anyile's review
4.0
Grabbed this first part through Kindle Lending Library to dip my toes in without committing to the whole omnibus when it comes out. Verdict: I'm sufficiently hooked in.
wishfool's review
5.0
*Gasp* Oh my! This was incredible. This story was intriguing start to finish and, of course, left me immediately wanting the next part. Yes, the author warned and even begged readers to wait for the complete work to be released rather than read it one 'episode' at a time. But, alas, I love reading Mr. Howey's stories one piece at a time. Like a five course meal, each part can be savored and enjoyed in it's own time - individually delicious but also gaining you an excited anticipation for the next course - and at last leaving you completely satisfied and with a new sense of wonder when all has been devoured. The ideas that have been presented here are fascinating. I immediately want to read it again.
ddurrant's review
4.0
A whole new journey to dive into! A great start to the series, I'm hoping the next are just as good!
kerrync's review
3.0
Hugh Howey is releasing this book in small installments, and I couldn't resist getting it right away. Despite the name, it is not related to the Wool series (though has some things in common like questions of what happened to the world we know today?). I'm curious to see where the series will lead us. This one is more of a 3.5, but it had a slow start for me, so I rounded down. Wool started out similarly for me, so I am eager for the next installment!
kateofmind's review
4.0
Reads like a far future sequel to J.G. Ballard's HELLO AMERICA with a little Alladin thrown in.
si0bhan's review
4.0
Hugh Howey writes his stories in such a way that you either buy many little sections to make up the whole book or (you do what I do) you wait until the entire collection is possible in book format. There is nothing wrong with this, I merely find it difficult to review each individual section as, for me, the whole is worth more than the parts.
So, with that in mind, here is a review of the collective for you (so you can make a decision about whether Sand is right for you):
After reading the Wool Trilogy, Hugh Howey earned a spot in my favourite authors list. Wool is to this day my favourite dystopian series meaning I had very high hopes for Sand. Whilst I did thoroughly enjoy Sand it was not as great as Wool – although, I guess nothing could be that great.
Howey once again creates a unique dystopian world, this time in a land covered by sand (hello title). Much like Wool we were given the what and the how – although this story was condensed to be much shorter than the Wool series. Sadly, however we were not given the why. When the book ended I still had questions concerning the why of the world. With Wool we were given the answers in the second book, Shift, but this one leaves us with that question hanging in the air. Don’t get me wrong, I still love the book. I just would have liked the answer to that. Still, with that in mind, such a thing was not possible in the story context. What we’re given is the myths of the world, as we’re seeing things in the way that the characters do.
Speaking of characters, Howey has once again created a world of loveable characters. Each character is unique in their own way, playing a vital role as the story unfolds. I will admit that I was attached to some characters more than others, but that was mainly due to being able to relate to them more than others. No characters were two dimensional, all had personalities and all played their part in the story, everyone growing over time.
There were a few predictable events, which was quite surprising considering how Wool was one shock after the other, yet despite this it was a fast paced engaging story. I was constantly telling myself I would read just one more chapter and before I knew it I’d read another fifty pages without even realising it.
All in all, it is another great story. If you’re a Hugh Howey fan I certainly recommend reading it. If you’re new to his wonderful worlds then it isn’t a bad place to start, although I would certainly point you towards Wool instead simply because I enjoyed it more.
So, with that in mind, here is a review of the collective for you (so you can make a decision about whether Sand is right for you):
After reading the Wool Trilogy, Hugh Howey earned a spot in my favourite authors list. Wool is to this day my favourite dystopian series meaning I had very high hopes for Sand. Whilst I did thoroughly enjoy Sand it was not as great as Wool – although, I guess nothing could be that great.
Howey once again creates a unique dystopian world, this time in a land covered by sand (hello title). Much like Wool we were given the what and the how – although this story was condensed to be much shorter than the Wool series. Sadly, however we were not given the why. When the book ended I still had questions concerning the why of the world. With Wool we were given the answers in the second book, Shift, but this one leaves us with that question hanging in the air. Don’t get me wrong, I still love the book. I just would have liked the answer to that. Still, with that in mind, such a thing was not possible in the story context. What we’re given is the myths of the world, as we’re seeing things in the way that the characters do.
Speaking of characters, Howey has once again created a world of loveable characters. Each character is unique in their own way, playing a vital role as the story unfolds. I will admit that I was attached to some characters more than others, but that was mainly due to being able to relate to them more than others. No characters were two dimensional, all had personalities and all played their part in the story, everyone growing over time.
There were a few predictable events, which was quite surprising considering how Wool was one shock after the other, yet despite this it was a fast paced engaging story. I was constantly telling myself I would read just one more chapter and before I knew it I’d read another fifty pages without even realising it.
All in all, it is another great story. If you’re a Hugh Howey fan I certainly recommend reading it. If you’re new to his wonderful worlds then it isn’t a bad place to start, although I would certainly point you towards Wool instead simply because I enjoyed it more.
johannah's review
5.0
The novella is back, and this makes me happy. Imagine Dune without the wealthy classes and without spice. Post-apocalyptic US is covered with sand, and divers swim through it to discover Denver, the mile-deep city. The world is lush, interesting, and different.
More...