couldbestephen's review
3.0
As a short retelling of Antigone by Sophocles, this is a fun, quick read. Veronica Roth is a solid author with a casual writing style that dips into fun descriptive prose every so often. I wish the world had been built up a little more. I know this was just meant to be a small novella, but we have such vague description of this heavily Grecian inspired apocalyptic future that I was left wanting more by the end.
Solid read, would recommend.
Solid read, would recommend.
hplreads's review
adventurous
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
bananabreadlover's review
5.0
This was a retelling of Antigone, a play by Sophocles which, admittedly, I haven't read yet. I hate plays, or rather I read so many plays my sophomore year of college that I still haven't recovered and I'm unsure if I ever will.
My library has a 'new in town' shelf and so when I was there getting Elliot Page's memoir I picked this up too and decided to blind read it. It looked short but impactful which I feel like I needed after reading the Selection series where I was really missing pretty prose.
The way Antigone spoke of marriage and bearing children was hard to read, but in a good way. I also found it harrowing how she spoke of her mother's greatness and how it was that undeniable genius that earned her a seat in male dominated circles of power and Antigone then having to acknowledge that she is not the same prodigy as her mother and that she will never be welcomed as her mother was was so frustrating to read. To live in a someone's shadow is one thing, but to deeply understand that you'll never be able to meet or surpass them if even given the chance is even more painful.
And I think some people might say that there was greatness in Antigone and she was just perhaps unable to see it, because even her just having these thoughts is an indicator of her awareness and her capacity for intelligence, but I think Antigone was just being honest.
Antigone telling Haemon he'll get over his attachment to her and him telling her he's been attached to her forever was devastating.
My library has a 'new in town' shelf and so when I was there getting Elliot Page's memoir I picked this up too and decided to blind read it. It looked short but impactful which I feel like I needed after reading the Selection series where I was really missing pretty prose.
The way Antigone spoke of marriage and bearing children was hard to read, but in a good way. I also found it harrowing how she spoke of her mother's greatness and how it was that undeniable genius that earned her a seat in male dominated circles of power and Antigone then having to acknowledge that she is not the same prodigy as her mother and that she will never be welcomed as her mother was was so frustrating to read. To live in a someone's shadow is one thing, but to deeply understand that you'll never be able to meet or surpass them if even given the chance is even more painful.
And I think some people might say that there was greatness in Antigone and she was just perhaps unable to see it, because even her just having these thoughts is an indicator of her awareness and her capacity for intelligence, but I think Antigone was just being honest.
Antigone telling Haemon he'll get over his attachment to her and him telling her he's been attached to her forever was devastating.
be11aloca's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
apalubeskie's review
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This surprisingly is the first story I have read by Veronica Roth. I did enjoy the story it just was not spectacular for me. I expected more because of how hyped up of an author she is.
Arch-Conspirator is a futuristic post-apocalyptic retelling of Antigone.
With Earth coming to an end the last city has to rely on the genes of the fallen to repopulate. When ones parents fall it is usually a celebrated thing. Antigone feels nothing but rage as her uncle Kreon is trying to claim her father's empty throne. When he welcomes her sibling and her into his home she sees it as a trap. He quickly learns that he is not unbreakable.
Arch-Conspirator is a futuristic post-apocalyptic retelling of Antigone.
With Earth coming to an end the last city has to rely on the genes of the fallen to repopulate. When ones parents fall it is usually a celebrated thing. Antigone feels nothing but rage as her uncle Kreon is trying to claim her father's empty throne. When he welcomes her sibling and her into his home she sees it as a trap. He quickly learns that he is not unbreakable.
detailsandtales's review
4.0
This is a retelling of Antigone, set in a future, post-apocalyptic world. It's been too long since I've read Antigone, so I can't comment on how it relates to the original story, but this was a compelling read that drew me deep into the characters and their struggles to live in a world where their freedoms are curtailed by the decisions of people in power, and the various ways they rebel. This story is a tragedy - as it must be, given what it's based on - but it also has seeds of hope.
callmegoddess618's review
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"Doomed from the start, all of us". The end is in the beginning, in this case, right on the front cover. I can't think of a better way to sum up this beautiful short story. Of course it's doomed, it is the story of Antigone, made into a dystopian world. If I were to highlight every phrase I loved in this story, it would essentially be the entire thing. Beautiful, well written, and terrible sad. Doomed from the start.
late_nite_reads's review
5.0
People need to read more of Veronica Roth’s adult fiction. Her writing is sooooo good!