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The Change #3
Paris: A City of Fools
Where were you when the world changed?
One minute everything was fine and the next… they arrived. Those that saw them died instantly. The unlucky ones survived. Now unimaginable things straight out of nightmares roam the streets of our towns and cities. Nothing is impossible. Nowhere is safe. And no one can escape The Change…
Loïc’s friend Adrien is gone, kidnapped by the Impressionists, bizarre men made of paint who roam the Parisian catacombs. Now, if Loïc wants to see Adrien again, he must travel to the Louvre and bring him back from the lair of the strange – and deadly – Impressionists.
But the paint-men are not the only threat lurking in Paris, and Loïc must face down the needle-fi ngered Tricoteuse, the blade-mouthed Madame Loisette, and the dark secrets that haunt the footlights of the Grand Guignol…
One minute everything was fine and the next… they arrived. Those that saw them died instantly. The unlucky ones survived. Now unimaginable things straight out of nightmares roam the streets of our towns and cities. Nothing is impossible. Nowhere is safe. And no one can escape The Change…
Loïc’s friend Adrien is gone, kidnapped by the Impressionists, bizarre men made of paint who roam the Parisian catacombs. Now, if Loïc wants to see Adrien again, he must travel to the Louvre and bring him back from the lair of the strange – and deadly – Impressionists.
But the paint-men are not the only threat lurking in Paris, and Loïc must face down the needle-fi ngered Tricoteuse, the blade-mouthed Madame Loisette, and the dark secrets that haunt the footlights of the Grand Guignol…
- GenresYoung Adult
160 pages, Paperback
First published July 13, 2017
16 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
November 8, 2018
And here we are (amazing what you can read when sitting up waiting for an emergency gasman to turn up).
Anyway this story like the other two so far shifts the location and story - here rather than the journey style of story you have a different style and type - and to be honest I think this works all the better for it, if anything you are starting to see people possibly getting to live along side the change - rather than just hiding from its gaze
The story also I feel is the most atmospheric considering each one has chosen a different location as its base. The question is where will the next one go and what will happen next.
A lot of the changes appear to have a reason behind them - as if those left behind actually have an important role to play - so rather than just picking over the bits left over and see who survives longest there may even be an explanation to all of this however I would not rely on that too much .
Anyway this story like the other two so far shifts the location and story - here rather than the journey style of story you have a different style and type - and to be honest I think this works all the better for it, if anything you are starting to see people possibly getting to live along side the change - rather than just hiding from its gaze
The story also I feel is the most atmospheric considering each one has chosen a different location as its base. The question is where will the next one go and what will happen next.
A lot of the changes appear to have a reason behind them - as if those left behind actually have an important role to play - so rather than just picking over the bits left over and see who survives longest there may even be an explanation to all of this however I would not rely on that too much .
December 15, 2020
I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher, in return for an honest review. This review is based entirely on my own thoughts and feelings.
Overall rating : 2*
Writing skill : 2*
Plot: 3*
Characters: 1*
Weird unnecessariness: 1*
Okay so this one was slightly less weird than the other two, but still a bit bizarre. The characters were so much less described in this one and there wasn't the back story as much as in the previous books. But the plot was better, and I could follow what was happening. Maybe after the other 2 I just got used to how things jumped around a bit. It was still unbelievable and I have decided I should not read sci-fi any more, it is not for me.
Overall rating : 2*
Writing skill : 2*
Plot: 3*
Characters: 1*
Weird unnecessariness: 1*
Okay so this one was slightly less weird than the other two, but still a bit bizarre. The characters were so much less described in this one and there wasn't the back story as much as in the previous books. But the plot was better, and I could follow what was happening. Maybe after the other 2 I just got used to how things jumped around a bit. It was still unbelievable and I have decided I should not read sci-fi any more, it is not for me.
August 24, 2017
Thank you to the publishers for providing an ARC of the book through NetGalley.
This was the third book in The Change series, and I much preferred this book to London and New York.
This novel follows Loic, who lives in the underground tunnels in Paris. I really liked that they lived in the tunnels and it made me think of the Artilleryman in War of the Worlds. I thought that this book was much more ingrained into its location; the chaos caused by the Change is very Parisian in its style; murderous marionettes, Christine Daae, and live paintings in the Louvre.
