I reviewed the first book in this series, Carousel, back in August and I've been meaning to pick up the sequel ever since but other books got in the wI reviewed the first book in this series, Carousel, back in August and I've been meaning to pick up the sequel ever since but other books got in the way (something we can all relate to, I think). But anyway, I finally read book two and I enjoyed it so much ! Even more then I did book one.
This is a super unique series for me, because it's set in the same state that I live in (Western Australia represent!) The first book follows three people, Nox, Lizzy and Taylor who get trapped inside the Carousel shopping centre in what they assume is the apocalypse. It's a mystery/dystopian with similar elements to Tomorrow, When the War Began that really intrigued me.
What I loved about the sequel and why I think I preferred it to book one is that it's scope is much larger. While the first book focusses primarily on the characters and their experiences within an enclosed space, this book explores the setting more and allows the characters to interact with the outside world. I loved that this book drew attention to other people within the world, and what they were up to in this weird new apocalypse/dystopian Perth.
I also think it was interesting to see more conflict between the core characters, and how each character dealt with this. The conflict between the characters, and following them not only in the group but also individually was really interesting to me. I really liked that there was a side f/f relationship, but I wish I had seen some more of it!
I also really liked the representation of Taylor and Lizzy in general. They were my favourite characters (sorry Nox) because I found them so interesting. They're based vaguely on the duo Tegan and Sara (who I also love). As a queer reader myself it was really nice to read about two major characters who also identify as lesbians, and I think the representation here was done really well.
For me personally, the best thing about this series as a whole is the setting. It is so fun for me to follow the places these characters go and know exactly what they're talking about and where they are. They mentioned so many places I've been and even just being familiar with the routes they were taking around the city was nice. I really loved that aspect of this book and it's one of the great things about being an Australian and reading #OzYA, especially the YA set in Perth or Western Australia in general.
WHY FOUR STARS
Despite all the elements of this book I really liked coming together so well, one thing I didn't think was resolved well was the overarching mystery of the story. I would have liked a less vague explanation of why the events transpired. (view spoiler)[The explanation that the art needed to be made in two years and thats why people had disappeared was okay, but I think the why and the how of this was really not explained well if at all. I definitely don't feel like the mystery was completely wrapped up (hide spoiler)]. Although some of the questions I had going into this book were answered, I feel like I left with even more as well - it feels almost as if this should be a trilogy.
Another thing I would have liked to see, though it's not necessarily a negative is chapters from other people's points of view. I don't think setting the book entirely from Nox' point of view was bad, but I think it really would have been interesting to see what the others characters thoughts and feelings were on the situation.
OVERALL
Overall, this was a really fun duology and I had such a great time reading it. The setting is totally unique, and I loved how the element of it being an "artists only" area played out. I found the characters quite interesting, and really liked how this book especially moved forward. I just wish that the mystery had not been left on such a vague note, and that there was more explanation behind why the events occurred in the first place, and how.
Thankyou so much to Fremantle Press for sending me a copy of both Carousel and Beyond Carousel in exchange for my honest review...more
She knew it was a small space, and that me and my secrets were in there somewhere
Carousel was a very unique book to me personally - because it's s
She knew it was a small space, and that me and my secrets were in there somewhere
Carousel was a very unique book to me personally - because it's set in Perth (where I live!) specifically in the Carousel shopping centre, one I've been to many a time.
So all the descriptions of whats where, and what it looks like and what they're eating or doing seemed really familiar. And since there isn't many books coming out of Perth, about Perth, that was really fun and exciting for me to read.
Inspired by John Marsden's Tomorrow, When The War Began Carousel follows four characters who become trapped inside of a shopping mall, with no access to the outside world, in what they assume is an apocalyptic event. Unable to escape the mall, they battle between wanting to stay inside - where their is abundant resources, or venture into the outside world, where the situation is unknown. Although it's pitched as young adult, only one character is under 18 (Rocky, 16) The others - Nox, Lizzy and Taylor - are all in their mid twenties.
POSITIVES
• The descriptions of the mall, and how they are using the resources inside to survive were really fun and interesting. If you like the planning aspects around Apocalypse events like me, as in "what would I do in this situation", this book has lots of details on that aspect. The characters use the food, clothes and items throughout the store to create their own home, and develop their own rules and rituals that keep them carrying on.
• Representation. The two girls in the group (who are twins) are both lesbians and that is talked about right at the start. I was worried this book might descend into that awful "you're gay but it's the apocalypse so lets hook up" cliche which, is awful, but it didn't. So yay!
