roseybot's review against another edition
3.0
Despite the fact that I quite enjoyed the first book in this series, I felt this one wasn't quite as engaging. Plus, I found Noemi to be very condescending, and Abe far too annoying. And this, in spite of the fact that Gray actually did a lot of things I liked -- the love story felt far from idealized and there was conflict there, despite the two characters having feelings for each other, and that's so nice to see in YA, the ending with Noemi coming back to her world had consequences for her. She wasn't just hailed as a hero and let off the hook for failing to follow orders. She also didn't suddenly take over command of a fleet of ships.
The problem I think I have with this book is just that -- Gray does some great things, but her villains are flat. Earth is uniformly evil. Burton Mansfield has no spark of humanity to him. Even Gillian is one dimensional and strange. The main character's struggles are therefore drained of tension because unless this is a very different kind of book -- there's no way that it's going to end with the villains winning.
I started skimming at the end. It was fine, just not all that interesting.
Days between when I added this to read and when I read it: 0. (also untrue, I definitely intended on reading this when I finished the last book... maybe I should stop doing this calculation)
| 1/27/19 1,701 ratings (598 5*, 750 4*, 292 3*, 52 2*, 9 1*) 347 reviews / added by 7574 people, 5048 to-reads
The problem I think I have with this book is just that -- Gray does some great things, but her villains are flat. Earth is uniformly evil. Burton Mansfield has no spark of humanity to him. Even Gillian is one dimensional and strange. The main character's struggles are therefore drained of tension because unless this is a very different kind of book -- there's no way that it's going to end with the villains winning.
I started skimming at the end. It was fine, just not all that interesting.
Days between when I added this to read and when I read it: 0. (also untrue, I definitely intended on reading this when I finished the last book... maybe I should stop doing this calculation)
| 1/27/19 1,701 ratings (598 5*, 750 4*, 292 3*, 52 2*, 9 1*) 347 reviews / added by 7574 people, 5048 to-reads
emilysunflowers's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
risabella's review against another edition
3.0
Suffered a bit from middle book syndrome but still a captivating story, lots of twists and turns and tat ENDING. What does this mean?!?!
ladychubb's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
The last 30 minutes truly sent me for a loop, I mean audibly gasped while I was listening on audio. Even if you aren’t a huge audiobook listener I find that this series is incredible on audio. And I cannot wait to start book 3. This is my second time reading one and two, because I started reading back when only book 1 was out. It was just as heartwarming, and funny as th first time around.
Spoiler
Akide being that type of villian truly was shocking to me. I was under the impression since the first book that someone on Genesis was definitely sus, or somehow in touch with Mansfield or earth in some capacity. But I found it alarming that Akide was too afraid to do anything except sacrifice Abel and destroy the gate, as opposed to trying to truly find/build a rebellion with all the other ppl earth has done dirty. I’m definitely upset, but with Mansfield not getting Noemi or Abel, they had to still leave us with a sting.kaycie51782's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-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
5.0
belava's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Pandemic/Epidemic, Violence, and War
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Sexual content
raisingself's review against another edition
2.0
I’m a huge Claudia Gray fan but this book disappoints me so much. The minor characters and antagonists are so terribly single dimensional that they are frustrating. From the elder council to the rebel group and the wealthy power class. To hear them monologue or make horrible decision based on over simplified belief systems is incredibly painful. Even our two main protagonists are basic and underwhelming in book 2.
Mansfield and his ilk are over-simplified classists who have built an unwavering almost religion on meritocracy and power. They are insane in their lack of empathy.
Genesis leader are black and white defeatists and I can’t believe they didn’t loose the war decades ago with how often they tried to destroy themselves or give up all the while disparaging any free thought and ingenuity to survive.
There is no in between only extreme in this book and it feels forced and undermines the novels narrative at every turn.
Mansfield and his ilk are over-simplified classists who have built an unwavering almost religion on meritocracy and power. They are insane in their lack of empathy.
Genesis leader are black and white defeatists and I can’t believe they didn’t loose the war decades ago with how often they tried to destroy themselves or give up all the while disparaging any free thought and ingenuity to survive.
There is no in between only extreme in this book and it feels forced and undermines the novels narrative at every turn.
rukky_reads's review against another edition
2.0
Finally!!!
Not like this series is a favourite of mine, but I was even more disappointed in this one. It was boring and felt even more juvenile than the first one.
The villains that are supposed to be so smart are so incompetent that they allow a 17 year old prisoner to run things. All the adults, in all the worlds, are too stupid to live. The rest of the characters are dumbed down so much that our very average common sense protagonist seems so smart. They’re trying to negotiate something important and one of our villains legit suggests they bargain clothes. Facepalm.
The only saving grace is Abel and Noemi. As bland as they are, their friendship/ romance is a bit cute so I had that to look forward to and I would like to see how this series ends.
Not like this series is a favourite of mine, but I was even more disappointed in this one. It was boring and felt even more juvenile than the first one.
The villains that are supposed to be so smart are so incompetent that they allow a 17 year old prisoner to run things. All the adults, in all the worlds, are too stupid to live. The rest of the characters are dumbed down so much that our very average common sense protagonist seems so smart. They’re trying to negotiate something important and one of our villains legit suggests they bargain clothes. Facepalm.
The only saving grace is Abel and Noemi. As bland as they are, their friendship/ romance is a bit cute so I had that to look forward to and I would like to see how this series ends.