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ghostoskar's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
walius's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Self harm
millie_belle's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
rainy_clouds_22's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
5.0
I remember seeing this book in London. It was one of the books I got even though I had never heard of it. The idea spoke to me. And on top of that, Schwab had written more books that I liked and loads of people were always talking about her. And then the one thing that happens to more of my books happened. It ended up on the shelf. Too big. Not in the right mood. Other books needed to be read first. Until I read Addie and remembered how much I love Schwab as an author.
This book once again proves WHY I love Schwab as an author so much. Not all of her books are five star reads, but this one surely was. Her focus on the characters and their emotional rollercoasters is exactly the kind of story I want to read. I want to feel for those characters, I want to cry with them, I want to root for them, I want to care about them, I want to fall in love with them. And because all the emotions feel so raw and painful and real all of that works.
On top of that there's a really cool mythology in this book. Without info dumps or long explanations, Schwab manages to create this entire world of life after death. And I think this option isn't even that bad. It's the living who have to take care of this world I'm more worried about. Because it's far from easy and far from safe. I don't think we've seen the true dangers yet (it's a pity the third book doesn't exist), but you can feel it. Especially when the pressure is on.
And, what makes this YA in my opinion so unique, we actually have two actively involved in their daughter's life parents! It's of course much easier to not have them ask questions and to not have them care, but Schwab proves that parents who do care, who do worry and who do notice that things are off make the story a lot more interesting. Apart from that it's nice to see, although slightly broken and bruised, a healthy and normal parent-teenager relationship on paper.
Although the book doesn't have a cliffhanger, it does scream for a third book. I hope that maybe one day we will get to read it.
This book once again proves WHY I love Schwab as an author so much. Not all of her books are five star reads, but this one surely was. Her focus on the characters and their emotional rollercoasters is exactly the kind of story I want to read. I want to feel for those characters, I want to cry with them, I want to root for them, I want to care about them, I want to fall in love with them. And because all the emotions feel so raw and painful and real all of that works.
On top of that there's a really cool mythology in this book. Without info dumps or long explanations, Schwab manages to create this entire world of life after death. And I think this option isn't even that bad. It's the living who have to take care of this world I'm more worried about. Because it's far from easy and far from safe. I don't think we've seen the true dangers yet (it's a pity the third book doesn't exist), but you can feel it. Especially when the pressure is on.
And, what makes this YA in my opinion so unique, we actually have two actively involved in their daughter's life parents! It's of course much easier to not have them ask questions and to not have them care, but Schwab proves that parents who do care, who do worry and who do notice that things are off make the story a lot more interesting. Apart from that it's nice to see, although slightly broken and bruised, a healthy and normal parent-teenager relationship on paper.
Although the book doesn't have a cliffhanger, it does scream for a third book. I hope that maybe one day we will get to read it.
literkinapapierze's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
hatonkinson_23's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best books I have read in a long time!!! I absolutely love love love it!
es1265's review against another edition
3.5
Took me a while to get into and vibe with the world building but I love Wesley Ayers
bombshell_dc1987's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
amybraunauthor's review against another edition
5.0
I'm always stoked for a V. E. Schwab book, and couldn't resist picking up a re-releasing of two of her earlier books. It was worth the spontaneous purchase, because it's beautiful. It didn't take me long to fall into the mystery and lore of the Archive and the people surrounding it.
I would love to spend more time in this world, because it was truly fascinating. I love creative interpretations for the Underworld, and this is one of the most inventive. The way everything "works" and then doesn't work helps build the book's atmosphere and tension.
The characters are also interesting and "real." Mackenzie is a great lead, even when she drove me crazy a little at times, and Wes completely stole my heart. Thy have fantastic chemistry and I would love to see more of them one day. There were also huge surprises and twists along the way as Mackenzie traversed mysteries and betrayals.
And there certainly were a lot of those, which kept the pace fluid and kept me wanting to read late into the night. The romance and action were also more of the major draws. I honestly became so invested and am sad that the story is at an end. I absolutely recommend this to people who love ghost stories, mysteries, and complicated relationships, or anyone who has (or hasn't) read V. E. Schwab's stellar work.
I would love to spend more time in this world, because it was truly fascinating. I love creative interpretations for the Underworld, and this is one of the most inventive. The way everything "works" and then doesn't work helps build the book's atmosphere and tension.
The characters are also interesting and "real." Mackenzie is a great lead, even when she drove me crazy a little at times, and Wes completely stole my heart. Thy have fantastic chemistry and I would love to see more of them one day. There were also huge surprises and twists along the way as Mackenzie traversed mysteries and betrayals.
And there certainly were a lot of those, which kept the pace fluid and kept me wanting to read late into the night. The romance and action were also more of the major draws. I honestly became so invested and am sad that the story is at an end. I absolutely recommend this to people who love ghost stories, mysteries, and complicated relationships, or anyone who has (or hasn't) read V. E. Schwab's stellar work.