• No romance. There is no romance and I liked that, because I just feel like in the apocalypse you should worry about if you're gonna die before anything else.
• Setting. Like I've said the Perth setting was really, really fun for me and I so loved the descriptions of everything and how familiar it was. At one point they ..... start talking about the place where I work it was such a trip. Anyway that was a first so it was pretty exciting.
• I did like the characters and their arcs overall. Rocky was my favourite character but I liked them all really. The book focusses on how isolation is effecting each character personally, and their way of dealing with it mentally and I thought that aspect was well done.
DIDN'T LIKE AS MUCH
• UNCLEAR AND VAGUE AS TO WHY THEY IN A SHOPPING CENTRE. The book starts with Nox, the main character, meeting Taylor and Lizzy in an abandoned shopping centre. It's unclear why they're there, where everyone else is, and whats going on. You just have to assume it's the apocalypse but it's unclear. Although this aspect is given more clarity toward the end of the novel, it is still confusing, and some of the circumstances surrounding the event seem ..... a bit of a Stretch. HOWEVER, there is a sequel which I hope will clear things up
• Pacing could be a bit off. The book was really drawn out, and while the suspense and mystery was there enough to keep me turning pages, it also wasn't nail-biting and I often caught myself skimming. Exciting plot points were dropped awkwardly when they could have been exciting. For example, at one stage the characters realise someone else is in the mall with them, and they are not sure who. This was tense and exciting, and then it was a letdown.
• There were some moments or character thoughts I just found kind of cringeworthy, though I'm pretty sure it's just because I sometimes struggle with male narrators.
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Overall Carousel was a fun read, and I enjoyed the setting and concept a lot. The execution was not perfect, in my opinion, but it was definitely fun and kept me turning pages. I finished this nearly 400 page book in one day so thats a pretty good effort to keep me occupied. It definitely has an addictive quality that keeps you hooked and wanting to know what happens - its just that the revelations and happenings kind of underwhelmed me when they DID happen.
Happy days though! I finished book 1 for #TheReadingQuest...more
I'm only doing a mini review of this book because I've reviewed all the other books inthe series and don't really have anything much extra to add so I'm only doing a mini review of this book because I've reviewed all the other books inthe series and don't really have anything much extra to add so I'll just sum it up?
book/series summary This book is basically about a apocalyptic version of London where a disease has turned all the adults into zombies. It's basically Gone meets The Walking Dead. Each book follows certain groups of kids and their quest/mission which depends on which characters you're following. This book follows The Kid and Small Sam after the events of The Dead and catches up with the Cathedral kids who haven't been in the series since book one. Also Shadowman and Saint George feature heavily.
WHAT I LIKE
💀 zombies. I love the zombies in this series because they actually have character arcs and change as the series progresses. I like the way the zombies function and how the lore surrounding them is pretty consistent
💀 world so I love the way the world is split up into different crews of kids. The Tower of London crew is my favourite but I also really love the Natural History Museum kids. Basically, every prominent building has a group of kids who have taken up residence there, and what is interesting is that each group has it's own rules, culture, laws and ideas about what to do in the world. Some are looking for a cure, some are just living day to day lives, some are looking for power, some live in lowkey anarchy and the difference between each group is really interesting. Also, PSA the kids living in IKEA had the smartest idea of everyone js.
💀 narrative structure its kind of hard to explain, but the narrative structure is my favourite thing about this book and series and why it stands out as a genuinely way better series then most zombie books. So basically, Book one follows a group called the Waitrose crew who are brought to Buckingam Palace by a kid called Jester. Book two then skips back in time to explain how the Buckingham Palace crew ended up there. Book three is set at the same time as book one, but follows a completely different set of characters. This book is set right after the events of book two.
Why I love this structure is that the world feels really alive. When you're following a group of characters, you know one of the other groups is also up to something we will get to later. It feels less like a series moving forward and more like a series moving forward and outward. It's kind of hard to explain but I love it. I also love how this structure allows plotlines to weave together and overlap, and so we see different events from different perspectives and contexts. I love the narrative strucutre and it's why this series stands out to me so much even in it's low points.
WHAT I DON'T LIKE
💀 repetition this book was kind of boring to me (because i've already read it so it's not really the book fault), but also by this book it felt like a lot of the plot had been used and reused. There's only so many times being chased by a zombie can freak me out. This one felt a little out of ideas
💀 crew I love The Kid but I don't love the other characters this book follows. Small Sam and Ed are okay but my real favourites from the Tower of London like Jordan Hordern and Dognut weren't in it as much. I LOVED SHADOWMAN'S ROLE IN T HIS BOOK THOUGH
💀 boring? This particular book in the series is more of a filler/explanation book then the previous ones so it wasn't as thrilling as it's predecessors
“We was half stupid, a third lucky, and three-quarters ferocious.”
