Superbly exciting, even if the female lead was exasperatingly poorly written.

A fascinating and anecdote-stuffed book about the crazy ways in which the human brain works. Most of the stories were terrifying, but all of them were enlightening. I wish there had been more focus on how to overcome some of humanity's more stupid innate thought processes, but I'll definitely be thinking about this book for a long while.

Unlikeable, un-root-for-able characters, rampant sexism, and not a lick of excitement. Huuuuge disappointment for my first (and likely last) Leonard book.

I like Elisa (and Hector, of course) but there was way too much hemming and hawing. I wanted more court intrigue, more action, more plot. The ending was good, though, and I'm excited to read the last one.

I like retellings of Shakespeare like 10 Things I Hate About You where the story is using Shakespeare's ideas in a new way. I just don't like retellings that have to incorporate the whole play into them as well because they feel so forced. This is a prime example of why I don't like them.

Felix's life is akin to that of Prospero, but he is so aware of this that he literally takes a job teaching literature to prisoners, and gets them to act out The Tempest just so he can get his own revenge on the man who stole his job. It's seriously eye-roll inducing. I love Shakespeare as much as the next kid with an English degree, but this was annoying.

I kept listening only for the prisoners themselves. They were hilarious and clever and it was fun to see how invested they got in the plays every year.

Four stars for sheer entertainment value. A good palate cleanser.

I really wanted to like these. I feel like every time I read a Kendare Blake book I want to write on her report card "Not living up to her potential." She has great ideas, but this book was so indescribably dull.

I will give her this, though, she is great at gore.