aelinwhitethorngalythynius's review against another edition
3.0
Very good, however it's a complete copy of Divergent by Veronic Roth. 3 of 5 stars
maryam162424's review against another edition
4.0
2015:
AMAZING
2019:
It’s been 4 years since I read this book and honestly I’m still impressed by it. The plot moved at a very good pace and I liked the concept of this novel as well. I really enjoyed Rory’s character and the resilience she showed during the novel. One thing I thought was weird was the beginning of the relationship between North and Rory. I honestly think it would have been more fitting if the two were a bit older, say 18/19. It’s just that at their age, the kind of knowledge they showed to have seemed unrealistic, but then again, it’s set in the future so what would I know? But still, I enjoyed retreading this novel.
AMAZING
2019:
It’s been 4 years since I read this book and honestly I’m still impressed by it. The plot moved at a very good pace and I liked the concept of this novel as well. I really enjoyed Rory’s character and the resilience she showed during the novel. One thing I thought was weird was the beginning of the relationship between North and Rory. I honestly think it would have been more fitting if the two were a bit older, say 18/19. It’s just that at their age, the kind of knowledge they showed to have seemed unrealistic, but then again, it’s set in the future so what would I know? But still, I enjoyed retreading this novel.
rukistarsailor's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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? No
3.0
amarylissw's review against another edition
4.0
I randomly picked up this book, knowing virtually nothing about it. But I was pleasantly surprised with what I read.
What people generally define as "slower" books never usually bother me -- it's not the lack of action that is a problem for me, but rather lack of forward plot movement. This book, however, had plenty of story and intrigue to keep me interested throughout the beginning pages.
As a protagonist, Rory was decent enough, yet I didn't particularly care or not care for her. To me, it seemed like everyone was saying she was smart and that they envied her and all, and we were shown on a few occasions that she's able to solve word problems easily enough, but I still wasn't convinced. And I didn't feel like she had no defining personality traits -- she was, in essence, simply a type of character created to fit the plot and move it forward. I wished for dimension.
Our love interest . . . well, he's not the worse, but I believe the romance could've been handled better as well. It moved a bit quickly for my tastes and landed somewhere in the realms of boring/dull/maybe-kind-of-sweet-at-times-but-still. North, at his best, could be defined as someone who helps Rory through her worse times and possesses his own secrets to match her own. At the worst, though, it could be said he's no more than a plot device to help the story, and its protagonist, along, and kind of a stalker as well.
We have a few other scattered characters of importance. A friend who has some hidden agendas and makes some bad decisions. A Snape-like teacher (no kidding). A boy who can't get the hint and ultimately, I don't really care about.
All in all, I might say the characters are the weakest part of the story.
The world-building and plot, however, really make up for whatever is lacking in the character department. It's hard to talk about the world and the plot separately because both are intertwined very closely; it's a very complex and intricate story design that Miller clearly put a lot of work into. There's a lot of foreshadowing, a lot of twists, and a lot of betrayals (or not?), reveals, and so on. The plot is really a thrill to read, and I really enjoyed the story.
The world also presents a really interesting idea -- I mean, I would by lying if I said I wouldn't use an app like Lux. Honestly, I'd probably end up like one of those technology-addicted people. So it's a really intriguing idea and world that Miller has created that presents several thoughts.
The writing is good -- a smooth and easy read. I really actually had no problems with it whatsoever, which is kind of rare.
So overall, a really surprising, but very good read!
What people generally define as "slower" books never usually bother me -- it's not the lack of action that is a problem for me, but rather lack of forward plot movement. This book, however, had plenty of story and intrigue to keep me interested throughout the beginning pages.
As a protagonist, Rory was decent enough, yet I didn't particularly care or not care for her. To me, it seemed like everyone was saying she was smart and that they envied her and all, and we were shown on a few occasions that she's able to solve word problems easily enough, but I still wasn't convinced. And I didn't feel like she had no defining personality traits -- she was, in essence, simply a type of character created to fit the plot and move it forward. I wished for dimension.
Our love interest . . . well, he's not the worse, but I believe the romance could've been handled better as well. It moved a bit quickly for my tastes and landed somewhere in the realms of boring/dull/maybe-kind-of-sweet-at-times-but-still. North, at his best, could be defined as someone who helps Rory through her worse times and possesses his own secrets to match her own. At the worst, though, it could be said he's no more than a plot device to help the story, and its protagonist, along, and kind of a stalker as well.
We have a few other scattered characters of importance. A friend who has some hidden agendas and makes some bad decisions. A Snape-like teacher (no kidding). A boy who can't get the hint and ultimately, I don't really care about.
All in all, I might say the characters are the weakest part of the story.
The world-building and plot, however, really make up for whatever is lacking in the character department. It's hard to talk about the world and the plot separately because both are intertwined very closely; it's a very complex and intricate story design that Miller clearly put a lot of work into. There's a lot of foreshadowing, a lot of twists, and a lot of betrayals (or not?), reveals, and so on. The plot is really a thrill to read, and I really enjoyed the story.
