I've heard so many opinions (both good and bad) about this work that I decided I had to give it a try. Hugh Howey has succeeded in creating a terrifying world, peopled with interesting characters and challenges to overcome. The setting is incredibly original and some of the plot twists were suitably cool. I have nothing but respect for the author and the travails he overcame to even publish this work.That being said, I raced through the first half of the book, drawn into the myriad mysteries created by this strange world. I was not able to put the book down.Until about the midway point; in which case, I had a difficult time picking it back up. The pace screeches to a halt, characters make decisions in slow motion and over-analyze every singe trifling detail. The action never really seems to rise and the tension in the novel hits a steady state or equilibrium point and never goes up or down from there.The final quarter of the novel was jam-packed with internal monologues and what I thought was needless exposition. Again, I'd recommend this book to anybody who enjoys speculative post-apocalyptic fiction. There is a TON of originality in the pages - but it kind of creaks and bows under its own weight well into the work. I've heard so many opinions (both good and bad) about this work that I decided I had to give it a try. Hugh Howey has succeeded in creating a terrifying world, peopled with interesting characters and challenges to overcome. The setting is incredibly original and some of the plot twists were suitably cool. I have nothing but respect for the author and the travails he overcame to even publish this work.That being said, I raced through the first half of the book, drawn into the myriad mysteries created by this strange world. I was not able to put the book down.Until about the midway point; in which case, I had a difficult time picking it back up. The pace screeches to a halt, characters make decisions in slow motion and over-analyze every singe trifling detail. The action never really seems to rise and the tension in the novel hits a steady state or equilibrium point and never goes up or down from there.The final quarter of the novel was jam-packed with internal monologues and what I thought was needless exposition. Again, I'd recommend this book to anybody who enjoys speculative post-apocalyptic fiction. There is a TON of originality in the pages - but it kind of creaks and bows under its own weight well into the work.
What do You think about Espejismo (2013)?
Great concept, well executed. Set the stage well for the continued series, although I'm content for now to use my imagination for what happens after Book 5.I thought that Book 5 went by a little quickly with some new characters suddenly introduced, but the tension never lessened. The resolution was not telegraphed enough for maximum plausibility, but it still made sense.I recommend that you read this book. If you read the first one, you will want to read the rest.
—pooja
Eh...after hearing so much about how great this book was, I was underwhelmed. It started out good, but then just too much detail and drawn-out scenes for me. Some of it may be that it had such a build-up and it didn't live up to the hype.Having said that, Howey is a great writer and I found myself multiple times wishing things like "I wish I would've written that." The book just wasn't my cup of tea.
—kill
3.5.....well written, but not as unique as I expected.
—azzie
