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n3ron3ro's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
ebrae04's review against another edition
4.0
Although the world concept wasn't that arresting (teens gain special abilities after an apocalyptic event...sound familiar?) it was the depth and complexities of these characters that kept me reading. Liam and Ruby and Chubs and Suzume and Clancy and even that freaking weirdo Martin twisted my heart in so many big and little ways. Good or bad, each character makes you FEEL something, which I cannot say for some other YA dystopias. So even though the concept isn't interesting at face value, the characters make it interesting. The world feels real even if it includes magic kids separated by primary and secondary colors. The plot was a bit dragging in some parts and I did not like the love triangle subplot at ALL not even a little Liam will always be BAE. Definitely good for anyone looking for references to Watership Down they will have to unpack later, and a book dripping with feels.
kaitiecakes's review against another edition
1.0
It’s been a really long time since I have a book 1 star. This book dragged on so much and really didn’t have a plot to keep it going. It’s like the author stuck with the story line and that’s it put in little bits of problems and that’s it. Nothing kept me interested in this book. I can usually start a book and finish it in a day or two around working. This one took me 3 and I had to force myself to read it because there was just nothing.
I thought the writing in fifty shades of grey ash twilight were bad, this one takes the cake for horrible writing..
I’m interested to know what happens to Ruby with the league but not enough to read the remaining books in the series. Tomorrow I am going to the book story to try and trade in my series for something else.
I thought the writing in fifty shades of grey ash twilight were bad, this one takes the cake for horrible writing..
I’m interested to know what happens to Ruby with the league but not enough to read the remaining books in the series. Tomorrow I am going to the book story to try and trade in my series for something else.
sophieshelves's review against another edition
4.0
Okay so I was slow to read this (dumb dumb dumb) even though everyone expressed their love for it. I wish I'd read it sooner because I more than loved this book and it really is a must read!
I don't really want to include any spoilers if you haven't read it, go now.
When people said to me, "You need to read this book, it's about kids with powers." I was reluctant, but wow what a bad mistake because this is so much more than a book with kids that have powers. I can't express enough how amazing this book was and now I know why this is my best friends fave trilogy.
We have our main girl, Ruby, the protagonist, and usually when the PoV is from the girl she annoys me at least once, but no. Everything about Ruby is amazing! Then we have Liam, wow, just wow. I think I love him just a little bit. That brings me onto another thing all the characters were executed perfectly and the minor or small characters still had a great deal of depth.
READ THIS OKAY?
(The ending broke my heart just a little, and now I have to wait for never fade to arrive in the post.)
I don't really want to include any spoilers if you haven't read it, go now.
When people said to me, "You need to read this book, it's about kids with powers." I was reluctant, but wow what a bad mistake because this is so much more than a book with kids that have powers. I can't express enough how amazing this book was and now I know why this is my best friends fave trilogy.
We have our main girl, Ruby, the protagonist, and usually when the PoV is from the girl she annoys me at least once, but no. Everything about Ruby is amazing! Then we have Liam, wow, just wow. I think I love him just a little bit. That brings me onto another thing all the characters were executed perfectly and the minor or small characters still had a great deal of depth.
READ THIS OKAY?
(The ending broke my heart just a little, and now I have to wait for never fade to arrive in the post.)
smateer73's review against another edition
4.0
This was pretty good, it has an interesting plot and i liked all the characters. The interactions are actually realistic, and there’s actual male-female friendships not based in only romance!! All of it is really good, and I liked learning about their powers,
swaye's review against another edition
4.0
This was surprisingly good. I'm so glad I decided to read it with my bestie.
The Darkest Minds is gripping from the word go. I was completely gobsmacked at the dark, violent themes of a book that Disney gave the thumbs up to. It reads so fluidly that you can easily see everything play out in your mind. This book was just begging to be made into a film. That being said, I don't think I'll be watching it any time soon, if at all. I wouldn't want to ruin the images of the characters or any part of the plot that I've come to love.
The Darkest Minds is a pretty perfect addition to the YA dystopian genre. It's not completely flawless, for one it was way too dragged out, but phew, Alexandra Bracken can write! She has a way of making your thoughts feel just as jumbled and your anxiety levels just as on edge as the characters' whenever there's a really tense scene.
