This book could have been great, it just felt very rushed
935832
This book could have been great, it just felt very rushed. Everything happened very quickly especially the last couple of chapters, it was as if she needed to just hurry up and throw an ending in there real quick.
4542170
There is definite skill depicted within the first half of Lepucki's debut - the careful pacing and unfolding of the climate shift and post-petroleum world and the protagonists' place within it; their special skills and particular viewpoints, their histories and sorrows, both separate and collective.  Even in the place they find themselves and the others they encounter.  And their reason for seeking society once more.  But unfortunately the second half is ruined by too many undeveloped tropes, convenient coincidences, too much exposition, and sloppy pacing so that the plot can boil over in the conclusion.  Although I know publishers loath doorstoppers these days it really could have used at least another two hundred pages to do justice to the kind of story Lepucki *wanted* to tell.  It really did have such great potential.  I think they picked the wrong title for it, The Land would have been more apt - vague enough but nicely ominous, because despite what has been noted in the publicity materials, it doesn't really matter *where* this story takes place, and you certainly don't get enough atmosphere to specifically understand the geography, in my opinion.  The end is chilling in its implications, but knowing what a rushed journey it was to get there lessened its' impact all the more.  I don't regret giving this book my time and money, I'm just disappointed it couldn't have attained the promise implicit in its concept.
1213465
I gave the book what i did cause i love her books. In this particular book there was so much build up and forshadowing and in the end i feel like something was missing. Like it was rushed to be finished.
3479879
This storyline had a lot of potential, but it is rushed and there's too much telling vs. describing. The crux of good storytelling, to me, is the ability for the readers to see through the characters eyes and feel what they felt. I did not get that in this book. There were great thoughts, but they needed to be fleshed out instead of treated more like a hurried checklist. I hope the author takes more time to flesh this out because it has a really interesting plot and subplot.
4204465
It would've been a solid five if the last quarter of the book(which isn't long to begin with)wasn't so rushed. I adored the premise and the main characters, but just as I began to feel truly invested in their future and the eventual outcome, that's when everything having to do with the technicalities behind the sorcery/magic was rushed to be explained and then BAM!it was the end. There was no follow up to how they got by,etc.,once they were free & by that point I really cared. I adored this authors other novel"Followed By Frost", and would've felt the same about this one as well, had the story been just as developed & fleshed out as the other. I still recommend The Fifth Doll thoughthe premise is that darn good!;)
1406754
Short read that feels like a synopsis for a better, longer story. I realize Echenoz is supposed to be a great writer, but this felt rushed.
2129406
The book had promise but something tells me the author got rushed at the end because it seemed incredibly forced, rushed, and with little in the way of closure.
1756409
Up to this point, I've thoroughly enjoyed the series and rated each 4 stars. But this book was disappointing. It felt very rushed and just hard to read overall.

