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batkat31's review against another edition
Bored now...
I loved the first book. It was exciting, the main character was awesome and the plot was fast paced but solid. This book seems like it was written by someone else entirely. The world is over-explained (like all the fucking time) and the explanations seem to be there not to actually help the reader understand but to show how smart and knowledgeable Cia is.
In the first book Cia was introspective and smart but this book abuses that introspection. She used to think about who she was and how she could grow as a person and learn from her mistakes and now she just uses introspection to realize that she had the answers all along. TO EVERYTHING. If there is a problem, then Cia just thinks internally about herself and what she knows and if she thinks long enough the answer will magically appear every fucking time.
I got half way through when I realized I do not care and slogging through this is not worth it. This book tries to keep up the same levels of excitement as the first and fails miserably.
I loved the first book. It was exciting, the main character was awesome and the plot was fast paced but solid. This book seems like it was written by someone else entirely. The world is over-explained (like all the fucking time) and the explanations seem to be there not to actually help the reader understand but to show how smart and knowledgeable Cia is.
In the first book Cia was introspective and smart but this book abuses that introspection. She used to think about who she was and how she could grow as a person and learn from her mistakes and now she just uses introspection to realize that she had the answers all along. TO EVERYTHING. If there is a problem, then Cia just thinks internally about herself and what she knows and if she thinks long enough the answer will magically appear every fucking time.
I got half way through when I realized I do not care and slogging through this is not worth it. This book tries to keep up the same levels of excitement as the first and fails miserably.
obrimmer's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
sav97's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This series just keeps getting better! I was not expecting the twist at the end but it adds a new dimension to where this story will go.
julzcash's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
tbeaumont223's review against another edition
3.0
While my first impression of The Testing Series was a dim impression of The Hunger Games (read my review of The Testing for me details), my second impression solidified by Independent study is a dim impression of Divergent. Here is why:
~Visible fears. Cia has a dream where her fear becomes visible and tangible in the form of a box she is trapped in. While this only happened once in the book, it was a strong enough resemblance to scenes in The Divergent Series that I was immediately disoriented.
~Just like in Divergent where the factionless gathered and grew strong unbeknownst to those in control and the general population, so, too, do those who live in the unreplenished areas in Charbonneau's story.
~Tris in the Divergent Series willingly goes into enemy territory, risking her life, in order to save those she loves and for the betterment of her society. So, too, does Cia. While this could easily be overlooked, especially since Cia was already in enemy territory when she discovers they are the enemy, coupled with all the other similarities, it stands out.
~From the first book, The Testing: Truth serum. This isn't a theme throughout the book, but again, it seems blatantly borrowed from the Divergent Series.
~Also from the first book: Both Divergent and The Testing start out with the lead female character in front of a mirror with her mother doing her hair before they walk as a family to a colony-wide gathering where teenagers' futures are determined.
This book, like the first, had great potential. However, I didn't feel like there was enough character development. We don't learn anything new about any of the main players and the new characters that are added are shallowly developed due to Cia's distrust of them. While the story does develop regularly and you never feel as if it stagnates, the developments seem forced at times and not fully believable. I never found myself dragged into the story, unable to put the book down. I did want to see in which direction the story went so I kept reading, but not out of any deep love for the book or its characters. On top of that, the story's similarities to other authors' work was a pretty big downer for me.
If you like The Testing, I suggest you keep with the series, if for no other reason than to not give up. But don't expect to be wowed.
~Visible fears. Cia has a dream where her fear becomes visible and tangible in the form of a box she is trapped in. While this only happened once in the book, it was a strong enough resemblance to scenes in The Divergent Series that I was immediately disoriented.
~Just like in Divergent where the factionless gathered and grew strong unbeknownst to those in control and the general population, so, too, do those who live in the unreplenished areas in Charbonneau's story.
~Tris in the Divergent Series willingly goes into enemy territory, risking her life, in order to save those she loves and for the betterment of her society. So, too, does Cia. While this could easily be overlooked, especially since Cia was already in enemy territory when she discovers they are the enemy, coupled with all the other similarities, it stands out.
~From the first book, The Testing: Truth serum. This isn't a theme throughout the book, but again, it seems blatantly borrowed from the Divergent Series.
~Also from the first book: Both Divergent and The Testing start out with the lead female character in front of a mirror with her mother doing her hair before they walk as a family to a colony-wide gathering where teenagers' futures are determined.
This book, like the first, had great potential. However, I didn't feel like there was enough character development. We don't learn anything new about any of the main players and the new characters that are added are shallowly developed due to Cia's distrust of them. While the story does develop regularly and you never feel as if it stagnates, the developments seem forced at times and not fully believable. I never found myself dragged into the story, unable to put the book down. I did want to see in which direction the story went so I kept reading, but not out of any deep love for the book or its characters. On top of that, the story's similarities to other authors' work was a pretty big downer for me.
If you like The Testing, I suggest you keep with the series, if for no other reason than to not give up. But don't expect to be wowed.
jen_jacob's review against another edition
5.0
While reviews on this sequel to The Testing were mixed, I loved it just as much as the first if not more. The twist at the end left me wanting more and now I must await the release of the last book.....
smallbluemars's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
yara_adorablebooks's review against another edition
5.0
IJzersterk verhaal! Spannend vervolg op deel één. Ben ontzettend benieuwd naar het laatste deel van deze trilogie. Recensie: http://adorablebooks.nl/young-adult-de-studie-de-test-2-joelle-charbonneau/