wildthorns's review against another edition
5.0
An amazing look at the truths behind the human conscious and the willingness of the few to do what is right
salad_kat482's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The writing made me learn so many new words. I loved the banter. Everything up until "Mara" made sense to me. It was when Grieselda came out and said, "I got it" was when the real twist hit for me. Honestly, props to Dee. I thought at first the "Postman" wanted to kill Dee because she killed Slycer, the Islands #1 killer. She wanted to get revenge on Dee for killing her father. Her wanting to be sisters with Dee, and the Postman killing Monica made so much sense. I feel bad for the real Mara. I thought it was weird when Dee couldn't see her face after she was gassed, but I didn't think anything of it. I wondered what would happen If the Paniacs realized someone else was running the Island. The Postmans daughter Kimmi didn't do all those deaths because she somehow knew about Monica's death, but she did it because she told her father to kill Monica, because Monica was Dee's actual sister. So much goes into this book. There's a lot of stuff you have to think about and isn't directly told to you. This was a good book. I still thought Dee and Nyles romance was out of the blue. I didn't really understand how Griselda came to like Ethan romantically. Ethan was flirting with her because of the roles and he was gay. I didn't know how to write a review on this book because theres so much to talk about in this book. So I just wrote what came to mind. Anyways this book was really good, so four stars.
Note: There's so many funny quotes for this book. Why are there only seven??
Note: There's so many funny quotes for this book. Why are there only seven??
seagullsaga's review against another edition
fast-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? Yes
2.75
kdcat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.75
agoldendear's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.0
It was okay but a bit off for me somehow. Maybe the pacing? Things were also a bit predictable, and the main character did quite a few things that she probably couldn’t have if she wasn’t the star of an action-filled book.
But if you want Danganronpa vibes of young adults getting stuck on a mysterious island and having to go through ridiculous death scenes, then I suppose that wish is fulfilled.
But if you want Danganronpa vibes of young adults getting stuck on a mysterious island and having to go through ridiculous death scenes, then I suppose that wish is fulfilled.
emanck15's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this, as much as someone can enjoy a dystopian world where the justice system is so corrupt that innocents become criminals, and their executions are live streamed in bizarre theatrical ways for ratings. This kind of felt like the Hunger Games, meets Saw, meets Pleasantville? Great for those that want something that bridges dystopian and horror.
Overall, my biggest complaint however, is that when Dee faces the different Painiac's at the end... it all seemed very rushed. It was like hitting all the boss levels one after another and instantly knowing how to beat them, and then almost being a little disappointed that it was too easy. Also the Zoolander challenge... what? Such a weird choice to reference...the author must love that movie.
Spoiler
I feel like I am pretty regularly disappointed by character development in YA thrillers. They have this great entourage of characters that becomes the 'Death Row Breakfast Club' but I felt like there were some serious holes in how they got to be so dependent on each other. There is this whole build up about trust no one at the beginning, but then they start running into dangerous situations to save each other. And then Dee turns on them and accuses them of being accomplices but then they still come back to save her. Why? I just had a hard time buying it all. I also thought the budding romance between Nyles and Dee was completely superficial, and unnecessary. Like when did that even happen?Overall, my biggest complaint however, is that when Dee faces the different Painiac's at the end... it all seemed very rushed. It was like hitting all the boss levels one after another and instantly knowing how to beat them, and then almost being a little disappointed that it was too easy. Also the Zoolander challenge... what? Such a weird choice to reference...the author must love that movie.
literarycavy's review against another edition
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Grief, Blood, Death, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Violence
nyxtheia_lucent's review against another edition
fast-paced
3.0
death race(without the cars), meets Rob Zombies 31, meets hunger games, probably more to call out on. this was okay. I almost didn't finish but wanted to know the end result. a little predictable, a little surprising. meh.