This book is all about the environment - it creates an atmosphere and urgency around the rest of the story that really breathes life into it. A 6 day timeline that comes only once every 100 years - and our characters have only this one chance to fulfill their goals, their dreams. And at the same time, they must learn to come to terms with their individual pasts and pains. This novel got rave reviews from Gillian Flynn, famous now for Gone Girl, and I can see why. The mysterious air of the story, each character's need to take what they can from this short lived miracle at the expense of all the others, it definitely fits in that genre. But at the same time, it just wasn't as compelling for me. I enjoyed the story, and I think the struggles each character was facing (and the way they dealt with them) were interesting portrayals. And I really loved the beginning/ending - the end of Rachel's voice in the story. We are left wondering who to point our finger at: Dr. Hooper (possible - we saw fear in his face at the end because maybe he was afraid of what John knew), John (possible - but his goals seemed to be achieved when he dumped her experiments), Harry (possible - his shoes were all sandy and he was out of his mind and thought "Becca" was harming people/we know he thought Rachel looked like Becca; but was he physically capable?)... And that really wrapped up the story with a perfectly frustrating and mysterious tone. I don't always think open-ended endings work, but I applaud this one. However, I was frustrated about some things. I think certain plot points came up too suddenly at the end (all of a sudden we learn that Rachel upped/increased dosage and concentration of meds, that her symptoms have progressed to things like hair falling out, etc.) and John's motives are clear but too easy (he wants to protect his culture, etc. but we get almost no information from him about WHAT that means - it's relying too much on a "native" trope and I thought that left a hole in the plot), while Hooper's role and thoughts and motives are all over the place (what exactly was his game, was he sold out from the beginning or only after John told him Rachel was up to, what precisely was he afraid of in the end, what was John referring to when he said Hopper lied to Rachel/to them ALL), and how likely, actually, is Tilda's survival of the storm at sea? Plus, I mostly thought Tip and his entire role/storyline was unnecessary. I think there is a line between the mystery of open-ended-ness/confusion and too much of a good thing...my opinion is that this novel flirted back and forth across that line a bit too much. But all in all, a compelling and atmospheric read that kept me on my toes as it followed it's well-paced rush to a satisfying conclusion.

This was a really nicely paced telling of parallel stories. Although this style of novel - side by side stories of the past and the secrets of those stories unraveling in the "present" - is quite popular currently and potentially approaching being overdone, it was still a well researched thorough story with successful mirrored character development. It was also interesting that, since the time periods were so close together, that one of the characters was able to be present in both story developments - this was a touch of something different. I also enjoyed the adoptive guardian role that Quick played for Odelle, seeing in Odelle (I think) both a combination of her own lost self and a chance to redeem and redo herself from her past failed artistic exposure (or credit, depending on the POV) of Olive. Olive's character type, her mix of hope, naivete and old soul, always makes for a compelling person and story to follow. The role Isaac plays...it's the role that must be played to make the story move forward, but (for all that he has full reasons for his political beliefs and personal actions) he is just a weak person and so hard to like. I also think that, potentially, the dual affair story was too much, too easy, and although Olive could easily ignore the signs due to her youth and trust (and truthfully, her need to continue using Isaac for her own ends), the end of their relationship, and really their lives, seemed just a little too...perfect. And in following, the end of Sarah and Harold's relationship and Teresa's "use" of them and their secrets to help her escape, is similarly too perfect. Though I do like Teresa's character and her ability to both use and discard people, and then it's return to haunt her in her own end - a sign that she really had carried the Schloss's with her all that time (and especially Olive - a nice touch that they both died bald...). A final touch that I enjoyed was the fact that Odelle struggled with whether to tell or keep Olive's secrets the same way Quick had and that it was perhaps part of the reason she drifted apart from Lawrie. Again, the combination of Olive and Quick that we find in Odelle's character is probably my favorite piece. The overall struggle with artistic identity, inspiration, and the point of recognition for one's works are really interesting topics explored by this novel. The opposing views of artists themselves and those close to them, the tension that causes, was very compellingly presented. Overall, an interesting read with some original themes, but with a fairly common plot used to explore them.

It's been a stressful couple weeks and what I really needed was an easy reading YA fantasy to help me escape a little bit. And to that end, this book was perfect - I read the whole thing in one day. The plot was fast paced and the author kept things moving forwards nicely. Also, I appreciate the story line itself, that despite many cliche touches (I'll get to those) the actual action was done well. Some parts were too easy to guess (she's the RANDOM orphan saved from Winter while everyone else was hand picked...yea right), but the motion of the story, Noam's role and Spring's response to him, her capture and time in the camp, Theron's "capture," and her FINALLY figuring out her connection to magic and saving the little boy all made the reading of the cliche parts better. Though Sir being alive is a little TOO convenient... There were many parts of it that were kept "realistic" - as in Meira did things that seemed reasonable for her age, size, and position. For example, her subversive act in the work camp was to work over days to weaken and bring down a bridge while extra soldiers were on it...nothing unbelievable, but it achieved it's aims. My hat is off to that. There were some unreasonable, special snowflake (see what I did there, she's from Winter), type situations as well (like dude, no one makes a connection as quickly as she and Theron did, and also how is it possible that the two guys she's ever really met are both super into her and hella attractive...). The part about the magic is interesting - conduits, a person becoming a conduit, bloodline magic through male vs female lines, the theory behind the Decay and (though convenient) that Hannah had to wait til Meira was 16 to appear (and why she had to be so cryptic is really unclear also), helped set the scene for the end of the novel. Honestly, I really hope that Angra's obsession with Winter and Hannah and why he was so determined to crush their spirit instead of just killing them all off, and why he couldn't get to Mather earlier if he was magically watching them all along, is explained better and in more detail as the story moves forwards. All in all though, my biggest gripe with this book is the writing itself. The story could have been told much better, the dialogue is odd in places, Meira's inner thoughts are repetitive and basic, and honestly, just the way many of the relationships are written (Meria and Sir, Meira and Mather, Meria and Theron, and even Meira and Nessa) are just too quick and easy and surface. And the beginning was really hard to follow - too many names (which to be honest, I don't really like most of) and places mentioned once or in passing too quickly to really get a hold on, with a lot of past meaning and references that are not well explained to start and some not even better explained later... Really everything could have used more depth and development in the writing.

Well, I can say for sure that I cannot wait to read the last one and see how this all wraps up. This novel definitely did the normal 2nd book dealio, where it ends on a cliffhanger SO much bigger than the first one. Frustrating. But regardless, it was a pretty solid sequel. I appreciate the way that it did have it's own plot, separate from what happened in the first one, but still it dragged in the middle and then sped up TOO fast at the end - the plot pacing was just not as solid here as it was in the first one. One thing I was very happy with was how the relationship/love triangle situation was handled. It was an issue, but not overly prevalent in the grand scheme of things - and Theron was taken care of neatly, in a way that makes it ok that he may be "gone" (still sad, but life is sad sometimes, and it wasn't anything unreasonable). Also, I'm glad the original break happened earlier, before Mather came back and we see Theron's connection to the Decay, because that makes it much easier to say goodbye (no guilt, or less guilt anyways). Plus, with the entire goal of everyone's lives being to restore Winter, it makes sense that Meira and Mather fit better with that goal as an endpoint. Interestingly, I liked and disliked Meira's constant self-judgement and turmoil - very reasonable for her age and life changes recently, so I appreciate that (and the "she can make mistakes" outlook is refreshing), but perhaps it could have been dialed back a bit. Again, Meira's inner dialogue with herself is a bit repetitive and tiring. We get it. And the whole "finding keys" treasure hunt is fairly cliche and, really, is entirely too easy (I mean, I get that Meira herself recognizes that, but still). And I do hope there are some good answers in the final installment - I feel like a lot of things happened here that were convenient to the plot, but without real substance. What the heck is Raelyn's game (I get jealousy of Jesse and Ceridwan, but that's small to fuel a whole take over the world scheme)? What was Angra waiting for? What is going on with the mines? Reres (is that his name?) came from nowhere... And I'm concerned this whole "Meira must sacrifice herself to save everyone" situation can only end in giant cliche. Saving everyone is a lofty, idealistic, goal that generally doesn't lead to great endings for stories (particularly ones like this were I feel like some of the "bad" qualities are over-hyped for the benefit of the reader and to enhance the hero's "goodness")... But we'll see. Also, RIP Alysson, Garrigan (the SADDEST), and Noam...not so much Simon.

This was a really well done retelling of Pride and Prejudice. The pacing was great. And in my opinion, the new spin of some of the time period specific issues to be more current day were handled creatively: Lydia's elopement scandal being less about the appropriateness of elopement and more about who she did it with (at least in Mrs. Bennet's opinion), Jane's IUI/pregnancy, the reality tv show aspect, a lot of the racial and other discriminatory undrotones that are common (sadly) in society today but were presented with a satiric and comedic tone, similar to Jane Austen's tone and commentary about the standards of her own time. Plus, as a CrossFitter, I enjoyed being able to laugh at myself a little, the way the community was presented in the story. Just in general, I felt that the author did a great job adjusting the original story to current day in a way that made the story flow in the same manner as the original, while not seeming to be trying too hard to do so. Also, a small note, I am a huge fan of really short chapters, and this book had those in spades!

This was a well wrapped up trilogy. I was pretty happy with the "out" Mather found for Meira - fantastic, but not too far from realistic. Plus, it was really nice for Theron to have played some kind of role, however unwitting, in the conclusion. Nessa's loss was heartbreaking. I mean, I was good with Sir's end, not unexpected and it gives Mather and Meira a nice literary parallel of lost parents, plus his inability to forgive makes sense. I thought it was weird that there had to be 3 people going with Meira, but they could make it to the end even if one of them failed a test along the way, a bit of an oversight, but not horrible. But really, Nessa - she was Winterian, why the heck couldn't Meira save her? Just depressing for no good reason, which makes it worse. I like the end for the Paislians (yay Rares - being a dad!) and actually really enjoy where Theron gets left off. One of the best ends to a love triangle I think I've experienced. Cerie and Jesse are super cute and every story needs one of them. And the goal/success in reaching it that this book has, the removal of magic from the world, is so interesting opposite of YA fantasy (or any fantasy) that I appreciated it. The irony is that I don't know if the non-magic future they created would allow any further story telling on these characters to count as fantasy...haha. I think the biggest failure, throughout all the books, it the language of the characters as they develop internally. It's just a bit juvenile, WAY too much telling instead of showing (readers can infer...), and honestly SO repetitive. Meira convinced herself to let go and love Mather like 16 times before it actually happened, which is not necessarily unrealistic, but is definitely boring to read, especially with her "explain-y"/didactic way of talking to herself. Their actual getting together was worth the wait though - one of the most emotionally well written parts of the trilogy, I think. All in all, this was a series that I enjoyed my time with, but not necessarily a particular standout.