Anyway, overall I really enjoy this series and I will hopefully be finishing it this year. Even though it's a seven book series it's plotted and crafted so well that never felt daunting. I genuinely love some of the characters in this series and god the plot structure is just so freakin clever and good ...more
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review!
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FAM Listen .... listen this book. It's cool, it's really cool. I
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review!
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FAM Listen .... listen this book. It's cool, it's really cool. If you're a history NERD like me, or like books that involve time travel, superpowers and DINOSAURS you will love this I promise you.
I genuinely want this book to get more attention because it's super fun and so unique and I think y'all could have a great time reading it like I did. It's awesome, like it's actually just insanely awesome and I want you's to love it too.
PLOT
The Sixth Event puts a new spin on the apocalypse genre. This is truly one of the most fun and honestly satisfying books I've ever read (IT JUST GAVE ME SO MUCH COOL STUFF I WILL EXPLAIN)
It starts when Raquel, a college student, experiences the end of the world. Rocks crash to the ground around her and she "dies". Only to awaken in her bedroom two years in the past. She is the only one who can remember the apocalyptic event - however everyone else is actively living the life they did 2 years ago (she actually went back to that time) and so has no recollection of the event (because it hasn't happened yet)
Raquel soon learns she is not the ONLY person who remembers - eight other teenagers, all who have also awoken 2 years in the past after experiencing the end of the world also remember.
Chris and Raquel from America, Susan from Russia, Xiao Ming from China, Andres from Brazil, Monique from South Africa, Theo from Britain, and Zack from Australia. (yas Zack Australia represent)
The eight teenagers have also come to possess incredible and impossible superpowers - the ability to travel to any time and place predating human occupation on the planet, the ability to talk in tongues and the ability to teleport.
Using these powers, they agree they must attempt to prevent the impeding cataclysmic event happening if they can.
If this premise makes you sound sceptical .. know I was there too. Even if it sounded interesting, I never thought it would be insanely awesome. And yet here we are. The reason this book is just SO COOL is because it's basically a romp through pre-history.
Now if you're a bit of a hoe for dinosaurs and ancient history and mammoths and all that good stuff you are just like me. YOU WILL LOVE THIS BOOK
Following the characters as they witnessed extinction events, walked with mammoths, crept up on triceratops, visited the world when there was nothing but aquatic life, it was good fun You could almost forget the entire world was ending and this was serious business
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And these events were actually so well researched! THE DINOSAURS EVEN HAD FEATHERS !!! FKGHKFGH !! ( Jurassic world couldn't get that shit right. smh. ) Which kept made me, an indisputable NERD really happy.
◆ ☄ ◆ ☄ ◆ ☄ ◆ ☄ ◆ ☄ ◆ ☄ ◆ ☄
The content of the plot aside, the story was engaging and fast moving. I raced through this, because things were just happening and happening and happening and there was barely a minute of rest. Anytime there wasn't major plot going on, I got to explore the far reaches of the world alongside these characters and that was good enough for me.
Seriously, you will knock this book off SO QUICKLY I flew through the whole thing (I actually read this on my iphone and finished quickly even though I am terrible at reading on my phone so there we go)
CHARACTERS
I LOVED the diversity of the characters ! Having a range of characters from across the world all with different experiences and cultural backgrounds was super cool. While there was no lgbt+ rep and all the characters were able-bodied, having characters from different backgrounds was a massive PLUS for me. (too bad we didn't get to see much of the Australian character because thats my guy)
However, you will notice this is a 4* review and the reason for that is the characters. Now do not get me WRONG, these characters are fine. And I suspect if you prefer plot based to character based stories you won't have a single issue with them. All of them are different and unique and fulfill differing roles, which is good.
Unfortunately, for me there wasn't enough depth, complexity or development to these characters. On one hand I understand - It is a TINY book, only 250 pages and it focusses heavily on plot aspects .,,, but still I love me a good character. Andres and Xiao Ming were only really touched upon, and I would have liked to see more about Zack as a character.
While the more "main characters" do have better development and depth, its still not the BEST, especially for someone like me who relies heavily on character attachment to get into a story.
But I still really liked this, so they weren't BAD. I'm just super curious about them and it's a bit sad to me I don't get to know more about them - especially Zack, Andres, Xiao Ming and Monique who's backstories were barely mentioned.
I DID like that their interactions are really natural though. The dialogue flows well, and the way they talk doesn't seem "too teenage". You know what I mean, you kNOW. The way they interact and talk with each other wasn't forced at all, and seemed realistic which I liked
I THINK this is a super fun book. It's only 250 pages, and it's fast moving so it goes by super fast. This is not philosophical or deep apocalypse - this isn't going to challenge you with complex questions about the role of humans in the galaxy or the validity of our species surviving when others were forced to extinction
But it will take you on a fun little trip. It will keep you highly entertained as you explore prehistory and wonder at what caused the end of the world. This really is sort of soft apocalypse, but if you like science fiction, if you like super powers and if you like history you will LOVE THIS. I'm tellin ya, I'm about ready to inform my mum I'm becoming a paleontologists.
I really don't know why more people haven't read this, but you should! This is one for fans of I Am Number Four, Dark Matter and honestly DINOSAURS. if you like dinosaurs read this.
WARNING. THIS REVIEW CONTAINS UNTAGGED SPOILERS !!
Alright. Oh boy. This book was a DOWNRIGHT MESS. I mean, not only was it a mess, it was also increWARNING. THIS REVIEW CONTAINS UNTAGGED SPOILERS !!
Alright. Oh boy. This book was a DOWNRIGHT MESS. I mean, not only was it a mess, it was also incredibly offensive and poorly written and I just can't believe this is actually a published book
I'm gonna just break this down and yeaH.
CHARACTERS: Literally every supporting character is a stereotype.
First we have Peter, who's African American and GAY. I put gay in capital letters because it's the main thing you actually know about him. All he talks about is being gay, his defining characteristic is that he's gay. He also affirms a dozen gay stereotypes - he always all honey and bitch and basically serves to give the main girl (Donna) his best friend relationship advice which is all (I'd tap that so you should too) yech.
Then we have SeeThrough She's Asian, so get this, her name is actually a play on words of Sifu. She's also a martial arts expert !! and really smart !! Obviously, I mean, she's Asian so she has to be !! Also, she gets killed off for no reasons, just for a bit of male angst so the boys can feel all guilty and dishonourable about bringing a girl along. There's nothing quite like using female characters as plot devices!!
Then we move into main characters. The main protagonist is a boy called Jefferson (yes, that's his actual name not an adopted Post-Apocalyptic name. His parents actually called him Jefferson, and his brother WASHINGTON) Jefferson was an okay (I say this tentatively) lead. MOST of the time he was pretty straight forward with the facts which was good because honestly I only cared about the plot but man he still managed to piss me the heck off. Jefferson absolutely reeks of male entitlement. Like he just walks about and is all ooh, I'm a nice boy. Why don't girls go for me, it's because girls don't like nice boys. Like not this kid! I know this boy and 99% of the time they are, in fact, not nice! GOD. So in his opening lines we have
"Hey! One of the gunners responds when I pat her on the behind. It's that girl, Carolyn, the blonde who used to be kind of a fashionista before What Happened. Whoops. Even after the apocalypse girls still don't like to get slapped on the butt.
GOD, JEFFERSON. Is it because getting slapped on the butt is jusT NOT ON man that's my body y'all can't just go touching it whenever personal space my friend, personal space. GEEZ.
So next we have a nice little moment where Jefferson declares his undying love for Donna, expecting her to reciprocate or at least just be like thanks, but no thanks but instead she's like ????? because he chooses a moment WHEN THEIR LIVES ARE IN DANGER and she's taken aback so he shoots back with a
All she had to say was I love you too. But instead she's starting fights. "Just try, try to love me?"
kid, no girl gotta try to do anything just bc you're feeling under loved yikes ! I honestly can't with this bit the way he's so SHOCKED she's not responding as he plans is a joke.
DONNA Man, Donna is such a mess she gets her own damn section. This is when we get into the real nitty gritty of the mess of this book. Donna is the alternate viewpoint in this book, and the female voice. But oh my god, she's no problematic!? Honestly, you can just TELL she's been written by a guy because NO GIRLS ACT LIKE THIS. (at least, ones I know anyway)
We start off her narration with "The first thing you need to know about me, I'm not beautiful" [image]
God! I don't care, Donna! But mostly why this annoys me is that it serves a wider purpose in this book, where all pretty girls are stupid, "sluts", unable to look after themselves and bitchy. Ironic, since Donna has to be one of the most awful, disgusting characters I've ever read. It's basically just serving the purpose to undermine the agency of any girl who might appear beautiful and it's gross. Men, especially, seem to use appearance to characterise females and honestly the way it was done in this book was shocking.
Donna was this girl that spent her life pitting herself against other girls. Every girl she met was a bitch -- SeeThrough was skinny so Donna makes some comment about how terrible it is girls still think it's cool to watch their weight (??? it's the apocalypse Donna maybe she's just not eating enough like damn)
Kath is immediately dubbed a "hoe bag", bitch and slut by Donna. In fact, Donna is absolutely awful to her, just because 1: Kath kissed Jefferson and 2: because she's a female?? I think ??
Donna is that "I'm not like other girls!!" girl, in which her value comes from the fact she's not like other girls, thus degrading every single "other girl". Sigh. My least favourite thing. (Lmao not to mention sexist. Girls don't need to disassociate themselves from their gender to be valuable)
I think this is more of an author fault, but Donna's primary purpose is to talk about boys. Every conversation she has is about her feelings about boys. Every thought she has is about males. I don't think this book passes the Bechdel test even though there are female who communicate with just eachother (3, exactly) times. Each time, all they talk about is boys. There's even a scene where they have a "yes, I guess you've won the fight for the boy" talk. Feckon hell, girls don't like boys jesus!! Girls talk about boys in like 1 in every 100 conversations, probably. ME AND MY GIRL FRIENDS TALK ABOUT GARLIC BREAD MORE THAN WE TALK ABOUT BOYS AND MY FRIENDS HAVE BOYFRIENDS. Like, turns out girls do not constantly fawn over males, despite what they might like to think.
The way Donna communicates with people is ridiculous. She speaks almost exclusively in Pop Culture references, uses the word like fifty times a page and says "anyhoo" and describe everything as "big ass". He pulled out his big ass sword, thats a big as lake. Blegh BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, she says things like STFU in dialogue. And not, stuff you, I mean actually says the letters S T F U to communicate stuff you. And it's supposed to be typical of teenagers like Donna is down with the kids™ but instead she kind of just makes me wanna cry because this is so inaccurate. (Now if she'd been saying surely and straight fire and thats so lit I could have believed it)
TREATMENT OF RAPE AND USE OF RAPE AS A PLOT DEVICE This book contains, so much rape. Not the actual act of it, but it's a plot device. It's used to make characters dislike other characters. It's used as the reason why the big baddies are the big baddies. (those dudes rape girls, so they all need to die!)
The thing is, rape is treated like this trivial thing that has happened to some of the girls but it's fine. Like, it's just swept under the rug, no worries when it gets down to it. Rape mainly serves as a means to give the male characters an opportunity to be honourable and take the moral highground.
But when it comes down to it? These characters rescue a long-term (2years+) rape survivor and call her a hoe-bag a SLUT and a bitch. The fact she's a rape survivor is never dealt with, there are no repercussions on the mental and psychological health of the girl (who gets called her real name, Kath, about once and TITS MCGEE, the most degrading name I can think of for the rest of it)
The treatment of rape in this honestly shocked me. The fact that is was talked about so novelly was awful and it absolutely was the last straw for me. The rape didn't even serve to develop female characters but instead developed the male characters. It was women being subjected to the rape, but in the end that didn't matter - what mattered was how it effected the boys. I can't even discuss how much this has effected me and how disgusting it is that authors continue to use rape as a meaningless plot device when it's an experience that effects the victim for a life-time
But, as Donna would say, whatever.
POP CULTURE REFERENCES Okay, at first I thought these were fun. The kids use a pop culture reference, or a hundred, in this book. At first it was cool, but it soon left me lost. Instead of describing a scene, it'd be like "This is just like Resident Evil" of "If you've seen this movie, you'd know what it looks like"
Sadly, I haven't seen that movie so I don't know what the heck is going on. Also, the teenagers were weird about Pop Culture. Like, there's one bit where they are worshipping a plate with Edward Cullen's face on. It's just weird, and in my opinion, lazy writing. A pop culture reference can be fun, but using them to replace the task of describing a scene is lazy. You're an author man!! That's what authors DO.
THE PLOT I guess this is where positives start? The actual current of events was okay, and the only reason I kept going with it. But then it stuffed it up by having a shitty ending and revelations that didn't make sense so urgh.
Overall: [image]
I'm just done. This was terrible. Do not recommend.
If you're looking for a teen-world post apocalyptic to replace the Michael Grant's, Gone, size hole in your heart -- move along because this is not that book. ...more
“I'm gonna be sick," I said "I'm ordering you not to," says Obi. "Ah, don't say that," says Dee-Dum. "She's a born rebel. She'll puke just to make a
“I'm gonna be sick," I said "I'm ordering you not to," says Obi. "Ah, don't say that," says Dee-Dum. "She's a born rebel. She'll puke just to make a point.”
