Review: Strong Start, Choppy Middle, Abrupt End
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 11 9, 2013
This book started out strong, and I expected that it might turn out to be a good read. Unfortunately, it went downhill rather quickly. *minor spoilers* Although Jode/Jack learns new physical skills every time he gets a new life, his character growth is almost non-existent. He shows random windows of insight, kindness, etc. but they are disconnected from the rest of his actions rather than the outgrowth of character development.The bulk of the book was choppy. Jack's initial adventure seemed to have substance, but they got shorter and less well described as the book went along. The shift to Elle's perspective was abrupt and random. None of the supporting characters or changed at all (particularly Grimwald, who continues to mindlessly hate Jack despite the fact that he is in a situation not of his making and doing a far better job than his predecessor did). The ending was aggravatingly abrupt. It just stopped in the middle of something, without drawing either main character to any kind of temporary conclusion. It might have been intended as a cliffhanger, but didn't quite pull it off.The author incorporates portions of several fairy tales and stirs in a touch of the modern world's darker offerings (self harm/cutting, suicide). Overall, I thought the book had potential but kept waiting for it go somewhere only to end up with meanderings and a sharp end that left me unsatisfied.