Lizzie is the reason this book gets 3 stars, otherwise, I'd say it's a 2 star at best. This is not generally my genre of choice, for example, I think I am one of the only people for whom The Girl on the Train was not earth shatteringly awesome. But I just don't think I've ever read anything with SO MUCH foreshadowing. Like, from page one, every character is writing looking back in time reflecting on a hugely life changing and altering event - so there's never a chance of anything coming out of the blue. And you know it has to be big, to have effected everyone so much, so there's really only so many options. And as soon as you read just a little bit of Taylor's obsession with her perfect, innocent, over-protected daughter, you just KNOW that little girl is the center of things. Especially since she is the one that doesn't get a narration voice. She's just presented as too innocent - no kid is actually like that. So the fact that the BIG EVENT is caused by her...not super surprising. And that right there is why I don't think this was anything overly special. It built for so long, then BOOM Kathy's death, the probability that Snow did it, the decision to hide it, alibi her and then it's over. Too fast after way too much build. But Lizzie - the introspection at the end about being surprised by herself, by what she is capable of, keeping her mouth shut about a murder because telling what she saw might actually implicate herself. What's right there? IT's the last section, the last thing you read, and it sticks with you. What is a person capable of? Hoe do you know until you face it? And would you be proud of yourself for what you are able to do or not do? Being left with that consideration is really the only way this story gets deeper... Otherwise it's just a couple voices, albeit well written different voices/personalities (good work there), with an overly predictable reveal, a view of nothing really special/unique marital and parenting problems (Michael and Finn are just uninspired guys...), and an overuse of foreshadowing that really can only ultimately end in letdown/disappointment.

So I love love love Margaret Atwood. I've never read something she wrote that I didn't like. But I was a little nervous going into this one, because I have not actually ever read the original The Tempest, so I wasn't sure what to expect or if I would get all the intricacies. Well, I should not have worried. While I cannot say for sure that I caught everything she did with the retelling, all the little details, I got more than enough to respect what she was able to do and to thoroughly enjoy the retelling. Seeing the themes of prison throughout the original play, her decision to set the scene in a prison "players" group was perfect, and (while I have no direct prison experience with which to compare it) a gorgeous and truthful portrayal of the the characters you might meet in a prison. They were real people - a little scary, perhaps, but also in many cases (in a poignant social commentary) just trying to do the best with what they had in a society that gives no benefit of the doubt. It was great to see what the exposure to Shakespeare did for them, how they were able to relate to so many of the characters, and really presented a feeling of hope for the future in a general sense that was uplifting to read - as book lover, I think the power of the written word to engender empathy and to heal the reader was portrayed here in a really tangible way that I wish more people could experience. Plus some of the extra touches, like the swearing only in Shakespearean terms, was just fun to read. I smiled many a time at those passages. Felix's personal story of loss and betrayal, and the subsequent revenge he plans ans executes juxtaposes beautifully with the story of Prospero and his owns plots. The role of Felix's daughter Miranda and then Anne-Marie as the actress playing Miranda were heartbreaking in many ways, mostly through the eyes and actions of Felix as he tries to hold on to a lost love and also help a "replacement love," if you will, represented by A-M and her budding relationship with Freddie (our real life Ferdinand) by the end. The many layers there were nuanced and unfolded perfectly. And then, the hit at the end, that perhaps Felix's daughter Miranda was never our fictional Miranda, but was in fact Ariel, held in the sway of Felix/Prospero until said character was ready to let them go and move on. It was a blindside really, to me, and one that ended the story with that perfect mix of satisfaction and longing that I think every reader lives for.

I received this book free from Goodreads, having won a giveaway. And let me just tell you, I am SO GLAD that I did. This book was phenomenal. It's been on my to read list for awhile, but I was avoiding it a little bit, since it was the first in a series and the next books have not been published yet. I generally hate that, because I get into a story and then get really antsy when I can't see what happens next. However, I'll forgo knowing for now, and wait impatiently for the next installment with everyone else, because DAMN this book was worth reading now.

I haven't read anything with this kind of story-telling style in awhile, sort of an epistolary, but not quite, it's told through a collection of "files" that include interviews, journal entries, recordings, newspaper clippings/articles, etc. I forget how quickly it moves. And I appreciate that this method allows the author to skip from important part to important part, without needing to overdue the exposition. I also like that it leaves it up to the reader to fill in the in-between times (it's like exaggerated show don't tell) and I'm a fan of the bare story without some of the BS that tends to get in the way with these types of plots. Additionally, the overall pacing and plot development were spot on.