And the characters are really fleshed out. They're so real and complex. Zu will always be my fave. And even though I should know better, I have a HUGE crush on Cate. I'd do anything for that woman. Beautiful? Check. Mother-figure? Check. Nurturing? Check. Streak of beetchiness? Check. Hellbent on taking down the establishment regardless of the consequences? Ah fuck. I'm setting myself up for some serious hurt! Why do I do this to myself! 😍😊🤦♀️
The Darkest Minds is gripping from the word go. I was completely gobsmacked at the dark, violent themes of a book that Disney gave the thumbs up to. It reads so fluidly that you can easily see everything play out in your mind. This book was just begging to be made into a film. That being said, I don't think I'll be watching it any time soon, if at all. I wouldn't want to ruin the images of the characters or any part of the plot that I've come to love.
The Darkest Minds is a pretty perfect addition to the YA dystopian genre. It's not completely flawless, for one it was way too dragged out, but phew, Alexandra Bracken can write! She has a way of making your thoughts feel just as jumbled and your anxiety levels just as on edge as the characters' whenever there's a really tense scene.
And the characters are really fleshed out. They're so real and complex. Zu will always be my fave. And even though I should know better, I have a HUGE crush on Cate. I'd do anything for that woman. Beautiful? Check. Mother-figure? Check. Nurturing? Check. Streak of beetchiness? Check. Hellbent on taking down the establishment regardless of the consequences? Ah fuck. I'm setting myself up for some serious hurt! Why do I do this to myself! 😍😊🤦♀️
listenbeforeigo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
clancy is my thirteenth reason
sklus's review against another edition
5.0
I mean, I don't really know what I can add beyond what other reviewers have said. This book is super good. The world is so well written and well thought out. The characters are realistic. The good guys are good, the bad guys are so bad they're good, and the ending is throw-your-book-across-the-room perfect. It's not my favorite book of all time, but I look forward to the sequel (and maybe the movie?).
denali_epub's review against another edition
5.0
Quite frankly, I'm not entirely sure where to start raving about this book. Coming out of a two month slump where I couldn't find anything to grip my attention for more than a few chapters, The Darkest Minds enclosed my hands in a death grip so tight, I couldn't put the book down.
Even from the prologue, I was pulled in with a startling intensity. Bracken's prose is simple and understated, yet packs a compelling punch that had me eagerly writing down quote after quote and hungering for the next page. Though I had a small bone to pick with grammatical errors, the overall complexity of the world-building and the flow of her words were enough for me to still rate this book five stars.
And not only was the writing spectacular, but the characters were alive. With Ruby's narration, you have the perfect viewpoint for understanding the intricacies of not only her inner dialogue and dynamic nature as the book progresses, but also that of Liam, Chubs, and Zu as their relationship grows and they form a tight-nit bond throughout the length of the storyline. Ruby's personality does a 180 in the best way, and watching her transform from a silent, terrified girl in over her head to a true heroine was an experience I relish. Her portrayal of Liam, Chubs, and Zu was invigorating, and I loved the small details she began to pick up for each of her companions, the focus Bracken writes with which Ruby begins to unravel the mysteries of her friends and find herself a home in a dystopian society where no place is safe for long when you're a Psi.
The ending was heart-wrenching and honest, and I can't wait to pick up the next book in the series and see how we're going to come back from the cliffhanger Bracken left us on.
Even from the prologue, I was pulled in with a startling intensity. Bracken's prose is simple and understated, yet packs a compelling punch that had me eagerly writing down quote after quote and hungering for the next page. Though I had a small bone to pick with grammatical errors, the overall complexity of the world-building and the flow of her words were enough for me to still rate this book five stars.
And not only was the writing spectacular, but the characters were alive. With Ruby's narration, you have the perfect viewpoint for understanding the intricacies of not only her inner dialogue and dynamic nature as the book progresses, but also that of Liam, Chubs, and Zu as their relationship grows and they form a tight-nit bond throughout the length of the storyline. Ruby's personality does a 180 in the best way, and watching her transform from a silent, terrified girl in over her head to a true heroine was an experience I relish. Her portrayal of Liam, Chubs, and Zu was invigorating, and I loved the small details she began to pick up for each of her companions, the focus Bracken writes with which Ruby begins to unravel the mysteries of her friends and find herself a home in a dystopian society where no place is safe for long when you're a Psi.
The ending was heart-wrenching and honest, and I can't wait to pick up the next book in the series and see how we're going to come back from the cliffhanger Bracken left us on.