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ihateprozac's review against another edition
3.0
This book is touted as “Gossip Girl…..but make it sci-fi” and it was about as good as you’d expect it to be. It’s an entertaining look at terrible people doing terrible things, who you can’t help but envy.
Interestingly, the building in which this is set becomes a character in and of itself. On the surface level it’s a fun lite approach to sci-fi, but on a deeper level it’s a physical manifestation of privilege, inherited wealth, and it gives physical dimension to the disparity between rich and poor. It takes ingrained oppressive systems and gives them physical form, making it abundantly clear how little opportunity and resources are given to marginalised groups. The building almost acts as a malcontent.
Sidenote: I don’t usually pay much attention to maps in novels, but I really could’ve used a map of the building with this ebook. I want to absorb every damn detail of this crazy structure and how it works!
Admittedly there are a lot of POVs here and it makes the book difficult to get into. It’s hard to keep the characters straight, and while each POV is valid and important, I wouldn’t blame people for tapping out early.
And while I was invested in each POV, I felt they needed a stronger thread linking them together and a stronger driving force for the central conflict. While the prologue provides the shape of the story and the end destination, the story was 50-100 pages too long and didn’t adequately use those pages to build up to the conflict.
I enjoyed this overall but probably won't continue on with the series purely due to the length of these books. I want my trashy reads to be shorter and more impactful.
Representation: bisexual female main character, queer female love interest, at least two POC POVs.
Interestingly, the building in which this is set becomes a character in and of itself. On the surface level it’s a fun lite approach to sci-fi, but on a deeper level it’s a physical manifestation of privilege, inherited wealth, and it gives physical dimension to the disparity between rich and poor. It takes ingrained oppressive systems and gives them physical form, making it abundantly clear how little opportunity and resources are given to marginalised groups. The building almost acts as a malcontent.
Sidenote: I don’t usually pay much attention to maps in novels, but I really could’ve used a map of the building with this ebook. I want to absorb every damn detail of this crazy structure and how it works!
Admittedly there are a lot of POVs here and it makes the book difficult to get into. It’s hard to keep the characters straight, and while each POV is valid and important, I wouldn’t blame people for tapping out early.
And while I was invested in each POV, I felt they needed a stronger thread linking them together and a stronger driving force for the central conflict. While the prologue provides the shape of the story and the end destination, the story was 50-100 pages too long and didn’t adequately use those pages to build up to the conflict.
I enjoyed this overall but probably won't continue on with the series purely due to the length of these books. I want my trashy reads to be shorter and more impactful.
Representation: bisexual female main character, queer female love interest, at least two POC POVs.
calliebymyname's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
klassykatie2's review against another edition
2.0
I was just really annoyed the whole time while reading this book. I was very intrigued when I first picked up this book while wandering a bookstore a little while back, but I found a lot of it just very excessive.
The world building was super cool, but there are certain aspects of the whole novel- the characters by the end, the incident of rape (gross), and incest (super gross!)- that were kind of unnecessary.
The only reason why I kept reading was to find the identity of the girl at the beginning who fell from the top, and even that just made me really sad. Was I the only one that originally predicted that Avery was going to fall? I don't think I am.
The author, however, has me intrigued for the sequel to this, unfortunately. I'm not mad, I'm just upset.
I hope Eris gets justice somehow.
The world building was super cool, but there are certain aspects of the whole novel- the characters by the end, the incident of rape (gross), and incest (super gross!)- that were kind of unnecessary.
The only reason why I kept reading was to find the identity of the girl at the beginning who fell from the top, and even that just made me really sad. Was I the only one that originally predicted that Avery was going to fall? I don't think I am.
The author, however, has me intrigued for the sequel to this, unfortunately. I'm not mad, I'm just upset.
I hope Eris gets justice somehow.
kgs339's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-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
4.25
cvsuthie's review against another edition
1.0
This is a shallow, frivolous book that glorifies and romanticizes incest. No thanks.
blairfrank's review against another edition
4.0
It's understandable why my students would enjoy this novel. Each character has their own secrets, desires, and messed up lives. Each chapter rotates perspectives and gives the reader just enough info to keep the suspense while simultaneously allowing the reader to completely immerse themselves. I'm not a huge fan of YA lit, but I read it for my students. Normally, I wouldn't read the other two novels, but my students will want me to so we can discuss the goings on.
sgrasmeder's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ivrdv's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
andreaback's review against another edition
2.0
I liked Rylin. Eris grew on my. Watt was fine. Avery, we don't talk about her. And LEDA. Fuck. That. Bitch.
rrekhaa's review against another edition
5.0
First read: November 2016
Second read: August 28 2017
4.75
I think I love this even more the second time around. I only have 20 minutes until 12AM in my time zone but a few hours until the Dazzling Heights is officially released! I'm going to go to sleep and dream about falling off a thousand floor tower and wake up tomorrow to Dazzling Heights!!!!
Second read: August 28 2017
4.75
I think I love this even more the second time around. I only have 20 minutes until 12AM in my time zone but a few hours until the Dazzling Heights is officially released! I'm going to go to sleep and dream about falling off a thousand floor tower and wake up tomorrow to Dazzling Heights!!!!