Although the character, Gabi, has always felt a bit over the top in some ways to me...I've liked her. I think this story would have suited her if there had been either a little less "situations" or if the story had been longer and more time taken for each event. I think the latter would have helped a great deal in regards to how the story flowed as well as keeping the reader immersed.
514464
This book had so much potential; an adorable, heart-breaking romance, interesting world-building, an epic quest, strange monsters, well done characters. Sadly, the book falls short on the writing. The perspectives switch in an untidy and often unexpected fashion which can really take you out of the world and adventure, as well as some plot points were a bit weaker. Certain things seemed too easy after the build up for an epic quest and it's difficulties. Doing my best to avoid spoilers, there's even a second quest near the end that is significantly shortened compared to the first quest, though it seems more important. I feel like with more editing and a better handle on perspectives, this book could've been outstanding. It gives me a lot of internal conflict when I do love all the potential and elements but am displeased with the presentation.
2303028
The basic premise of this novel was fine but I felt very rushed by the author. It felt like the author was in a hurry to get this over with and move on to something else. Scenes were rushed to the point where I wondered if she was tweeting rather than writing. One of the first scenes the heroine was getting on the ferry to the island and she felt "misgivings" about going to the island/next thing she is getting off the ferry. She could have used the ferry ride if for nothing else to describe the island as she was approaching it. Most characters were one dimensional. For example was the evil " devil worshiping" billionaire rich before he decided to walk on the dark side or did the devil give him all his riches?
The end scene needs a lot more development. There is a huge crowd of evil devil worshipers and they all run away when one person runs down the stairs at them and throws a few books at them? Really?
This was a great first draft but a really bad final product.
2477988
The story had a good concept, and there was definite interest in finding out 'who done it' for me to keep me ready. But I struggled with the book feeling like it wasn't finished. THere was dialogue but sometimes no sense of place; the locations or the characters physical appearance lacked description. Characters felt like placeholders, even main ones. THey were not fleshed out enough that I could remember who was who as they were essentially interchangeable. At one point towards the end of the book, I was asking myself "wait whos' Richard?" and he'd been in the entire book...  it just felt like much of the characters and their relationships to one another were in need of fleshing out. Perhaps I wouldn't have struggled as much if I hadn't picked this book up without reading the others in the series first and getting more time in their backstories... but I struggled here.

My biggest disappointment in the grand reveal of the villain in the end was that it went from 'lets set a trap' to the next chapter being from the POV of the villain. Surprise ruined. And I still really don't get the rest of the conspiracy that went into it and the why. I just felt letdown.

I think the best part of it for me was the crime blogger - he went from a character I was supposed to dislike (because the main characters disliked him) to my entire reason for reading the rest of the book. He was interesting. He was nuanced. He grew as a character. He felt real.  Most everyone else felt like placeholders awaiting their development.

A lot of the progression of the plot felt the same.  At one point the story had built up a great conflict between the PI and her husband about their future as a couple and their professions... and the resolution wasn't something that was wrestled with and dealt with as part of the story (which could have been very compelling). Instead, it was handled a la 'epilogue' and the action took place in the form of a paragraph that basically said "and they worked out their issue and everything is fine now."

So even though they dropped a killer cliffhanger on the true 'who done it' at the end... the sequel doesn't interest me.
4269062
I enjoyed reading this, but it felt rushed.  There was so much potential for more character development but the opportunity wasn't taken.  I didn't care for the way the sisters were basically forced into a romance with their "mates".  Again, that was predictable.  The ending felt a bit...anticlimactic.  I this is due to it being so rushed.  Still a good book though.
3351811
This could have been an outstanding novel. There were great characters that could have been developed more. An awesome plot that could have been even more complex and prominent. with the character developing relationships with each other, it eventful have made a great series with each book focusing on one couple. as the ending felt rushed and left me feeling underwhelmed. With so many unanswered questions throughout the book, it felt as though I missed a prequel which would help me understand the motives and relationship dynamics.  That being said, I knew the length when I decided to read it and, as a very quick read, it did a fair job. if this author published a full length MC novel I would definitely buy it.
3328798
I really enjoyed the first two books, but I thought this book was a bit rushed.  There were so many places where the story could have been elaborated.  Good story, but it could have been great.
3349350
While interesting, and a good first book, the later half feels rushed.
4667516
Had the potential to be a really great book, sad it didn't evolve.  The story was rushed, the characters underdeveloped and just overall weak compared to other books of this nature.
4699648
The blurb to this book really caught my eye and I was excited to get the opportunity to read the book. Author Lia Davis does a fine job at making the reader feeling like they are part of this Fae world.

I loved the whole concept of the book with the primary and secondary characters being interesting and well thought out. For me, Kellam, Finn's head of security is the character that really caught my attention and I would love to know more about him in future books.

The elements to this book are perfect but what was lacking for me was time to fully develop the storyline to keep the reader spellbound. It felt too rushed. For this reason I give it 3 STARS.

A copy was gifted via Netgalley