toy_masterpiece's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
⭐️🎧Audiobook Listener🎧⭐️
This slightly mind-bending tale is a fun exploration of what it means to be a part of story and what might happen when you miss your chance to be a part of one. I thoroughly enjoyed slowly getting bits and pieces of the mystery alongside and sometimes before the characters. I can't imagine what it must have taken to coordinate the various pieces both in the story's timeline and the reader's perception of the book. It truly felt like reading 6 books for the price of one in the best way.
I'm sure this is a great reading experience but if you have the chance, listen to the audiobook. We have a talented cast of actors that narrate each book with emotion, personality, and humor when it calls for it. All the readers were great for their part but I have to give it up for Dominic Hoffman. His Zachery felt like Zachery, his Dorian felt like Dorian y'know? It was fun. But the other readers fantastically use their voices, lowered and slowed with reverence, to bring you into a fantasy world.
In the end,
The line I'm taking with me (I'm paraphrasing):
This slightly mind-bending tale is a fun exploration of what it means to be a part of story and what might happen when you miss your chance to be a part of one. I thoroughly enjoyed slowly getting bits and pieces of the mystery alongside and sometimes before the characters. I can't imagine what it must have taken to coordinate the various pieces both in the story's timeline and the reader's perception of the book. It truly felt like reading 6 books for the price of one in the best way.
I'm sure this is a great reading experience but if you have the chance, listen to the audiobook. We have a talented cast of actors that narrate each book with emotion, personality, and humor when it calls for it. All the readers were great for their part but I have to give it up for Dominic Hoffman. His Zachery felt like Zachery, his Dorian felt like Dorian y'know? It was fun. But the other readers fantastically use their voices, lowered and slowed with reverence, to bring you into a fantasy world.
In the end,
Spoiler
I really did enjoy this book. The first half kept me guessing, it was exciting. Then, as with all mysteries, in the last quarter it died down to the point where you were just waiting for the characters to catch up and figure it out. Nevertheless, the ending left me feeling light. Once you get past the part where everyone's lives are one line, it is actually quite a cozy read that comes full circle and is tied up in a neat bow.The line I'm taking with me (I'm paraphrasing):
Stories don't end. They merely change.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Death
augie_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Torture, Death, Stalking, and Kidnapping
mpbookreviews's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Stalking, and Death
aroberts's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
medium-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? No
4.75
This book made me fall in love with reading again. A total escape, and actually a pretty cozy read. Every time I picked it up, I would get lost reading for multiple hours. I would highly recommend it!
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood and Death
imo_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Argh, this book was so close to almost-perfect but just missed the mark for me with its ending. Worth reading for its beautiful descriptive writing and quip-laden prose - yet this comes at the expense of slightly underdeveloped characters, motivations and plot. A wonderful showcase of aesthetic with a frustrating lack of resolution.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Pregnancy and Death
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
timedothwasteme's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy and Death
kedalrymple's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
slow-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? It's complicated
4.0
This is definitely a modern epic! It is slow to start and picks up at the middle of the book…it took me three weeks to read 50% and then three days to finish it. It is a winding adventure that centers around the concepts of storytelling, reality, destiny, and companionship. Now that I’m done I find myself wanting to go back to read parts again. A sign of a compelling and well written novel!
Content Warnings
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Confinement, Self harm, Pregnancy, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, and Abandonment
margaret_k30's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
The overall plot had some interesting story lines and was descriptive, but there wasn't much emotional depth and the characters really didn't seem to grow or develop at all. The main character really didn't progress on his own things just seemed to happen to him after the first few chapters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Minor: Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Confinement, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Murder, and Grief
katievallin's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Death, Grief, and Stalking