Scan barcode
kateycakee's review against another edition
dark
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
causticcovercritic's review against another edition
1.0
Awful. Potentially interesting premise: all the world's plastics start to melt back into a crude oily scunge. But the book itself is the same old end-of-the-world cliche fest, whereby a bunch of thinly drawn cardboard characters you don't give a damn about plague you with their tedious backstories and bickering, as well as their plot-convenient obliviousness to the obvious, in a small town as everything falls apart. Plus it has clunky neologisms galore, like AllComs which everyone in the real world would just call phones. But they let you control your home's security system from miles away! Oh, you mean like a phone? Boring, badly written, and only the first in a trilogy.
dylanjk's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
the_pooh's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
good premise but that's where the fun ends; no character depth, no clear sense of direction, and an incredibly stupid ending probably because the author couldn't figure out a better way to end it.
cdeane61's review against another edition
2.0
Just something about it that doesn't sit right with me.....
I am a big fan of the author's historical fiction, so I don't think it is the style. The story moves forward quickly enough, doesn't get bogged down in details, lots going on, not boring, just something.
I can't pinpoint what it is that I don't like about this book, but will probably not pursue the rest of the series.
I am a big fan of the author's historical fiction, so I don't think it is the style. The story moves forward quickly enough, doesn't get bogged down in details, lots going on, not boring, just something.
I can't pinpoint what it is that I don't like about this book, but will probably not pursue the rest of the series.
thegeekybibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
In the small town of Sycamore Falls, strange things are happening. ATM cards, pens, and various other plastic items have begun to dissolve. Before long, the word is out that "the Change" is affecting plastics worldwide. Initially regarded as a curiosity that would sort itself out, alarm spreads as vital items—phones, computers, tires, engine parts, and even asphalt roads—becomes puddles of ooze. Technology has become useless, and crime is on the rise as unemployment soars. As people speculate on the cause of the Change and governments scramble to find ways to fix the problem, the threat of war is on the horizon.
What I Liked
I loved the concept of this story! Think about it for a moment: how many things do you depend on for normal, everyday life? Did you know plastics are petroleum products? It's a little shocking, how many things are made from petroleum that you may not know about. That's what makes the premise of this book so intriguing—it would have a major impact on everything you can think of, and a whole lot more.
I liked seeing how different characters responded to the catastrophe. Some people responded well, looking to the past for ideas on how to survive this new normal—for example, horse-drawn carts and carriages. Others didn't adjust very well to the Change, and it brought out the worst in them. A group of friends gathered regularly to consider things that might have caused it, as well as ways they could adjust now-obsolete technologies with new, non-plastic materials.
The story ended on one heck of a cliffhanger, and the cause of the Change was never disclosed, but I was fine with that. This is the first book of the series, after all, so I knew better than to expect the mystery of the dissolving plastics to be wrapped up in a neat, little bow, with all questions answered.
About that cliffhanger: I already knew I wanted to read book two in this series whenever it comes out. But with such a fantastic cliffhanger, it's going to feel like an eternal wait for the next book!
What I (Sort of) Didn't Like
I don't have any strong dislikes, but there is one thing I wished for, that I'll share in this space.
There were times I wished there were fewer characters involved, so that I could see more from the perspectives of the select few I was most interested in. This story is loaded with characters who each have alternating chapters dedicated to their perceptions. While I liked each character and was interested in their point-of-view, the down side is that there was far less time, overall, to be spent in each of their heads.
Final Thoughts
I found Drop by Drop to be a fascinating story, with a unique concept that was very enjoyable to read. It perfectly illustrates how heavily dependent we are on plastics and technologies in every area of our lives, and how lost society would be without all those creature comforts we're so accustomed to having. Llywelyn has created a cast of character that are easy to relate and believable in their reactions to the world being turned upside down—or melting away, as it were.
Fans of speculative fiction will not only be intrigued by the premise of this novel, but will likely find it hard to stop reading once they start.
As for me, I can't wait to read the next book in this series... may it be released soon!
I received an advance reading copy of this book courtesy of Tor Books via Netgalley.
What I Liked
I loved the concept of this story! Think about it for a moment: how many things do you depend on for normal, everyday life? Did you know plastics are petroleum products? It's a little shocking, how many things are made from petroleum that you may not know about. That's what makes the premise of this book so intriguing—it would have a major impact on everything you can think of, and a whole lot more.
I liked seeing how different characters responded to the catastrophe. Some people responded well, looking to the past for ideas on how to survive this new normal—for example, horse-drawn carts and carriages. Others didn't adjust very well to the Change, and it brought out the worst in them. A group of friends gathered regularly to consider things that might have caused it, as well as ways they could adjust now-obsolete technologies with new, non-plastic materials.
The story ended on one heck of a cliffhanger, and the cause of the Change was never disclosed, but I was fine with that. This is the first book of the series, after all, so I knew better than to expect the mystery of the dissolving plastics to be wrapped up in a neat, little bow, with all questions answered.
About that cliffhanger: I already knew I wanted to read book two in this series whenever it comes out. But with such a fantastic cliffhanger, it's going to feel like an eternal wait for the next book!
What I (Sort of) Didn't Like
I don't have any strong dislikes, but there is one thing I wished for, that I'll share in this space.
There were times I wished there were fewer characters involved, so that I could see more from the perspectives of the select few I was most interested in. This story is loaded with characters who each have alternating chapters dedicated to their perceptions. While I liked each character and was interested in their point-of-view, the down side is that there was far less time, overall, to be spent in each of their heads.
Final Thoughts
I found Drop by Drop to be a fascinating story, with a unique concept that was very enjoyable to read. It perfectly illustrates how heavily dependent we are on plastics and technologies in every area of our lives, and how lost society would be without all those creature comforts we're so accustomed to having. Llywelyn has created a cast of character that are easy to relate and believable in their reactions to the world being turned upside down—or melting away, as it were.
Fans of speculative fiction will not only be intrigued by the premise of this novel, but will likely find it hard to stop reading once they start.
As for me, I can't wait to read the next book in this series... may it be released soon!
I received an advance reading copy of this book courtesy of Tor Books via Netgalley.
learningwithlitetature's review against another edition
1.0
I wasted enough time reading this, I’m not wasting more time reviewing it. Intriguing concept. That’s all
daniellesalwaysreading's review against another edition
1.0
I loved the premise of this story. There seemed to be so many ways it could turn out. I wanted to hear about the science, about the chaos it would cause, about how life would change and how people would adapt. What I didn't want was a story about the drama of middle class white people in a small town who barely suffered or changed or adapted. The major changes seemed to be about car tires and bank loans. No war, no famine, no struggle. Mostly just people being mad at women for no reason. The story did keep me interested because I kept waiting for something to happen, but it never did. Then the author had the gall to have it be a series.
ktindol's review against another edition
Quit at page 62. This did not grab me. The premise is really interesting, but the writing was not doing anything for me.
thedizzyreader's review against another edition
2.0
Well that was... forgettable. Who knew the end of civilization as we know it could be so underwhelming?