Reviews

Me: Okay, so how do we rate this one?

13y/o: 4?

Me: But you said the last one was 4¼, and I thought you liked this one more?

13y/o: I do. But I'm a little mad there's not more Alexis, so it gets a 4 because of that.

Me: [sigh] fine.

As you can see, I've actually given this one 4¼, bc I disagree that Every Heart a Doorway was better than this one. 13y/o can deal. On to reading Beneath the Sugar Sky aloud!

megrasmussen's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

djali84's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

smileyghost's review against another edition

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adventurous dark fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I don't know y'all. it was... fine. it felt a lot younger than the first book, and I felt that Jack and Jill's characterization was way off. didn't Jack say they had been treated as the "pretty one" and the "smart one"? so why was Jill characterized as the sporty one? why did Jack seem afraid of Jill, compared to her protective nature and leadership in book 1? why did the girls seem so close in book 1 if they apparently never bonded through childhood?

yes, we got the written story of what happened to the twins, but we didn't get much more than what Jack alluded to in the first book. I guess I got a glimpse into why the girls felt that the Moors were their home, but like... it really felt like we were missing a lot of the creepiness that was described in book 1. not to mention, I really hate the fact that Jill's "home" was under the protection/manipulation of a predator. Jack's home with Dr. Bleak makes sense. but Jill was clearly brainwashed and unhappy. it seems counter to the logic of other worlds being "fits" for children that we hear described in book 1.

I loved the queer rep with Alexis, but she kinda came out of nowhere. Jack never alluded to her or

to losing someone important to her

in book 1.

overall this felt like the author trying desperately to milk a backstory from the hints we got in book 1 and ultimately struggling to get a story that makes sense and fits the framework we were given in book 1. I don't think I'll be reading the other books in the series after this one.

ellen1's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

eesh25's review against another edition

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4.0

I wasn't sure if I'd like this one despite really liking Jack in the first book. I knew this was Jack and Jill's backstory, and we knew so much of it already that I feared I'd be less interested. But I actually ended up liking this one more that the first. The world was more fleshed out, I liked the plot a lot more, the setting was creepier and more fun, and I loved Jack as a protagonist. Jill was less of a focus of the story, which I didn't mind since I wasn't a huge fan of hers. Though you're not really supposed to be.

I honestly wish this had been longer. I wanted to know more, especially after the events of the first book. Alas, it ended too fast. Still, this was a great read and I highly recommend it. It should work as a standalone too so there's really nothing stopping you from picking it up.

ceryni's review against another edition

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adventurous dark fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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