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A review by bethsbookshelf
The Chain by Adrian McKinty
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
⛓️ I finished The Chain by Adrian McKinty at the weekend I’m giving it 2.75/5 stars! This is a pretty low rating considering how much I loved the first half.
☕️ the plot: this book follows a mother whose daughter has just been kidnapped. to get her back, she needs to kidnap someone else’s child & the chain continues. This premise was WILD and the first half was GOLDEN! I actually recommend reading the first half and stopping there lol. It was so fast paced and there was so much at stake, but the second half was dull, cliche & yet somehow too far fetched
☕️ the characters: the characters were pretty lame and cliche. They didn’t feel dimensional to me at all, I couldn’t empathise with them much
☕️ the writing: ooooft the writing was not good. It started fine but it got worse and worse until the author wasn’t even writing in full sentences! It was also third person present which felt off for the novel. I think first person would have been much better here
☕️ pacing, world building & diversity: the pacing was good the first half then petered out. The world building was interesting??? But also boring??? And there was no diversity really! All the characters were described as white & straight. There was some representation for cancer, and mental health but it was very surface level.
☕️ ending & enjoyment: the ending was CRAZY DUMB LOL. Like so lazy. But overall it was an enjoyable quick read that I’ll probably forget about in a month’s time
⚠️ trigger warnings: kidnapping, murder, guns, trauma, child abuse, child death, death, corruption, drug abuse
☕️ the plot: this book follows a mother whose daughter has just been kidnapped. to get her back, she needs to kidnap someone else’s child & the chain continues. This premise was WILD and the first half was GOLDEN! I actually recommend reading the first half and stopping there lol. It was so fast paced and there was so much at stake, but the second half was dull, cliche & yet somehow too far fetched
☕️ the characters: the characters were pretty lame and cliche. They didn’t feel dimensional to me at all, I couldn’t empathise with them much
☕️ the writing: ooooft the writing was not good. It started fine but it got worse and worse until the author wasn’t even writing in full sentences! It was also third person present which felt off for the novel. I think first person would have been much better here
☕️ pacing, world building & diversity: the pacing was good the first half then petered out. The world building was interesting??? But also boring??? And there was no diversity really! All the characters were described as white & straight. There was some representation for cancer, and mental health but it was very surface level.
☕️ ending & enjoyment: the ending was CRAZY DUMB LOL. Like so lazy. But overall it was an enjoyable quick read that I’ll probably forget about in a month’s time
⚠️ trigger warnings: kidnapping, murder, guns, trauma, child abuse, child death, death, corruption, drug abuse
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Murder