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sonjaaaa8's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
vanessa177's review against another edition
3.0
This is really the point where the series has to keep coming up with random drama to continue the series. Hanna's in a mental hospital. Emma is hanging out with the Amish. There is very little explanation as to how that storyline is supposed to actually work. The plot seems to be based mostly on the reading of a Wikipedia page. Aria's chapters introduce even more supernatural elements, which just don't fit in well with the rest of the series. Also, it just doesn't feel like she's doing anything. Even though, yet again, everything that happened in the previous book is completely erased in Spencer's plot, her chapters are the best in this book. They are actually kind of juicy, instead of random.
The conclusion of this book is a disappointment again. Just like the last book, the climax comes much later in the book, and it just isn't as interesting as in the earlier books. Most of it does not involve the girls, so we do not get to see it. The big reveal was foreshadowed enough times that it wasn't a big surprise.
There is one big improvement in this entry in the series. The girls are finally actively investigating. Each of the girls are following their own leads. I think at least two of the girls' investigations won't have a major impact on the story in the end and were mostly just a waste of time, but it was a big improvement from them just being scared and A completely leading the way.
The conclusion of this book is a disappointment again. Just like the last book, the climax comes much later in the book, and it just isn't as interesting as in the earlier books. Most of it does not involve the girls, so we do not get to see it. The big reveal was foreshadowed enough times that it wasn't a big surprise.
There is one big improvement in this entry in the series. The girls are finally actively investigating. Each of the girls are following their own leads. I think at least two of the girls' investigations won't have a major impact on the story in the end and were mostly just a waste of time, but it was a big improvement from them just being scared and A completely leading the way.
bookishdutchie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
elliecaitlin16's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
karenholmes's review against another edition
3.0
Lots of things happen, but not many of them advance the real plot. These books are being too stretched out. It needs to have some substance, and by now, characters should be more developed. I keep getting the TV show characters in my mind, to give them something to hold, and then it doesn't fit because there are some differences. Anyway, I'd keep reading, because I need to see how it all ends and how the mysteries get built at last.
anikarajan's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ihateprozac's review against another edition
3.0
I don't know whether to love or hate this book, or love to hate it. It's not inherently bad, but I was disappointed by many of the events and revelations. It's hard to write a strong sequel to an amazing first book, and I know it must be even harder in a series of 8. I feel like Killer dropped all these exciting bombshells, and Heartless just failed to live up to the expectations set by that book. Still, as I mentioned it's not a bad book, but a bit underwhelming.
I have to admit I'm really disappointed that the random construction worker is supposedly Ali's killer. I was obviously hoping that it would be someone we know and have seen in every single book, not a largely faceless and nameless man that was mentioned very briefly in passing. It takes the mystery and fun out of the series by having a plain old psycho who gets off on killing young girls.
The thought of it being someone connected to the girls - or Pretty Little Liars, as they're officially dubbed in this book - made it seem more romantic (for lack of a better word). Ali's death never seemed very graphic or depressing, and it was really fun to follow the murder mystery. Having this random killer brought me back to Earth and makes it all feel like a disturbing episode of Law & Order SVU (which I hate with a passion, but that's not the point).
At the same time, I do appreciate where the author has taken it in this book. Having that jolt back to reality and taking the romance out of the mystery is interesting, and has definitely made me re-evaluate my perspective a bit. I'll be interested to see if the author continues with Mr Ford as the killer, because it's completely different to any of the accusations she's made in previous books. I think it'll be cool to see the juxtaposition in the next book between this very real killer and the romanticised idea of A.
I also have to admit I'm somewhat disappointed about A sending Emily to the Amish community and what she found out there. I was excited when I found out Wilden had been Amish and was thought to have killed an Amish girl, but I feel like the author was stretching it a bit. I have similar issue with the random killer in that I hate deus ex machinas. I don't like it when authors introduce random people or plotarcs toward the end that somehow explain everything. The information about Wilden hasn't solved much, but it was still a random idea thrown in a bit too late. The same goes with Iris and Hanna's mental health facility.
