jillselwyn's review against another edition
5.0
Just passed the first five books of 2023 with this one, god I can't believe I waited this long to read it. This was excellent, and the way it dove into the discussion of mental health. There was so much in this book that I would have wanted in, for example, Harry Potter. Like sorry, but there's no way Hermione having been flat out tortured and Harry having like the whole world depending on him would not result in PTSD.
So this was excellent and just what I was in the mood for. I also enjoyed the idea of having solved the problem, then ten years later finding out via an alternate dimension that they actually hadn't. I've said to a couple people to think of this book as after Harry Potter and the golden trio dealing with the mental health of the aftermath, living super close to one another and still in one another's lives and then being pulled into an alternate dimension where Voldemort was still alive but had disguised himself, and had to defeat him in an even more brutal way than the last time they thought they had and then going back to a mash up of the two worlds and finally splitting up after.
I know most of this review has been comparing it to a better written aftermath for Harry Potter but truly, that's the first thing that came to mind. Otherwise, this is so unique, the idea of starting off after the big final battle - much less the unveiling of a monument ten years later, was so captivating and I want more of this so much. I know there was originally going to be a second book but I believe this is now just a standalone, but I could be wrong. Very bittersweet, very well executed discussions of having to make hard decisions, how guilt and suffering physical pain aren't necessarily all that different - and I super connected with Sloane.
I'm always super impressed with Veronica Roth's inclusion of pretty witty humor, and I found myself doing more than just "heh"-ing, but fully laughing out loud or giggling. I can't wait to see this on the big screen if/when that ever does actually happen - as the only information I can see is about the audiobook and the news from way back in April of 2020. Either way, excellent book, and I'm so glad I'm revisiting this author, she definitely is still one of my favorites, and has been since the first Divergent book when I was about eleven years old.
So this was excellent and just what I was in the mood for. I also enjoyed the idea of having solved the problem, then ten years later finding out via an alternate dimension that they actually hadn't. I've said to a couple people to think of this book as after Harry Potter and the golden trio dealing with the mental health of the aftermath, living super close to one another and still in one another's lives and then being pulled into an alternate dimension where Voldemort was still alive but had disguised himself, and had to defeat him in an even more brutal way than the last time they thought they had and then going back to a mash up of the two worlds and finally splitting up after.
I know most of this review has been comparing it to a better written aftermath for Harry Potter but truly, that's the first thing that came to mind. Otherwise, this is so unique, the idea of starting off after the big final battle - much less the unveiling of a monument ten years later, was so captivating and I want more of this so much. I know there was originally going to be a second book but I believe this is now just a standalone, but I could be wrong. Very bittersweet, very well executed discussions of having to make hard decisions, how guilt and suffering physical pain aren't necessarily all that different - and I super connected with Sloane.
I'm always super impressed with Veronica Roth's inclusion of pretty witty humor, and I found myself doing more than just "heh"-ing, but fully laughing out loud or giggling. I can't wait to see this on the big screen if/when that ever does actually happen - as the only information I can see is about the audiobook and the news from way back in April of 2020. Either way, excellent book, and I'm so glad I'm revisiting this author, she definitely is still one of my favorites, and has been since the first Divergent book when I was about eleven years old.
accostel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book had the potential to be more interesting than it was. The characters aren't very likable, the dialogue is unrealistic, and there is very little dynamic emotional growth outside of newfound romance. The plot tells more than shows, and the exposition takes up most of the plot. However, the book 's overall concept was interesting, and kept me reading to find out how it would end.
barnesm31's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
So what does happen after you save the world, why go on to save it and another world again. Its a staple of the genre the young adults who are called upon to save the world from an ultimate incarnation of evil. in Veronica Roth's excellent what-happen-in-the-happily-ever-after our heroes are a bit of a mixed bag in terms of emotional health. Our protagonist Sloane Andrews has clearly never processed the horrors she went through at the hands of the 'Dark One' and now at the 10 year celebrations and a funeral for another of the Chosen they find them selves dragged into fighting another chose but this time in a sideways world where 'magic' is more common place.
Loved the world building but its the character studies of the chosen one you choose to keep reading.
Loved the world building but its the character studies of the chosen one you choose to keep reading.
asyaqub's review against another edition
3.0
I lost interest about halfway through but stuck with it. This book did not go in the direction I expected it to and I was disappointed. I think it is just average and not as good as the Divergent books. Not sure yet if I will continue with the series.
jassie_77's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This was such a good read. I have tried reading YA books before and came to the conclusion most were a bit too youngish for me. But this one is so good!! The story grabs you the moment you open the book. Every chapter was as interesting as the last. Even though the main character wasn't exactly loveable or logical, it was a good choice to paint the story from her perspective. I am very impressed by this story and the storytelling. I did see some of the plot twists coming, but that didn't spoil my enjoyment.
I just saw this will be a series, but I don't think I want to read the rest. I liked this book as a stand-alone. I feel like this book ended just right and I don't want to mess that up with another book, another plot, another crisis.
I just saw this will be a series, but I don't think I want to read the rest. I liked this book as a stand-alone. I feel like this book ended just right and I don't want to mess that up with another book, another plot, another crisis.
antari's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
bibliotequeish's review against another edition
2.0
I don't know about this one.
It was ... not great.
Having read the first book, I don't really have any desire to read the rest... chances are I probably will, but it definitely left a lot to be desired.
I'm all for a fantastical story, but a zombie army? I don't know.
The story felt thrown together, like Roth pitched it to her editor on a whim, making it up as she went along, and then the editor was like
I LOVE IT. I want four chapters by tomorrow morning, and then she had to quickly rush through the story throwing anything she could think into it.
PTSD
ZOMBIES
A LESSER VERSION OF VOLDEMORT
NICE GUY/ BITCHY GIRLFRIEND
Back to Voldemort, whenever they mentioned the "dark one" I kept picturing Voldemort, with a nose, wearing a trench coat... and it just made the story weird for me.
It was ... not great.
Having read the first book, I don't really have any desire to read the rest... chances are I probably will, but it definitely left a lot to be desired.
I'm all for a fantastical story, but a zombie army? I don't know.
The story felt thrown together, like Roth pitched it to her editor on a whim, making it up as she went along, and then the editor was like
I LOVE IT. I want four chapters by tomorrow morning, and then she had to quickly rush through the story throwing anything she could think into it.
PTSD
ZOMBIES
A LESSER VERSION OF VOLDEMORT
NICE GUY/ BITCHY GIRLFRIEND
Back to Voldemort, whenever they mentioned the "dark one" I kept picturing Voldemort, with a nose, wearing a trench coat... and it just made the story weird for me.