awainwright's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
proust_mobile's review against another edition
3.25
Went into this one blind cuz I loved the title, was bummed to find it was about the multiverse. Can't abide a multiverse, y'all! Built around a fine art scavenger hunt, this story blessedly skews more Being John Malkovich and less Dr. Strange. It's pretty fun and breezy, and the sci fi elements earn their inclusion by coalescing into an interesting take on parenthood, but something felt unsatisfying about it. There are some excellent individual moments and the buildup of the first half is well constructed, but the commendably bonkers second half doesn't stick the landing. I kind of tuned out after a promised art heist wound up being a boring letdown, and an action showdown gets shoehorned in while also feeling like it was written on autopilot. There's also a constant narrative refrain of "in another universe" that quickly becomes grating; maybe small potatoes but it shows up every other paragraph. Still a solid and unexpected entry in the multiple worlds genre.
runlaurarun's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
adrian13's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
wisechild14'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
4.5
aliciawithoutkeys's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
norachin's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really fun read! I love sci-fi that’s like near future or like kind of “every day” which this isn’t exactly but it’s not like aliens and shit. I thought the characters were well written and imperfect, which played into the plot rather than the other way around which i feel happens more often than not. The ending was a bit too wrapped up in a happy bow for me but also was not out of place. I’m just a sucker for parallel dimensions!!
hopebroidery's review against another edition
3.0
The first half was pretty good; the last 3/4 reminded me of a slapstick dramady from the 90s. Which isn’t my taste, personally!