tobyyy's review against another edition
4.0
A fun romp of a book, but one that has its serious side too. I loved the strong female characters and the lack of outright romance between the characters. The spy setting is one that Carter excels at writing (though probably a little exaggerated), and was a fun element of this book.
It also deals with PTSD (named acute stress disorder in the book, but given that the symptoms have lasted longer than one month, PTSD is the correct diagnosis). I was pleased with how well and how sympathetically Carter wrote about the flashbacks and nightmares that come with PTSD.
All in all — would recommend for a quick read for those who enjoy YA. I plan on reading the next in the series also.
It also deals with PTSD (named acute stress disorder in the book, but given that the symptoms have lasted longer than one month, PTSD is the correct diagnosis). I was pleased with how well and how sympathetically Carter wrote about the flashbacks and nightmares that come with PTSD.
All in all — would recommend for a quick read for those who enjoy YA. I plan on reading the next in the series also.
annie8782's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't quite understand what the book was about, originally I thought it was a fantasy.
But I'm so glad I read it, because I really enjoyed it.
A fairly easy read with an unpredictable plot, this book is also unlike any I've ever read.
So glad a sequel will be coming out!
But I'm so glad I read it, because I really enjoyed it.
A fairly easy read with an unpredictable plot, this book is also unlike any I've ever read.
So glad a sequel will be coming out!
by_emilymarie's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
nehainwonderland's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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
3.0
lynnietakalele's review against another edition
4.0
Wow, not expecting that ending! That almost never happens!
I do wanna read more of this series. I didn't give it the full five because it was mostly formulaic, but I've gotta give due credit to that ending!
I do wanna read more of this series. I didn't give it the full five because it was mostly formulaic, but I've gotta give due credit to that ending!
rosemobi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
i had no idea that this was a trilogy, im getting the two other books asap SPOILER but also the end was so unexpected
kristaallysa's review against another edition
4.0
This is a story about a girl who watched her mother die. Three years later Grace goes to live with her grandfather, a U.S. ambassador, on embassy row. It's a world where every house on the street is a different country and a spat with the neighbors could cause an international incident. Grace is still reeling from her mother's death and determined to find the man that killed her. The only problem is no one believes her, and sometimes she's not even sure she believes herself. That is until she teams up with some of the other embassy kids.
All Fall Down, while not my favorite Ally Carter book, was definitely a good read (and re-read). It's a little bit heavier than Carter's other books, with Grace's PTSD from witnessing her mother's death front and center, but still has some of the elements of espionage I've come to expect from Carter's YA novels. (This time it's lots of tunnels and secret meetings in Iran.)
All Fall Down, while not my favorite Ally Carter book, was definitely a good read (and re-read). It's a little bit heavier than Carter's other books, with Grace's PTSD from witnessing her mother's death front and center, but still has some of the elements of espionage I've come to expect from Carter's YA novels. (This time it's lots of tunnels and secret meetings in Iran.)
mallori_lyshae's review against another edition
3.0
THAT ENDING WAS C-R-A-Z-Y I'M EXCITED TO READ #2
missprint_'s review against another edition
3.0
It has been three years since Grace has seen her ambassador grandfather or set foot in the country of Adria. Now, with nowhere else to go, Grace is once again home at the American Embassy in the city of Valancia.
Three years is a long time to be away, but distance has done nothing to dampen the painful memories of her mother's death. In fact, returning to her mother's childhood home only brings it all back in painful detail.
Returning to Valancia, Grace is more convinced than ever that her mother was murdered; even more convinced that she has to do everything she can to find the killer and make him pay.
Until then Grace has not one but two annoyingly present boys to deal with and a mess of secrets to untangle as she hunts for the truth.
Living on Embassy Row among the other international embassies is like living on a very thin ledge where one wrong move can push Grace over forever in All Fall Down (2014) by Ally Carter.
All Fall Down is the first book in Carter's Embassy Row series.
It's hard sometimes to reconcile immeasurably high hopes for a book with the reality of reading said book. Ally Carter has already received wide (and well-deserved) acclaim for her Gallagher Girls and Heist Society novels as well as legions of loyal fans.