I really liked how this novel actually closes the story, unlike London and New York, which both end with multitudes of questions.
This was the third book in The Change series, and I much preferred this book to London and New York.
This novel follows Loic, who lives in the underground tunnels in Paris. I really liked that they lived in the tunnels and it made me think of the Artilleryman in War of the Worlds. I thought that this book was much more ingrained into its location; the chaos caused by the Change is very Parisian in its style; murderous marionettes, Christine Daae, and live paintings in the Louvre.
I really liked how this novel actually closes the story, unlike London and New York, which both end with multitudes of questions.
November 19, 2017
Thank you NetGalley for sending me the first three of this series to read.
I need to make clear that this is not a series I’d recommend to keen readers. It’s definitely aiming for reluctant readers-those who struggle to stick with something that does not offer a thrill a minute. That doesn’t make it bad, but I struggled. There were just too many unanswered questions, and scenes that could have been utterly terrifying in the hands of another writer?
I need to make clear that this is not a series I’d recommend to keen readers. It’s definitely aiming for reluctant readers-those who struggle to stick with something that does not offer a thrill a minute. That doesn’t make it bad, but I struggled. There were just too many unanswered questions, and scenes that could have been utterly terrifying in the hands of another writer?
May 15, 2020
This time we're in Paris, with Loic, who was previously homeless and has taken on guardianship of a young boy called Adrien. After The Change, everyone's homeless now. When Adrien is captured by the painted men, the Impressionists, he has to decide whether to mount a daring and suicidal rescue or to continue hiding in the catacombs of Paris.
I like how these books introduce you to various cultural or historical features of an area. As it's Paris, there are monsters in the Louvre, an attack Eiffel Tower, self-aware statues and murderous lady guillotine. It didn't quite have the same comedy value as the previous book (I found the kids somewhat annoying) but enjoyed the variety of monstrous characters that relate to French history and culture.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I like how these books introduce you to various cultural or historical features of an area. As it's Paris, there are monsters in the Louvre, an attack Eiffel Tower, self-aware statues and murderous lady guillotine. It didn't quite have the same comedy value as the previous book (I found the kids somewhat annoying) but enjoyed the variety of monstrous characters that relate to French history and culture.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
August 6, 2017
Full review to come!
October 29, 2017
3.5 * really. Not the strongest of the stories with weak characterisation, but still a thrilling page-turner. Can see why the Paris story isn't revisited.
July 29, 2017
Originally published at Risingshadow.
This is a joint review about the first three volumes of Guy Adams' The Change (The Change 1: London - Orbital, The Change 2: New York - The Queen of Coney Island and The Change 3: Paris - A City of Fools).
Guy Adams' The Change is an imaginative and intriguing take on post-apocalyptic and dystopian YA science fiction. It's a welcome addition to YA science fiction, because the author breathes much-needed freshness into the genre by writing about how the world has changed since the strange and mysterious event called The Change, which killed many people and caused many shocking changes and mutations.
The Change invites readers on a thrilling journey into a changed world where familiar things have become something weird and unexpected, not to mention dangerous. Almost everything has changed and nothing is impossible, because The Change has affected humans, nature and places in startling ways.
I like the author's way of combining science fiction, suspense, humour and macabre elements, because he does it in an entertaining way. I especially like his ability to make this series distinctly different from other similar kind of series, because he stays true to his own voice and delivers suspense and surprises in a highly enjoyable way. He has succeeded in creating a YA sci-fi series that is both imaginative and inventive.
Here's a bit of information about volumes 1, 2 and 3 and my thoughts about them:
The Change, vol. 1: London - Orbital
- A young man wakes up on the outskirts of London and doesn't remember anything about the Change. He doesn't even remember his own name, but finds a name, Howard Philips, in a notebook and assumes it is his name. When Howard begins to investigate his surroundings he finds a man called Teodor how warns him of nighttime dangers and advises him to stay safe during the night. Soon he meets Hubcap who introduces him to an odd group of survivors who act in a slightly mad way, but have a good heart. Howard has a feelings that he needs to travel to London...
- The author writes excellently about how The Change has changed everything in the world. Nobody knows how the world was changed or why it was changed. Monsters can lurk everywhere and anything can be out there, anything. Only a few people have survived The Change. Most animals have also changed and become dangerous to humans.
