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A review by veebutts
Alice Broadway Ink Trilogy Collection 3 Books Set by Alice Broadway
3.0
I initially picked this book up in the library because the cover is so beautiful. Intricate sketches embossed with shiny copper on a black background, it's easily the best cover I've seen all year. I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover but really, just look at it!
Once I got it home and curled up in my armchair to start reading I was hooked straight away. The plot seemed so original to me. Its such a simple idea: what would society be like if everything that happened to us was marked on our skin for everyone to see? There is endless scope in this idea, to examine whether this honesty would make society more moral, safer, honest.
Although I enjoyed the plot, I felt the story lacking in places. Pace was an issue for me, I felt like there were far too many chapters concentrating on Leora's thoughts and worries and then when the action happened it was over in pages.
I also had trouble connecting to Leora as a main character. I felt she wasn't properly fleshed out, she didn't have any distinguishing character traits really and I wondered if that was purposeful so that the reader could imagine themselves as her as they read. For some people that might be a plus but it's not my reading style.
On a personal note (and this can in no way be held against the author) I find it difficult to read books with my name in. Verity is an unusual enough name that you don't tend to see it that often in fiction and it was on nearly every page of this book, along with the nickname Vetty, which is just the worst. This is just me being a bit weird about my name though!
Overall, I loved the story, I thought it was well thought out and this book was concluded perfectly to set it up for the sequel which I fully intend to read next year. I also loved the intermittent fables that were woven within the story and hope that will be a feature of the next book.
Once I got it home and curled up in my armchair to start reading I was hooked straight away. The plot seemed so original to me. Its such a simple idea: what would society be like if everything that happened to us was marked on our skin for everyone to see? There is endless scope in this idea, to examine whether this honesty would make society more moral, safer, honest.
Although I enjoyed the plot, I felt the story lacking in places. Pace was an issue for me, I felt like there were far too many chapters concentrating on Leora's thoughts and worries and then when the action happened it was over in pages.
I also had trouble connecting to Leora as a main character. I felt she wasn't properly fleshed out, she didn't have any distinguishing character traits really and I wondered if that was purposeful so that the reader could imagine themselves as her as they read. For some people that might be a plus but it's not my reading style.
On a personal note (and this can in no way be held against the author) I find it difficult to read books with my name in. Verity is an unusual enough name that you don't tend to see it that often in fiction and it was on nearly every page of this book, along with the nickname Vetty, which is just the worst. This is just me being a bit weird about my name though!
Overall, I loved the story, I thought it was well thought out and this book was concluded perfectly to set it up for the sequel which I fully intend to read next year. I also loved the intermittent fables that were woven within the story and hope that will be a feature of the next book.