ARRGH !!! Books, why must your frustrate me so. Why can't you all just be great so I don't feel so goddamn conflicted !!!!!
I am so conflicted about this series still. It's literally been a year and I still don't even know if I enjoyed Angelfall ?? like da heck ??
Do I read into these things too much ? ..... probably. BUT ANYWAY, I'm confused about the sequel to Angelfall as well. I don't know how to feel about World After. I liked bits, I didn't like bits.
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Angelfall is probably one of those books I would have loved if .... I just ...... read it during that massive Dystopian stage we all had (yes ALL had, don't tell me you didn't. It's like the teen angst stage for book lovers) after the Hunger Games but here I am in 2016 reading it and that stage is well and truly over.
Or maybe I would have loved it if I read it when I was a little younger and hadn't become bitter and hateful toward couples in books (shut up they just all make me cringe 9/10 times)
Maybe it's just because it reminds me of Supernatural and that show NEEDS TO DIE. IT NEEDS TO GO.
ANYWAY, something about this Angel dystopian just isn't doing it for me. The concept is cool ---- Angels come to Earth and start killing all the people. Civilisations collapse and survivors are left to survive in a war torn world full of hostile Angels. But I just ... cannot get into it.
And it's a shame because EVERYONE ELSE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO
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I don't think I liked this as much as Angelfall, and I feel like the plot was literally Angelfall rehashed. The events that happened in Angelfall were just repeated .... it felt like someone had regifted a present and tried to hide it by using new wrapping. This definitely felt like a second book slump. Not much happened at all.
REASONS I AM MEH ABOUT THIS
→ leaving plots hanging ... . This is SUCH a massive hate of mine. If you're gonna start a MASSIVE plot line .... finish it ?? I hate lose ends. Anyway, there was an enormous plot set up with the prison escape, and it could have been awesome. Instead the whole thing happened off screen and wasn't even concluded or resolved ?? tf ?? I felt that the scorpion victims were the same thing .. just a big plot point that had no resolution. I hate that. If you're gonna start something THEN GODDAMN FINISH IT
→ I hate the romance. Penryn and Raffe are the not the worst. I've seen much worse. But not the best either. While I don't hate them all the time, they did make me roll my eyes and cringe and I just HATE THAT.
→ The plot wasn't the best. As mentioned, it followed the exact same structure as book 1. Penryn's sister gets kidnapped, Penryn goes to save sister, Penryn goes to party dressed up, Penryn has to leave party. Raffe is there. ALL THE INTERESTING PLOT WAS DROPPED ??? M8 we could of had it all with that Alcatraz plot and instead it was vaguely left behind.
Also, things just happened incredibly conveniently ? Like, everytime a problem arose a quick and easy solution would just .. come along. It just didn't feel realistic to me.
This whole book just felt a bit vague and wishy washy, like it didn't know where it was going itself.
→ Speaking of unrealistic ... some things just seem ... stupid. Like Paige became a dedicated vegetarian at the age of THREE. what the fuck she did not. three year olds shove whatever the frick they want in their mouth they do not have the mental ability to be like "shit man, I'm becoming a dedicated vegetarian because the way our agriculture industry treats animals is immoral and cruel"
Also ... Penryn just kills grown ass men or ten at a time and she magically defeats killer Angels out of nowhere and it's like ????? really ?????
THINGS I LIKED
→ characters. I genuinely like Penryn as a character. While she has her whiny, annoying moments, overall she is a bamf and I like her sense of humour. I think I complained about her being too Katniss in my Angellfall review? Well, I'm happy to take that back. She stands as her own character and I really like her.
I also really like Dee and Dum. And while they're just support characters they're cool kids and I like them.
→ The gore. This is not for the faint of heart. There is some messed up things going on. People becoming scorpion monsters, stitching up kids faces, torturing angels, people getting brutally murdered by aforementioned scorpion people. It's seriously freaky, but also I'm seriously here for it.
→ It's heading in a good direction. It feels like the ending did set up the third and final book, End of Days quite well, and introduced an overarching plot which can carry is through to the end. It's unfortunate those didn't come along earlier. Anyway, it looks to be heading for a massive conclusion, and I'm glad there's "more to this" then originally shown.
→ yeah thats like it lol.
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This book was not BAD by any means, and there were some scenes I genuinely really loved and some plot points that hit that mark a bit better I just thought overall it could have been stronger.
