A review by daisha101
Extras by Scott Westerfeld
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Extras includes a new set of characters in a different city about 3 years after the events in Specials. I found the new characters introduced in this book to be more likable than Tally and friends, but it still took me about halfway through to decide I like the main character. The most intriguing characters in the book (the “Sly Girls”) are not even in the second half
All the books in this series happen in a very short time period, but each book introduces new concepts or technology that make the events of the previous books hard to believe. This book in particular suffered from that. It’s only been 3 years, but the main character is written as if she only knows life after the events of Specials and not before even though she would’ve been 12 when that happened.
Another issue is that this city is based in Japan, but there was not enough effort to develop the setting. The character names and some brief references to “Pre Rusty” cultural practices are the only indications that they are in Japan until Tally and friends show up and there’s suddenly a language barrier (which doesn’t make sense with all the technology available in this universe).
Plot-wise, my complaints are the same as with Specials. This book started off as what seemed to be a critique on fame, but found it’s way to environmental issues. I found the ending/reveal anti-climatic as was Specials. And of course there was an obligatory romantic interest that was completely unnecessary and not at all developed.
Spoiler
, but there is an appearance from Tally and friends. I still don’t like them.All the books in this series happen in a very short time period, but each book introduces new concepts or technology that make the events of the previous books hard to believe. This book in particular suffered from that. It’s only been 3 years, but the main character is written as if she only knows life after the events of Specials and not before even though she would’ve been 12 when that happened.
Another issue is that this city is based in Japan, but there was not enough effort to develop the setting. The character names and some brief references to “Pre Rusty” cultural practices are the only indications that they are in Japan until Tally and friends show up and there’s suddenly a language barrier (which doesn’t make sense with all the technology available in this universe).
Plot-wise, my complaints are the same as with Specials. This book started off as what seemed to be a critique on fame, but found it’s way to environmental issues. I found the ending/reveal anti-climatic as was Specials. And of course there was an obligatory romantic interest that was completely unnecessary and not at all developed.