norwegianforestreader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Child death, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Islamophobia, Kidnapping, Murder, Torture, War, and Violence
Minor: Medical content, Rape, and Vomit
annarella's review against another edition
4.0
An exciting, engaging and entertaining mix of different genres.
It's a book that keeps you hooked till the last, never bores and will make you read as fast as you can.
I liked the plot, the atmosphere and the well written cast of characters.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
It's a book that keeps you hooked till the last, never bores and will make you read as fast as you can.
I liked the plot, the atmosphere and the well written cast of characters.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
wyddwig's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
As a fan of Cottam, I was honestly disappointed with this. While serviceable as a “race to the finish” style whodunnit to stop the apocalypse, the characters don’t develop or overcome any flaw throughout the story. The main “flaw” of the protagonist, Juliet, seems to be that she’s not able to have a successful romantic relationship and, at 35, is now too old to achieve this (although, typically of Cottam’s other works, she does end up in a relationship by the end).
Despite this, I would probably have given this 3 stars if it weren’t for the repeated and unnecessary references to one of the POV characters being “on the spectrum” (always framed negatively) as a way to explain a clear empathy disorder.
Despite this, I would probably have given this 3 stars if it weren’t for the repeated and unnecessary references to one of the POV characters being “on the spectrum” (always framed negatively) as a way to explain a clear empathy disorder.
Spoiler
It doesn’t help that she was the villain of the story, and that the text confirms what is initially a childish, uninformed insult when another POV character “diagnoses” her on sight.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Ableism
Constant reference to a character being “on the spectrum” as an insultSpoiler
character is the main villain, is one time “diagnosed” on sight as an “Asbergers sufferer” by one of the heroesjoelene's review against another edition
3.0
This book had so much potential! However, the pacing faltered in places, the characters were a little flat, the ending was extremely anticlimactic, and the running joke about the teen not being on the spectrum was, in my opinion, in poor taste. Overall, it was rather disappointing.
tessav's review against another edition
2.0
Apart from an interesting premise, this book failed to impress me. I've often seen it said that authors should "show and not tell" when writing. There is an awful lot of telling in this one, which means you feel nothing for any of the characters and the story is quite unemotional.
The 14 year old antagonist, regardless of whether she is or isn't "on the spectrum", or her supposedly high intelligence, is wholly unbelievable, as are the other teen characters. Our adult protagonist isn't much better, and she can only be described as boring.
Even the 16th century diary which provides the backstory uses language and ideas which don't feel right for the time it was supposed to have been written.
If you're looking for something just to pass the time, then this may be for you, but leave it on the shelf if you're looking for a story to lose yourself in.
The 14 year old antagonist, regardless of whether she is or isn't "on the spectrum", or her supposedly high intelligence, is wholly unbelievable, as are the other teen characters. Our adult protagonist isn't much better, and she can only be described as boring.
Even the 16th century diary which provides the backstory uses language and ideas which don't feel right for the time it was supposed to have been written.
If you're looking for something just to pass the time, then this may be for you, but leave it on the shelf if you're looking for a story to lose yourself in.
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