roguesquid0's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, it should probably be 3 Stars but, Gillian Anderson read the audiobook and I’m obsessed with X-Files soooo… also, the epilogue made it somewhat X-Files like which is probably going to get me to read the 2nd book in the series.
Main characters name is Caitlin, and my names Caitlin ⭐️
Her sons name is Jacob, my best friends name is Jacob
Main characters name is Caitlin, and my names Caitlin ⭐️
Her sons name is Jacob, my best friends name is Jacob
reasonpassion's review against another edition
4.0
Weird but fun. Slow then speeds up to a cataclysmic finale and a world-shifting epilogue. I can't recommend enough listening to this as Anderson herself is the narrator, adding a quality to the story that is difficult to describe. If you want an interesting exploration of obscure psychology, viscerally based in human suffering and served with a large dollop of supernatural eye-brow-raising, this is really quite fun and there are two more!
missamandamae's review against another edition
3.0
This seemed like an extended episode of The X-Files (totally not surprising), along with faint Michael Crichton styling. It's definitely set up as the exposition for a series, so the story doesn't move at quite the clip I would like. And it kinda lost me at the end. Lots remains unexplained, but that's the point, since it's the start of a series. I might get pulled into reading more, but though I kept up with this story and the characters to read the whole book, I just didn't get enough investment in it to really want to see the story through.
ericadeb's review against another edition
4.0
This is the weirdest, most convoluted plot... and I was hooked! I have never really read anything like this before, and I was so sucked in. I had no idea what was happening, or where it was going, but I loved it. I will read the next one, for sure. Hope it doesn't disappoint.
Note: I listened to this on audio because... Gillian Anderson. I assumed it would suck since it's a celebrity novel. Happy to say I was wrong! Her narration was fantastic too.
Note: I listened to this on audio because... Gillian Anderson. I assumed it would suck since it's a celebrity novel. Happy to say I was wrong! Her narration was fantastic too.
mikioshi's review
I just couldn't bring myself to keep reading it, the story while it's not bad it's just okay, nothing less nothing more. Characters for me are flat and i didn't connect to them at all
gabyk_lib's review against another edition
3.0
The story was interesting and compelling but the characters were a little one dimemsional and the writing as well. The cast was fairly diverse but the leads were not and ultimately the plot was kind of white saviour ish. I might read more. Not sure
katyan's review against another edition
3.0
This is everything you would expect from a book with Gillian Anderson's name written all over it. The best way I can think of to describe it is that it's basically like one of those inconclusive and vaguely mystical episodes of 'The X-Files' where you get the sense that Scully and Mulder have tapped into some ancient conspiracy but the writers are so bad at keeping track of season-long narrative arcs that they never go back to it and it's never resolved in a satisfying way. Very fast-paced and easy to read, and I appreciate the effort to be all global and topical with the inclusion of so many characters with non-Anglo names as well as UN peacekeeping crises.
There's heaps more to this book that makes me desperate to read the next one, but I feel kind of cheated by the new-agey explanations and the unconvincing deus ex machina crap that gets pulled at the end by the protagonist. Getting very 'chosen one' vibes and not in a good way. Very standard sci-fi thriller that's engrossing enough, I guess, but feels a bit undercooked. Keen to see how the next one develops. It's trashy and readable enough to be thoroughly enjoyable despite its shortcomings (like a Matthew Reilly book, only less shit), and I can totally see it adapted for television or something - in fact, the pacing makes it feels more like a book adaptation of a movie.
There's heaps more to this book that makes me desperate to read the next one, but I feel kind of cheated by the new-agey explanations and the unconvincing deus ex machina crap that gets pulled at the end by the protagonist. Getting very 'chosen one' vibes and not in a good way. Very standard sci-fi thriller that's engrossing enough, I guess, but feels a bit undercooked. Keen to see how the next one develops. It's trashy and readable enough to be thoroughly enjoyable despite its shortcomings (like a Matthew Reilly book, only less shit), and I can totally see it adapted for television or something - in fact, the pacing makes it feels more like a book adaptation of a movie.
imkatefrantz's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved this book. It felt like coming home to read something science-fiction that was written by Gillian Anderson (And Jeff of course!). It was also pretty freaky at times. Read 15 chapters before bed, and was too freaked out to go to the basement to get my clothes out of the dryer! I finished it in the morning with coffee and toast (Not as scary in the daylight :P). I can't wait to read more!