sc104906's review against another edition
3.0
This book picks up where the previous left off. Three teens have outsmarted the code and found their way to Etherworld. This part of Elusion should exist outside of its control, but the expert hackers that have found their way here are learning that Elusion is evolving and adapting. Regan is still determined to save her father from this alternate reality and stop the execs of Elusion from putting this alternate reality software on the market. However, in order to stop everything, Regan and her friends will need to work together to bring Elusion down.
This was told in the same vein as the first. It was just as action-packed. Once I found my way back into the story, I couldn't stop reading. I thought that the ending was abrupt, but I can understand why it ended the way it did. I thought that the audiobook was just as awesome as the physical book. I think even more characters could be explored through this world in the future. It is very similar to Marie Lu's Warcross.
This was told in the same vein as the first. It was just as action-packed. Once I found my way back into the story, I couldn't stop reading. I thought that the ending was abrupt, but I can understand why it ended the way it did. I thought that the audiobook was just as awesome as the physical book. I think even more characters could be explored through this world in the future. It is very similar to Marie Lu's Warcross.
lrauert's review against another edition
5.0
Holy cow this was a fantastic ending to this amazing story! I loved every second of it, from the crazy action scenes (both inside and out of the crazy awesome virtual reality escapes seen in Elusion) to the heartbreaking romance that tore me open, I went on such an awesome ride with these characters.
I loved Elusion, and Etherworld ended up being very well done, tying all of the loose ends and throwing me off of the scent of the true villain. Wow, that twist ending was amazing!!!
I wish there were more books, but I also feel like this is the perfect place to end. I loved it. I loved the characters, the setting, the tech, and of course I loved the story itself (I'm a daddy's girl, and so is Regan).
I loved Elusion, and Etherworld ended up being very well done, tying all of the loose ends and throwing me off of the scent of the true villain. Wow, that twist ending was amazing!!!
I wish there were more books, but I also feel like this is the perfect place to end. I loved it. I loved the characters, the setting, the tech, and of course I loved the story itself (I'm a daddy's girl, and so is Regan).
l1brarygirl's review against another edition
4.0
*I received a digital ARC of this book from Edelweiss.
bequibuho's review against another edition
4.0
This is the sequel to Elusion and the final book in this duology. Takes place immediately after the events in the first book.
I enjoyed this book. I thought this was a good scifi dystopian book. I loved the characters and story.
Regan kept true to her mission to try to find answers and save the people she cared about. Her and Josh have discovered that the virtual world has been trapping people within it. They are reunited with loved ones and form a plane to attack and destroy the world from within.
Early in the book Regan gets sent back to the real world and we see her try to reconnect with Josh. She also see the toll being in the virtual world takes on the body.
I just felt that they story evolved so much. The love story was really sweet and it didn't feel forced. I also never felt that this was a one girl must save the world, which is such a popular trope right now.
I felt that all the supporting character were very well utilized. I wish we got to learn more about some of these characters. Oh another thing I really loved about this book, it had a lesbian relationship. The relationship was hinted at in the first book and confirmed in the sequel. I loved how it wasn’t made into a big deal, this couple didn’t feel like they were thrown in just for the sake of adding more diversity.
There were some minor issues I had with this book but I still loved it.
I give this book a B.
I enjoyed this book. I thought this was a good scifi dystopian book. I loved the characters and story.
Regan kept true to her mission to try to find answers and save the people she cared about. Her and Josh have discovered that the virtual world has been trapping people within it. They are reunited with loved ones and form a plane to attack and destroy the world from within.
Early in the book Regan gets sent back to the real world and we see her try to reconnect with Josh. She also see the toll being in the virtual world takes on the body.
I just felt that they story evolved so much. The love story was really sweet and it didn't feel forced. I also never felt that this was a one girl must save the world, which is such a popular trope right now.
I felt that all the supporting character were very well utilized. I wish we got to learn more about some of these characters. Oh another thing I really loved about this book, it had a lesbian relationship. The relationship was hinted at in the first book and confirmed in the sequel. I loved how it wasn’t made into a big deal, this couple didn’t feel like they were thrown in just for the sake of adding more diversity.
There were some minor issues I had with this book but I still loved it.
I give this book a B.
cjmichel's review against another edition
3.0
Etherworld is book 2 by Claudia Gabel and while it is still a good read, it leaves me feeling excluded from the action that I felt a part of in Elusion, the first book. There is plenty of action, explosions, etc., but I wasn't as connected to the characters and the troubles they were going through. The break between Patrick and Regan was so underwhelming that I found it hard to remember that they were so like a couple in the first book which I only read about two or three months ago. The story that unfolded in Elusion is very memorable so losing that connection was disappointing. I also didn't buy into that deeply the idea of the program becoming sentient. It still seemed like someone was behind the scenes pulling the strings. I just kept waiting to find out who was responsible. The ending was nice and the set is still worth reading.
aprilbooksandwine's review against another edition
3.0
So, because I listened to Elusion I just HAD to listen to Etherworld. Read my full review here Review goes live 10/5/2016
samantha_randolph's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyable SciFi brimming with conflict
Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam pick up right where Elusion left off in this sequel, Etherworld. Just as they are in the first book, the descriptions in this story are fantastic. The dark side of the virtual simulation, Elusion, becomes nearly haunting as the reader discovers more of the mysteries behind the technology. The contrast between the bright, carefree, and addictive side of Elusion versus the Etherworld, full of grayness and trapped people, creates a human powered, technological monster that will leave readers on the edge of their seats with worry over the many characters battling this system.
