plumedechat's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
sky_jo's review
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
keys's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Fun and entertaining very engaging however the characters are very one dimensional and considering the protagonist has lived for 300 years it is a bit disappointing to have someone such a bland character
aliciasharp123's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
5.0
Easily a new top favorite! Perfect subtle twists and turns to keep the momentum, wonderful glimmers of hope and pain, and beautifully written. I live for split timeline or narration and this had both without getting overwhelming or confusing. It is on the longer side but so worth every single second.
missfitz6's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
cgillman's review
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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
4.0
annapresutti's review
3.0
(Warning: Spoilers) Honestly, this book is extremely average. Addie's story is very captivating and it's portrayed beautifully through Schwab's utterly poetic writing, but there are so many little nuances that I can't get over. First off, the flashbacks from present day made the plot feel sooooo slow. I really enjoyed the progression in the beginning (from her childhood to 2014), but the second half really dragged. Also, let me mention how Addie's story covers over 300 years of her life. In that time, she "traveled the world", but we only hear stories of North America and Europe. I just think Schwab could've done so much more considering the world outside these two continents. Since Addie was born in Europe, and since spent most of her life there, you think she'd explore her neighbors to the East and South before attempting across the Atlantic. I just hope this wasn't an attempt to further whitewash this book. Also, I understand that this story is purely Addie's, but we hear almost nothing of the historical revolutions that occurred. If I was immortal and unable to make a mark, I'd want to use my influence and lurk in the shadows of history. If Addie could write a song for Toby, what was stopping her from pulling the same strings on a larger scale? I also wish the ending happened a chapter earlier. The last scene of Addie in a bookstore discovering Henry's novel is so unnecessary. I think the book would've left off on a more profound note if her ending was left to the reader. I think a much better ending would have been in the scene earlier where Henry talks of his future and his new discovered passion for life. Addie's whole rant about how she's going to prove Luc isn't capable of love, how she wants to break his heart, yadda yadda yadda, ruins the whole moment. It was such a bad note to leave off on, and further accentuated the point that Addie is still the same immature girl who prayed to a demon in the woods. Her lack of growth was always a lingering annoyance for me, but this last scene was really the nail in the coffin. Also, imagine if Schwab marketed her book as Henry's. Schwab mentions how the title was written in Henry's cursive, there was no author's name, the dedication page read "I remember you", etc. I think these simple things could've raised her work to a new level, and I know I'm not the only one thinking this. I appreciate Schwab's attempt at a passion project, but some aspects really missed the mark.
kellyfenyook's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0
dommdy's review
5.0
At last, a book that lives up to the hype! I was enchanted and enraptured by this highly imaginative story. Good stuff.
salinajames's review
2.0
This book had the potential to be great but it just wasn't for me. There was too much going on that didn't come full circle and there didn't feel like there was any kind of climax until the last 10 pages of the book and it just kind of ended.