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sierrabowers's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is a great middle-grade read for those interested in the rapture. I thought all of the characters were unique and all of the conflicts different for each character. When all of them came together in the last chapter, it made me want to keep reading. If I am able to get ahold of the rest of the series, I will definitely keep reading!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Racism, Suicide, Grief, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Pandemic/Epidemic
caseyadamsstark's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I have to admit that the cliffhanger ending of the book was a welcome twist. It helps explain why everyone so easily dismisses who the obvious villain is, whether you’re familiar with interpretations of the book of Revelations or not.
That having been said, I cannot dismiss all the things that made this book a real chore for me to read. Buck Williams is such a cliche, but I sort of like him. He’s the most proactive character of the piece. But every character is such a cardboard cutout superficial person that I failed to sympathize much. Rayford Steele, the pilot who finds God, is an arrogant ass. The woman he’s thinking about—who he’s never touched, although he wants to (as told to us in the very first paragraph of the book), is vapid and superficial too.
And let’s not talk about how this book utilizes women in light of the Bechdel test. I know, I keep bringing up that test lately in my reviews, but I can’t avoid it here. It’s that bad. I had hope for Steele’s daughter, but the book ultimately failed her too.
The book is preachy—look, it can’t not be, given the subject matter. I get that. But it got repetitive fast. It’s an easy read. I blew through this book, not because of the heart pounding action but because the overly repetitive parts were skim-worthy.
I did not like this book. Sorry.
That having been said, I cannot dismiss all the things that made this book a real chore for me to read. Buck Williams is such a cliche, but I sort of like him. He’s the most proactive character of the piece. But every character is such a cardboard cutout superficial person that I failed to sympathize much. Rayford Steele, the pilot who finds God, is an arrogant ass. The woman he’s thinking about—who he’s never touched, although he wants to (as told to us in the very first paragraph of the book), is vapid and superficial too.
And let’s not talk about how this book utilizes women in light of the Bechdel test. I know, I keep bringing up that test lately in my reviews, but I can’t avoid it here. It’s that bad. I had hope for Steele’s daughter, but the book ultimately failed her too.
The book is preachy—look, it can’t not be, given the subject matter. I get that. But it got repetitive fast. It’s an easy read. I blew through this book, not because of the heart pounding action but because the overly repetitive parts were skim-worthy.
I did not like this book. Sorry.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, and Grief
Minor: Racism, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment