nerdykeeks's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
3.5
littledoms96's review
5.0
Super čtení :D Byla jsem napnutá od začátku do konce. Hodně jsem se i nasmála :)
whisperedaria's review
3.0
One thing that has increasingly annoyed me in popular YA fiction is that character progression in the protagonists is extremely limited. Characters learn important lessons by the end of book 1, only to completely revert in book 2 so that they can have the same drama.
This book suffers from the same issue. Mac completely reverts to her “I’m in this alone and don’t tell anyone anything ever” space, despite saying repeatedly that she “learned her lesson” about lying to Wes. This book doesn’t bring anything new to the story, just continues the same drama of book 1. Nothing significant is accomplished, only things that were pretty much wrapped up in the previous book.
It threw in some interesting twists and new characters, that’s the only reason I’m not giving it less than 3 stars. But I’m going to be very disappointed if book 3 Mac reverts again.
This book suffers from the same issue. Mac completely reverts to her “I’m in this alone and don’t tell anyone anything ever” space, despite saying repeatedly that she “learned her lesson” about lying to Wes. This book doesn’t bring anything new to the story, just continues the same drama of book 1. Nothing significant is accomplished, only things that were pretty much wrapped up in the previous book.
It threw in some interesting twists and new characters, that’s the only reason I’m not giving it less than 3 stars. But I’m going to be very disappointed if book 3 Mac reverts again.
amarylissw's review
5.0
5 total stars.
It has become clear to me that I will read anything that Victoria Schwab writes. Gahh, I love her stories.
So with The Archived, it took me a little while to get into. Not so with this one. This book is the total opposite of most second books (which often fall into the Second Book Syndrome). This one took me on an emotionally and physically thrilling ride. There was action and romance and suspense and mystery and oh-my-goodness moments and everything that I could've hoped for.
Mackenzie, our protagonist, was awesome in the first book. In this one, we really see her emotional depth, but she still remains strong even under all the pressure being put onto her. I usually don't like a lot of female protagonist, but I could really relate and sympathize with Mackenzie.
Wesley Ayers, our love interest, is brilliant. Of course, I love his type so it wasn't hard for me to fall in love with him, but he's unique in his own way, too, and his dependability and his love for Mackenzie was so sweet. Their romance was just adorable. I want more.
The other characters, several new ones, even though may have played minor parts all were important to the story in some way. Such as Mackenzie's new friends at her school -- they didn't have a lot of page time, but they were integral to the story.
Schwab's plotting is great in this and I never felt a dull moment. Her world-building is great, as always, and so is her writing. I felt myself sucked into the whole world of the Archive, the Narrows, and the Outer once again and her descriptions are so vivid, I could picture everything easily.
Overall, an amazing book, and I'm so happy I gave this series another chance.
It has become clear to me that I will read anything that Victoria Schwab writes. Gahh, I love her stories.
So with The Archived, it took me a little while to get into. Not so with this one. This book is the total opposite of most second books (which often fall into the Second Book Syndrome). This one took me on an emotionally and physically thrilling ride. There was action and romance and suspense and mystery and oh-my-goodness moments and everything that I could've hoped for.
Mackenzie, our protagonist, was awesome in the first book. In this one, we really see her emotional depth, but she still remains strong even under all the pressure being put onto her. I usually don't like a lot of female protagonist, but I could really relate and sympathize with Mackenzie.
Wesley Ayers, our love interest, is brilliant. Of course, I love his type so it wasn't hard for me to fall in love with him, but he's unique in his own way, too, and his dependability and his love for Mackenzie was so sweet. Their romance was just adorable. I want more.
The other characters, several new ones, even though may have played minor parts all were important to the story in some way. Such as Mackenzie's new friends at her school -- they didn't have a lot of page time, but they were integral to the story.
Schwab's plotting is great in this and I never felt a dull moment. Her world-building is great, as always, and so is her writing. I felt myself sucked into the whole world of the Archive, the Narrows, and the Outer once again and her descriptions are so vivid, I could picture everything easily.
Overall, an amazing book, and I'm so happy I gave this series another chance.
vanclaise's review against another edition
5.0
Me ha encantado el desarrollo de la historia, quiero aún mas a los personajes de los que los quise tras terminar la primera parte, estoy enamorada de como escribe Swab y no dudaré en leer más de la autora.
Es una lectura ligera, se lee en pequeños ratitos que tengas, no necesitas tener un día entero para ponerte a leer, y te absorbe como absorben los buenos libros hasta las tres de la mañana.
Y me encantaría que hiciera un spin-off sobre que sucede después, qué cambia, como sigue la vida de los personajes.
Es una lectura ligera, se lee en pequeños ratitos que tengas, no necesitas tener un día entero para ponerte a leer, y te absorbe como absorben los buenos libros hasta las tres de la mañana.
Y me encantaría que hiciera un spin-off sobre que sucede después, qué cambia, como sigue la vida de los personajes.
miloulou's review
5.0
That was amazing and sooo much better than the first...which was already really good. This novel was so much more intense, and I loved the pacing a lot more this time around. (just a stream of thoughts on the novel next)
However, I did feel like some aspects from the first novel changed. Like Wesley wasn't as flirty anymore, the jokes about Guyliner, all the moving on from Ben, Lyndsay, and I missed having Roland around so much. I guess this one was more to do with Mackenzie dealing with the aftermath of Owen and everything, but still... it felt like the characters changed.
Like, where some novels feel like the author has a set idea of what the characters are like and they're written the same way from one novel to the next, you can tell that in Unbound, Victoria Schwab changed ideas on how she wanted to portray the characters.
Also, I'm not sure I really got why Agatha was so angry with Mackenzie all the time. Agatha seemed cartoony at times, with her over the top reactions and accusations. Roland should have had a bigger role in this novel, because he seemed so much more like a confidante in the first novel.
Oh, and I really liked how Cash wasn't just a way to add some drama into the novel, but as the physical representation of the choice Mackenzie has to make between being normal and continuing as a Keeper. Like, this novel works really well with the love triangle...like it doesn't feel overly like one. I love how Mackenzie is written so observant and careful about all the choices she makes. Like she acknowledges that Cash is good looking, that she could be happy with this guy. She also knows that she likes Wesley, that she could be happy with him, but she's careful. It's honestly pretty refreshing to read a character who puts actual thought into the people she's attracted to, to decide to continue a relationship with them instead of just letting them happen. There's little mention of Wesley's looks in this one, which is great, because it shows how they're relationship progressed, how now she just is trying to decide if she can get into a relationship with him or not.
I also really enjoyed the actual link to revolutions and how they start. It was a little cliche to have it taught in class, as the way to get the information across and set up how revolutions start, but it worked here. I suppose there was already enough thinking from Mackenzie, and it was a way to remind us that she's attending school, along with everything else. Also, This novel was written really cleverly, where you can tell that Mackenzie is only just beginning to awaken to the larger questions.
Owen was written in such a way that even though he's a villain, Mackenzie can still sympathize with him. He was well written, if still the obsessed guy he was before. I'm disappointed that he's gone again, because if Mackenzie is the one holding the matches, Owen is the flame that's already burning. He already knows what he wants. and he gets things started.
The one thing I'd have to say, is that for a lot of this novel, Mackenzie doesn't really do anything. She just reacts. Cash approaches her first. People attack her. Eric follows her. Roland gives her a place to sleep peacefully. Wesley helps her. And there's plenty of other examples. It isn't until the end that she takes action. I suppose the argument could be made that for this entire novel, she's operating with barely any sleep so it's no wonder she can't take action herself, but still. I hope in the next one she'll be doing more questioning herself, trying to figure out how to improve things, and what she should do with the ALL document she now possesses.
So a random thought I had in the middle of this novel was: Mackenzie is pretty cool. I'm not sure why I think this compared to other characters in the many YA novels I've read over the years, but Mackenzie doesn't have self doubt. Or in another sense, she's so busy trying to balance her two lives that she doesn't have any time to worry about things I feel like other characters often do. Like, she doesn't think about her physical appearance at all (which I liked), and just reacts naturally to guys being interested in her. Like I appreciate in other novels the detail put into that, but it was great to read a novel where this girl is actually confident, without thinking about it at all. Mackenzie wasn't worried about being a new student going into her senior year, which I completely related to because it seems like in most novels I read, there's always this huge portion dedicated to being worried about what other people are going to think, making new friends, etc. it was just realistic in the sense that she's got enough on her mind, and doesn't bother herself with minor details. That's another reason why she was well written, because there's wasn't any time wasted on minor details. Mackenzie muses about being a normal girl, but she's been a Keeper for so long that it's just a part of her now. Her childhood before is just that: a time before she was responsible for Histories and knew about what happens when someone dies.
So there's more in my mind but I don't think I'll be able to articulate any more :P
I definitely recommend this one, especially if you're not sure after reading the first novel! I wasn't sure myself, but I decided to try it and it was so much better!
Spoiler
However, I did feel like some aspects from the first novel changed. Like Wesley wasn't as flirty anymore, the jokes about Guyliner, all the moving on from Ben, Lyndsay, and I missed having Roland around so much. I guess this one was more to do with Mackenzie dealing with the aftermath of Owen and everything, but still... it felt like the characters changed.
Like, where some novels feel like the author has a set idea of what the characters are like and they're written the same way from one novel to the next, you can tell that in Unbound, Victoria Schwab changed ideas on how she wanted to portray the characters.
Also, I'm not sure I really got why Agatha was so angry with Mackenzie all the time. Agatha seemed cartoony at times, with her over the top reactions and accusations. Roland should have had a bigger role in this novel, because he seemed so much more like a confidante in the first novel.
Oh, and I really liked how Cash wasn't just a way to add some drama into the novel, but as the physical representation of the choice Mackenzie has to make between being normal and continuing as a Keeper. Like, this novel works really well with the love triangle...like it doesn't feel overly like one. I love how Mackenzie is written so observant and careful about all the choices she makes. Like she acknowledges that Cash is good looking, that she could be happy with this guy. She also knows that she likes Wesley, that she could be happy with him, but she's careful. It's honestly pretty refreshing to read a character who puts actual thought into the people she's attracted to, to decide to continue a relationship with them instead of just letting them happen. There's little mention of Wesley's looks in this one, which is great, because it shows how they're relationship progressed, how now she just is trying to decide if she can get into a relationship with him or not.
I also really enjoyed the actual link to revolutions and how they start. It was a little cliche to have it taught in class, as the way to get the information across and set up how revolutions start, but it worked here. I suppose there was already enough thinking from Mackenzie, and it was a way to remind us that she's attending school, along with everything else. Also, This novel was written really cleverly, where you can tell that Mackenzie is only just beginning to awaken to the larger questions.
Owen was written in such a way that even though he's a villain, Mackenzie can still sympathize with him. He was well written, if still the obsessed guy he was before. I'm disappointed that he's gone again, because if Mackenzie is the one holding the matches, Owen is the flame that's already burning. He already knows what he wants. and he gets things started.
The one thing I'd have to say, is that for a lot of this novel, Mackenzie doesn't really do anything. She just reacts. Cash approaches her first. People attack her. Eric follows her. Roland gives her a place to sleep peacefully. Wesley helps her. And there's plenty of other examples. It isn't until the end that she takes action. I suppose the argument could be made that for this entire novel, she's operating with barely any sleep so it's no wonder she can't take action herself, but still. I hope in the next one she'll be doing more questioning herself, trying to figure out how to improve things, and what she should do with the ALL document she now possesses.
So a random thought I had in the middle of this novel was: Mackenzie is pretty cool. I'm not sure why I think this compared to other characters in the many YA novels I've read over the years, but Mackenzie doesn't have self doubt. Or in another sense, she's so busy trying to balance her two lives that she doesn't have any time to worry about things I feel like other characters often do. Like, she doesn't think about her physical appearance at all (which I liked), and just reacts naturally to guys being interested in her. Like I appreciate in other novels the detail put into that, but it was great to read a novel where this girl is actually confident, without thinking about it at all. Mackenzie wasn't worried about being a new student going into her senior year, which I completely related to because it seems like in most novels I read, there's always this huge portion dedicated to being worried about what other people are going to think, making new friends, etc. it was just realistic in the sense that she's got enough on her mind, and doesn't bother herself with minor details. That's another reason why she was well written, because there's wasn't any time wasted on minor details. Mackenzie muses about being a normal girl, but she's been a Keeper for so long that it's just a part of her now. Her childhood before is just that: a time before she was responsible for Histories and knew about what happens when someone dies.
So there's more in my mind but I don't think I'll be able to articulate any more :P
I definitely recommend this one, especially if you're not sure after reading the first novel! I wasn't sure myself, but I decided to try it and it was so much better!
rallisaurus's review
3.0
As exciting as the first ones, but somehow I'm less forgiving this time around of the flat characters and too-quick resolution.
booknookghost's review
5.0
Originally at: http://yabooknook.tumblr.com/post/76288390438/book-recommendation-the-unbound
So I just (just) finished THE UNBOUND.
Ok, maybe not just. I took a shower to deal with all the feels. But fairly just.
And, well, woah.
You may all remember that I recommended THE ARCHIVED a while ago. As a first book, it was a thrilling read, brimming with originality and this sense of place I haven’t found in many book in a while.
Well, THE UNBOUND completely blew it out of the water.
As a unspoken general rule, I don’t really review or rec books other than the first in the series, but this book was so amazing I just had to swerve around my rules and come tell you guys about it.
Honestly, I have no words. Mostly because Victoria Schwab has stolen them all.
I mean that in a very literal sense. This book is full—FULL—or genius and feels and this amazing writing that just steals your soul as you read, nodding along and going, that is exactly how I would explain that feeling. Because if there is one thing that Victoria Schwab can do (masterfully) is twist those words around and describe everything.
If you asked me if I’d ever been to the Archive, I would probably said yes. I I would try to tell you about things that aren’t even in the book because (this is v. important) all the atmosphere and descriptions and actions add up to not showing and not telling, but Insinuating.
Let’s just read that again.
The words in this book, this series, are so powerful that they bury themselves inside your mind until you know how things are because the memories are so vivid that surely you’ve been there?
And it works so beautifully with the concept of the book! I have so many feels on the writing alone, so many feels.
But, ok. Moving on.
I would try to tell you about my favorite characters, but that would take a while. Instead, I’ll summarize it a bit.
Wesley Ayers: I STILL LOVE YOU. Reason #1 why I giggled through this whole book (that may be an exaggeration) is this boy.
The Court Group (Cash, Amber, Gavin, Saf): YOU PRECIOUS BBS. Where do I find these people? I just want them pls.
Owen: I don’t know what to say, except nobody writes a creepy villain like Victoria Schwab…
Agatha: … No.
Roland: David Tenant! Being fantastic!
Parents: I don’t wanna spoil things, but there are parents in this book! Present! Involved in the plot! A+ character development.
And so we come to…
Mackenzie Bishop: I. Have. So. Much. Love. For. Her. Let me tell you about Mac, a badass, vulnerable, resourceful girl who carries this whole thing on her shoulders. And she does it and raises hell.From an In Book standpoint, Mackenzie Bishop is the person I want on my side; from an Out Of Book standpoint, hell yeah.
I don’t know what else I can say about this book without spoiling it. But trust me when I tell you that you will love it.
No Second Book Despair Pit here. Victoria Schwab conquers the dreaded middle book and then flies into the sky on a unicorn of amazingness.
Now, somebody get me a Keeper key. I trade for cookies.
So I just (just) finished THE UNBOUND.
Ok, maybe not just. I took a shower to deal with all the feels. But fairly just.
And, well, woah.
You may all remember that I recommended THE ARCHIVED a while ago. As a first book, it was a thrilling read, brimming with originality and this sense of place I haven’t found in many book in a while.
Well, THE UNBOUND completely blew it out of the water.
As a unspoken general rule, I don’t really review or rec books other than the first in the series, but this book was so amazing I just had to swerve around my rules and come tell you guys about it.
Honestly, I have no words. Mostly because Victoria Schwab has stolen them all.
I mean that in a very literal sense. This book is full—FULL—or genius and feels and this amazing writing that just steals your soul as you read, nodding along and going, that is exactly how I would explain that feeling. Because if there is one thing that Victoria Schwab can do (masterfully) is twist those words around and describe everything.
If you asked me if I’d ever been to the Archive, I would probably said yes. I I would try to tell you about things that aren’t even in the book because (this is v. important) all the atmosphere and descriptions and actions add up to not showing and not telling, but Insinuating.
Let’s just read that again.
The words in this book, this series, are so powerful that they bury themselves inside your mind until you know how things are because the memories are so vivid that surely you’ve been there?
And it works so beautifully with the concept of the book! I have so many feels on the writing alone, so many feels.
But, ok. Moving on.
I would try to tell you about my favorite characters, but that would take a while. Instead, I’ll summarize it a bit.
Wesley Ayers: I STILL LOVE YOU. Reason #1 why I giggled through this whole book (that may be an exaggeration) is this boy.
The Court Group (Cash, Amber, Gavin, Saf): YOU PRECIOUS BBS. Where do I find these people? I just want them pls.
Owen: I don’t know what to say, except nobody writes a creepy villain like Victoria Schwab…
Agatha: … No.
Roland: David Tenant! Being fantastic!
Parents: I don’t wanna spoil things, but there are parents in this book! Present! Involved in the plot! A+ character development.
And so we come to…
Mackenzie Bishop: I. Have. So. Much. Love. For. Her. Let me tell you about Mac, a badass, vulnerable, resourceful girl who carries this whole thing on her shoulders. And she does it and raises hell.From an In Book standpoint, Mackenzie Bishop is the person I want on my side; from an Out Of Book standpoint, hell yeah.
I don’t know what else I can say about this book without spoiling it. But trust me when I tell you that you will love it.
No Second Book Despair Pit here. Victoria Schwab conquers the dreaded middle book and then flies into the sky on a unicorn of amazingness.
Now, somebody get me a Keeper key. I trade for cookies.