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queen_rune's review
adventurous
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
3.0
wassir13's review
3.0
Started strong, but a third of the way through the book I found myself getting bored—too many characters wandering around without a cohesive plot. Never did figure out the story arc.
emilyf's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
ashcomb's review
4.0
This is the first book by Hugh Howey I have read, meaning I have yet to read the first book in this series: Sand, The Sand Chronicles. And I will after reading this one. The story is about this strange world taken over by sand, told from multiple points of view. The point of the book seems to be to explore the world where people dive into the sand to find artifacts from the old world buried underneath it. The plot is somewhat loose, but nevertheless, it was interesting to witness how it all came together. The book follows siblings Conner, Rob, Palmer, and Violet and their lives on the sandy dunes. They make their living following their father's and oldest sister, Vic's steps by sand diving. Then there is Anya, born in a mining city, thrown into the pursuit of her father in the No Man's Land (dunes) after a bomb destroys her city. She is set for revenge.
I don't know how to review the book. I don't have anything interesting to say about the characters, yet I liked them despite them being cliche. The plot was there, I guess, and it was like any other plot I have read. The prose was simple, well-written, and gripping. The world was strangely familiar. Nothing revolutionary there. Yet despite everything being familiar, nothing new, and somewhat a cliche, I liked the book. It was like that cozy read where you could enjoy the ride. That being said, it touched heavy subjects like alcoholism, loss, and inequality, but they were there like in a normal world where we walk past them as something that exists.
So here I am, again, trying to figure out what to say or how to review the book. Not everything has to be revolutionary to be good. It just needs to have all the right parts to make it a great book to enjoy when everything in the real world seems abysmal. Across the Sand was that, a great book to be enjoyed.
Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day <3
I don't know how to review the book. I don't have anything interesting to say about the characters, yet I liked them despite them being cliche. The plot was there, I guess, and it was like any other plot I have read. The prose was simple, well-written, and gripping. The world was strangely familiar. Nothing revolutionary there. Yet despite everything being familiar, nothing new, and somewhat a cliche, I liked the book. It was like that cozy read where you could enjoy the ride. That being said, it touched heavy subjects like alcoholism, loss, and inequality, but they were there like in a normal world where we walk past them as something that exists.
So here I am, again, trying to figure out what to say or how to review the book. Not everything has to be revolutionary to be good. It just needs to have all the right parts to make it a great book to enjoy when everything in the real world seems abysmal. Across the Sand was that, a great book to be enjoyed.
Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day <3
philibin's review
3.0
(3.0 Stars)
I didn't like this one as much as the first book. It wasn't a bad book, it just didn't draw me into the story as much. For my tastes there were a lot of very similar characters and the action was just a little bit confusing... at least for me.
I think I get what the author was trying to do... despite our differences we are all still very similar, but it just landed a little flat for me and didn't have the suspense the first book had.
I didn't like this one as much as the first book. It wasn't a bad book, it just didn't draw me into the story as much. For my tastes there were a lot of very similar characters and the action was just a little bit confusing... at least for me.
I think I get what the author was trying to do... despite our differences we are all still very similar, but it just landed a little flat for me and didn't have the suspense the first book had.
ewhite666's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
dogmom198611's review
4.0
I’ve read a few of Hugh Howey’s books now and I’ve really liked all of them. Across the Sand is no different. Definitely read “Sand” first though. You’ll be able to read this book without reading Sand and get it okay but it won’t have the same impact as it does when you know the characters and the previous events that are talked about throughout this book. This book never really slows down. It splits into various character POVs and then by the end, all the characters come together. I do feel that the ending was a little rushed and somewhat anticlimactic, but it was still pretty good overall. Hugh Howey is the king of Adult Dystopia. Read all of his books!
jenevans83's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
david44's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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
4.0