amandalina

First things first, I feel the need to mention that I don't really write negative reviews. Not because I think everyone should be nice, but because I'd rather just move on to another book, especially considering the length of my to-read list. However, I am so unbelievably perplexed by how popular and highly rated this book is, I just had to write something.
I was so looking forward to this series. I was ready to splurge on the first two books, but then I saw the set was added to my library's ebooks and joined the waiting list. From the very start I found myself skeptically questioning practically everything. At first I thought I was just in a bad mood because of what happened here in CT, but I was able to read another book just fine, so that wasn't it. I dunno, it just seemed like too many things happened simply for shock value, or to create some contrived sense of foreboding or danger. I presume the faction names are meant to sound clever, but really they just come off as self-congratulatory for knowing how to use a thesaurus. Maybe it's intentional, but I found the world building nonexistent, and the characters one-dimensional and unlikable. Perhaps worst of all were the random lack of contractions that served no purpose other than to ruin my immersion.
I'm going to stop here. If I had actually paid for the books or written this straight after finishing I might have elaborated more. Truth is, the only reason I took the time to write anything at all is that I haven't been in the mood to read anything after this book, and I figured anything that puts me off reading is most definitely noteworthy.
*Edited to add* I think it's pretty obvious I won't be continuing this series. So I'm just going to have to assume these people were a part of some huge social experiment. That's the only thing that seems halfway plausible to me.