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A review by saslovesbooks
The Toll by Neal Shusterman
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The kind of book you shouldn't start if you want to get anything done that day.
Read this in pretty much one sitting, not bad for 600 pages plus. But they whiz by because I was sucked in completely. Twists and turns abound, with Schusterman continuing that snappy, successful writing style that leaves you hanging on every word.
As a conclusion to the trilogy it's pretty satisfying, ties up loose ends and wraps up the story without rushing into it. I like the development of the thunderhead throughout, which does keeps you guessing fruitlessly at the direction of the plot. The numerous character perspectives explored all start to link together, which is very satisfying to read.
This last book also really started to veer into really classic sci-fi themes and own them! So that was cool.
MINOR gripes, because this book was really very good so I'm nitpicking. The black and white good vs evil still didn't fully sell itself to me, I'm sure there would be a lot more grey characters in an organisation as powerful as the scythedom. I was really hoping for someone Littlefinger-esque (Game of Thrones) and although there was potential in Constantine I don't feel Schusterman really committed to that.
The romance was still totally dead for me and actually there were a couple of occasions where I thought ooh interesting alternatives, but no. I'm not convinced they were even meant to be, it's just anyone had more chemistry than they did.
Overall if you're considering reading this series, do it, it's a cracker.
Read this in pretty much one sitting, not bad for 600 pages plus. But they whiz by because I was sucked in completely. Twists and turns abound, with Schusterman continuing that snappy, successful writing style that leaves you hanging on every word.
As a conclusion to the trilogy it's pretty satisfying, ties up loose ends and wraps up the story without rushing into it. I like the development of the thunderhead throughout, which does keeps you guessing fruitlessly at the direction of the plot. The numerous character perspectives explored all start to link together, which is very satisfying to read.
This last book also really started to veer into really classic sci-fi themes and own them! So that was cool.
MINOR gripes, because this book was really very good so I'm nitpicking. The black and white good vs evil still didn't fully sell itself to me, I'm sure there would be a lot more grey characters in an organisation as powerful as the scythedom. I was really hoping for someone Littlefinger-esque (Game of Thrones) and although there was potential in Constantine I don't feel Schusterman really committed to that.
The romance was still totally dead for me and actually there were a couple of occasions where I thought ooh interesting alternatives, but no. I'm not convinced they were even meant to be, it's just anyone had more chemistry than they did.
Overall if you're considering reading this series, do it, it's a cracker.