Top critical review
3.0 out of 5 starsInteresting idea, wanted to like it, writing falls short
Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2014
Some clever ideas in here and well-formed characters, but the writing's trying too hard to deliver which is at best distracting and at worst annoying.
Shifting character POV frequently within the same chapter is an interesting idea but it doesn't really work, there's too much shifting and it's jarring and distracting. Plus the cost is it becomes hard to develop a connection with any one or two central characters. There are some clever moments - and what would be actually pretty great reveals if the author wasn't over-explaining the scenes and everything the characters are thinking, then doing the same from another character's POV. It's like watching a magician who talks too much and by the time the trick is pulled off you're too bored to get excited. Between this and the number of times the same characters sustain life-threatening injuries I found the book exasperating. I love well-crafted fast-paced thrillers but unfortunately this isn't that.
If these issues are worked out in later books I'd be curious to see more, otherwise probably will pass - I struggled a little to get through this. On the fence about 2 vs 3 stars but overall enough good moments that I didn't dislike it.
