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vickycbooks's review
4.0
4.5 stars
I loved reading Want so much in 2017 during the December “one read a day” promo on Riveted Lit, that I went out and ordered my own copy of Want a few weeks later!
And now, I am so so so happy to have been able to read the glorious book that is the sequel Ruse and it was just as amazing as Want.
The concept is no less exciting and Ruse is still filled with all the heists and big corporation takedowns that I loved reading in Want–but this time with even spicier dynamics!
It was so fantastic and I am so happy to have been able to read about some of my favorite characters once again. Seeing Jason and Lingyi and Arun and Daiyu again was so wonderful and I love them all and will miss them very very much.
It was really refreshing to read about all of them, and they were also still very dynamic throughout the book (despite it being a sequel) and they grew and learned–especially in reaction to Victor’s death from the last book.
Something I definitely wasn’t expecting was the commentary about grief, but that’s what really bumped this book up a half star–the analysis and incorporation of the characters grieving over Victor’s death. I think Pon did a really great job of showing how this impacted Jason and Lingyi especially, and their friend was not forgotten in the sequel.
Plus, there’s some spicy relationships going on between Jason and Daiyu, and as much as I hate one of my fave couples being broken up, I relished in seeing how this all made them stronger.
And yay for taking down big corporations and saving the environment! We love good near-future environmental-focused novels and Ruse, although it didn’t need as much of an introduction as Want did, still focused on the setting & environmental themes and continued to build on it, especially with a new country as part of the plot.
Honestly, I enjoyed so much about this book and am so sad to see the series end (I think?). It’s a fun, highly entertaining read, and I can’t wait to see what Cindy Pon brings us next.
However:
I do think that y’all should note that although Lingyi is loud and proud on the cover, this book is still mostly centering Jason and he narrates the majority of the story.
I do think a lot of early readers were misled by this and were hoping for Lingyi and her relationship with Iris to be front and center, but that’s not necessarily the case. They’re still very present, but this is still mostly Jason’s story and he’s the only first person point of view in the book.
So just keep that in mind! Lingyi, Jany, and Daiyu all have their own third person chapters (sometimes multiples), but I’d say at least half of the story was narrated by Jason.
Overall, Ruse brought to the table everything I was looking for and a little more on top of that. I would wholeheartedly recommend this series to everyone, and really hope you pick it up!
Thank you so much to Cindy Pon for sending me one of her ARCs in exchange for an honest review! Still sobbing over this wow
Blog | Instagram | Twitter
I loved reading Want so much in 2017 during the December “one read a day” promo on Riveted Lit, that I went out and ordered my own copy of Want a few weeks later!
And now, I am so so so happy to have been able to read the glorious book that is the sequel Ruse and it was just as amazing as Want.
The concept is no less exciting and Ruse is still filled with all the heists and big corporation takedowns that I loved reading in Want–but this time with even spicier dynamics!
It was so fantastic and I am so happy to have been able to read about some of my favorite characters once again. Seeing Jason and Lingyi and Arun and Daiyu again was so wonderful and I love them all and will miss them very very much.
It was really refreshing to read about all of them, and they were also still very dynamic throughout the book (despite it being a sequel) and they grew and learned–especially in reaction to Victor’s death from the last book.
Something I definitely wasn’t expecting was the commentary about grief, but that’s what really bumped this book up a half star–the analysis and incorporation of the characters grieving over Victor’s death. I think Pon did a really great job of showing how this impacted Jason and Lingyi especially, and their friend was not forgotten in the sequel.
Plus, there’s some spicy relationships going on between Jason and Daiyu, and as much as I hate one of my fave couples being broken up, I relished in seeing how this all made them stronger.
And yay for taking down big corporations and saving the environment! We love good near-future environmental-focused novels and Ruse, although it didn’t need as much of an introduction as Want did, still focused on the setting & environmental themes and continued to build on it, especially with a new country as part of the plot.
Honestly, I enjoyed so much about this book and am so sad to see the series end (I think?). It’s a fun, highly entertaining read, and I can’t wait to see what Cindy Pon brings us next.
However:
I do think that y’all should note that although Lingyi is loud and proud on the cover, this book is still mostly centering Jason and he narrates the majority of the story.
I do think a lot of early readers were misled by this and were hoping for Lingyi and her relationship with Iris to be front and center, but that’s not necessarily the case. They’re still very present, but this is still mostly Jason’s story and he’s the only first person point of view in the book.
So just keep that in mind! Lingyi, Jany, and Daiyu all have their own third person chapters (sometimes multiples), but I’d say at least half of the story was narrated by Jason.
Overall, Ruse brought to the table everything I was looking for and a little more on top of that. I would wholeheartedly recommend this series to everyone, and really hope you pick it up!
