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A review by readbyian
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
2.0
This book was billed as a fast-paced espionage thriller spanning both World Wars and featuring two dynamic heroines.
Did it deliver on these things?
Kinda ... sorta ... not really.
Whilst the overall narrative was enticing, the book fell flat on a few fronts. I enjoyed the "Eve" sections far more than the "Charlie" sections. Eve had a cohesive plot structure. She had intriguing characters to interact with and develop alongside. Eve begins as a naïve but eager recruit who gradually develops her physical and emotional strength through methodical practice and self-discipline. She logically comes out the other side a matured woman no longer blind to the realities of war.
The "Charlie" sections seemed half-baked. From the start of the book she was a flat, one-sided character. She's an archetype harlequin who doesn't really develop. Sure, she does lots of progressive, independent things throughout the book. But does she really change from the beginning of the book to its end? Not really, her growth is superficial. She jumps from her mother to the first man she meets on her journey. Speaking of which, the supporting cast of her section add nothing of value to the story. Finn is a glorified chauffeur with a Scottish accent. The reincarnation of Eve bares no resemblance to her younger self. She's lost all that made her interesting, and some of the actions of her older self just seem illogical and stand in contradiction to how she's originally described (i.e., her later encounter with Violette made no sense to me, why would she be so rude to her, where'd all her guilt go?) The ending of the "Charlie" section was woefully anti-climatic, it seemed like an afterthought to meet the word count requirement.
Finally, what let me down the most about this book was the writing. Ripe with clichés and monotonous repetition, it was hard to bare near the end. Charlie's motivational internal pep-talks were just cringy. Some lines felt like they were ripped from an angsty 16-year-old's tumblr page.
Should you read it?
Yeah, why not? It's an easy, mindless read. Great to fall asleep with on the beach.
It could've been far more enjoyable in the hands of a better writer.
Did it deliver on these things?
Kinda ... sorta ... not really.
Whilst the overall narrative was enticing, the book fell flat on a few fronts. I enjoyed the "Eve" sections far more than the "Charlie" sections. Eve had a cohesive plot structure. She had intriguing characters to interact with and develop alongside. Eve begins as a naïve but eager recruit who gradually develops her physical and emotional strength through methodical practice and self-discipline. She logically comes out the other side a matured woman no longer blind to the realities of war.
The "Charlie" sections seemed half-baked. From the start of the book she was a flat, one-sided character. She's an archetype harlequin who doesn't really develop. Sure, she does lots of progressive, independent things throughout the book. But does she really change from the beginning of the book to its end? Not really, her growth is superficial. She jumps from her mother to the first man she meets on her journey. Speaking of which, the supporting cast of her section add nothing of value to the story. Finn is a glorified chauffeur with a Scottish accent. The reincarnation of Eve bares no resemblance to her younger self. She's lost all that made her interesting, and some of the actions of her older self just seem illogical and stand in contradiction to how she's originally described (i.e., her later encounter with Violette made no sense to me, why would she be so rude to her, where'd all her guilt go?) The ending of the "Charlie" section was woefully anti-climatic, it seemed like an afterthought to meet the word count requirement.
Finally, what let me down the most about this book was the writing. Ripe with clichés and monotonous repetition, it was hard to bare near the end. Charlie's motivational internal pep-talks were just cringy. Some lines felt like they were ripped from an angsty 16-year-old's tumblr page.
Should you read it?
Yeah, why not? It's an easy, mindless read. Great to fall asleep with on the beach.
It could've been far more enjoyable in the hands of a better writer.