It didn't feel as strong as Angelfall, it just felt a bit directionless. To me, this series isn't shining by any means but it's also not awful. It's just solidly in the middle. I don't see myself picking up the final book with any anticipation, but I also DO see myself finishing this series. It's just a bit hit and miss as a series for me.
“If a wolf attacks his sheep, the shepard kills the wolf, but he eats the sheep when he's hungry.”
The Enemy is one of those books I really, really
“If a wolf attacks his sheep, the shepard kills the wolf, but he eats the sheep when he's hungry.”
The Enemy is one of those books I really, really liked when 14/15. I read all the series that was out at the time, and then I had ..... THE READING SLUMP™. So I lost track of the series and now four or so years on I was like, hmmm, maybe I should check those books out again
Two things strike me about thse books:
1:THEY ARE SCARY AS FUCK !!! JFC !!
2: They're not /as good/ as I remember. But still pretty good.
Basically, it's about a group of kids living in a supermarket at the end of the world. All the adults have become diseased and ... started ... eating the kids !! and it's hectic.
THINGS I LIKE ABOUT THIS: → fucking terrifying. These books are so, so gory and awful. You got kids getting eatin all over the place, you got kids fighting eachother. You got cannibalism, you got psycho monkeys, you got disease and death and blergh just about everything other thing you can think of. I mean these books are brutal, you think your fave is safe because they're a ""main character"" but oooohh no. Charlie Higson definitely understands the concept of "kill your darlings"
&& Aside from the fact it's gory, the actual ""zombies"" themselves are INSANE These are not just lumbering critters who you might run into, ooh no. These bad boys are INTELLIGENT. THEY !! LITERALLY !! MAKE !! PLANS !! AND !! AMBUSH !! KIDS !! AND !! THEY !! ARE !! SO !! SCARY !!. Not to mention some of it is told in the POV of a zombie, shudders They make the Walking Dead zombies look like fluffy little bunnies. Like, these books are scary as all hell I am worried about Past Me
→ Worldbuilding. Because, I know what you're thinking. Another zombie book? Another kids alone without adults book!? yeah, yeah I get you fam but listen these bring something new to the table.
First of all, they're set in London. And along with the setting comes the general annoying propriety that is associated with Brits. You got kids from posh boarding schools, Kings and Queens, and it's full of British slang. It was a new twist to the tired, typical American setting and I liked it. (plus, the "hideouts" of the kids are something else, since this is London, hub of ridiculous and over the top architecture - the hideouts are real neat I mean, they're hiding out in Buckingham Palace its amazing. ( So on a side note, how come Rick & Co from the walking dead haven't tried to shelter from zombies in the white house !?!)
But aside from that, the development of the kids, the different groups and cultures that have sprung up in these groups is good worldbuilding. Each different group of kids has it's own customs, traditions, languages and while they're not /too different/ they all still have their quirks and its just interesting. The expansion of the world just in one book was great.
→ ACTION. So much action, on every page. These are quick books because they're so fast paced and the pace never lets up. Something is going down on every single page and it's great.
THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE AS MUCH:
→ Yeah, the characters. Just a bit of a letdown. They're not awful, not by any means. These characters pass, but they're nothing special. I don't feel any of them are particularly complex or well developed. They exist to propel the story but I just wanted MORE. I wanted more from them, I wanted more about how the apocalypse if effecting them, how they feel, what they stand for. Don't get me wrong because we do get it, I just wanted much MORE to really develop them.
And on another note with characters, I wanted to mention diversity because I felt, for a book written in 2010 when diversity wasn't so much of a big deal it's pretty good. I would have liked to see more anD I COMPLETELY FORGOT FROM THE FIRST TIME I READ IT THAT AKKIE KISSES JOHN AND I THINK IT WAS A /JOKE/ AND HE WAS JUST ESTABLISHING HIMSELF AND I DON'T REMEMBER IT BEING A THING LATER ON BUT I WISH IT WAS BECAUSE WHEN HE DID THAT I WAS LIKE ?!?! #GiveAchilleusABoyfriend
→ Representation of women. I just, eh eh eh. I don't wanna say too much about it but it was a bit disappointing that there are very very female characters in this and the ones that are there are often given the "mothering" role and while Maxie is the leader of the Waitrose kids by the end, no one really respects her and I just eh eh eh. It was okay, but it was kinda off too.
