This was more like *almost 4 stars. I have come to like some YA books. I like their adventures and honestly drawn characters... “Unwind”, “The Knife oThis was more like *almost 4 stars. I have come to like some YA books. I like their adventures and honestly drawn characters... “Unwind”, “The Knife of Never Letting Go”. Even “The Hunger Games” fit the bill.
I feel like this one would have hit the mark better if there was more to it... more story, more adventure, more depth to the characters. Don’t get me wrong, I liked it. But from this author I’ve come to expect a lot, like in the “Orphan X” series, and this just wasn’t as strong. I’ll probably read the sequel, but I have a feeling I’ll come away thinking they could have been put together to make one better book. ...more
This debut YA novel covers a lot of ground. Faeries, witches, changelings, ghosts, violence, abuse, sex (lots 3.5 Very etherial, atmospheric mystery.
This debut YA novel covers a lot of ground. Faeries, witches, changelings, ghosts, violence, abuse, sex (lots of kissing, anyway), dreams/not dreams, family/not family...love in all variations.
A lot of flowery writing, though. Many, many words. Some of it could have been exchanged for more character development. Consequently, I failed to connect with the story overall.
I did enjoy the plot, the Irish setting and the atmospheric feel.
3.5. This was my first by Niven. I'm unsure if I'll read another by her.
The YA stories I like are a little more complex, dark or have a particularly 3.5. This was my first by Niven. I'm unsure if I'll read another by her.
The YA stories I like are a little more complex, dark or have a particularly good character or an entertaining adventure. I have a "YA" bookshelf, and most of them, I felt, were 4 & 5 star reads. (Except for Divergent. I'm sorry, but that one sucked for me. Absolutely pointless)
Holding Up the Universe did have a pretty fun character. Libby. The once 600-now-300 pound girl, who on the outside has a "who gives a f" attitude, but on the inside has the normal angst of a teenager. She loves to dance any time, any place. She also packs a punch that can knock you flat.
Then there's Jack. A relatively popular boy who's hiding some issues of his own. I suppose he could have hidden his problem from his family and friends for as long as he did. After all, his parents had their own distracting problems, and his friends were, well, self absorbed teenagers. For some reason I just couldn't connect with him. I honestly couldn't see what Libby was supposed to see in him. Then the insta-love happened and it totally lost me....more