books_in_wales's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
annithebookaholic's review against another edition
3.5
Thank you to Netgalley and Second Sky for the arc. All opinions are my own.
This was definitely more enjoyable than the first book. The writing has improved and the dialogue is not as strange as it was in the fist one. I do feel like the author writes better in 3rd person, because I preferred Liss' chapters to Riley's 1st person narration. I could connect more with the feelings presented by Liss.
I liked that this book didn't have as many plot points as the first one. The story led up to one big impact event and otherwise there weren't many troubles along the way. It made the story flow better and everything happened with a good pace and made sense. The world building was very good in this and we got to know more of the backgrounds and way of life of the futuristic world.
All in all, if you can get through the first book, this one is definitely worth the read!
This was definitely more enjoyable than the first book. The writing has improved and the dialogue is not as strange as it was in the fist one. I do feel like the author writes better in 3rd person, because I preferred Liss' chapters to Riley's 1st person narration. I could connect more with the feelings presented by Liss.
I liked that this book didn't have as many plot points as the first one. The story led up to one big impact event and otherwise there weren't many troubles along the way. It made the story flow better and everything happened with a good pace and made sense. The world building was very good in this and we got to know more of the backgrounds and way of life of the futuristic world.
All in all, if you can get through the first book, this one is definitely worth the read!
jasmyn9's review against another edition
4.0
My Review of Book One: Outside
Book two of Shalini Boland's Outside series is much more intense and exciting than the first book. While the first book seemed to be done in small little episodes - book two has a much larger story arc that continues to build throughout the entire story. Again the storyline jumps from the past - following a little girl names Liss after she is kidnapped from her parents - to the present of Riley and Luc attempting to rescue her from a compound known for kidnapping and brainwashing children to build an army.
Liss's story is tragic and frightening. Boland does a fantastic job portraying the events she needs to overcome in order to resist the brainwashing that she is being subjected to on a daily basis. Riley and Luc, having just returned from their dangerous trek in search for the killer of Riley's sister, are sent outside the perimeter to help find and rescue Liss in return for some valuable information on a deadly enemy.
Full of excitement and adventure, the book was much easier to sit down and read straight through than the first. Boland's writing seems to have developed in a fantastic way. The world that is built really develops and there is a lot of character building as well. Most of the time I don't like the second as much as the first or the ones that follow - this was a welcome surprise that I really enjoyed.
- See more at: http://hotofftheshelves.blogspot.com/2013/12/review-clearing-by-shalini-boland.html#sthash.cZ3Yojqm.dpuf
Book two of Shalini Boland's Outside series is much more intense and exciting than the first book. While the first book seemed to be done in small little episodes - book two has a much larger story arc that continues to build throughout the entire story. Again the storyline jumps from the past - following a little girl names Liss after she is kidnapped from her parents - to the present of Riley and Luc attempting to rescue her from a compound known for kidnapping and brainwashing children to build an army.
Liss's story is tragic and frightening. Boland does a fantastic job portraying the events she needs to overcome in order to resist the brainwashing that she is being subjected to on a daily basis. Riley and Luc, having just returned from their dangerous trek in search for the killer of Riley's sister, are sent outside the perimeter to help find and rescue Liss in return for some valuable information on a deadly enemy.
Full of excitement and adventure, the book was much easier to sit down and read straight through than the first. Boland's writing seems to have developed in a fantastic way. The world that is built really develops and there is a lot of character building as well. Most of the time I don't like the second as much as the first or the ones that follow - this was a welcome surprise that I really enjoyed.
- See more at: http://hotofftheshelves.blogspot.com/2013/12/review-clearing-by-shalini-boland.html#sthash.cZ3Yojqm.dpuf
nogenreleftbehind's review against another edition
4.0
My Review of Book One: Outside
Book two of Shalini Boland's Outside series is much more intense and exciting than the first book. While the first book seemed to be done in small little episodes - book two has a much larger story arc that continues to build throughout the entire story. Again the storyline jumps from the past - following a little girl names Liss after she is kidnapped from her parents - to the present of Riley and Luc attempting to rescue her from a compound known for kidnapping and brainwashing children to build an army.
Liss's story is tragic and frightening. Boland does a fantastic job portraying the events she needs to overcome in order to resist the brainwashing that she is being subjected to on a daily basis. Riley and Luc, having just returned from their dangerous trek in search for the killer of Riley's sister, are sent outside the perimeter to help find and rescue Liss in return for some valuable information on a deadly enemy.
Full of excitement and adventure, the book was much easier to sit down and read straight through than the first. Boland's writing seems to have developed in a fantastic way. The world that is built really develops and there is a lot of character building as well. Most of the time I don't like the second as much as the first or the ones that follow - this was a welcome surprise that I really enjoyed.
- See more at: http://hotofftheshelves.blogspot.com/2013/12/review-clearing-by-shalini-boland.html#sthash.cZ3Yojqm.dpuf
Book two of Shalini Boland's Outside series is much more intense and exciting than the first book. While the first book seemed to be done in small little episodes - book two has a much larger story arc that continues to build throughout the entire story. Again the storyline jumps from the past - following a little girl names Liss after she is kidnapped from her parents - to the present of Riley and Luc attempting to rescue her from a compound known for kidnapping and brainwashing children to build an army.