The main "narrator," if you will, the man conducting most of the interviews, is a typical CIA agent type fellow, always acting like he knows more than everyone else (which he likely does). And I started off a little annoyed with him. He seemed too easy a character. Too cocksure and micro-manage-y and too willing to sacrifice the people around him for his end game. With a person like that as your narrator, you can get away with anything and he just becomes too one-dimensional. But I'll be honest, he grew on me a lot. As the story goes and we see his attachment to Kara and Vincent, his willingness to protect them when they need it and trust them when they make a decision. Plus, the fact that he was at one point considered a traitor to the country in his move to use the robot for only defensive purposes/work to understand her with the goal of the world's safety being foremost (while still not losing him rough edges/[methodo]logical thinking) was respectable. Plus, we get to see him a little shaken and out of his depth with the mystery eyebrow-less man in the Chinese restaurant, which is satisfying.

The rest of the characters are well developed, to the extent they can be. Again, when a story is told this way, much of the development is left to the reader, but even with that, a solid enough picture was painted of each person that the holes I filled were done so with indirect suggestion by the author and fit with the overall personality of each, within the context. Kara and Vincent are understandable and make sense, Rose (Dr. Franklin) is very relatable in her actions and concerns, and Alyssa (Ms. Pampanitou) and Ryan Mitchell play their roles believably. Overall, reading about how each handles (scientifically and emotionally) the strain of doing experiments and gathering knowledge on an object SO foreign that they are making it up as they go, pretty much, is super interesting.

A little of the science/tech/math was beyond, but was explained well enough that I at least had a nebulous idea of what was meant (kudos to the author for managing that without making it boring) and I really enjoyed the descriptions of the language development from Vincent. Themis. Cool. The different agendas from the involved governments/parties are what you would expect them to be, though the eyebrow-less man was a wrench in the normal issues. And I cannot wait to see what comes from that. I love a good crazy old man character, and one with lots of metaphor stories and a maybe connection to alien life from centuries ago is even better! And the epilogue really raises a lot of questions that I cannot wait to get answers to. What happened to Rose, ahhhhhh?!

Mostly unrelatedly, the cover is gorgeous. The jack, with the cutout, is pretty on it's own and gives a quick peak of the detail underneath, but when you pull that off, the illustration is just perfect. Plus, it's a really nice metaphor for the whole story, a pretty outside to this robot that hides quite a bit underneath that, presumably, we are just scratching the surface of and will learn more about as the story progresses.

Thanks for the book Goodreads - I highly recommend it!!

I totally read this in one sitting - cause that's exactly what I wanted to do with my free time over the Holidays. It was wonderful. I spent 4.5 hours getting lost in this story, in Arin and Kestrel's world, and it was exactly what I was looking for. Nothing super original here. A pretty formulaic story as far as dominant, high bred girl buys slave that intrigues her, relationship develops because girl is a special high bred person, there's a baby love triangle and some disappointment where parents are concerned, a big event turns everything around completely, trust is lost and needs to be regained, and each makes decisions with the benefit of the other in mind, with little regard to their own safety/situation or what the other person wants. However, the writing was solid (no "talking down" to the YA crowd) and the pacing was on point. There was also one point that I really enjoyed, different from most YA in this genre: Kestrel is NOT the best fighter ever, she cannot beat the guys and people are not afraid of her...but she keeps hers eyes open, using information to her advantage, and is a pretty solid strategist (plus the music thing and she's fairly empathetic). I appreciate that a different kind of strength can make a female a fighter and a heroine. At the end, of course, we are left with a girl torn between feelings and duty (plus, of course, a need to make her father proud and follow through on promises to a friend), who chose duty to save the person for whom she has those feelings. And a boy who feels betrayed by that decision because of course he'd rather fight his own fight and have the girl too - it's a whole have your cake and eat it too situation. But of course, with a trilogy, you know there's more to come, girl will probably second guess her decision, so we'll see what happens there. Regardless, I was entertained through the whole thing, which is of course the point, and I'm excited to keep reading.