Thank you so much to Cindy Pon for sending me one of her ARCs in exchange for an honest review! Still sobbing over this wow
Blog | Instagram | Twitter
bobarisu's review
4.0
4 stars
I feel so fulfilled
Ruse feels like a natural progression for the events that happened in Want. I ended up reading this in 2 sittings, which goes to show that Ruse has a similar inhale-read quality to it that Want had. The other members of the squad (Arun, Iris, Lingyi) get more moments to shine here than they did previously. Ruse also showcased their friendship with Zhou a lot more than in Want, which was a very welcome addition. My only big complaint is that Ruse is more plot-heavy at the cost of losing the more character-driven quality that was a driving force in Want, but I don't have any problems with the plot itself.
Pros:
- Lotus paste mooncakes are my fave too. I feel so seen. (tho yolk isn't my thing but different strokes for different folks)
- Friends who buy each other food are the best friends
- So many mentions of Vic
- JUSTICE
- So much food even the dinosaur on Arun's shirt is living the good food life with dandan mian
- Knife boy (Jason) and trash girl (Iris) are like Want's version of Jake and Rosa from B99
- Ruse just solidifies that everyone looks at Jason's butt.
- Arun becoming fabulously wealthy and helping those in need
- Daiyu still being bitter about her dog
- Lingyi is always the Boss with a capital B.
- This book expands on the gang's friendships!!!
- Jason and Daiyu are unabashedly horny teens and I was sort of living for it bc they didn't care and their friends tease them for it.
Cons:
- The only page I dont like is pg 95 where they make it seem like hacking into the hotel room is quirky cute illegal type activity but the rest of the book isn't like that so was it a fluke.
- Not as character heavy as WANT, but still has good moments esp. for the friendships.
- Could have expanded more on Lingyi and Iris' relationship but I guess it was like *saxophone music* at first sight so ok. They're still cute af.
- Jason and Daiyu are horny teens so those parts detract from other aspects of their relationship somewhat, but at least this is consistent with how they were in Want.
----------
Pre-review:
EDIT Feb 6: Well what do you know I got approved for Ruse on NetGalley! TY @ Simon and Schuster
I'm ready for this whenever it drops, Cindy.
Signed your faithful reader, Alice, who cannot be stopped from wondering if.
EDIT: Now I've read the summary, I'm even more ready! Also I love how the covers are just bust shots of the characters and are unabashedly Asian.
I feel so fulfilled
Spoiler
and Vic lives on in the squad's memory so I can't even complain that there isn't Vic in this book when there is so much mention of him.Ruse feels like a natural progression for the events that happened in Want. I ended up reading this in 2 sittings, which goes to show that Ruse has a similar inhale-read quality to it that Want had. The other members of the squad (Arun, Iris, Lingyi) get more moments to shine here than they did previously. Ruse also showcased their friendship with Zhou a lot more than in Want, which was a very welcome addition. My only big complaint is that Ruse is more plot-heavy at the cost of losing the more character-driven quality that was a driving force in Want, but I don't have any problems with the plot itself.
Pros:
- Lotus paste mooncakes are my fave too. I feel so seen. (tho yolk isn't my thing but different strokes for different folks)
- Friends who buy each other food are the best friends
- So many mentions of Vic
Spoiler
it's like he ain't even gone- JUSTICE
Spoiler
without murder. Go figure?- So much food even the dinosaur on Arun's shirt is living the good food life with dandan mian
- Knife boy (Jason) and trash girl (Iris) are like Want's version of Jake and Rosa from B99
- Ruse just solidifies that everyone looks at Jason's butt.
- Arun becoming fabulously wealthy and helping those in need
- Daiyu still being bitter about her dog
- Lingyi is always the Boss with a capital B.
- This book expands on the gang's friendships!!!
- Jason and Daiyu are unabashedly horny teens and I was sort of living for it bc they didn't care and their friends tease them for it.
Cons:
- The only page I dont like is pg 95 where they make it seem like hacking into the hotel room is quirky cute illegal type activity but the rest of the book isn't like that so was it a fluke.
- Not as character heavy as WANT, but still has good moments esp. for the friendships.
- Could have expanded more on Lingyi and Iris' relationship but I guess it was like *saxophone music* at first sight so ok. They're still cute af.
- Jason and Daiyu are horny teens so those parts detract from other aspects of their relationship somewhat, but at least this is consistent with how they were in Want.
----------
Pre-review:
EDIT Feb 6: Well what do you know I got approved for Ruse on NetGalley! TY @ Simon and Schuster
I'm ready for this whenever it drops, Cindy.
Signed your faithful reader, Alice, who cannot be stopped from wondering if
Spoiler
Vic is really goneEDIT: Now I've read the summary, I'm even more ready! Also I love how the covers are just bust shots of the characters and are unabashedly Asian.
krstnhd's review
4.0
A really great story continuing on in the world of Want! If you like found families working together to take down an Evil Rich Businessman, this duology will satisfy!
enasbookshelves's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
kay_341's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
baseball's review
3.0
I didn’t like this as much as I liked the first book, although it has been two (?) years since I first read Want. The storyline was pretty predictable and nothing super exciting happened. A solid ending to the duology but thats about it.
hannahsophialin's review
4.0
Can't believe I finished this in one sitting considering my reading struggles lately.
Now if that could transfer over to other books, lmao.
Now if that could transfer over to other books, lmao.