- It was fascinating to read about the monster that moved between the cars and what it did to people, because some of the scenes were intriguingly brutal.
The Change, vol. 2: New York - The Queen of Coney Island
- Grace tries to find her brother, but can't go anywhere without the Queen of Coney Island's permission. One day she meets a man who calls himself God and asks him about the Queen whose permission is needed to get to the river. God joings Grace and together they start a journey towards Coney Island and the Queen. When they meet the Queen, they have to enter an amusement called Dreamland and feed the babies...
- The author writes well about what Grace has been through and how she was treated by her Uncle Ray. He also writes exceptionally well about how religion can be used to harm people. His vision of Grace's childhood and her experiences in the hands of her uncle are unsettling and thought-provoking.
- God is an interesting character, because he's a bearded man who believes that he is God, but refuses to show his possible abilities.
- The awakening Dreamland is quite a sight to behold. It was fascinating to read about what happened in Dreamland, because it was not the same amusement park as it used to be before The Change.
The Change, vol. 3: Paris - A City of Fools
- Loïc lives in the catacombs under Paris with other survivors. He found Adrien during one of his food runs and has taken care of him ever since then. One day Adrien is kidnapped by the Impressionists and Loïc has to travel to the Louvre to get him back. Soon Loïc notices that the Impressionist are not the only ones that are dangerous, because there are also other fatal threats...
- The author gives his readers an interesting glimpse into a changed Paris where living has become dangerous and where such amazing and menacing creastures as men who are made of paint and needle-fingered Tricoteuse can be found.
- I think that readers who know a thing or two about "The Phantom of the Opera" will find certain scenes especially interesting, because the story features familiar characters, including Christine Daaé who has quite a powerful voice.
Each of these novellas has its own story, but together they form a larger story about The Change.
The characterisation is handled well, because Guy Adams fluently describes what has happened to the characters and how they have learned to cope in the changed world. It was interesting to read about how the characters lived and what they had to do in order to stay alive, because their lives were anything but easy. The protagonists (Howard, Grace and Loïc) are strong characters whose lives have forever changed by the instantaneous event.
The action scenes are good and I found myself liking them. The author delivers fast-paced action scenes that convey how the characters feel about their situation and how they do their best to survive in a hostile environment that may kill them at any time. Living has become dangerous and dying is easy, because many kinds of threats surround the survivors and may catch them unawares.
I found the worldbuilding to be successful, because Guy Adams doesn't spend much time on describing the most obvious elements associated with post-apocalyptic YA fiction, but goes straight into business. I like the author's way of exploring what has become of London, New York and Paris and their residents, because it has a fresh feel to it.
The various mutations and changes that have occurred in nature and humans are fascinating (some of the changes are brutal, cruel and unpredictable), because even the most impossible things seem to have become possible after The Change. For example, pigeons can be extremely deadly (their vicious behaviour reminded me a bit of the birds in Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds). The monsters intrigued me a lot, because you don't normally see anything like them in this kind of YA science fiction.
I like the author's writing style, because he knows how to entertain his readers and raises questions that make readers want to find out more about the world. His fast-paced storytelling impressed me, because everything about it feels energetic. I was also impressed by his sense of humour, because he uses humorous elements to his advantage.
What's perhaps best about The Change is that it has little in common with many popular YA sci-fi series (The Hunger Games, The Divergent Trilogy etc) that have come to dominate the genre. It felt refreshing to read this series, because it was highly imaginative. I admire the author for his courage to write something different, because too many authors take the easy way out and end up writing stale YA stories.
I give The Change strong four stars on the scale from one to five stars. I look forward to reading the next three novellas (volumes 4, 5 and 6), because I have a feeling that they will be something special.
If you have a taste for post-apocalyptic and dystopian YA science fiction or if you're just looking for a good book to read, you should not hesitate to read Guy Adams' The Change, because it's highly enjoyable escapism and offers plenty of enjoyment to those who love thrilling and imaginative fiction. It's a satisfyingly entertaining, fast-paced and furious glimpse into a changed world where many things are different.
Entertaining YA science fiction!
This is a joint review about the first three volumes of Guy Adams' The Change (The Change 1: London - Orbital, The Change 2: New York - The Queen of Coney Island and The Change 3: Paris - A City of Fools).
