A review by teaganfourie
Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer

adventurous challenging dark hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Wow. That was a rollercoaster ride.
Thinking back to the beginning of the book when Harry couldn't even read, to the end when he "died" is crazy (also, when I read that Harry was going to "die" in one of the later chapters, I was devastated, but I had a feeling that it wasn't true because there were already so many twists and I assumed this had to be another).


I made the mistake of reading reviews of the book on here while I was still reading the book and the common theme of "underdeveloped characters" and how people couldn't sympathize with them because of the lack of emotion in the writing, stuck with me. As I continued reading, I kept thinking about it, and not once did I agree. Sure, writing in the third person could add to the impersonal feel, but it didn't stop me from feeling what I was supposed to feel. Jeffrey has a way with his words that just make sure you feel what is supposed to be felt.

I will say, however, it got a bit difficult to read towards the end because suddenly it's about ships and sailing and I feel like that was so suddenly introduced, but I suppose that's the point - how quickly everything changed at the end.
As well as the unsure incest. What is it about incest that people love including it in books? The uncertainty adds so much tension to the whole situation at the end.


Also... THE CLIFFHANGER?? It's a different type of evil to end a book on a cliffhanger. Evil.
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