Binti

Hmm. An odd one; a 4 star beginning with a 2 star ending. The world-building in the first third of the book is very good, basing itself on a largely unfamiliar culture and managing to integrate this into a futuristic setting well. Once the story moves out into the universe however, the wheels come off rapidly.

The first clue that something unsatisfactory is happening is when an entire swath of characters and experiences are skimmed over in what feels like a paragraph. Granted, they are soon after all killed off, but this does give the impression that the author is not really interested in building relationships, or, indeed, padding out the plot with anything that doesn't directly relate to the milestones.

From this point on, the plot doesn't so much have holes, as gaping chasms. The behaviour of the characters bears no resemblance to real-life in any shape or form, unless you are incredibly naïve. The fact that a horrific terrorist event has no negative consequences whatsoever is unbelievable to the extreme. Just because something is YA, but this doesn't mean that events needs to be that unrealistic.

So, in word: disappointing.