Nor'easter

This is a sweeping epic set 400 years in the future. A distant star disappears from sight and we curious humans must investigate. There is a huge cast of characters that are woven together towards the cliffhanger ending. This is not a stand-alone novel. Once you start this massive book you are in for the long haul with its sequel Judas Unchained.

This book is true Peter Hamilton style. There is a level of complexity as he goes to great lengths in describing every minute detail. Some may find the techno-jargon tedious but I find it creates a depth to scenery and characters that very few authors can match. The story is fleshed out to the point where I feel like I'm right there walking along the enzyme-bonded concrete with my friends from the Commonwealth

4.5 stars. I won't be able to review this and do it justice. It's basically 6 stories that tell of the plights of humans. They range in themes and genre but are connected to the next by fine threads. Best described by a quote from the book - “Spent the fortnight gone in the music room reworking my year's fragments into a 'sextet for overlapping soloists': piano, clarinet, 'cello, flute, oboe, and violin, each in its own language of key, scale, and color. In the first set, each solo is interrupted by its successor; in the second, each interruption is recontinued, in order. Revolutionary or gimmicky? Shan't know until it's finished, and by then it'll be too late.”

While I loved the audiobook readers, I think this book is best read first then listened to as a reread. There were many points where I wanted to flip back and reread a section which is much more difficult when listening. There are also so many quotes that I'd love to reread. I will be purchasing this in text so I can savor it a bit more.

Yes. It's a fun read that doesn't take itself too seriously but is not inane.

Scooby Doo meets Lost.

This definitely reads as classic sci-fi but I'm impressed with the author's imagination considering it was written 60 years ago. While there is zero depth to any of the characters, the story and underlying themes keep this an interesting read.

4.5 stars. Getting back into the Mistborn realm was like sitting down with an old friend. Having that familiar setting really eased me into a book that I normally wouldn't read. This is sort of a steampunk, old western, detective novel set 300 years after the trilogy. Sanderson gives us interesting characters and a fun whodunit plot. Definitely worth the read.

This book is beautifully written. There seems to be a lot of reviews that are comparing this to the author's previous work. This is the first book I've read from Maggie Stiefvater so I guess I had no expectations. It seems people either love it or hate it. Add me to the 'loved it' side.

The world building is exquisite. The island seems to be a main character in itself. The story is told from two points of view and both protagonists are strong and likeable in their own ways. I am usually annoyed about the cliched 'boy and girl compete and fall in love' but I found it didn't bother me as much in this story because it wasn't the main focus. While told from these viewpoints, the real story is about the horses. I found myself engrossed even though I wouldn't consider myself a "horse person" at all.

There are major complaints because there is a lot of build up and not a lot of action. The actual race doesn't take place until the end of the book. I had no problem with this. I loved the story and character building. It really is an enjoyable book.

I found the two readers, Steve West and Fiona Hardingham, added so much to the book.They really bring this story to life.

I seem to be in the minority.... but I didn't enjoy this one nearly as much as Divergent. Maybe my expectations were too high. I found my mind wandering a lot instead of really being engaged. I felt like Tris was bouncing around from one faction to another and, instead of uncovering some of the details of the factions and world building, it felt confusing and disjointed. I also was baffled by the reactions of all the factions in light of what happened at the end of Divergent. As a reader I suppose I just accept it and move on but I found the decisions to be distracting and frustrating.

On a pickier note, there are a lot of side stories going on with characters we are supposed to remember... but I didn't. I'll admit that I'm pretty bad with names but typically authors give us some clues as to who these people are. They didn't leave enough of an impact in Divergent for me to remember all of their names. The beginning of the book was very confusing for me because I could not remember who these people were. I had to go back to Divergent because there were no contextual clues at all.

Fun and entertaining read! I've been disappointed in the YA dystopia that is saturating the market right now so I didn't have high hopes. While I would've enjoyed more depth, this has a compelling story that is definitely worth reading.

Loved this book! As a child of the 80s, a gamer, and a dystopia lover, this book felt like it was written for me. I couldn't put it down. The endless geek humor had me chuckling a lot. Wil Wheaton was the perfect narrator for the audiobook.

4.5 stars. Disturbing like a good dystopian novel should be but so well written and very imaginative. There is a haunting part near the end of the book that stays with me.