The best of Slaughter's standalones for sure. A little tangled towards the end, but no one writes procedurals or electrifying tension the way sheThe best of Slaughter's standalones for sure. A little tangled towards the end, but no one writes procedurals or electrifying tension the way she does....more
THE THOUSANDTH FLOOR is a sleek, smart, guilty pleasure. The opening chapter begins with an unnamed girl falling to her death from a skyscraper inTHE THOUSANDTH FLOOR is a sleek, smart, guilty pleasure. The opening chapter begins with an unnamed girl falling to her death from a skyscraper in 22nd century New York, and the questions of "who" and "why" are ever-present as this thriller unfolds. The major raised eyebrow comes from the main character's love for her adopted brother, which sits rather uncomfortably for YA and in this context; but despite a few reservations, this story is surprisingly well-written and enjoyable.
Positives:
-- super, super fun world-building. This is a mystery/thriller in a futuristic setting, with cool tech that feels organic to the story and the way the characters would use them. In addition to stuff you might expect, such as smart contacts with Google-glasses-type capabilities, there are imaginative touches like gummy bears with nano chips installed that make them move (and scream!), floating alcohol bubbles you drink from a straw, enviable closets and immersive shopping experiences, a boy with a frighteningly intuitive computer linked to his brain, and so much more. It's all incredibly well-thought-out, and none of it is there purely as set decoration.
-- 5 distinct POVs, each of which add significantly to the plot. I'm the first person to complain about excessive and superfluous narrators, but you truly couldn't have lost one of these without changing the story. They're all well done, and all make you understand and sympathize with the characters' motivations, even when they're at odds with each other. One of the POVs is a teenage hacker's, and the description of how he infiltrates systems and uses information to his advantage is fascinating.
-- realistic, layered friendships, especially between the girls. Affection, history, competition, and jealousy all come into play.
-- There are major underlying themes exploring class division and privilege that I didn't expect. The towering, 1000-floor Manhattan building these kids live in is almost its own character, and the author skillfully and convincingly portrays the glittering lifestyle and mindset of the wealthy uptower kids and contrasting POVs without turning them all into cliches, or hammering readers with specific agendas and lessons.
-- this future world is matter-of-factly diverse, with many persons of color, as well as LGBTQ characters.
-- Sex-positive
-- adults take a back seat here and maybe could have been developed a bit more, but they're not merely token presences; there are interesting subplots that happen with them.
Stuff I wish had been better:
-- Avery is in love with her adopted brother. It's not handled in an icky way, but romanticizing incest for young readers is something that does concern me, particularly when it involves kids who were mostly raised and grew up together. It's less of an issue for me in other situations--dire ones like Forbidden come to mind--but here, the single-mindedness and focus on this romance would make me less inclined to recommend this for younger teenagers, especially since the connection between the two of them isn't as well-developed as it could be. Atlas is kind of a pleasant but oblique non-entity; Avery, despite her genetic perfection, is much more interesting.
-- I really, really wish (view spoiler)[the girl who is killed isn't the bisexual one. With all the "kill your gays" issues of late, (hide spoiler)] I think increased mindfulness and sensitivity to this trope is necessary.
-- I'm not sure this needed a sequel, since I think the story would have more of an impact if it had stuck the ending. But I enjoyed this so much, I'll definitely be picking up book two!
This was longer than I intended, but since there are so many mixed/negative reviews I thought a countering opinion might be useful. Despite a couple of not-insignificant issues, I think this one has a lot going for it, and I liked that it wasn't a typical fast-paced, action-heavy thriller, but more of a character-driven story with a futuristic setting. I was completely engrossed as I went down all the rabbit holes of the plot, and the future tech is so freaking cool. Damn, it's fun to live and play in this world, even if it's just for a little while....more
This is somehow a magical blend of adult Sarra Manning + Sarah Mayberry + Jennifer Crusie. It's funny and sharp and serious, with seething workplaceThis is somehow a magical blend of adult Sarra Manning + Sarah Mayberry + Jennifer Crusie. It's funny and sharp and serious, with seething workplace rivalry and career drama coupled with crazy great chemistry and delicious banter. It also has unbelievably sweet and tender moments (view spoiler)[one of my favorite parts is them simply holding hands (hide spoiler)], though you'll easily laugh a minute after that! It captures that weird obsessive behavior you can't help when you first fall in love, and also convinces you that after a hard-won relationship, these two won't ever stop being endearingly, ridiculously fussy over each other. Hate-to-love relationships are so fun when they're done well, and this is the best one I've read, in no small part because the "hate" part is pretty convincing in the beginning. It hits all the tropes and scenarios you've read before, but the way they're done here is just irresistible.
Katy's review also talks a lot about the heroine's feelings of loneliness and failure, as well as the way a big argument between them is resolved: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... I feel so much affection for them both--it's one of those things where you come out so pleased that they found each other.
