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kayteaface's review against another edition
3.0
Unfortunately, this didn't live up to what I'd hoped it'd be. I thought the synopsis was great but there were numerous things throughout the rest of the book that I had problems with.
To start off, I didn't particularly like the characters. The little kids were bearable to a point but the main "big kids" were .. ugh, so self-involved, extremely stereotypical, and the way they treated and spoke to each other just had me rolling my eyes. To enjoy a book, I don't feel like I need to connect to all of the characters, but when you're reading 250+ pages and can't take to a single character? That was difficult.
Next, the writing style. I know it was supposed to be in a somewhat journal-ish format, but I felt like the writing was really dumbed down and quite amateur. At one point, it made me wonder if I'd actually picked up a book aimed at preteens rather than more mature readers. But then hello boob-groping, sex talk, child molesters, and shootouts. This book is definitely not for the preteens.
I really did like the premise though, and for that alone I've given a 3 star rating. I just would've liked for the writing to be taken up a notch.
To start off, I didn't particularly like the characters. The little kids were bearable to a point but the main "big kids" were .. ugh, so self-involved, extremely stereotypical, and the way they treated and spoke to each other just had me rolling my eyes. To enjoy a book, I don't feel like I need to connect to all of the characters, but when you're reading 250+ pages and can't take to a single character? That was difficult.
Next, the writing style. I know it was supposed to be in a somewhat journal-ish format, but I felt like the writing was really dumbed down and quite amateur. At one point, it made me wonder if I'd actually picked up a book aimed at preteens rather than more mature readers. But then hello boob-groping, sex talk, child molesters, and shootouts. This book is definitely not for the preteens.
I really did like the premise though, and for that alone I've given a 3 star rating. I just would've liked for the writing to be taken up a notch.
emasvingerova's review against another edition
5.0
Skvělý, skvělý, skvělý, naprosto B.O.Ž.Í. Jedna z nejlepších dystopií co jsem kdy četla :) Přišlo mi, že by se to dalo ještě víc rozepsat ale je to dobrý i takhle, fakt. Až na ten konec, to mě neskutečně naštvalo :D
ohclaire's review against another edition
2.0
Books where all the adults were dead/gone were an important part of my childhood. I'm grateful the ones I read were better than this one.
allisonfbone's review against another edition
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
mehsi's review against another edition
4.0
After a stunning first book, we get a second book in the series. This time told from the perspectives of 2 people. Alex and Dean.
Team 1 with Alex is going out to Denver, to try and get help for the ones that stayed behind. They have the school bus and are all packed and wrapped with masks to prevent air coming through.
Then we have team 2 with Dean. He and a few others stayed behind, because it would have been to dangerous. After all 3 bloodtype O is very dangerous and he doesn't want to kill people.
I loved how it switched between the characters, sometimes a bit annoying when we just got to a good part, but luckily the chapters aren't that big.
I didn't like Astrid much throughout the book. I can somehow imagine why she acts the way she does, but still. :\
Josie and what she did was quite a surprise for me, I didn't expect that too happen, though I guess the writer needed material for the next book. :)
I am just sad that I will probably have to wait for 1 or 2 years before the paperback of book 3 is released. Stupid long wait time for paperbacks. (and then they wonder why everyone is going for ebooks)
Anyway, this book was great, and I really would recommend it to everyone looking for a great series, or to those who have read book 1 and aren't sure about book 2. Read it!
Team 1 with Alex is going out to Denver, to try and get help for the ones that stayed behind. They have the school bus and are all packed and wrapped with masks to prevent air coming through.
Then we have team 2 with Dean. He and a few others stayed behind, because it would have been to dangerous. After all 3 bloodtype O is very dangerous and he doesn't want to kill people.
I loved how it switched between the characters, sometimes a bit annoying when we just got to a good part, but luckily the chapters aren't that big.
I didn't like Astrid much throughout the book. I can somehow imagine why she acts the way she does, but still. :\
Josie and what she did was quite a surprise for me, I didn't expect that too happen, though I guess the writer needed material for the next book. :)
I am just sad that I will probably have to wait for 1 or 2 years before the paperback of book 3 is released. Stupid long wait time for paperbacks. (and then they wonder why everyone is going for ebooks)
Anyway, this book was great, and I really would recommend it to everyone looking for a great series, or to those who have read book 1 and aren't sure about book 2. Read it!
mehsi's review against another edition
5.0
First: I magically got this book, eventhough it shouldn't be out yet. 4-4-2013 is the date that is plastered all over the internet, even on the official site. But yesterday, quite unexpected, I got my copy of this book, and am currently reading it. :) Either someone made a mistake, or no one cared to update the release date.
