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amberinpieces's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Death, Gun violence, Racism, Kidnapping, Grief, and Murder
merah's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The series could have ended after the third book, but at the same time I feel like the fourth book didn't ruin the series. New characters fit in well!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Antisemitism, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and War
alisazhup's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
4.0
“‘I know, I know, the past heals itself.’
‘The past?’ Paul shook his head. ‘Is nothing but an open wound.’”
The stakes are higher than ever as Jacob and his friends are thrust into the untamed landscape of American peculiardom-a world with few ymbrynes, or rules-that none of them understand.
Honestly, I wasn’t planning on picking this up for a long time. This is a sequel trilogy to the original trilogy (is there a better term for that?) and since I liked how things wrapped up in the third book, I didn’t want to see them unraveled. Unfortunately, they were! I understand that it needed to happen so we would get enough content until the sixth and final book, but some of it is getting repetitive. For example, I’m tired of reading Emma and Jacob breaking up, getting together, breaking up, getting together in every single book and for the same reason.
I also felt that because there needed to be new content, Riggs created plot holes/broke some of this world’s rules. Why didn’t Abe keep an extra gun in his bunker (Franklin hiding the key to his gun cabinet wouldn’t have been such a big deal then)? Since when do you need approval from The Ymbryne Council to tell a normal you’re peculiar?
The underrepresentation of some characters is the last issue I had. Since this is a new plot I was hoping that we would get to see different characters in action, like Claire, who got left behind in previous books. But she got left behind again. It seems lazy of the author, like he can’t come up with creative ways for her peculiarity to shine. Instead, most of the book was about Bronwyn, Millard, Emma, and Jacob, who we already know well. I’m glad we got to see Enoch come along, though!
Regardless, I love where this is heading. I’m excited that we’re in America and I couldn’t get enough of the normalling lessons. They were hilarious and made me rethink my perspective on day-to-day life (like on cheese). And, as always, the photos incorporated into the book made for a unique reading experience.
Read this if you like/themes:
✅Time travel
✅Superpowers/special abilities/magical abilities
✅Found family
✅Monster fighting
✅Vintage photography
Books similar to this one:
✅The Harry Potter series
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Stalking, and Murder
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Cursing, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol