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kat_called's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
5.0
matthewham87's review
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
thunderhead's review
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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
4.0
dani2906's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jared_reads's review
2.0
The lion extended metaphor for satisfying gay sex made me roll my eyes and all these teenagers are vile. There is a decent twist and the story is structured well. Maybe I’m out of touch but I’m unsure if the author captured teenage personalities accurately and instead they felt very exaggerated. It’s an easy read.
thegingerpageturner's review
5.0
Thank you @text_publishing for sending my a copy of @holdensheppard 's next book, it is out in August this year
lunaseassecondaccount's review
4.0
There is something so amusing about reading a book set in my city. It throws me every time I see a reference to a particular road, highway, shopping centre or school.
Much like [b:Invisible Boys|43197935|Invisible Boys|Holden Sheppard|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1558613696l/43197935._SY75_.jpg|67029470], this book follows some late teens in a messy twist of high school politics, queer discoveries and far too much booze. But, unlike Invisible Boys, this one has a slightly happier ending.
I genuinely enjoyed this book. I'm not excessively fond of different narrators, but it worked here. Each voice was different and provided a unique take on the events. I also wasn't sure how each character would end up (though Mason did feel like he belonged in Invisible Boys).
Leonardo's childhood resonated the most with me, though Kaiya felt the less extreme of the three main characters. I think she was meant to be the neutral one for the reader, with her being the most sensible and level-headed.
If I'd spent more time trying to unravel the mystery, I likely would have solved it. But I enjoyed the characters stories and how they were going to get themselves out of the mess.
But damn. Two deaths, one island. What a Leavers.
Much like [b:Invisible Boys|43197935|Invisible Boys|Holden Sheppard|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1558613696l/43197935._SY75_.jpg|67029470], this book follows some late teens in a messy twist of high school politics, queer discoveries and far too much booze. But, unlike Invisible Boys, this one has a slightly happier ending.
I genuinely enjoyed this book. I'm not excessively fond of different narrators, but it worked here. Each voice was different and provided a unique take on the events. I also wasn't sure how each character would end up (though Mason did feel like he belonged in Invisible Boys).
Leonardo's childhood resonated the most with me, though Kaiya felt the less extreme of the three main characters. I think she was meant to be the neutral one for the reader, with her being the most sensible and level-headed.
If I'd spent more time trying to unravel the mystery, I likely would have solved it. But I enjoyed the characters stories and how they were going to get themselves out of the mess.
But damn. Two deaths, one island. What a Leavers.
haisaikaren's review
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
cec_loves_to_read_books's review
4.0
It’s rare these days to read about masculinity without the other term that always seems to be just near by…toxic. When I started reading The Brink by Holden Sheppard I thought, ok, I see where this is headed; this is going to shine a light on toxic masculinity for sure BUT I was wrong.
It’s not at all about the toxicity of some masculine behaviours it’s about the violence and hurt young people inflict on themselves and sometimes others because of the constraints placed on young boys from the moment they can walk, speak and think. It’s about how being told to ‘more or less of a man’ can have long lasting and deep effects on a young man’s self-identity and feelings of worth and importance. It’s about how parents can do damage and disguise it as love or care and how the friendships of high school can make or break a person’s trajectory into adulthood.
As a mother of two sons and someone who taught teens for almost 20 years I think stories like this one are absolutely crucial to get into the hands of young people…kids need to see themselves and their worlds reflected in what they read (and watch). Lots of teen reads focus on fantasy worlds where the boys/men are other worldly or magical but I love Australian stories that show Aussie young people as they actually are in situations that are relatable and authentic.
The Brink is not for the faint-hearted; it’s gritty, raw and honest and will give your blood pressure a real roller coaster ride but it’s a ride definitely worth taking.
It’s not at all about the toxicity of some masculine behaviours it’s about the violence and hurt young people inflict on themselves and sometimes others because of the constraints placed on young boys from the moment they can walk, speak and think. It’s about how being told to ‘more or less of a man’ can have long lasting and deep effects on a young man’s self-identity and feelings of worth and importance. It’s about how parents can do damage and disguise it as love or care and how the friendships of high school can make or break a person’s trajectory into adulthood.
As a mother of two sons and someone who taught teens for almost 20 years I think stories like this one are absolutely crucial to get into the hands of young people…kids need to see themselves and their worlds reflected in what they read (and watch). Lots of teen reads focus on fantasy worlds where the boys/men are other worldly or magical but I love Australian stories that show Aussie young people as they actually are in situations that are relatable and authentic.
The Brink is not for the faint-hearted; it’s gritty, raw and honest and will give your blood pressure a real roller coaster ride but it’s a ride definitely worth taking.