Guy Adams' The Change is an imaginative and intriguing take on post-apocalyptic and dystopian YA science fiction. It's a welcome addition to YA science fiction, because the author breathes much-needed freshness into the genre by writing about how the world has changed since the strange and mysterious event called The Change, which killed many people and caused many shocking changes and mutations.
The Change invites readers on a thrilling journey into a changed world where familiar things have become something weird and unexpected, not to mention dangerous. Almost everything has changed and nothing is impossible, because The Change has affected humans, nature and places in startling ways.
I like the author's way of combining science fiction, suspense, humour and macabre elements, because he does it in an entertaining way. I especially like his ability to make this series distinctly different from other similar kind of series, because he stays true to his own voice and delivers suspense and surprises in a highly enjoyable way. He has succeeded in creating a YA sci-fi series that is both imaginative and inventive.
Here's a bit of information about volumes 1, 2 and 3 and my thoughts about them:
The Change, vol. 1: London - Orbital
- A young man wakes up on the outskirts of London and doesn't remember anything about the Change. He doesn't even remember his own name, but finds a name, Howard Philips, in a notebook and assumes it is his name. When Howard begins to investigate his surroundings he finds a man called Teodor how warns him of nighttime dangers and advises him to stay safe during the night. Soon he meets Hubcap who introduces him to an odd group of survivors who act in a slightly mad way, but have a good heart. Howard has a feelings that he needs to travel to London...
- The author writes excellently about how The Change has changed everything in the world. Nobody knows how the world was changed or why it was changed. Monsters can lurk everywhere and anything can be out there, anything. Only a few people have survived The Change. Most animals have also changed and become dangerous to humans.
- It was fascinating to read about the monster that moved between the cars and what it did to people, because some of the scenes were intriguingly brutal.
The Change, vol. 2: New York - The Queen of Coney Island
- Grace tries to find her brother, but can't go anywhere without the Queen of Coney Island's permission. One day she meets a man who calls himself God and asks him about the Queen whose permission is needed to get to the river. God joings Grace and together they start a journey towards Coney Island and the Queen. When they meet the Queen, they have to enter an amusement called Dreamland and feed the babies...
- The author writes well about what Grace has been through and how she was treated by her Uncle Ray. He also writes exceptionally well about how religion can be used to harm people. His vision of Grace's childhood and her experiences in the hands of her uncle are unsettling and thought-provoking.
- God is an interesting character, because he's a bearded man who believes that he is God, but refuses to show his possible abilities.
- The awakening Dreamland is quite a sight to behold. It was fascinating to read about what happened in Dreamland, because it was not the same amusement park as it used to be before The Change.
The Change, vol. 3: Paris - A City of Fools
- Loïc lives in the catacombs under Paris with other survivors. He found Adrien during one of his food runs and has taken care of him ever since then. One day Adrien is kidnapped by the Impressionists and Loïc has to travel to the Louvre to get him back. Soon Loïc notices that the Impressionist are not the only ones that are dangerous, because there are also other fatal threats...
- The author gives his readers an interesting glimpse into a changed Paris where living has become dangerous and where such amazing and menacing creastures as men who are made of paint and needle-fingered Tricoteuse can be found.
- I think that readers who know a thing or two about "The Phantom of the Opera" will find certain scenes especially interesting, because the story features familiar characters, including Christine Daaé who has quite a powerful voice.
Each of these novellas has its own story, but together they form a larger story about The Change.
The characterisation is handled well, because Guy Adams fluently describes what has happened to the characters and how they have learned to cope in the changed world. It was interesting to read about how the characters lived and what they had to do in order to stay alive, because their lives were anything but easy. The protagonists (Howard, Grace and Loïc) are strong characters whose lives have forever changed by the instantaneous event.
The action scenes are good and I found myself liking them. The author delivers fast-paced action scenes that convey how the characters feel about their situation and how they do their best to survive in a hostile environment that may kill them at any time. Living has become dangerous and dying is easy, because many kinds of threats surround the survivors and may catch them unawares.
I found the worldbuilding to be successful, because Guy Adams doesn't spend much time on describing the most obvious elements associated with post-apocalyptic YA fiction, but goes straight into business. I like the author's way of exploring what has become of London, New York and Paris and their residents, because it has a fresh feel to it.
