thems0kitty's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a fascinating read.
So, for context, I read this book after it absolutely horrified my 15 year old sister. The blurb on our copy only alluded to a romance among the stars, and instead what we got was an absolutely horrifying sequence of events involving the kidnapping of children and reproductive horror. (To be clear, though, there are no child/teenage pregnancies involved.)
I don't say this to disparage the book. In fact, I felt it was quite powerful: ultimately, it's a story about what people who believe they are speaking for a higher authority will do. A story about how even good people can become twisted if they believe themselves the only ones good enough to dictate the course of others' lives. It's difficult to read, yes, and that's the point.
My sister agrees with me. She feels if she had gotten proper warnings about the content through the blurb (or, hell, through actual content warnings) she would have been okay reading it. The blurb I can see written on this website gives a pretty good indication of the content, I think!
However, I couldn't give this book 5 stars because it was very reductive in terms of its views on gender (I don't think the author was aware that trans people exist) and marriage involving children (while Waverly didn't want to get married, it was because she didn't want to have children, not because she thought there was anything strange about Kieran being her soulmate at 15).
I will be reading the sequels with much interest, but also caution, as I believe the writer has a lot more to say, but I'm not 100% sure that what they have to say will be good.
So, for context, I read this book after it absolutely horrified my 15 year old sister. The blurb on our copy only alluded to a romance among the stars, and instead what we got was an absolutely horrifying sequence of events involving the kidnapping of children and reproductive horror. (To be clear, though, there are no child/teenage pregnancies involved.)
I don't say this to disparage the book. In fact, I felt it was quite powerful: ultimately, it's a story about what people who believe they are speaking for a higher authority will do. A story about how even good people can become twisted if they believe themselves the only ones good enough to dictate the course of others' lives. It's difficult to read, yes, and that's the point.
My sister agrees with me. She feels if she had gotten proper warnings about the content through the blurb (or, hell, through actual content warnings) she would have been okay reading it. The blurb I can see written on this website gives a pretty good indication of the content, I think!
However, I couldn't give this book 5 stars because it was very reductive in terms of its views on gender (I don't think the author was aware that trans people exist) and marriage involving children (while Waverly didn't want to get married, it was because she didn't want to have children, not because she thought there was anything strange about Kieran being her soulmate at 15).
I will be reading the sequels with much interest, but also caution, as I believe the writer has a lot more to say, but I'm not 100% sure that what they have to say will be good.
mrsjkamp's review against another edition
3.0
I received this audio book for review from Macmillan Audio. Here's my honest review:
Honestly, I don't feel one way or the other about this book. It didn't affect me much, which should be bad, but it wasn't a bad book. One of the main reasons is that I don't like one of the narrators much (Ilyana Kadushin). Sci-fi, space, and what comes with those two don't really excite me. Across the Universe was the same way for me, but I thought I'd give this one a shot. Wasn't impressed, but I wasn't totally turned off. I feel weird about it.
It wasn't exactly predictable because I can't wrap my head around the space-travel novel. The human nature stuff I understood, but when they start throwing weird spaceship words around, I kind of lose interest. I'm sure you're thinking, "Mickey, you should have known this by reading the summary of the book!" But alas, I don't ever really do that because I like to be surprised. I requested it because lots of people made some buzz about it, and unfortunately it just isn't the book for me. And that's okay. It's creative and full of imagination. The book is also kind of sad if you think about what these girls go through to keep their race alive.
If you liked Across the Universe, you'll probably like this one too. Enjoy!
Honestly, I don't feel one way or the other about this book. It didn't affect me much, which should be bad, but it wasn't a bad book. One of the main reasons is that I don't like one of the narrators much (Ilyana Kadushin). Sci-fi, space, and what comes with those two don't really excite me. Across the Universe was the same way for me, but I thought I'd give this one a shot. Wasn't impressed, but I wasn't totally turned off. I feel weird about it.
It wasn't exactly predictable because I can't wrap my head around the space-travel novel. The human nature stuff I understood, but when they start throwing weird spaceship words around, I kind of lose interest. I'm sure you're thinking, "Mickey, you should have known this by reading the summary of the book!" But alas, I don't ever really do that because I like to be surprised. I requested it because lots of people made some buzz about it, and unfortunately it just isn't the book for me. And that's okay. It's creative and full of imagination. The book is also kind of sad if you think about what these girls go through to keep their race alive.