I'm also quite disappointed with the author disregarding Wilden as Ali's killer. I think it's just getting so late in the game that I'm annoyed that the author continues to do this. I love being kept guessing, but dammit it would be nice to have some solid evidence and continuity between two books! If Ford is somehow exonerated in Wanted and the killer's identity is still in question I am going to be really annoyed.
I'm not sure how I feel about Aria supposedly communicating with Ali's ghost, and the girls having prophetic dreams involving Ali. When I first watched the TV show it seemed like Ali was communicating from beyond the grave and I thought it was really cool, but after reading 7 books these supernatural themes are a copout. I think it's cool that the dreams have helped unearth clues in the past, but I also feel they're so vague that the girls could link the clues to anything.
I'm also bummed that Ali or her "twin" didn't make a reappearance, and we didn't get any more answers there! The author hinted that Jason wasn't the one in the mental hospital, but she hasn't hinted at a twin being in there either. It's being presented as Ali secretly being suicidal and in the hospital herself. I'm still holding onto the twin theory for dear life though, and I hope Ali was just on medication because the whole situation was so fucked up.
It wasn't all crap though, because I LOVED where Spencer's story went. I love that she found out she was born through surrogacy, and that Ali is biologically her sister. I thought Spencer was going to find out that she was a DiLaurentis, but it's more like the DiLaurentises are Hastingses! I feel bad for Mrs Hastings and the family having to break up over the affair, but it's deliciously juicy ;] If Jason is Spencer's brother, as the author has hinted, I hope that takes the story to interesting places.
I thought I would be practically pissing my pants to start book 8, but I feel more ambivalent than anything. I've accused so many people in each book of being Ali's killer, and having this unknown guy introduced was a letdown. I've also accused so many people of being new A, and now I don't have a clue who they could be. It's not even a question at the forefront of my mind right now. Nobody is immediately jumping out, and for once I don't really care. I'm not even particularly excited by Jenna being Ford's second victim, I'm sort of like "oh really? hmm".
Overall: Judging by my review it sounds like I thought this book was absolutely awful, but it's quite the opposite. I didn't find it any less entertaining than the rest, but I feel like it was lacking in juicy secrets. Theories were thrown out the window, but for once they weren't compensated by even juicier theories. There were interesting tidbits of information, like Darren's Amish background, but they didn't seem to lead anywhere. It felt like the author was reaching, struggling to uncover more secrets in Rosewood, so she had to send 2 of the characters elsewhere.
I have to admit I'm disappointed in this book, but I didn't hate it. It was good entertainment and it's definitely not a "bad" book. You won't sit there and be like 'god this is shit' while you're reading it, but afterward you might reflect and feel generally underwhelmed. I think the author created incredibly high expectations with Killer, and Heartless just couldn't live up to those expectations. It almost feels like the series is tired and the author is running out of secrets. However, I'm still excited to start Wanted and figure everything out.
I have to admit I'm really disappointed that the random construction worker is supposedly Ali's killer. I was obviously hoping that it would be someone we know and have seen in every single book, not a largely faceless and nameless man that was mentioned very briefly in passing. It takes the mystery and fun out of the series by having a plain old psycho who gets off on killing young girls.
The thought of it being someone connected to the girls - or Pretty Little Liars, as they're officially dubbed in this book - made it seem more romantic (for lack of a better word). Ali's death never seemed very graphic or depressing, and it was really fun to follow the murder mystery. Having this random killer brought me back to Earth and makes it all feel like a disturbing episode of Law & Order SVU (which I hate with a passion, but that's not the point).
At the same time, I do appreciate where the author has taken it in this book. Having that jolt back to reality and taking the romance out of the mystery is interesting, and has definitely made me re-evaluate my perspective a bit. I'll be interested to see if the author continues with Mr Ford as the killer, because it's completely different to any of the accusations she's made in previous books. I think it'll be cool to see the juxtaposition in the next book between this very real killer and the romanticised idea of A.
