3.5/ 5 - and this is NOT a bad review!!
Honestly, I wasn't 'wowed' by this book in the same way that I was the first. I feel it would have been much better if it had been about 100 - 150 pages shorter.
I AM enjoying the way the story is going though. The decision to go on to Mars regardless, the insta-love between the contestants shows their youth and sad childhoods, and how much they enjoy their roles. I liked all of that. Serena Bee continues to be a thoroughly foul character - and I love that.
My issue isn't the storyline as such. I think that some descriptions are far too detailed and long-winded (especially the agonising internal dialogue). However, I DID like the descriptions of the advertisements that the 12 competitors made: a true reflection of the money orientated society that they're a part of, and precisely what has driven the predicament that they find themselves in. I DID like the descriptions of the Mars landscape, the living accommodation and the farming area (interesting!). There was A LOT of internal dialogue though. A certain amount is great. Informative, even, but I think that this is where I realised that perhaps I'm not the demographic they're looking for. I'm about 20 years out (I don't care, by the way). BUT I will be reading the next book. I want to see how this goes - and I like the characters and the story being told.
Many thanks to ReadersFirst and the publisher, Hot Key Books/ Bonnier Zaffre for my copy of this book.
Honestly, I wasn't 'wowed' by this book in the same way that I was the first. I feel it would have been much better if it had been about 100 - 150 pages shorter.
I AM enjoying the way the story is going though. The decision to go on to Mars regardless, the insta-love between the contestants shows their youth and sad childhoods, and how much they enjoy their roles. I liked all of that. Serena Bee continues to be a thoroughly foul character - and I love that.
My issue isn't the storyline as such. I think that some descriptions are far too detailed and long-winded (especially the agonising internal dialogue). However, I DID like the descriptions of the advertisements that the 12 competitors made: a true reflection of the money orientated society that they're a part of, and precisely what has driven the predicament that they find themselves in. I DID like the descriptions of the Mars landscape, the living accommodation and the farming area (interesting!). There was A LOT of internal dialogue though. A certain amount is great. Informative, even, but I think that this is where I realised that perhaps I'm not the demographic they're looking for. I'm about 20 years out (I don't care, by the way). BUT I will be reading the next book. I want to see how this goes - and I like the characters and the story being told.
Many thanks to ReadersFirst and the publisher, Hot Key Books/ Bonnier Zaffre for my copy of this book.