Reviews

Sequels are hard to rate as you are comparing it to the first while also needing the first as backstory. That being said I enjoyed this. It had some scary parts but was not a scary book. I love how it started and I love the secrets being revealed later in the book. I love how the children grew up in this. I think it brought some closure that I did not get with the first one.

burningupasun's review against another edition

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3.0

Hm. 3.5 stars. It was pretty good. But I was frustrated by Tom (Malorie's son). I get that he's a rebellious teenager, but I think the book misses out by not having a scene with him and his Mom at the end. He spends the whole book going on and on about how wrong she is, but the truth is they're both right and wrong. It would have felt better to me, if he had a talk with her about that at the end. If he realized she was right, in some ways, and she kept them alive.

Spoiler

Instead, his invention turns out to work, and he never addresses with her that it might not have, never acknowledges the tons and tons of bodies Olympia and Malorie see on the way in, of people who tried what he did and failed.

IDK. It ruined the ending for me, which was kind of ridiculously rushed on it's own as it is.

thegodmachine393's review against another edition

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mysterious tense

4.0

rustman's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

babyfacedoldsoul's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense

Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I can't imagine ever being in a situation like Malorie is in this book. That being said I still don't like her, but she is written well. I find it interesting that this book was published in 2020 but is a great predictor of how people would react to Covid, mask mandates, and taking safety precautions seriously. There's some interesting twists in this book as well. I found it easier to hold my interest than Bird Box and I devoured it in a short period of time.

Content Warnings

joaopsfernandes's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

This sequel continues the story of the resilient protagonist, Malorie, as she navigates the terrifying world where unseen creatures drive people to madness upon sight. The book picks up several years after the events of the first novel, with Malorie and her two children still struggling to survive in a world where they must remain blindfolded to stay alive.

While the premise remains intriguing, “Malorie” falls short of expectations. The story does little to expand on the mysteries introduced in “Bird Box”, leaving readers with the same unanswered questions, particularly regarding the nature of the creatures. The narrative also revisits old ground without offering much new insight or development, and the only significant plot progression involves the fate of one of the villains from the first book.

Malorie’s perspective, which was once a source of strength and determination, now feels overly paranoid and exaggerated, making the reading experience tiresome and repetitive. The pacing of the book is uneven, with much of the story dragging on in the middle, only to rush to a conclusion in the final few chapters. This abrupt ending feels unsatisfying, as if the author simply decided to wrap things up without fully exploring the potential of the story.

Overall, “Malorie” is a disappointing follow-up that doesn’t add much to the world or the characters established in “Bird Box”. While it ties up some loose ends, it does so in a way that feels rushed and lacks the tension and originality of the first book.

Rating: 2/5

theatretenor's review

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5.0

SO GOOD! I love it just as much as I loved Bird Box! So lovely to revisit Malorie and her kids, Tom and Olympia. Loved the idea of the train and the reason she decided it was necessary to leave their safety. Love the direction Tom’s character went. Love the direction Olympia’s character went! Another barn burner in my opinion. I just wanted to keep going until I was done. This will take a treasured place on my shelves next to Bird Box!

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