The various mutations and changes that have occurred in nature and humans are fascinating (some of the changes are brutal, cruel and unpredictable), because even the most impossible things seem to have become possible after The Change. For example, pigeons can be extremely deadly (their vicious behaviour reminded me a bit of the birds in Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds). The monsters intrigued me a lot, because you don't normally see anything like them in this kind of YA science fiction.
I like the author's writing style, because he knows how to entertain his readers and raises questions that make readers want to find out more about the world. His fast-paced storytelling impressed me, because everything about it feels energetic. I was also impressed by his sense of humour, because he uses humorous elements to his advantage.
What's perhaps best about The Change is that it has little in common with many popular YA sci-fi series (The Hunger Games, The Divergent Trilogy etc) that have come to dominate the genre. It felt refreshing to read this series, because it was highly imaginative. I admire the author for his courage to write something different, because too many authors take the easy way out and end up writing stale YA stories.
I give The Change strong four stars on the scale from one to five stars. I look forward to reading the next three novellas (volumes 4, 5 and 6), because I have a feeling that they will be something special.
If you have a taste for post-apocalyptic and dystopian YA science fiction or if you're just looking for a good book to read, you should not hesitate to read Guy Adams' The Change, because it's highly enjoyable escapism and offers plenty of enjoyment to those who love thrilling and imaginative fiction. It's a satisfyingly entertaining, fast-paced and furious glimpse into a changed world where many things are different.
Entertaining YA science fiction!
October 8, 2017
The Change Paris follows Loic as he tries to save Adrian from the Impressionists. With Paris's dark past full of culture there's many threats throughout. The Impressionists come from the Louvre. The guillotine come alive, Madame Loisette. And then there's the theatre known for cruelty, torture and death.
The Change Paris was written in a different way to the previous two books. The main character is reiterating the story towards the readers and is quite paranoid. He won't give names or directions to places. This put me off straight away as it made it more difficult to read and care about the character.
This book was also a lot darker than the previous two. It felt less comically weird and more creepy. The living guillotine and the La Tricoteuse were the introduction to this more horror-like vibe. Then comes the theatre that livestreams the death and torture of people. Although it was still very weird. There's not much else I can about this book on it's own. The series seemed to peak with the first book, and I personally think Adams should have focused on one character or a group of characters who are linked together.
I wasn't invested in the story line or characters as I knew it was a short book and most likely wouldn't have a complete ending. This book had the most resolved ending as Loic was trying to rescue Adrian. But throughout, it just didn't have a plot that made me want to read. I was reading just to finish the book by the end which isn't why I should be reading. Going in I thought that this would be a series and link together. As a whole I didn't enjoy reading the series.
I received The Change: Paris* by Guy Adams as an e-book from the publisher via Netgalley. This is an unbiased and honest review.
The Change Paris was written in a different way to the previous two books. The main character is reiterating the story towards the readers and is quite paranoid. He won't give names or directions to places. This put me off straight away as it made it more difficult to read and care about the character.
This book was also a lot darker than the previous two. It felt less comically weird and more creepy. The living guillotine and the La Tricoteuse were the introduction to this more horror-like vibe. Then comes the theatre that livestreams the death and torture of people. Although it was still very weird. There's not much else I can about this book on it's own. The series seemed to peak with the first book, and I personally think Adams should have focused on one character or a group of characters who are linked together.
I wasn't invested in the story line or characters as I knew it was a short book and most likely wouldn't have a complete ending. This book had the most resolved ending as Loic was trying to rescue Adrian. But throughout, it just didn't have a plot that made me want to read. I was reading just to finish the book by the end which isn't why I should be reading. Going in I thought that this would be a series and link together. As a whole I didn't enjoy reading the series.
I received The Change: Paris* by Guy Adams as an e-book from the publisher via Netgalley. This is an unbiased and honest review.
November 20, 2017
(3.5 out of 5)
This book was my favourite of the series so far. The characters, the setting, the plot. It all seemed to come together in this book. I felt more strongly towards these characters and their relationships than I have in previous The Change books.
This book definitely upped the creep factor. The story is told straight from the main character’s point of view, I’m not sure if that helped to up the feeling of darkness and horror, but I definitely found it more enjoyable this way.
