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haydenjweal's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Yikes! The real details of what goes on in North Korea are wild, and this dramatized story helps hit the true horror home.
I expected this book to be a lot more ... worthy, I suppose is the word. You know, slower. More inner monologues and introspection. But colour me thrilled, because this book wallops a punch of action, intrigue and multi-perspective stakes-raising suspense!
This sounds horrible but it's a lot of fun.
I expected this book to be a lot more ... worthy, I suppose is the word. You know, slower. More inner monologues and introspection. But colour me thrilled, because this book wallops a punch of action, intrigue and multi-perspective stakes-raising suspense!
This sounds horrible but it's a lot of fun.
merri's review against another edition
4.0
I have been startledly interested in North Korea for a longish time and I have read a few books about it, all non-fiction. This was the first novel about North Korea and what a ride it was. The author’s note at the end made the book even more unreal, it is still unbelievable to me how a country like North Korea can exist. This was an audiobook of 19 ish hours and it just flew by.
The story bound the lives of the three main characters together delicately. It obviously wasn’t a pleasant book with some of the worst phenomena North Korea has to offer, but I think it’s important for people in the West to know what is happening in North Korea.
A note about the reader of Finnish audiobook: it really did my head in how the reader didn’t know _anything_ about pronunciaton of korean names and words. I don’t know much either, but I do know for example how the car brand Hyundai is pronounced and it gives an idea how y acts in korean. I was annoyed until the end about this.
The story bound the lives of the three main characters together delicately. It obviously wasn’t a pleasant book with some of the worst phenomena North Korea has to offer, but I think it’s important for people in the West to know what is happening in North Korea.
A note about the reader of Finnish audiobook: it really did my head in how the reader didn’t know _anything_ about pronunciaton of korean names and words. I don’t know much either, but I do know for example how the car brand Hyundai is pronounced and it gives an idea how y acts in korean. I was annoyed until the end about this.
natahsiynyupyup's review against another edition
5.0
Best book I’ve read this year. D.B. John weaves a powerful narrative through the interconnected lives of two American sisters, and two seemingly unrelated North Korean citizens. This book was a page turner; while it starts as a slow burn, the pace soon becomes frenetic as the reader flips ever faster to see what will happen. I’ve never read about North Korea before, but you can tell John has done his research. He truly explores the psychology behind Kim worship among North Korean citizens in different castes. The quotes from Kim Il Sung at the beginning of some chapters provides a great sense of foreboding. I found the part about the train to be slightly unrealistic, but I was satisfied with the ending as the book wrapped up nicely. I’d highly recommend everyone read the author’s note about scenarios brought forth in the book. Very well done.
blondiesmile's review against another edition
A little bit slow at the beginning but I couldn't put the book down
maudhee's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Torture, Police brutality, and Trafficking
Minor: Drug use
oliviapengle's review against another edition
4.0
At times you think to yourself about the plot, "this is absurd!", and then you read the Author's Note and realize that several of the characters and plot developments are based on/inspired by real people and real accounts of living under the Kim regime. Fast-paced and really interesting.
bob_muller's review against another edition
5.0
A truly marvelous thriller; one that rings true with every beat.
bibliophilebookclub's review against another edition
2.0
I so badly wanted to love this one! It was a really promising start, and I was genuinely hooked, but then I got to just over halfway and completely disengaged from the whole thing! Which is really annoying, because it was an intriguing premise. But it lost me somewhere around the middle, and I was done for by then! Still though, great plot and really topical, just lost my way with it!
baffi's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75