selkie in this one, which is pretty clear from almost page one. And there's more than one pov character. And lots of confusion. And there's change and growth and it didn't have to continue in the obvious path with Becca's stepdad. What I didn't appreciate was people telling other people who they were and apparently them being right. Maybe that happens but it felt hard to accept. Going back to Whidbey if only in a book was still a plus. 3.5 of 5.

lesmotsdits's review against another edition

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funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

kimjean13's review against another edition

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3.0

This was interesting in a weird sort of way. I don't know why I was surprised. The series has elements of magic in it but I just didn't expect the turn it took. Since it takes place on my home Island I'll keep reading the series. :-)

annabella82's review against another edition

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1.0

If I hadn't won this book through a Goodreads Giveaway, I don't think I would have read it. I must say it was very disappointing.
The overall plot of this novel was messy and it felt like it was out of place and irrelevant.
I don't even know where to begin on the characters...I guess I just didn't find them interesting at all.

akeesa's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

samantha_randolph's review against another edition

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3.0

The Edge of the Water, sequel to The Edge of Nowhere, takes Becca and the inhabitants of Whidbey Island on another mystery involving a suspicious seal this time. My favorite part about this novel is the development of Jenn. In book one, readers only got a brief glimpse of her outside of being a bully. Now, readers get a better take on the less angry side of her, and they can see her mature beautifully throughout the story. Her interactions with Squat Cooper are hilarious, sweet, and enjoyable, and her experiences with both Squat and Annie provide insight into a young girl who is still trying to find her identity.

Ralph and Diana continue to offer words of wisdom and comedic relief amidst the teen angst. Though their parts in the story aren’t excessively big, each scene with either of them never fails to make me smile or laugh.

Where the action and suspense took the spotlight in the previous novel, the sequel focuses more on personal relationships. Although I enjoyed the characters’ development in the first book, there seems to be a stretch with some of them in this novel. Becca and Derric’s relationship escalates extremely quickly without any development, leaving little understanding or grounds for their conflicts. Becca herself feels more of a secondary character than a protagonist as the story goes on, and I left the end of the book without feeling any growth from her. This does, however, leave plenty of room for the reader to get to know some of the other characters, such as Jenn, who do start to develop further.

While the seal mystery is very cool, the overarching area of suspense in the series, Becca, her mother, and stepfather, doesn’t show up often. It feels like that mystery is paused during this sequel to make room for the seal, which ultimately makes Becca’s story fade a bit. However, the twist in the seal mystery is wonderfully done, and it provides a deeper perspective on the island of Whidbey itself.

Though there are areas that left me wanting more, The Edge of the Water is overall an entertaining and engaging read. I look forward to seeing what mysteries Whidbey Island offers in the next book.

Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yafiction/18138-the-edge-of-the-water

annikasophie's review against another edition

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slow-paced

2.0