A strong beginning with a red rain that is comming throught the world, beginning in russia. Later, it becomes clear that people in Europe are dying, aA strong beginning with a red rain that is comming throught the world, beginning in russia. Later, it becomes clear that people in Europe are dying, and that everything east of berlim has died, but the strange blood rain already fall in NY.
Emily is our protagonist but she is not so interesting as the author thinks. She could be a good YA protagonist, for instance. The main problem is (view spoiler)[almost everybody in the world dies with the rain. So there are NO other characters. Just her. And the whole book is she getting out of NY (hide spoiler)] She eventually get in contact with a artic base, with a dozen living people. You guess they will be their human counterpart to relieve solitude and to make dialogue - no, they don´t come up. When she should meet another characters, time passes on her survivalists adventures, and instead of getting out of new york really quickly, she meanders day after day. It takes her an entire day to go to her old work and retrieve a solar powered phone (that she don´t even use to talk to the artic people and tell the new information).
Many readers comment on details. It would be a small point but the problem is that not much happens, so we follow every little detail of what she is taking in her trip, like clothes, food, water, gps, phone, stove burning, gas, more clothes, feminine hygiene products, tools for the bycicle... compare this with the same scene in The Stand - two survivors walk out of NY on foot with packbags. In a later scene they are camping, we don´t need to consider if they could carry tents, burners, food, water, etc. That´s the power of brief narration.
It needed urgently the introduction of new characters real early (even a companion dog is introduced already in the second third)
do you recommend? - just for a quick reading of the beginning, that is funny. After the tragedy, the author doesn´t know what to do with the story so it is a good book to lend from your library...more
I hate this book so much, that I had actually a lot of work to try to find it, because didn´t remember the name or the author.
When I found that this nI hate this book so much, that I had actually a lot of work to try to find it, because didn´t remember the name or the author.
When I found that this novel was winner of the Bram Stoker´s award I gasped a "what the fuck". But if you look for the books awarded, you can see for yourself that BSA are very iffy - some winners don´t have not even 100 reviews in goodreads, some have an average of like 3. I would like to be a fly on the wall to see who is pulling their weight in those decisions.
After a strong beginning the book meandered a lot and the author forgot to do any characterization of, you know, characters. You can barely distinguisAfter a strong beginning the book meandered a lot and the author forgot to do any characterization of, you know, characters. You can barely distinguish one from another and then it appears black goo and I was like "oh, no, zombies"
Then I saw the 3.9 stars and was "whaaaaat" and of course, there are only 20 reviews.
Author has a strong voice, but no structure of plot - some things went too quickly, others too slow, as I said, the characters are bare bones. Then when things start to happen, they become even more unlikable.
If this book was given to a good editor it could become a really good novel, in the state that it is, it mostly half though ideas without developing....more
Still reading Untill now disappointed. Angry because even if this book ends up ok, it shouldn´t be in a "recommends" lists. As Brandon Sanderson said, Still reading Untill now disappointed. Angry because even if this book ends up ok, it shouldn´t be in a "recommends" lists. As Brandon Sanderson said, many times you can see the quality of writing in the few pages. The beginning was a downer. Almost no characterization and the narrative meandered around scenes that were confusing. The whole thing with the jar heads seemed like a wattpad novel to me. Ghost things are starting to happen so I will keep around for a time and wait to see if it gets better PS by the way, there is no google in the future, you need a central attendant...more
I really can´t believe that more than 40% of the ratings think this is a 5 star book.
To me, is the worst type of space opera: page after page of exposI really can´t believe that more than 40% of the ratings think this is a 5 star book.
To me, is the worst type of space opera: page after page of exposition in 3rd person, without characters, conflict, drama. Don´t follow any of the rules of good writing, don´t progress the plot or the characterization, overexplain and give action scenes without stakes, because I don´t know any of the sides to care.
If I had found it online I would think is fanfiction, this style of space opera should have fade out of fashion since the 50s...more
4.5 stars thrilling, suspensefull battle, it remind me a lot of submarine battles. It is hard to find space opera that it is not awful narration and "as4.5 stars thrilling, suspensefull battle, it remind me a lot of submarine battles. It is hard to find space opera that it is not awful narration and "as you know" discussions about the politics and history of the worldbuild. One pinch of star trek, two spooons of batlestar gallactica ...more
Well, finally we see a improving (which is not such a good praise, considering that this series of books is so higly regarded by fans and we are alreaWell, finally we see a improving (which is not such a good praise, considering that this series of books is so higly regarded by fans and we are already in the 4th book). Dresden is not so mysoginist anymore, but Mr Butcher still can´t write women for shit. His romantic interest/treason from the past comes from nowhere, does nothing and it is really non important emotionally. I was buying much more the bromance with the werewolf, the same way the focus in the last book was in the bromance with the templar knight. With all the description of the hard abs of the werewolf I was wondering if Mr Butcher is betting on some slash fiction.
The mystery of this book is not so obvious as in the other books, where plot B was always the guilty one. The polytics of fairy folk was interesting. Too many "action" scenes, but we can always skip.
I imagine that many people loved the council of wizards, but to me it was what I expected - a late worldbuilding construction that adds little or nothing (world may be ending but they will not get involved).
Will you read other books - maybe, depending of availability, but I am still waiting for a better series with urban settings and wizards Would you recommend? - first book I would recommend as a light reading.
I would so loved if goodreads would improve their rating system (this is clearly not a 4,3) and searching for options, but we all know that this will never happen....more
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