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
Anyway, overrall I'd give this a 3.5 I think these books are genuinely terrifying, and a great addition to a genre thats overcrowded, especially in recent years with the rise in popularity of The Walking Dead. Regardless, I'm glad I reread this and while it wasn't as great as I remembered, it was still pretty good. ...more
Station Eleven is one of those books that has been on my TBR since what seems like forever. I added it back in 2014 whe
“Survival is insufficient.”
Station Eleven is one of those books that has been on my TBR since what seems like forever. I added it back in 2014 when it came out to my shelves because I saw it in the library and loved the cover. It has sat on my Goodreads TBR ever since and got progressively bumped up due to all the good things I heard. Earlier in the year, I added it to my 5 Star TBR Predictions and now finally I’ve got to it. I was so excited to read this book which seemed right up my alley and find out what all the hype is about.
If you’ve ever sat down in a group and talked about how useful you’d be in the zombie apocalypse and had your friends say they’d sacrifice you first because being able to create art isn’t as useful as other skills – then Station Eleven is the book to use as your defence.
Station Eleven is technically a post-apocalyptic book but it has more markers of literary fiction in it’s writing then post-apocalyptic. We follow a range of characters existing on Earth after the majority of the population, easily over 90%, is wiped out within a few weeks from a deadly strain of flu. All the characters are connected in that they shared one connection in their pre-apocalyptic life. They all knew and worked with Arthur Leander, a famous actor who died of a heart attack during a live performance of King Lear the same night the flu that would wipe out the population was detected in America.
Station Eleven isn’t a book about survival in the sense of most apocalyptic books. Instead, it’s a book that asks what the quality of human life is without art, without culture, without friendship and love and without other people. We follow a lot of artists – actors, a travelling Shakespeare and Orchestra company, comic-book writers and museum curators. Station Eleven interrogates the value of art in society, examining how culture, art and creativity is essential to humanity and something people will always crave, even at the end of the world.
"We travelled so far and your friendship meant everything. It was difficult, but there were moments of beauty. Everything ends. I am not afraid."
Station Eleven is filled with beautiful writing, which is something that immediately drew me in. Mandel’s prose is lyrical and often poignant, and I appreciated her ability to communicate a lot of meaning and emotion within short sentences and a few words. To me, being able to say a lot with a few words shows the ability of a writer.
The novel follows a variety of characters who are connected through chance and circumstance, in small ways none of them realises. The intricacies of these relationships and how they reflect the intricate web of relationships people have in the modern world was an ongoing theme in this book I appreciated. Again, it was a fresh theme to tackle in this genre. Mandel was able to create the range of characters and the web of their lives with deftness, and the book forces you to reflect on your own relationships and how even chance encounters with others may have impacted the trajectory of their lives. Above all, Station Eleven poses people are important to people, and that without this web of interactions our lives become hollow and insufficient.
"The beauty of this world where almost everyone was gone. If hell is other people, what is a world with almost no people in it?"
Although I can see why so many people rate this book five stars, it wasn’t so for me. First, I wasn’t wholly satisfied with the way the story wrapped up. I was looking for a bit more in terms of merging all the characters stories and addressing how they are all connected. I was bothered particularly by how the main character never learns the true origins of her Station Eleven comics (without saying too much because spoilers) I was waiting for this revelation the entire time and felt like I missed something when it never came.
I also thought some characters and interactions could have been fleshed out further. The prophet, for instance. I understand this is told with limited perspective, making it hard to detail what happens to the characters of the narrator doesn’t know – but I am notoriously bad with open-ended books and I felt this was too open-ended in wrapping up character stories for me.
"Hell is the absence of people you long for"
Overall, Station Eleven is a beautiful and unique book about people, love, relationships, hope and the power of art and stories. Station Eleven takes a new approach to the post-apocalyptic genre, positing that humans cannot just survive – humans need something else and that something is intrinsic to their survival. Whether it be art, stories, music, poetry, survival in and of itself is, insufficient.
Mandel’s beautiful prose and deftness at embedding themes within her novel make this an extremely strong novel that sat with me long after I finished it. For many readers, especially those of us who are creatives, I think this will be something that really resonates. This is a beautiful and touching novel and I’m happy to add my own recommendation on top of all the praise and love it’s already received from the literary world....more
"the horror, the horror" yes im horrified a book so purely boring and racist managed to become a classic too
as past me once said: "It would be more fu"the horror, the horror" yes im horrified a book so purely boring and racist managed to become a classic too
as past me once said: "It would be more fun to put a rusty screw in my eye then keep reading this. I get it, it's a metaphor."
the only shoutout I can give this book is that I love it for giving me so much to write about and probably getting me through my exams so thanks HOD...more
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