As with both the previous The Change books, the shortness of this book is something of an issue for me. They’re not advertised as short stories or novellas so I’d anticipated something longer and if I had paid for them I perhaps would have felt somewhat cheated.
My slight other issue is that these books left way more questions than they answered. Obviously a large part of that is to encourage readers to carry on reading and get the answers so I’m largely reserving judgement on that until I read the final books, but I do find a book works better if some questions are answered as more are posed, otherwise you’re left with a mountain of answers to provide in the final part of a book or series and it can appear rushed or just there for the sake of answering a question rather than woven into the series. So I am wondering how these books will finish and if that will be the case. I hope not!
This story was action packed, yet nothing got resolved and none of the questions I had since the first book were answered. So overall a great dystopian YA, but there’s definite room for a more detailed and expanded plot.
*Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
This book was my favourite of the series so far. The characters, the setting, the plot. It all seemed to come together in this book. I felt more strongly towards these characters and their relationships than I have in previous The Change books.
This book definitely upped the creep factor. The story is told straight from the main character’s point of view, I’m not sure if that helped to up the feeling of darkness and horror, but I definitely found it more enjoyable this way.
As with both the previous The Change books, the shortness of this book is something of an issue for me. They’re not advertised as short stories or novellas so I’d anticipated something longer and if I had paid for them I perhaps would have felt somewhat cheated.
My slight other issue is that these books left way more questions than they answered. Obviously a large part of that is to encourage readers to carry on reading and get the answers so I’m largely reserving judgement on that until I read the final books, but I do find a book works better if some questions are answered as more are posed, otherwise you’re left with a mountain of answers to provide in the final part of a book or series and it can appear rushed or just there for the sake of answering a question rather than woven into the series. So I am wondering how these books will finish and if that will be the case. I hope not!
This story was action packed, yet nothing got resolved and none of the questions I had since the first book were answered. So overall a great dystopian YA, but there’s definite room for a more detailed and expanded plot.
*Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
June 17, 2017
3.5 stars
Loic is a boy who lives in the ancient tunnels underneath the streets of Paris. Since the world went mad he and the group he hides with find the underground to be a safer place to be than above ground and out in the open. Above ground, the chaos of the Change reigns supreme. Paintings come alive, talking apes, and murderous marionettes are just a few of the outrageous creatures haunting the once beautiful city of Paris.
When some of these crazed creatures break into the underground and kidnap two of the younger residents, Loic feels responsible and makes a plan to launch a rescue mission. Hoping to bring them home, Loic gives himself over to one of the paintings responsible for the attack on the tunnels. A City of Fools tells the story of Loic's adventure as he sets forth to save his friends and return them all to t he safety of their subterranean hideout.
This was the third book in The Change series, but unlike it's predecessors it didn't grab on to me as strongly. The concept was, once again, an interesting premise; it just didn't seem to pack the punch the other stories did. Adams did bring back the horror vibe of book one that we didn't sense so much in book two. It definitely had a darker feel as opposed to the more humorous tone of last book as well. Overall, I'm glad to have read this book, though I don't feel any draw to explore its storyline further. Whereas I'd be on board for a follow up for both London's and New York's narratives as I feel each of those stories was brought to a close in such a way as to set the stage for more.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for making this review opportunity possible.
Loic is a boy who lives in the ancient tunnels underneath the streets of Paris. Since the world went mad he and the group he hides with find the underground to be a safer place to be than above ground and out in the open. Above ground, the chaos of the Change reigns supreme. Paintings come alive, talking apes, and murderous marionettes are just a few of the outrageous creatures haunting the once beautiful city of Paris.
When some of these crazed creatures break into the underground and kidnap two of the younger residents, Loic feels responsible and makes a plan to launch a rescue mission. Hoping to bring them home, Loic gives himself over to one of the paintings responsible for the attack on the tunnels. A City of Fools tells the story of Loic's adventure as he sets forth to save his friends and return them all to t he safety of their subterranean hideout.
This was the third book in The Change series, but unlike it's predecessors it didn't grab on to me as strongly. The concept was, once again, an interesting premise; it just didn't seem to pack the punch the other stories did. Adams did bring back the horror vibe of book one that we didn't sense so much in book two. It definitely had a darker feel as opposed to the more humorous tone of last book as well. Overall, I'm glad to have read this book, though I don't feel any draw to explore its storyline further. Whereas I'd be on board for a follow up for both London's and New York's narratives as I feel each of those stories was brought to a close in such a way as to set the stage for more.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for making this review opportunity possible.