The world also presents a really interesting idea -- I mean, I would by lying if I said I wouldn't use an app like Lux. Honestly, I'd probably end up like one of those technology-addicted people. So it's a really intriguing idea and world that Miller has created that presents several thoughts.
The writing is good -- a smooth and easy read. I really actually had no problems with it whatsoever, which is kind of rare.
So overall, a really surprising, but very good read!
haymaddie's review against another edition
4.0
A little bit over futuristic and could deal with a little bit more romance but other than that I loved it!
sc104906's review against another edition
5.0
Digital devices have taken over the world. No one makes decisions anymore without consulting the Lux app on their phone. In fact it is considered a psychological disorder to hear a voice/your conscience.
Gnosis the company that has created this software is not as altruistic as it seems. Rory believes that the company may have had something to do with her mother's death. Rory is not alone in her quest to uncover the truth. She meets a boy named North, who rejects all new technology. Together all will be learned.
It was a great book with references to Paradise Lost and the panopticon. I hope there are more novels in the series.
Gnosis the company that has created this software is not as altruistic as it seems. Rory believes that the company may have had something to do with her mother's death. Rory is not alone in her quest to uncover the truth. She meets a boy named North, who rejects all new technology. Together all will be learned.
It was a great book with references to Paradise Lost and the panopticon. I hope there are more novels in the series.
kblincoln's review against another edition
5.0
At first glance, Free to Fall is everything I'm tired of in YA/New Adult fiction tropes: it's a dystopia, a girl goes to a rich prep school and finds out there's a secret society, she falls in love with a "bad boy", etc. etc.
Only...it isn't. Because Miller's dystopia where everyone walks around with handheld phones with a Siri-like voice called Lux that makes decisions like "what should i order at the cafe" or "should I date this dude" isn't too far off from our reality right now. There's no arbitrary rules to make the whole scenario unbelievable. And the secret society at the prep school gives the heroine riddles to solve that interestingly reference Milton and Greek. And the "bad boy" is counter-culture with tattoos and a mohawk, but unfailingly un-stalkerly and earnest, without treating the heroine badly.
He also works at a cafe, and on their first meeting convinces the heroine to try a spiced matcha latte instead of a vanilla cappuccino-- so basically I loved him already (although holy freudian overtones batman with that "spiced matcha" over "vanilla")
And while the heroine does get caught up in a conspiracy that involves the world, has to break prep school rules, sneak into cemetaries, hack a server, etc, it's all good fun and games. There's just one scene that implies (for just a second because Bad Boy is truly a gentleman) going beyond a bit of kissing.
But what I think rang truest for me was the use of instant messaging, photos, calling, and communications between the heroine and her prep school friends here. Even the absence of communication (between heroine and her non-gay male best friend back home) is used effectivly and believably.
Near-future dystopia with a plucky heroine using smarts to foil bad guys intent on taking over the world. Plus bonus coffee shop, music, and tatooed hero.
Only...it isn't. Because Miller's dystopia where everyone walks around with handheld phones with a Siri-like voice called Lux that makes decisions like "what should i order at the cafe" or "should I date this dude" isn't too far off from our reality right now. There's no arbitrary rules to make the whole scenario unbelievable. And the secret society at the prep school gives the heroine riddles to solve that interestingly reference Milton and Greek. And the "bad boy" is counter-culture with tattoos and a mohawk, but unfailingly un-stalkerly and earnest, without treating the heroine badly.
He also works at a cafe, and on their first meeting convinces the heroine to try a spiced matcha latte instead of a vanilla cappuccino-- so basically I loved him already (although holy freudian overtones batman with that "spiced matcha" over "vanilla")
And while the heroine does get caught up in a conspiracy that involves the world, has to break prep school rules, sneak into cemetaries, hack a server, etc, it's all good fun and games. There's just one scene that implies (for just a second because Bad Boy is truly a gentleman) going beyond a bit of kissing.
But what I think rang truest for me was the use of instant messaging, photos, calling, and communications between the heroine and her prep school friends here. Even the absence of communication (between heroine and her non-gay male best friend back home) is used effectivly and believably.
Near-future dystopia with a plucky heroine using smarts to foil bad guys intent on taking over the world. Plus bonus coffee shop, music, and tatooed hero.
kitvaria_sarene's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this one! It is a mix of ya novel and a bit of a thriller, intertwined with the topic of apps, smartphones, data security and such. It had me well entertained all the way through - and I even thought the slight love story was well done.
The only thing I was disappointed in was the ending (I believe it was even an epilogue?). It is set apart a bit though, so in my mind the story simply ends before that last scene, that didn't really fit into the rest of the story for me.
The only thing I was disappointed in was the ending (I believe it was even an epilogue?). It is set apart a bit though, so in my mind the story simply ends before that last scene, that didn't really fit into the rest of the story for me.
booksushi's review against another edition
4.0
Wow this book was so good! I absolutely loved the concept! The twist and turns were well placed. I really liked Rory and North.
Its actually a good theory about how reliant we are becoming on technology to think for us, whatever makes life easier, but not always for the better.
Its actually a good theory about how reliant we are becoming on technology to think for us, whatever makes life easier, but not always for the better.