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A review by bookslovebrains
The Great and Terrible by Gena Showalter
5.0
The Great and Terrible, Not So Great and Terrible
All I really have to say is wow. Gena Showalter is one of my autobuy authors, so as expected, I adored this book. But Gena really gave us an unexpected book. I feel Gena’s writing style has taken another turn! I don’t really know how to explain this new style, but if I had to, I’d say it’s a mixture of her YA style and paranormal romance style and a mixture of her older and newer work. It’s 1st person, twisty, not as sassy as her newer works, and a bit introspective.
What little remained of his emotionless mask fell from his features, revealing gut-wrenching vulnerability. As if he’d never dared hope someone might see something of worth in him. As if he’d waited his entire life for such an outcome.
Monsters and mayhem, oh my. I thought this book was clever in its subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, similarities to the Oz we’re familiar with, but really, nothing could’ve prepared me for that ending. The last several chapters were filled with twists so unexpected I actually just stopped. Everything - reading, thinking, and breathing - just stopped for nanoseconds as I tried to process.
A snippet from one of my favorite scenes:
“Tell me I didn’t compliment your ears.” “What do you like about them, exactly?” he asked, clasping my wrist and unwrapping my bandage. “Describe them in detail.”
He was trying not to laugh, wasn’t he? “No, I don’t think I will.”
Also a little unexpectedly, there was a depth to this story that Gena’s works do not always have. Masterpieces they might be, all-time favorites they might be, as developed they might be, and sometimes as filled with sensitive topics they might be, they are usually story-driven. As I mentioned, though, this one is a little bit more introspective. Maybe because it’s 1st person? I think some of her YAs, also 1st person, tend to be more introspective as well.
The denial hurt as much as it soothed, and the incongruity confused me. Though it shouldn’t, I supposed. At the moment, I felt as if I were two separate people. The girl from Kansas, and the woman in Hakeldama. They craved different things.
With him, I wanted more. To be valued. Seen. Known.
All I really have to say is wow. Gena Showalter is one of my autobuy authors, so as expected, I adored this book. But Gena really gave us an unexpected book. I feel Gena’s writing style has taken another turn! I don’t really know how to explain this new style, but if I had to, I’d say it’s a mixture of her YA style and paranormal romance style and a mixture of her older and newer work. It’s 1st person, twisty, not as sassy as her newer works, and a bit introspective.
What little remained of his emotionless mask fell from his features, revealing gut-wrenching vulnerability. As if he’d never dared hope someone might see something of worth in him. As if he’d waited his entire life for such an outcome.
Monsters and mayhem, oh my. I thought this book was clever in its subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, similarities to the Oz we’re familiar with, but really, nothing could’ve prepared me for that ending. The last several chapters were filled with twists so unexpected I actually just stopped. Everything - reading, thinking, and breathing - just stopped for nanoseconds as I tried to process.
A snippet from one of my favorite scenes:
“Tell me I didn’t compliment your ears.” “What do you like about them, exactly?” he asked, clasping my wrist and unwrapping my bandage. “Describe them in detail.”
He was trying not to laugh, wasn’t he? “No, I don’t think I will.”
Also a little unexpectedly, there was a depth to this story that Gena’s works do not always have. Masterpieces they might be, all-time favorites they might be, as developed they might be, and sometimes as filled with sensitive topics they might be, they are usually story-driven. As I mentioned, though, this one is a little bit more introspective. Maybe because it’s 1st person? I think some of her YAs, also 1st person, tend to be more introspective as well.
The denial hurt as much as it soothed, and the incongruity confused me. Though it shouldn’t, I supposed. At the moment, I felt as if I were two separate people. The girl from Kansas, and the woman in Hakeldama. They craved different things.
With him, I wanted more. To be valued. Seen. Known.