Liss's story is tragic and frightening. Boland does a fantastic job portraying the events she needs to overcome in order to resist the brainwashing that she is being subjected to on a daily basis. Riley and Luc, having just returned from their dangerous trek in search for the killer of Riley's sister, are sent outside the perimeter to help find and rescue Liss in return for some valuable information on a deadly enemy.
Full of excitement and adventure, the book was much easier to sit down and read straight through than the first. Boland's writing seems to have developed in a fantastic way. The world that is built really develops and there is a lot of character building as well. Most of the time I don't like the second as much as the first or the ones that follow - this was a welcome surprise that I really enjoyed.
- See more at: http://hotofftheshelves.blogspot.com/2013/12/review-clearing-by-shalini-boland.html#sthash.cZ3Yojqm.dpuf
jeanz's review against another edition
4.0
MY REVIEW
I received a kindle version of this book direct from the author Shalini Boland, in exchange for my honest review. The cover has a desolate feel to it in the blueish grey colours and the girl standing near the window. I suppose the girl could be Riley, but after reading the book I think it is Liss looking longingly outside to a possible freedom from inside the canonary where she is being held. where Grey and his devout followers try and brain wash young people into becoming zombie like beings who obey orders without any other thought.
The blurb is suitably criptic which I like. There's action, suspense, thrills, drama, friendship and a touch of romance. The Riley and Luc relationship status is still kind of up in the air, do things go any further? You'll have to read to find out! So in this book once again Riley and Luc team up with another character from Bk#1 Denzil to try and break in the compound. Yes, you read it right they want to get in! The reason they want to get in is to rescue Liss and FJ. Though things don't quite go to plan, when one of those they are going to rescue ends up having to be taken forcibly! But do they manage to all get out alive? Mind you, the lie those in the compound live is a monotonous one, where they worship Grey, who calls himself the father. Grey's voice has been damaged so he need a vessel to speak through. that vessel/person turns out to be someone you wouldn't expect it to be. There's plenty of surprises and little twists and turns. You sort of make your mind up as you are reading and think oh this is going to happen and then one thing changes and everything is turned on it's head. The book has a fairly fast pace, you definitely hate to put it down, I read it in just two sessions. I think had I had the time I would have read the book in one sitting. The book ends in such a way that you immediately want to read the third book too.
So did you enjoy this book? I loved it. The Clearing is a brilliant dystopian/post apocalyptic novel. Would I recommend this book? Yes, I recommend this series so far, it's a MUST read for dystopian/post apocalyptic genre fans. Would I want to read more in this series? OoOoo yes please, I'd read it now if it was available. I felt this way after reading BK#1 in this series too. Would I read more books by Shalini Boland? I would definitely take a look at any/all books by Shalini as I do enjoy her writing style, she truly makes it so easy to read her books.
I received a kindle version of this book direct from the author Shalini Boland, in exchange for my honest review. The cover has a desolate feel to it in the blueish grey colours and the girl standing near the window. I suppose the girl could be Riley, but after reading the book I think it is Liss looking longingly outside to a possible freedom from inside the canonary where she is being held. where Grey and his devout followers try and brain wash young people into becoming zombie like beings who obey orders without any other thought.
The blurb is suitably criptic which I like. There's action, suspense, thrills, drama, friendship and a touch of romance. The Riley and Luc relationship status is still kind of up in the air, do things go any further? You'll have to read to find out! So in this book once again Riley and Luc team up with another character from Bk#1 Denzil to try and break in the compound. Yes, you read it right they want to get in! The reason they want to get in is to rescue Liss and FJ. Though things don't quite go to plan, when one of those they are going to rescue ends up having to be taken forcibly! But do they manage to all get out alive? Mind you, the lie those in the compound live is a monotonous one, where they worship Grey, who calls himself the father. Grey's voice has been damaged so he need a vessel to speak through. that vessel/person turns out to be someone you wouldn't expect it to be. There's plenty of surprises and little twists and turns. You sort of make your mind up as you are reading and think oh this is going to happen and then one thing changes and everything is turned on it's head. The book has a fairly fast pace, you definitely hate to put it down, I read it in just two sessions. I think had I had the time I would have read the book in one sitting. The book ends in such a way that you immediately want to read the third book too.
So did you enjoy this book? I loved it. The Clearing is a brilliant dystopian/post apocalyptic novel. Would I recommend this book? Yes, I recommend this series so far, it's a MUST read for dystopian/post apocalyptic genre fans. Would I want to read more in this series? OoOoo yes please, I'd read it now if it was available. I felt this way after reading BK#1 in this series too. Would I read more books by Shalini Boland? I would definitely take a look at any/all books by Shalini as I do enjoy her writing style, she truly makes it so easy to read her books.
anastaciaknits's review against another edition
4.0
Book 2.
This is another book with alternating characters and storylines - not my favorite plot device, until the two threads merge.
The book starts shortly after the second one - this series is definitely one in which you need to read all of the books, or you'll really be lost. The beginning starts with a great scene that sets the tone for the rest of the book.
There's an underlining theme of brainwashing and cults, something I have a hard time stomaching. The book is written better than the first one, I think, but I had a hard time with the themes in this book.
This is another book with alternating characters and storylines - not my favorite plot device, until the two threads merge.
The book starts shortly after the second one - this series is definitely one in which you need to read all of the books, or you'll really be lost. The beginning starts with a great scene that sets the tone for the rest of the book.
There's an underlining theme of brainwashing and cults, something I have a hard time stomaching. The book is written better than the first one, I think, but I had a hard time with the themes in this book.
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