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A review by clairebau
The Oracle Year by Charles Soule
adventurous
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
I don't finish about 60% of the books I start reading; this is to say that I enjoyed this book enough to finish it, which I consider a triumph. I had fun reading this book. I looked forward to time I'd be able to spend reading it. Does that mean it was a particularly good book? Eh.
A lot worked. Soule's style is really interesting. His background as a comic book writer shone through in his simple, quick prose. It did feel over-the-top at times, some of which came through as fun and campy but just as often evoked an eye-roll and a "really?" from me. I kind of wish I'd kept a deus ex machina count (Notably, some were used in a subversive way to the plot's advantage! Others, not so much).
I wish we'd gotten more characterization of Leigh, who plays a very minor role before suddenly being thrust into the climax of the story as if she's been a member of the team all along. I would've appreciated more interaction between her and Will to flesh out their dynamic. Now that I'm thinking about it, most of the characters felt one-dimensional. This was definitely a plot-centric book, which is fine. I just love a good characterization.
Most of the critiques of this book mention a feeling like it's building to a big Something that the reader never gets. I agree with that, too. Everything in this story was wrapped up nicely except, ya know, the big Something. I found the ending unsatisfying for that reason.
But it was fine! I like Soule's descriptions, and his plot was well-rounded and interesting enough to keep me reading. Really cool concept, too. Also, as a technologically-inept person, I was surprised by how much I liked all the techy jargon about the Site's security and what it'd take to hack it. Proved the author knew what he was talking about, or did his research, or at least described it in a way so that I wouldn't think otherwise.
A lot worked. Soule's style is really interesting. His background as a comic book writer shone through in his simple, quick prose. It did feel over-the-top at times, some of which came through as fun and campy but just as often evoked an eye-roll and a "really?" from me. I kind of wish I'd kept a deus ex machina count (Notably, some were used in a subversive way to the plot's advantage! Others, not so much).
I wish we'd gotten more characterization of Leigh, who plays a very minor role before suddenly being thrust into the climax of the story as if she's been a member of the team all along. I would've appreciated more interaction between her and Will to flesh out their dynamic. Now that I'm thinking about it, most of the characters felt one-dimensional. This was definitely a plot-centric book, which is fine. I just love a good characterization.
Most of the critiques of this book mention a feeling like it's building to a big Something that the reader never gets. I agree with that, too. Everything in this story was wrapped up nicely except, ya know, the big Something. I found the ending unsatisfying for that reason.
But it was fine! I like Soule's descriptions, and his plot was well-rounded and interesting enough to keep me reading. Really cool concept, too. Also, as a technologically-inept person, I was surprised by how much I liked all the techy jargon about the Site's security and what it'd take to hack it. Proved the author knew what he was talking about, or did his research, or at least described it in a way so that I wouldn't think otherwise.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War