hannas_ink_prints's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.5
Tän lukeminen oli melkoista vuoristorataa, sillä välillä tarvottiin suossa ja välillä lasketeltiin jäistä mäkeä alas. Mut ai että tää lopulta olikin hyvä. Tarina oli yllättävän hidastempoinen, vaikka asiat etenivät jatkuvasti ja väliin mahtui aikamoisiakin käänteitä. Juoni itsessään on herkullinen, mutta toisaalta myös kammottava. Mitä itse tekisit, jos lapsesi säästyy kuolemalta mutta tälle kehittyykin yliluonnollisia voimia? Valtio on nimittäin kaikkien lasten perässä eikä ole takeita, että lapsi selviäisi näiden käsissä. Päähahmojen olosuhteet ovat kammottavat ja on välillä järkyttävääkin lukea siitä kuinka epäinhimillisesti näitä kohdellaan. Turvaa ei ole missään ja jokainen haluaa käyttää lapsia hyödyksi tavalla tai toisella.
Tarinan suola on kuitenkin hahmot. Ruby on ehkä aavistuksen verran liian vietävissä oleva hahmo, joka aika pitkän aikaa vain reagoi hahmoihin ja tapahtumiin eikä tee oma-aloitteisesti mitään. Hänen hahmokehityksensä on kuitenkin huimaa. Parasta on kuitenkin päähahmojen muodostama neljän hengen porukka. Liam on kävelevä green flag, Chubs on ihanan grumpy mutta herttainen ja Zu omaa suuren persoonallisuuden puhumattomuudesta huolimatta. Erityisesti rakastin hahmojen välisiä suhteita ja kuinka ne kehittyvät tarinan aikana. Jopa pidin romanssista.
The Darkest Minds ei ole kevyt kirja eikä iloisin tai positiivisin. Ylipäänsä sen pohjavire on hyvinkin ankea ja ahdistunut. Tarinassa on kuitenkin mukana pieniä valon hetkiä, jotka jaksavat auttaa jatkamaan. Tää kirja repii sielun mut se on kaiken arvoista
Tarinan suola on kuitenkin hahmot. Ruby on ehkä aavistuksen verran liian vietävissä oleva hahmo, joka aika pitkän aikaa vain reagoi hahmoihin ja tapahtumiin eikä tee oma-aloitteisesti mitään. Hänen hahmokehityksensä on kuitenkin huimaa. Parasta on kuitenkin päähahmojen muodostama neljän hengen porukka. Liam on kävelevä green flag, Chubs on ihanan grumpy mutta herttainen ja Zu omaa suuren persoonallisuuden puhumattomuudesta huolimatta. Erityisesti rakastin hahmojen välisiä suhteita ja kuinka ne kehittyvät tarinan aikana. Jopa pidin romanssista.
The Darkest Minds ei ole kevyt kirja eikä iloisin tai positiivisin. Ylipäänsä sen pohjavire on hyvinkin ankea ja ahdistunut. Tarinassa on kuitenkin mukana pieniä valon hetkiä, jotka jaksavat auttaa jatkamaan. Tää kirja repii sielun mut se on kaiken arvoista
littlemisslibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
I highly recommend listening to the audiobook! It was so good!
jennamirchin's review against another edition
4.0
interesting concept and story. didn’t really like the main romance.
waywardskyril's review against another edition
4.0
I mostly enjoyed reading this book.
Overall, it was written well. I could picture the scenes and feel what Ruby was feeling, and I always like that. But occasionally it seemed as if Alexandra Bracken used phrases such as, "A tingling in the back of my head," "a warm feeling in my chest," etc, rather than just saying- you know- "She felt happy," or whatever the case may be. Still, though, I enjoyed it, and didn't think about the writing too much.
The characters. The characters and the plot are definitely what made this story. I really loved all of the characters because I could understand them, and they seemed as if they were real, like they were my friends. I really loved them.
The plot was brilliant. I admire the whole idea of it. Perfectly written and easy to believe.
What I really DIDN'T like was the swearing, and there was a lot of it. As a Christian, I don't like ANY, but I tolerate some since you can't find many good novels without it. What I hated most was that near the end after about 400 pages there is suddenly three cases of hard swearing.
It was utterly disappointing.
Despite the other bits of profanity, I had planned to give this book a 5 And add it to my favs, but with that kind of language in it... No, I wouldn't want it displayed as a favorite. I won't be recommending it to people either. I wouldn't want them to read all of that. I was seriously looking forward to the sequel before I read that, but now... I don't know. I'll probably read it in the bookstore before I buy it. I don't want to own books with that kind of language, and I don't want to throw my money away buying it if it DOES have it.