I also have to admit I'm somewhat disappointed about A sending Emily to the Amish community and what she found out there. I was excited when I found out Wilden had been Amish and was thought to have killed an Amish girl, but I feel like the author was stretching it a bit. I have similar issue with the random killer in that I hate deus ex machinas. I don't like it when authors introduce random people or plotarcs toward the end that somehow explain everything. The information about Wilden hasn't solved much, but it was still a random idea thrown in a bit too late. The same goes with Iris and Hanna's mental health facility.
I'm also quite disappointed with the author disregarding Wilden as Ali's killer. I think it's just getting so late in the game that I'm annoyed that the author continues to do this. I love being kept guessing, but dammit it would be nice to have some solid evidence and continuity between two books! If Ford is somehow exonerated in Wanted and the killer's identity is still in question I am going to be really annoyed.
I'm not sure how I feel about Aria supposedly communicating with Ali's ghost, and the girls having prophetic dreams involving Ali. When I first watched the TV show it seemed like Ali was communicating from beyond the grave and I thought it was really cool, but after reading 7 books these supernatural themes are a copout. I think it's cool that the dreams have helped unearth clues in the past, but I also feel they're so vague that the girls could link the clues to anything.
I'm also bummed that Ali or her "twin" didn't make a reappearance, and we didn't get any more answers there! The author hinted that Jason wasn't the one in the mental hospital, but she hasn't hinted at a twin being in there either. It's being presented as Ali secretly being suicidal and in the hospital herself. I'm still holding onto the twin theory for dear life though, and I hope Ali was just on medication because the whole situation was so fucked up.
It wasn't all crap though, because I LOVED where Spencer's story went. I love that she found out she was born through surrogacy, and that Ali is biologically her sister. I thought Spencer was going to find out that she was a DiLaurentis, but it's more like the DiLaurentises are Hastingses! I feel bad for Mrs Hastings and the family having to break up over the affair, but it's deliciously juicy ;] If Jason is Spencer's brother, as the author has hinted, I hope that takes the story to interesting places.
I thought I would be practically pissing my pants to start book 8, but I feel more ambivalent than anything. I've accused so many people in each book of being Ali's killer, and having this unknown guy introduced was a letdown. I've also accused so many people of being new A, and now I don't have a clue who they could be. It's not even a question at the forefront of my mind right now. Nobody is immediately jumping out, and for once I don't really care. I'm not even particularly excited by Jenna being Ford's second victim, I'm sort of like "oh really? hmm".
Overall: Judging by my review it sounds like I thought this book was absolutely awful, but it's quite the opposite. I didn't find it any less entertaining than the rest, but I feel like it was lacking in juicy secrets. Theories were thrown out the window, but for once they weren't compensated by even juicier theories. There were interesting tidbits of information, like Darren's Amish background, but they didn't seem to lead anywhere. It felt like the author was reaching, struggling to uncover more secrets in Rosewood, so she had to send 2 of the characters elsewhere.
I have to admit I'm disappointed in this book, but I didn't hate it. It was good entertainment and it's definitely not a "bad" book. You won't sit there and be like 'god this is shit' while you're reading it, but afterward you might reflect and feel generally underwhelmed. I think the author created incredibly high expectations with Killer, and Heartless just couldn't live up to those expectations. It almost feels like the series is tired and the author is running out of secrets. However, I'm still excited to start Wanted and figure everything out.
lovemydolphins's review against another edition
5.0
Whoo! Yet another great PLL! This one had a great plot for each girl, and Spencer continues to be my favorite. The suspense never stops, and you can tell it's all setting up for the conclusion (ha! not really). The end is soo sad but so fitting. Any PLL fan will enjoy.
lucyphilpott's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
khackett's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? Yes
3.0