If you liked Across the Universe, you'll probably like this one too. Enjoy!
melle's review against another edition
2.0
Too simplistic and definitely not in the vein of a lot of today's YA. Drama queen action all over the place and no one acts with any subtlety. Also, as an adult, you can apparently only be one of two horrible personality types. And the basis of one is atheism and the other is cultish-level religion.
choosejoytoday's review against another edition
4.0
I received an ARC from the publisher. Very reminiscent of Beth Revis' Across the Universe, but unlike that story, this one had me hooked from the very beginning. Started it over a lunch, had it nearly finished by dinner the next day. I usually don't like to pick up a book when I don't have more than an hour to devote to reading, but I read this wherever I could! I can't wait for the sequel and the first one isn't even out yet! :)
shakita45's review against another edition
5.0
This book was nothing I expected, and absolutely fantastic. The portrayal of how much at war skepticism and religion are, even in the future, even among teens and children, sends chills up and down my spine. It's brutally realistic and stunningly spectacular. The space science is also very accurate and made me grin at a few parts.
macreader's review against another edition
4.0
This book is very well written and thought out, but it is very dark. As reading this, I wasn't sure who to cheer for. The protagonist, obviously, but even the two protagonists had some major character flaws that seemed to be written in to make the reader reflect. In all, I would still recommend it.
anova's review against another edition
4.0
Od začátku se v této knížce něco dělo. Ani se nestihnete zorientovat a už se něco pohnojí a postavy se s tím musí vypořádat a samozřejmě každý po svém. Trošku mi vadil právě ten nedostatek informací na začátku, ale postupně jsme se pár věcí dozvěděli, i když toho pořád není dost. Ale spoléhám na to, že v dalších dílech budou věci osvětleny.
neenor's review against another edition
4.0
So I have wanted to read and review this book for a while, because loads of people have come to me and told me how good it is. And I have to say I agree with them, up to a certain extent. This novel has everything a great book needs - suspense, mystery, romance, and despite it being set in the future, it is incredibly realistic. It has everything a debut novel needs, and I think Ryan is an incredibly talented author to be able to think up such a great storyline. When I first started reading it, I believed it would be quite a lighthearted tale about discovering and inhabiting a New Earth - but it was so much more than that, and within the first 50 pages I was hooked, as well as slightly shocked about the topics this book discussed, because from reading the blurb, it isn't hinted at all. But it works, and I think that the whole idea of the human race dying out and a selection of humans being chosen to fly across the stars to a new planet is really interesting, and I loved Ryan's take on it. I think what made it quite realistic was the fact that it didn't sugarcoat anything - the events which happened were portrayed in such a harsh but true light that you could believe that this is how the future will be. I also liked how she made a lot of the characters have several faults - again, making it more believable, because it showed that the characters were still human and made human mistakes. However, there were a few things in this book that I didn't like. One was the awkward love triangle between Kieran, Waverly and Seth. I don't think Ryan managed to grasp the idea of this love, and for me, it didn't come across that Kieran or Waverly loved each other at all, which kind of defeats a big object of the book. I also wasn't too keen on the services, and found it slightly patronising that Kieran believed he was some kind of prophet - and also the fact that everyone seemed to suddenly become religious, when supposedly the majority of the ship were Athiests. But then again, it times of helplessness and desperation, I suppose anyones mind could change?
Overall, I really enjoyed this novel, and despite a few faults (in my eyes, anyway), I can tell that the Sky Chaser series is going to be a massive success, and I eagerly await the next installment.
Overall, I really enjoyed this novel, and despite a few faults (in my eyes, anyway), I can tell that the Sky Chaser series is going to be a massive success, and I eagerly await the next installment.
jenbsbooks's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars. I experienced this as an audiobook, which is admittedly not my favorite format. It started off quite interesting, but then ... as the two POV's were separated, we (the reader) would spend a lot of time on one story, then a lot of time on the other storyline, and it just made me feel distanced from both.
Also, as the story progressed, it was a little hard to get past how depressing it was, how awful so many of the people were. And then there was the religious angle ... it was a little weird to me. Not exactly sure what to think of all that was presented there.
I doubt I'll continue on with the series ...
Also, as the story progressed, it was a little hard to get past how depressing it was, how awful so many of the people were. And then there was the religious angle ... it was a little weird to me. Not exactly sure what to think of all that was presented there.
I doubt I'll continue on with the series ...
silodear's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book. It was definitely riveting. I liked the complicated way that Ryan deals with spirituality/religion. I'm hovering here between 3 and 4 stars because I liked it and was satisfied by it, but it wasn't necessarily totally special. That being said, I'm absolutely getting the next book on tape to listen to ASAP!