silence_underrated's review
Maybe wait to read it till the next one comes out. It kind of ends with a cliffhanger. It was interesting though. I liked it, but that could have been just because I love the author. I'm not sure what's going on politically or rather how they are going to get through all the issues (if they even can). This book was a little tragic. Not the overarching plot, but the characters themselves had a tragic background. I still love the first three, but I'm going to think of this as a sort of companion series rather than a continuation of original story. The old characters do make appearances but do not have major roles (maybe that will change with the next books?). I enjoyed reading it and it was hard to put down, but I feel like it was just getting started when it ended, like things were finally moving forward in a way that affects the plot. This book just felt like an introduction of characters. Dot get me wrong though, I'm already attached to Emma and Jonah as well as Kenzie and Natalie, just wishing there was more.
grantelewis's review
2.0
Whew. A lot to say about this book…it took me a while to finish. I’m stubborn and felt I needed to and just don’t care for Jonah and Emma
loumc's review
2.0
I've really loved Chima's other books, but this one was frustratingly bland. There was really very little happening in the 500 pages besides brooding teenage romance and tiny little dramas that were easily forgotten. There were some neat subplots that unfortunately got left behind and apparently will be the entire focus of the next book. I'll continue reading her books because I love Jack and Ellen and Seph, but Jonah and Emma have not won my heart.
readingrenbo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
tywilliams's review
I liked this book and how it was the same world with different characters. What I didn't like: the world building. I spent the vast majority of the book confused because she introduced many new terms and waited until they were introduced to emma to introduce them to the readers and I didn't understand what was going on, especially with the shades and then with thorn hill and what a savant was.
ferrisscottr's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book ~ not because it was a great book (it was good) but because it was exactly what I wanted at this time. I've had quite a few books lately that were all plot and no character and what this book did was focus on the characters, their development, their relationships, growth, pain, frustration etc.
The plot was average - the savants trying to make a life for themselves after the Thorn Hill massacre while our hero (Jonah) tries to find out who caused the massacre. A noble quest for a reluctant assassin.
I enjoyed the writing, the world, the characters. I'm not a big fan of YA but this one was good and I'm looking forward to the next (and I think last in this series) book as we find our heroes probably trying to clear their names...
The plot was average - the savants trying to make a life for themselves after the Thorn Hill massacre while our hero (Jonah) tries to find out who caused the massacre. A noble quest for a reluctant assassin.
I enjoyed the writing, the world, the characters. I'm not a big fan of YA but this one was good and I'm looking forward to the next (and I think last in this series) book as we find our heroes probably trying to clear their names...
froggylibrarian1's review
4.0
I got this book on NetGalley and per usual I chose it because of the cover not realizing it was part of a series. That hampered my understanding of the book somewhat. I still enjoyed it though.
Jonah Kinlock survived the Thorn Hill Massacre but at a terrible cost. He and the other survivors have become savants with special abilities but also health issues. Years later they are still trying to figure out what caused the massacre and there is a lot of infighting among the guilds. Emma is also a savant who lived at Thorn Hill before the massacre. But there is a lot of mystery surrounding her - who was her mother, what did her father have to do with the massacre if anything, and what is her special ability. There is also a love interest between Jonah and Emma but since his very touch is fatal their first kiss results in her (near) death.
This was an interesting book and I'd probably read more in the series - in my spare time - ha. It was a bit too violent and explicit for my audience though.
Jonah Kinlock survived the Thorn Hill Massacre but at a terrible cost. He and the other survivors have become savants with special abilities but also health issues. Years later they are still trying to figure out what caused the massacre and there is a lot of infighting among the guilds. Emma is also a savant who lived at Thorn Hill before the massacre. But there is a lot of mystery surrounding her - who was her mother, what did her father have to do with the massacre if anything, and what is her special ability. There is also a love interest between Jonah and Emma but since his very touch is fatal their first kiss results in her (near) death.
This was an interesting book and I'd probably read more in the series - in my spare time - ha. It was a bit too violent and explicit for my audience though.
hehemonn's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0