saurahsaurus's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
pickledpuck's review
4.0
Soo much tension. So many unanswered questions. I'm left high and dry and straining. I feel unresolved, but not in a bad way...?
Interesting world. Fleshed out some characters more. Writing was a bit choppy in places.
Won't mind another one
Interesting world. Fleshed out some characters more. Writing was a bit choppy in places.
Won't mind another one
irasobrietate's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
pleasantbastard's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
gonturans's review
5.0
I tried to explain the vibe of this book (and ARCHIVIST WASP) to a friend, and it came out as “post-Fury Road, with ghosts that can kill you, and the spiritual manifestations of their trauma”. Even then I’m not sure if that accurately captures both books, but if you dig that sentence, give these a try.
“Isabel, here, now, was standing on the nexus of two stories, in the place where they grated against each other like a badly-set bone.”
Isabel. Isabel! Her relationships with the former upstarts (and the upstarts with each other) and the ghost are so compelling; picking back up with the ghost, the clear tension of how she chooses what to say to him and he to her (the use of “Wasp”, especially), lead to some of my favorite dialogue I’ve read this year.
I enjoyed this one more than AW, if only because I was more settled into the world-building and the book itself reexplains some plot points I’d forgotten or missed in AW. The characters are clearly drawn, the writing deft and every word meant to be there, a plot that drops hints and moves forward at a pace that can sometimes feel slow but also reveals itself with a snap— I devoured it and can’t wait for the next book (which, after that ending, I can only hope there is).
“Isabel, here, now, was standing on the nexus of two stories, in the place where they grated against each other like a badly-set bone.”
Isabel. Isabel! Her relationships with the former upstarts (and the upstarts with each other) and the ghost are so compelling; picking back up with the ghost, the clear tension of how she chooses what to say to him and he to her (the use of “Wasp”, especially), lead to some of my favorite dialogue I’ve read this year.
I enjoyed this one more than AW, if only because I was more settled into the world-building and the book itself reexplains some plot points I’d forgotten or missed in AW. The characters are clearly drawn, the writing deft and every word meant to be there, a plot that drops hints and moves forward at a pace that can sometimes feel slow but also reveals itself with a snap— I devoured it and can’t wait for the next book (which, after that ending, I can only hope there is).
souloftherose's review
4.0
Latchkey is the sequel to Archivist Wasp which I read and enjoyed a couple of years ago. I didn’t expect a sequel (the storyline in AW is complete) so was excited to see Latchkey listed as part of the LibraryThing's Early Reviewer's programme recently.
For a description of Latchkey and AW I’m going to defer to the author’s description in the acknowledgements: ’a weird little cross-genre novel about a far-future post-apocalyptic ghosthunter priestess, the ghost of a near-future genetically-enhanced supersoldier, and their adventures in the underworld’
Latchkey is slow-moving in comparison with other young adult books but I enjoyed the slower pace and the focus on friendships between Isabel and the other upstarts and Isabel and the ghosts (it's very refreshing to read a YA book with absolutely no romance and I understand this is a deliberate choice on the author's part). Whilst the post-apocalyptic world can be dark the focus on friendships and the way the different people in the world end up coming together to try to help each other means there’s quite an optimistic feel overall.
Although the stories in each book are complete it still feels like there’s a lot to learn about the Before-time and what happened to the ghosts and to the world and I hope Kornher-Stace has plans to reveal more about these elements in future books.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
For a description of Latchkey and AW I’m going to defer to the author’s description in the acknowledgements: ’a weird little cross-genre novel about a far-future post-apocalyptic ghosthunter priestess, the ghost of a near-future genetically-enhanced supersoldier, and their adventures in the underworld’
Latchkey is slow-moving in comparison with other young adult books but I enjoyed the slower pace and the focus on friendships between Isabel and the other upstarts and Isabel and the ghosts (it's very refreshing to read a YA book with absolutely no romance and I understand this is a deliberate choice on the author's part). Whilst the post-apocalyptic world can be dark the focus on friendships and the way the different people in the world end up coming together to try to help each other means there’s quite an optimistic feel overall.
Although the stories in each book are complete it still feels like there’s a lot to learn about the Before-time and what happened to the ghosts and to the world and I hope Kornher-Stace has plans to reveal more about these elements in future books.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
steph_geneie's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
alphabetseeds's review
5.0
I feel like I held my breath through most of this book. It's so weird and wonderful. I don't want to live in Isabel's world, but I am riveted by it. I hope we get another one.
tortue_abroad's review
4.0
First off, depending on if there is ever a next book to make up for the cliff hanger this one ends on will really effect my final opinion of this book. Right now, I’m giving it the benefit of the doubt, but it was really frustrating to hit a full stop in the story just when it felt like we got somewhere. This book felt like it relied on a frenetic pace to avoid having to stop and fully explain some things that felt like convenient plot contrivances. I came in with a lot of care about the characters and so that helped to smooth out a lot of edges but I was aware of them. Ultimately, the story itself didn’t really felt like it had a satisfying arc - possibly because there will be a next book to explain some of the questions posed by this one? Who knows.