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A review by rosetaylor2
The One by John Marrs
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Spoiler review!
Overall setup: I enjoyed the ensemble of characters, and the pace of each chapter. Each vignette had a small beginning and end that culminated in varying leveld of twists.
Characters: You get a Match. How does each unique character react to the same situation, alongside a different character they were Matched with? How does it change them as people, and how does their propensity to lie affect others? None of the characters are moral agents, but in believable ways. How could I root for a character like Ellie? Ugh! But I did! Some characters are believably despicable - he wanted to showcase the harm that certain personalities can cause through the concept of Matching.
Plot overall: this is not a sci-fi dystopian novel as advertised. I was expecting something more like The Circle. But, it was delightfully focused on the intimate lives of others. I appreciated that he kept the theme connected to the smallness of our collective individualism.
Overall setup: I enjoyed the ensemble of characters, and the pace of each chapter. Each vignette had a small beginning and end that culminated in varying leveld of twists.
Characters: You get a Match. How does each unique character react to the same situation, alongside a different character they were Matched with? How does it change them as people, and how does their propensity to lie affect others? None of the characters are moral agents, but in believable ways. How could I root for a character like Ellie? Ugh! But I did! Some characters are believably despicable - he wanted to showcase the harm that certain personalities can cause through the concept of Matching.
Plot overall: this is not a sci-fi dystopian novel as advertised. I was expecting something more like The Circle. But, it was delightfully focused on the intimate lives of others. I appreciated that he kept the theme connected to the smallness of our collective individualism.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Miscarriage