Reviewed by sa090 on
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Don’t let that somewhat negative start imply that this book was goddamn awful, because that is not true but it was no masterpiece either. First of all, while this is really the first time I’ve ever seen this idea in a literary form, it’s not the first time I’ve seen these similar elements. There was an anime in 2017 called “Kujira no Kora wa Sajou ni Utau” or what is literally translated into “Whale Calves Sing on the Sand” (more commonly known as Children of the Whales) which I enjoyed very much and seeing these elements in this book hyped me up for enjoyment in this one as well, which I got for sure but not on the same level I was expecting.
The very compelling setting makes it incredibly easy for me to try and immerse myself into this new world, but I feel like it was lacking in world building. The post-apocalyptic setting on earth was explored adequately, I mean with so many stories like this it’s not hard to imagine what happened and how the basic system of society on Earth works, but the parts that are new to me were handed in small doses that it felt like just scraps of a much bigger picture that quickly ended up as an unreachable itch. Sometimes, the characters would move into a certain conversation that could easily open up the path to a bigger history lesson before something of convenience happens to steer me away from there with a very unsatisfied feeling since nothing resembling a plot moving event happens until the final third of the book so this journey with them here should be a learning one, not me feeling like something is always missing.
Speaking of conveniences, how convenient is that tech in her brain, huh? Connecting is so much easier isn’t it??
The writing of the book was pretty good, but I think this is really the first time that I felt a bigger discrepancy whenever I’ve read a book by co-authors. Not in the instance that the words were different or that the characters had insane changes no, but rather my feelings and enjoyment when reading certain parts of the book. It’s broken down into 4 parts and till the end, the second part of the book remains my least favourite, if I had to put them in order from best to worst, it’ll be 4>3>1>2. Although now that I’m thinking a little more about it, I think it’s due to what was focused on instead of what I wanted to see. There is a very strange relationship in this book, I won’t spoil it but the authors continuously tried to shove it down my throat to convince me that it’s a natural progression in part 2 in particular and some of part 3 that it felt forced, weird and very unnecessary. I say unnecessary because, there IS a parallel relationship to that one that worked just as well without any need for the certain “edge” the first relationship had. All in all, this was very awkward to read about and honestly, I didn’t like it.
If I had to choose one thing I liked a lot other than the setting then it would be Bea, while the book was told mostly from Zara’s point of view, Beatriz (Zara’s co-pilot) was the most interesting one in the entire cast and the best thing is that despite her secondary role, she goes through her own stages of development that I just kept liking her more and more. I reached a point where I wished that she got her own POV just so I can see what she’s up to when she’s off screen, judging by the “modifications” she’s got her own brand of a rebellious streak. Zara on the other hand starts off really unlikable to me with a feeling that the authors are trying a little too hard to make her this untouchable badass that she comes off a little too much. The worst thing about Zara to me though is that she never thinks things through, there are way too many instances in this book where I had to stop reading and take a deep breathe as to not hurl my phone across the room because of something about her actions, which makes me appreciate her development a little more than I expected since she’s less of an idiot afterwards. Nadim was okay, I really enjoyed some things about it but there were others like Zara’s case that made me sigh and roll my eyes in defeat. However, like Zara, everyone/thing get some development so I’m okay on that front for now.
The final part of the book is where things get real, it’s fast paced and incredibly fun to read when I see how the development of these characters works in their favor. It’s also the part where a form of a plot comes along that I sit here thinking “Oooh okay, now we’re heading somewhere” and it was just an added bonus because the learning period of the first parts (although lacking in the same quantity I wanted) was fun in their own way. I look forward to see where we go from here because this is a really interesting book, but I think because I expected way too much out of all fronts, I found it to be lacking instead.
Final rating: 3.5/5
Reading next: The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 18 February, 2018: Finished reading
- 18 February, 2018: Reviewed