renettereads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book follows teenage Mackenzie, a Keeper whose job it is to return souls or Histories to the Archive once they slip into the Narrows and before they can escape into the Outer. When she finds a secret, she must juggle it and the consequences along with everything else she’s already hiding.
This has shot up into my top 3 favourite V.E. Schwab books – and yes, I know it’s technically two, combining the duology of The Archived and The Unbound, but I make the rules here. Reimaging the afterlife as a library is inspired and with another nod at Schwab’s trademark theme of overlapping worlds, I loved this world and all the little facets that made it just fantastical enough. Mac was a brilliant main character, standing strong on her own, but I couldn’t help but crave the scenes in which she and Wesley both appeared – their dynamic was phenomenal.
I thought book two, when we start to see Mac really deal with the fallout of the first book, was a super strong follow-up to a solid first book. I absolutely adored this story and everyone in it. And of course, Schwab is such a master of weaving emotion and prose. I highly recommend this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Death
mini_malist's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
My favorite book I've read in 2023 so far. And definitely my second favorite book by V.E. Schwab after "Viscious". It's been a while since I devoured a book like that! Really fast-paced and engaging. Also, I find the overall idea of Archive very unique and well executed.
Spoiler
I wish though that the scene in the Unbound where Mac "kills" Owen was a little bit more dramatic (i guess?) it kinda felt flat for me :/
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Death
aviery's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Violence, Self harm, Car accident, and Child death
Moderate: Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Murder, Medical content, Grief, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Cursing and Child abuse
writingcaia's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I knew absolutely nothing of what I was going to read besides the book being a duology collection from one of my favourite writers, that was enough. And, it did not disappoint, in fact, it was exceedingly awesome and I only hoped, and wanted more of it by the end.
Mackenzie hunts lost dead people, aka histories, a job left to her at a very young age by her dying grandfather. It is a job controlled by the Archive where the dead are guarded after death, like story and image versions of their past lives, but sometimes they rise confused and it is to her and the the ones like her to get them back. Because of this inherited work, this reality she knows off, unlike the rest of the people, she’s forced to lie and conceal from everyone, including those she loves the most.
After tragically losing her younger brother, her family moves to an old building to live and start a new business, which means she’ll have a new hunting ground. Here’s where the plot starts, this grand building where tragedy and secrets are buried, where dangerous dead will roam, and where two boys will surprisingly show up to help her, confuse her, love her. Or will they?
The MC is brave, selfish sometimes, badass for sure, and just a girl trying to also be a “normal” teenager.
Throughout the story of the books we see not only this paranormal, action filled story develop and conclude, but also, and obviously the goal of the story and characters, we see grief and death, and how people deal with it, differently, but always the pain and suffering, the anger, the helplessness.
It is thus a story about the dead, truths and lies, and those they leave behind.
Really terrific, I hope Schwabb decides to go back to this world one day, as the ending does leave it open for it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Grief, Death, Blood, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Child death
Mackenzie hunts lost dead people, aka histories, a job left to her at a very young age by her dying grandfather. It is a job controlled by the Archive where the dead are guarded after death, like story and image versions of their past lives, but sometimes they rise confused and it is to her and the the ones like her to get them back. Because of this inherited work, this reality she knows off, unlike the rest of the people, she’s forced to lie and conceal from everyone, including those she loves the most.
After tragically losing her younger brother, her family moves to an old building to live and start a new business, which means she’ll have a new hunting ground. Here’s where the plot starts, this grand building where tragedy and secrets are buried, where dangerous dead will roam, and where two boys will surprisingly show up to help her, confuse her, love her. Or will they?
The MC is brave, selfish sometimes, badass for sure, and just a girl trying to also be a “normal” teenager.
Throughout the story of the books we see not only this paranormal, action filled story develop and conclude, but also, and obviously the goal of the story and characters, we see grief and death, and how people deal with it, differently, but always the pain and suffering, the anger, the helplessness.
It is thus a story about the dead, truths and lies, and those they leave behind.
Really terrific, I hope Schwabb decides to go back to this world one day, as the ending does leave it open for it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Grief, Death, Blood, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Child death
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture, Blood, Death, Grief, Self harm, and Violence
Minor: Child death
stardust_heidi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Two books in one, whew. This was a hefty beast. Fairy slow paced, but constant. It took me a while to get sucked into the story, but once I did, I couldn’t put it down. Dark and gritty, morally gray in a way only VES can achieve.
I loved the resolution so much.
I loved the resolution so much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault
camillou's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Self harm and Death
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