Friday, September 27, 2019

Mini-Reviews: Retellings

Ten by Gretchen McNeil (2012)

Thanks to Tracy at Cornerfolds for the rec!

Several teens are lured to a house party on a remote island, but when a storm cuts off all communication and people start dying, they realize something sinister is going on.

I was totally sucked in by this Agatha Christie retelling.  The action (and deaths) started almost immediately and didn't let up.  Knowing the twist from the original story, I was interested to see if McNeil would stay true to it or come up with something new - basically, I was kept guessing the entire time as to the identity of the killer!  The details were kind of gory in some parts, but not anything worse than any teen slasher movie I've ever seen.

I had a couple issues with the book.  There was far too much romance - people are being murdered and they can't find a way off the island, yet Meg, the main character, was so obsessed with every look and touch from her crush.  Also, while the reasoning behind the murders was plausible, I hate when the villain stops to spell out their entire plan, and it also seemed a bit too sophisticated.  Overall, though, it was a very quick, action-filled read!  4 stars



Sky Without Stars by Jessica Brody & Joanne Rendell (2019)

A retelling of the classic Les Miserables, set in the future on a distant planet.  Three people from very different walks of life are brought together as their world faces upheaval and revolution.

I've never actually read Les Miserables, but I have a general idea of the story, and I was impressed by how the authors translated the revolutionary times of 19th century France to a futuristic society in a far-off universe.  It didn't feel like a stretch at all that the planet of Laterre, after a few hundred years of civilization, is on the brink of revolution as most of the citizens are poor and barely surviving, while a select few are living the high life.  I loved watching the characters of Chatine, Marcellus and Alouette interact, working with and against each other.  I was probably most interested in Alouette's story, as she has spent much of her life in an underground community that houses books saved from the old world and also keeps a history of the current world.  Yep, in this world, very few people can read anymore - it's a lost art.  Although this book is quite lengthy, I never felt bored, and the cliffhanger ending made me eager for the next installment, to find out where the characters could possibly go next.  4 stars

22 comments:

  1. I'm obsessed with Les Mis both the book and musical so I definitely need to look into buying Sky Without Stars at some point!

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  2. I had to laugh at the main character of Ten being stranded on an island where a murderer is on the loose and people are being picked off one by one... and she’s hung up on her crush. Um, hello, Meg... *snaps fingers in her face... focus, girl! LOL

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    1. Seriously!! Although, it's teenagers, I guess I shouldn't be surprised!

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  3. I have never read any of Gretchen O'Neill's books! I've had Ten on my TBR list for awhile now--I love a good retelling, especially Agatha Christie. Great mini-reviews!

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  4. I never knew Ten was an Agatha Christie retelling. That's kind of cool. Gory is not really my wheelhouse, but I think it's great that the retelling was able to keep you on your toes.

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  5. I enjoyed Ten too! On my second read... I DNF'd the first time! I definitely agree with the romance being too much. Sky Without Stars sounds really good too!

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  6. The Agatha Christie retelling sounds really good. I'm glad you enjoyed Sky Without Stars too. I agree about never feeling bored even though it was a really long book.

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    1. I read it over the course of a weekend, and I never thought I would get through it that quickly!

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  7. Ohhh, now that looks like the kind of Agatha Christie retelling I can get behind -- it really does look so good (despite the overdone romance)

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    1. I liked the ways it stayed true to the original!

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  8. I liked TEN too, and agree with your thoughts on it. Loved the atmosphere! It actually got me reading a few other books of hers.

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    1. This was my first book by her, I'll have to check out some more.

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  9. The synopsis of each book sounds incredible, but it's a pity about the flaws in Ten. I also hate it when a villain spells out their entire plan! It makes literally no sense. And when the protagonist is more focused on her crush than on the danger around her....ugh that's so dumb and frustrating to read.

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    1. I know! Honestly, it would make it scarier if you didn't know the villain's motive.

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  10. I love the idea of a Les Mis retelling! Loved your mini reviews, Angela!

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  11. I really enjoy Agatha Christie, so I've been interested in Ten. I'm glad to hear it was mostly good!

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I'm so glad you stopped by, and I would love to hear your thoughts! Comments are always greatly appreciated!