The romance between Regan and Josh never overpowers the story but offers plenty of swoon-worthy moments. Their dynamic is realistic, enjoyable, and topped off with the perfect amount of teen awkwardness when it comes to being together in front of Regan’s father.
While Regan is an easy character to like, I did find it challenging to relate to her. She has moments of great strength, but her character often feels static. I was never fully invested in her, and that made the story go a bit slow at times. Some of the secondary characters’ motivations are also unclear, leaving a few unanswered questions by the end. However, for readers who are after the conflict between reality and virtual perfection, they will certainly get this in Etherworld.
Etherworld unites the harsh realities of an imperfect, but real life with the addictive and even harsher consequences of virtual reality. It will make readers question, discuss, and even argue with themselves where the line between good and evil falls. Though this book has some flaws, I enjoyed it overall, and I am glad to know how everything ended.
Posted at Young Adult Books Central: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yafiction/17911-etherworld-elusion-2
Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam pick up right where Elusion left off in this sequel, Etherworld. Just as they are in the first book, the descriptions in this story are fantastic. The dark side of the virtual simulation, Elusion, becomes nearly haunting as the reader discovers more of the mysteries behind the technology. The contrast between the bright, carefree, and addictive side of Elusion versus the Etherworld, full of grayness and trapped people, creates a human powered, technological monster that will leave readers on the edge of their seats with worry over the many characters battling this system.
The romance between Regan and Josh never overpowers the story but offers plenty of swoon-worthy moments. Their dynamic is realistic, enjoyable, and topped off with the perfect amount of teen awkwardness when it comes to being together in front of Regan’s father.
While Regan is an easy character to like, I did find it challenging to relate to her. She has moments of great strength, but her character often feels static. I was never fully invested in her, and that made the story go a bit slow at times. Some of the secondary characters’ motivations are also unclear, leaving a few unanswered questions by the end. However, for readers who are after the conflict between reality and virtual perfection, they will certainly get this in Etherworld.
Etherworld unites the harsh realities of an imperfect, but real life with the addictive and even harsher consequences of virtual reality. It will make readers question, discuss, and even argue with themselves where the line between good and evil falls. Though this book has some flaws, I enjoyed it overall, and I am glad to know how everything ended.
Posted at Young Adult Books Central: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yafiction/17911-etherworld-elusion-2
skelleycat's review against another edition
3.0
When I first read Elusion, I thought it was a standalone novel, but by the end of it I knew that there would be more; obviously, I couldn’t help myself when I saw that Etherworld was available on Edelweiss! Etherworld picks up right where Elusion left off, and you’re thrown right into the middle of the action.
What I liked most about Etherworld is that is surprised me in quite a few ways. I got a lot more of the virtual realms, which is something I wanted to see more of in Elusion! I was also surprised when the plot went places I was not anticipating, and it really made me feel the urgency of the situation that much more.
It was also nice to have quite a few new side characters introduced in this book, and though I did have trouble remembering all of them, there was still a larger core of main characters in Etherworld than Elusion, which I appreciated. I have to be pretty vague in this review as to avoid spoiling anything, but suffice it to say that I enjoyed all of the new things that this sequel brought with it.
That being said, there wasn’t anything phenomenal for me in this book. It was an interesting book that was easy to read, but it didn’t really linger with me after I finished it. It’s a fun sci-fi read, and a very fitting sequel to Elusion.
What I liked most about Etherworld is that is surprised me in quite a few ways. I got a lot more of the virtual realms, which is something I wanted to see more of in Elusion! I was also surprised when the plot went places I was not anticipating, and it really made me feel the urgency of the situation that much more.
It was also nice to have quite a few new side characters introduced in this book, and though I did have trouble remembering all of them, there was still a larger core of main characters in Etherworld than Elusion, which I appreciated. I have to be pretty vague in this review as to avoid spoiling anything, but suffice it to say that I enjoyed all of the new things that this sequel brought with it.
That being said, there wasn’t anything phenomenal for me in this book. It was an interesting book that was easy to read, but it didn’t really linger with me after I finished it. It’s a fun sci-fi read, and a very fitting sequel to Elusion.
lpcoolgirl's review against another edition
5.0
Oh, man, such a great book! Really enjoyed seeing the characters get out of the situation they landed in at the end of the last book, and yeah, I'm pretty sure that it's a duology series!