All Fall Down marks a dramatically different direction for Carter's writing. Grace is still a witty and sharp narrator but she is also abrasive. Grace is also rash to the point of being reckless, something that can rarely be said for Carter's other heroines. The pain and grief of her mother's death is fresh and palpable throughout the novel. The sense of loss and regret is often so palpable that it is hard to read through.
In many ways, All Fall Down feels like the natural progression for Carter's writing career as she continues to push her prose and her protagonists in new directions. The writing remains excellent and evocative as Grace delves into her new surroundings as well as a not-so-new mystery.
While the plot sounds sleek and polished, All Fall Down is much grittier with as many raw edges as Grace herself. Unfortunately, this darker tone also lessens the charm and humor readers familiar with Carter's previous YA novels might expect to find here.
Unfortunately, with such a radically new premise (not to mention a country entirely of Carter's own invention) almost all of All Fall Down is setup. Some parts of the initial plot are resolved but many are left dangling to be pursued in later installments. Instead of a start to a new series, this book feels more like a supplementary prequel as readers are left waiting for the actual story to start.
All Fall Down does once again highlight what Carter does so very well as she moves in an entirely new direction. A promising start to a new series for fans of thrillers and twisty suspense novels.
Possible Pairings: The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson, The Midnight Dress by Karen Foxlee, We Were Liars by E. Lockhart, 17 & Gone by Nova Ren Suma, Wherever Nina Lies by Lynn Weingarten, The Space Between Trees by Katie Williams
You can find this review and more on my blog Miss Print
Three years is a long time to be away, but distance has done nothing to dampen the painful memories of her mother's death. In fact, returning to her mother's childhood home only brings it all back in painful detail.
Returning to Valancia, Grace is more convinced than ever that her mother was murdered; even more convinced that she has to do everything she can to find the killer and make him pay.
Until then Grace has not one but two annoyingly present boys to deal with and a mess of secrets to untangle as she hunts for the truth.
Living on Embassy Row among the other international embassies is like living on a very thin ledge where one wrong move can push Grace over forever in All Fall Down (2014) by Ally Carter.
All Fall Down is the first book in Carter's Embassy Row series.
It's hard sometimes to reconcile immeasurably high hopes for a book with the reality of reading said book. Ally Carter has already received wide (and well-deserved) acclaim for her Gallagher Girls and Heist Society novels as well as legions of loyal fans.
All Fall Down marks a dramatically different direction for Carter's writing. Grace is still a witty and sharp narrator but she is also abrasive. Grace is also rash to the point of being reckless, something that can rarely be said for Carter's other heroines. The pain and grief of her mother's death is fresh and palpable throughout the novel. The sense of loss and regret is often so palpable that it is hard to read through.
In many ways, All Fall Down feels like the natural progression for Carter's writing career as she continues to push her prose and her protagonists in new directions. The writing remains excellent and evocative as Grace delves into her new surroundings as well as a not-so-new mystery.
While the plot sounds sleek and polished, All Fall Down is much grittier with as many raw edges as Grace herself. Unfortunately, this darker tone also lessens the charm and humor readers familiar with Carter's previous YA novels might expect to find here.
Unfortunately, with such a radically new premise (not to mention a country entirely of Carter's own invention) almost all of All Fall Down is setup. Some parts of the initial plot are resolved but many are left dangling to be pursued in later installments. Instead of a start to a new series, this book feels more like a supplementary prequel as readers are left waiting for the actual story to start.
All Fall Down does once again highlight what Carter does so very well as she moves in an entirely new direction. A promising start to a new series for fans of thrillers and twisty suspense novels.
Possible Pairings: The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson, The Midnight Dress by Karen Foxlee, We Were Liars by E. Lockhart, 17 & Gone by Nova Ren Suma, Wherever Nina Lies by Lynn Weingarten, The Space Between Trees by Katie Williams
You can find this review and more on my blog Miss Print
crwilson821's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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? No
4.5