calamity_mary's review against another edition
2.0
The general idea of this book is intriguing. There’s a whole world hiding away in midnight and only the people born exactly on midnight have access to it. In this reality, there is another race of creatures – generally referred to as “slithers” or "darklings" – which used to be humanity biggest predators until technology arrived. Why? Because these beings are afraid of “new ideas”. Yes, that’s right.
The plot unfolds in a little town, that’s one of the last refuges of slithers and where there are teenagers (born at the stroke of midnight) with the ability to go into the midnight hour and kick some “slither” butt, since they all have an unique talent - a super power - that only works inside the midnight hour.
Although it seems a good plot idea, I couldn’t help but have some issues with the book. First of all, there are intelligent animals so powerful that they can create an alternative reality but are afraid of paper clips, metal alloys and the mighty power of flashlights. You have to admit it sounds awfully silly.
Then the characters didn’t strike me as remarkable at all. The main character wasn’t bad, even though she was a bit “vanilla”. The secondary characters weren’t that great either, except for Dess, which I liked a bit.
The book hints at certain family issues, which could have been better explored in my opinion but instead the author preferred to wander into teen plot territory, discovering why the main character is so special and so valuable to the world of midnight. She’s the next big thing and bla bla bla. It gets old, this kind of thing.
Overall, an ok YA fantasy book but after having heard so many great things of Scott Westerfield I was a bit disappointed by the simplicity of it all and it did not left me with the wish to finish reading the triology.
The plot unfolds in a little town, that’s one of the last refuges of slithers and where there are teenagers (born at the stroke of midnight) with the ability to go into the midnight hour and kick some “slither” butt, since they all have an unique talent - a super power - that only works inside the midnight hour.
Although it seems a good plot idea, I couldn’t help but have some issues with the book. First of all, there are intelligent animals so powerful that they can create an alternative reality but are afraid of paper clips, metal alloys and the mighty power of flashlights. You have to admit it sounds awfully silly.
Then the characters didn’t strike me as remarkable at all. The main character wasn’t bad, even though she was a bit “vanilla”. The secondary characters weren’t that great either, except for Dess, which I liked a bit.
The book hints at certain family issues, which could have been better explored in my opinion but instead the author preferred to wander into teen plot territory, discovering why the main character is so special and so valuable to the world of midnight. She’s the next big thing and bla bla bla. It gets old, this kind of thing.
Overall, an ok YA fantasy book but after having heard so many great things of Scott Westerfield I was a bit disappointed by the simplicity of it all and it did not left me with the wish to finish reading the triology.
jennifervu's review against another edition
5.0
Definitely getting the next book. I love how it ends- not that much of a cliffhanger but enough to keep you wondering.
artyemis's review against another edition
3.0
Non proprio malaccio come inizio, ma la verità è che mi aspettavo qualcosa di meglio.
Sono capitata per puro caso davanti a questo libro e quando ho letto brevemente la trama ho subito voluto leggerlo. Voglio dire.. una venticinquesima ora che scatta a mezzanotte? mostri scuri e un solo gruppo di ragazzi che può combatterli? ehi, Persona 3 è uno dei miei giochi preferiti da quand'è che è diventato un libro?
Solo che di Persona questo libro alla fin fine ha ben poco. L'idea di base è buona appunto, i personaggi davvero troppo poco approfonditi (non sappiamo praticamente niente di loro, e il fatto che come libro non sia lungo non è una grande scusa dato che nessuno ha obbligato l'autore a scrivere così poco) e le uniche cose che sappiamo davvero della protagonista è che è la classica belloccia da far paura che con un pò di trucco fa svenire ogni ragazzo che la addocchia e che quindi si avvicina pericolosamene al mio concetto di Mary Sue.
Non so se leggerò il prossimo, ma se lo farò spero che sia migliore di questo.
Sono capitata per puro caso davanti a questo libro e quando ho letto brevemente la trama ho subito voluto leggerlo. Voglio dire.. una venticinquesima ora che scatta a mezzanotte? mostri scuri e un solo gruppo di ragazzi che può combatterli? ehi, Persona 3 è uno dei miei giochi preferiti da quand'è che è diventato un libro?
Solo che di Persona questo libro alla fin fine ha ben poco. L'idea di base è buona appunto, i personaggi davvero troppo poco approfonditi (non sappiamo praticamente niente di loro, e il fatto che come libro non sia lungo non è una grande scusa dato che nessuno ha obbligato l'autore a scrivere così poco) e le uniche cose che sappiamo davvero della protagonista è che è la classica belloccia da far paura che con un pò di trucco fa svenire ogni ragazzo che la addocchia e che quindi si avvicina pericolosamene al mio concetto di Mary Sue.
Non so se leggerò il prossimo, ma se lo farò spero che sia migliore di questo.
lias_library22's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
fzolkefli's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
ellenpenleysmith's review against another edition
3.0
It was alright, I do like it enough to want to read the next book!
hoosgracie's review against another edition
4.0
A few weeks after Jessica Day, and her family, moves to Bixby, OK she wakes up at Midnight to find that the light is blue and their are diamonds suspended in the air, that turn out to be frozen rain drops. It turns out that in Bixby, people born at the stroke of Midnight get an extra hour a day – the Secret Hour. The only catch, they share it with the slithers, evil beings that haunt the hour. Very cool story, first in a series.
sir_readsalot91's review against another edition
4.0
i really like this series but wish that the author had continued with at least one more book.