Second: My rants about the books.
Hail, Earthquakes, Tsunami, Chemical disasters.. not going to happen I hear you say? Think again, in this world everything that possibly could have gone wrong, goes wrong.
If the hail didn't kill you, you will be killed by the Chemicals that are now floating in the air. Ok that is also totally depending on your bloodtype, but if you have some O's as your neighbours, I would suggest you hide and hope hard.
I am really happy with this male lead. Not that I knew he was male in the beginning, I thought he was a she. :) How he acted, how he reacted, everything just screamed: GIRL! to me. But a bit further we find out he is really a he. :)
Now that I have finished the book, I can say I really loved it. How it starts all good and fine, ofcourse panic and all. And slowly tips over to despair, death, murder.
Ofcourse it is no perfect book, there were some parts I didn't like. The Robbie/Appleton part. Especially Robbie, really what a sick dude that guy was.
Didn't like Sahalia and how she behaved and dressed. And some other stuff happening.
Something else that I didn't like: Grammar/Spelling and sentence construction. There were some sentences that I kept reading over and over, to find it if was me or the book. Sentences like: "I was sleepy was the thing." or "But now her eyes were lined with black and she had on very red lip gloss."
Can't wait for 2014 to come. Since that is probably when the paperback will be released. :( 1 whole year waiting for a book, waiting for a sequel that I really want to read.
Second: My rants about the books.
Hail, Earthquakes, Tsunami, Chemical disasters.. not going to happen I hear you say? Think again, in this world everything that possibly could have gone wrong, goes wrong.
If the hail didn't kill you, you will be killed by the Chemicals that are now floating in the air. Ok that is also totally depending on your bloodtype, but if you have some O's as your neighbours, I would suggest you hide and hope hard.
I am really happy with this male lead. Not that I knew he was male in the beginning, I thought he was a she. :) How he acted, how he reacted, everything just screamed: GIRL! to me. But a bit further we find out he is really a he. :)
Now that I have finished the book, I can say I really loved it. How it starts all good and fine, ofcourse panic and all. And slowly tips over to despair, death, murder.
Ofcourse it is no perfect book, there were some parts I didn't like. The Robbie/Appleton part. Especially Robbie, really what a sick dude that guy was.
Didn't like Sahalia and how she behaved and dressed. And some other stuff happening.
Something else that I didn't like: Grammar/Spelling and sentence construction. There were some sentences that I kept reading over and over, to find it if was me or the book. Sentences like: "I was sleepy was the thing." or "But now her eyes were lined with black and she had on very red lip gloss."
Can't wait for 2014 to come. Since that is probably when the paperback will be released. :( 1 whole year waiting for a book, waiting for a sequel that I really want to read.
shawniebooks's review against another edition
4.0
The power went out so I grabbed something that's been sitting in my home library for 5+ years. Good choice! This book really got me thinking about things, like how it would be possible to survive catastrophic world events while sealed in a fully stocked big box superstore.
This ends in a bit of a cliffhanger with the kids splitting up, so I'm on to book 2 right now.
This ends in a bit of a cliffhanger with the kids splitting up, so I'm on to book 2 right now.
thebrainlair's review against another edition
4.0
3.5. I'm on a roll with ok books that I think students will like.The writing wasn't so great in this one but the story is compelling, though there were a couple of incidents that seemed implausible. Also, for the longest time I thought it was a girl until they mentioned the name. The author also spelled things out and used italics as if people wouldn't understand her "jokes".
There was a clear set up for a book 2 but I don't think I'll go looking for it.
There was a clear set up for a book 2 but I don't think I'll go looking for it.
sunsoar25's review
3.0
Monument 14 (Monument 14 #1) by Emmy Laybourne was on my tbr for ages and I'm glad I finally got to it. I can definitely say that it doesn't waste any time at all - it gets right to it. I can also say that I wish I read it back when it was new or if I was younger. While it's a solid read, I couldn't get into any of the characters and I could have done without the romance element and the drama. I would have preferred to stick with the survivalist stuff. I don't think I'll be back for the rest of the series.