In short, it's basically everything you could possibly want out of a romance, with the added benefit of having so many cute and quirky details in it. I felt giddy with happiness reading this book, and I kept trying to prolong the experience because I know it's the author's only book...so far! I can't wait until the next one. <3 Hurry up, Thorne #2....more
"You see it in all animals - the female of the species is more deadly than the male."
4.5 stars Holy shit, this is good. It sounds like it's going to"You see it in all animals - the female of the species is more deadly than the male."
4.5 stars Holy shit, this is good. It sounds like it's going to be a revenge thriller, and it is--but it's also a searing takedown of rape culture and a merciless examination of the way violence begets violence. Riveting prose, three clear POVs, and a relentless story that doesn't try to provide answers, but forces you to think about the things we excuse legally and socially. In a year in which we've stood by and watched Brock Turner get a slap on the wrist, seen serial abusers publicly disparage the victims they attacked, and witnessed the repeated objectification of women on a national platform, this could not be more timely. I wish this book were in the hands of all teenagers, boys and girls, for the invaluable conversation piece that it is. There are a fair number of contemporary YA "issue" novels that deal with rape or abuse, but this one, in the guise of a thriller, hits home intellectually and emotionally in a way I haven't seen before.
But boys will be boys, our favorite phrase that excuses so many things, while the only thing we have for the opposite gender is women, said with disdain and punctuated with an eye roll.
There are a few things you have to accept for the purposes of the story, the biggest of which is a logistical issue (view spoiler)[namely, that physically, it's not that easy to do the things Alex did to Comstock (hide spoiler)]. I'm okay with looking past that, however, because the author provides enough convincing detail to make it worthwhile. The only thing that really niggles me a bit (aside from a slightly rushed ending) is that, in my view, Alex's feelings for Jack develop and progress a bit too quickly to fit the near-feral, loner mindset she was in. There's definitely chemistry between them, but I was still never fully convinced the two of them would have been a thing that quickly, especially considering his background and baggage. However, I liked that Alex didn't judge Jack or other girls for his past, I liked the way a real obstacle came between them (view spoiler)[that is, that he had a real problem absorbing the disturbing information she revealed to him; too many books let the BF/GF give the MC a pass (hide spoiler)], and I liked the fantastic way the story ended. OVARIES OF STEEL, Ms. McGinniss.
Bonus: there isn't the faintest whiff of the type of pretentious posturing and tiresome smoke-and-mirrors plotting that's become so popular in YA thrillers lately. (I'm looking at you, We Were Liars.) This book has things to say, and the writing cuts like a razor so that words nearly bleed off the page.
I'm really pissed off at the weirdly quirky cover art for this book, however. WTF is that? It does absolutely no justice to the intensity of the blistering words and emotions inside. This book is full of feminine rage, and while some readers might flinch at the violence within, I think it's rage that's been justly earned.
Trigger warnings for violence, sexual and otherwise....more
A favorite classic, a favorite heroine, and a favorite YA author in Cynthia Hand. I'm going to aggressivelyYesssssssssssss. *hisses enthusiastically*
A favorite classic, a favorite heroine, and a favorite YA author in Cynthia Hand. I'm going to aggressively hug this book when I get my hands on it....more
If Regina George wanted to be Homecoming Queen, there'd be hell to pay for anyone who got in her way.
This is pretty much the premise of the WINNING,If Regina George wanted to be Homecoming Queen, there'd be hell to pay for anyone who got in her way.
This is pretty much the premise of the WINNING, which is immensely readable and keeps you on your toes. Just when you think one girl is about to swindle another, the other girl almost always manages to see it coming and turns the tables. I liked that we saw various different POVs, and that one of them was the Queen Bee herself, Alexandra Miles. She's a ruthless, manipulative schemer without an ounce of pity, and her determination to win her crown (with the kind of loopy logic that only exists in rom-coms) spares no expense or feeling.
The thing about MEAN GIRLS, however, was that the film was not only a satirical look at social hierarchies in high school, but it was also so freaking funny. That's where the weakness lies in WINNING; it's definitely entertaining, and you want to see people get their comeuppance, but it's neither sharp-witted enough in its narrative and dialogue, nor smart and original enough in its plot to go down as a truly great and memorable book. (view spoiler)[Did you know, btw, that Tina Fey based her screenplay on a non-fiction book called QUEEN BEES AND WANNABES? There's a real basis for all those girl fights. (hide spoiler)] And then the door is left open for a sequel as well? Bleh.
Still. Points for an unabashed anti-heroine, for juggling multiple POVs well, and for a lesbian BFF subplot. These girls are cruel to each other, and it's weirdly gratifying and fun to watch...but not quite as fun as it could've been. I want a story like this to be screamingly funny--and to really go for the jugular, not just settle for a slap on the wrist.
An advance copy was provided by the publisher for this review.
Side note to those who might get upset over these things in YA, with spoilers: there's liberal back-stabbing and underage drinking, (view spoiler)[an adult is caught doing drugs, and Alexandra crushes pills into a drink and deliberately gives it to a couple of her enemies. (hide spoiler)]...more
Wendy Darling
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harpercollins
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