If you were thinking about reading it... think twice. There are so many other options. Would you really want a book on your bookshelf that has that kind of thing when there are so many other without it?
Overall, it was written well. I could picture the scenes and feel what Ruby was feeling, and I always like that. But occasionally it seemed as if Alexandra Bracken used phrases such as, "A tingling in the back of my head," "a warm feeling in my chest," etc, rather than just saying- you know- "She felt happy," or whatever the case may be. Still, though, I enjoyed it, and didn't think about the writing too much.
The characters. The characters and the plot are definitely what made this story. I really loved all of the characters because I could understand them, and they seemed as if they were real, like they were my friends. I really loved them.
The plot was brilliant. I admire the whole idea of it. Perfectly written and easy to believe.
What I really DIDN'T like was the swearing, and there was a lot of it. As a Christian, I don't like ANY, but I tolerate some since you can't find many good novels without it. What I hated most was that near the end after about 400 pages there is suddenly three cases of hard swearing.
It was utterly disappointing.
Despite the other bits of profanity, I had planned to give this book a 5 And add it to my favs, but with that kind of language in it... No, I wouldn't want it displayed as a favorite. I won't be recommending it to people either. I wouldn't want them to read all of that. I was seriously looking forward to the sequel before I read that, but now... I don't know. I'll probably read it in the bookstore before I buy it. I don't want to own books with that kind of language, and I don't want to throw my money away buying it if it DOES have it.
If you were thinking about reading it... think twice. There are so many other options. Would you really want a book on your bookshelf that has that kind of thing when there are so many other without it?
bewitched14's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
dei_73's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
tense
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
joliendelandsheer's review against another edition
5.0
I started 2014 off with a BANG!
I can't believe I waited so long to read this book, it was absolutely amazing.
It has everything a good book needs: strong, independent characters who develop over time, a thrilling plot with so many twists and turns, a good amount of world-building, etc. I can't wait to read more about Ruby (and not to mention the other ones).
I can't believe I waited so long to read this book, it was absolutely amazing.
It has everything a good book needs: strong, independent characters who develop over time, a thrilling plot with so many twists and turns, a good amount of world-building, etc. I can't wait to read more about Ruby (and not to mention the other ones).
emilyusuallyreading's review against another edition
4.0
What I Liked
The Darkest Minds is character-driven... and Bracken did an excellent job creating characters that are now stuck in my memory like they've been burned there.
What I like about this book is that it's pop-culture enough to be trendy, but it stands out just enough from the X-Men world that it really makes an impact of its own.
Clancy... oh my gosh.
Liam... ohhhh my gosh.
Suzume, Chubs, everybody is fascinating and likable (or hate-able in a likable way). These are some great characters, a fascinating world, and whether or not this is the deepest story I've ever read, it completely absorbed my imagination and attention and I'm already wishing I could drive to the bookstore to buy the next in line (I'm currently snowed into my home).
What I Didn't Like
At times, the age thing felt confusing. "We're a bunch of kids," they would all say, but there were seventeen and eighteen year olds in this group... at what point do they stop identifying as children and begin to blend in to adulthood?
The cross-country road trip seemed a little too easy, in my opinion. For a "bunch of kids," very few skeptical adults ever panic at the thought of free-ranging teenagers with super powers (presumably) trekking around in a shot-up van.
And finally, at times Ruby's decision-making baffled me.
The Darkest Minds is character-driven... and Bracken did an excellent job creating characters that are now stuck in my memory like they've been burned there.
What I like about this book is that it's pop-culture enough to be trendy, but it stands out just enough from the X-Men world that it really makes an impact of its own.
Clancy... oh my gosh.
Liam... ohhhh my gosh.
Suzume, Chubs, everybody is fascinating and likable (or hate-able in a likable way). These are some great characters, a fascinating world, and whether or not this is the deepest story I've ever read, it completely absorbed my imagination and attention and I'm already wishing I could drive to the bookstore to buy the next in line (I'm currently snowed into my home).
What I Didn't Like
At times, the age thing felt confusing. "We're a bunch of kids," they would all say, but there were seventeen and eighteen year olds in this group... at what point do they stop identifying as children and begin to blend in to adulthood?
The cross-country road trip seemed a little too easy, in my opinion. For a "bunch of kids," very few skeptical adults ever panic at the thought of free-ranging teenagers with super powers (presumably) trekking around in a shot-up van.
And finally, at times Ruby's decision-making baffled me.