April 27, 2018
'Paris: A City of Fools (The Change #3)' continues the series by Guy Adams about a world gone strange. I really liked this entry and I think the series is ramping up nicely.
After The Change, humans did what they could to survive. In Paris, that means hiding in the tunnels and foraging when they can. When Loic's friend Adrien gets taken by the Impressionists, Loic does what any friend would do and gives himself over to them. The Impressionists are living paint from art, and they are making their own museum collection. Along with living paint, there are killer marionettes, beings with blades for mouths and needles for fingers. It's a weird, new world out there.
So far, the stories only have The Change in common. In all three books so far, the weirdness has manifested differently. As far as a resolution to what's going on, these are more survival stories that take place in these odd places, but I like the series and I'll happily keep reading.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Solaris Books, Rebellion, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
After The Change, humans did what they could to survive. In Paris, that means hiding in the tunnels and foraging when they can. When Loic's friend Adrien gets taken by the Impressionists, Loic does what any friend would do and gives himself over to them. The Impressionists are living paint from art, and they are making their own museum collection. Along with living paint, there are killer marionettes, beings with blades for mouths and needles for fingers. It's a weird, new world out there.
So far, the stories only have The Change in common. In all three books so far, the weirdness has manifested differently. As far as a resolution to what's going on, these are more survival stories that take place in these odd places, but I like the series and I'll happily keep reading.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Solaris Books, Rebellion, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
August 19, 2017
I have to admit that I didn't enjoy this book as much as I did the second in the series although I did still finish it and find it entertaining enough. I though that the story was a bit more disjointed than the last 2 in the series and that the author made it so that you had to have read the previous books in the series in order to understand what had happened and not think that the main character was just on a strange acid trip. All that being said, there was still a lot of action and I did like that I didn't expect the ending at all in this one. The last 20 percent of the book was definitely the best part. All in all, I don't think I'll be continuing the series nor rereading it but it was entertaining while it lasted.
I would like to thank the publisher, author, and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I would like to thank the publisher, author, and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 28, 2017
I received a copy from Netgalley to review here is the blurb:
"Loïc’s friend Adrien is gone, kidnapped by the Impressionists, bizarre men made of paint who roam the Parisian catacombs. Now, if Loïc wants to see Adrien again, he must travel to the Louvre and bring him back from the lair of the strange – and deadly – Impressionists.
But the paint-men are not the only threat lurking in Paris, and Loïc must face down the needle-fi ngered Tricoteuse, the blade-mouthed Madame Loisette, and the dark secrets that haunt the footlights of the Grand Guignol…"
If I am honest this was my least favourite of the 3 books I have read so far. It still had a good story line but what I think it lacked was the humour with the first 2 in the series. Loved the idea of the deadly impressionists and the creepy theatre. Still a good read but not so much as books 1 and 2.
"Loïc’s friend Adrien is gone, kidnapped by the Impressionists, bizarre men made of paint who roam the Parisian catacombs. Now, if Loïc wants to see Adrien again, he must travel to the Louvre and bring him back from the lair of the strange – and deadly – Impressionists.
But the paint-men are not the only threat lurking in Paris, and Loïc must face down the needle-fi ngered Tricoteuse, the blade-mouthed Madame Loisette, and the dark secrets that haunt the footlights of the Grand Guignol…"
If I am honest this was my least favourite of the 3 books I have read so far. It still had a good story line but what I think it lacked was the humour with the first 2 in the series. Loved the idea of the deadly impressionists and the creepy theatre. Still a good read but not so much as books 1 and 2.
October 28, 2017
This story at first I found slightly different in style from the others at the way it addressed the reader, although it all makes sense once you get to a point and it was something unexpected.
When a ten-year-old boy, Adrien, whom Loic brought it upon himself to take care of is taken by The Impressionists, men made of paint, Loic leaves the safe place of the tunnels to go in search for him. On his journey he comes across wooden nutcracker puppets, an opera singer who can shatter literally anything, skeletons wearing human skins as costumes, just overall craziness.
I love how that in each city these stories portray, what is to be seen post-change is always different, always unexpected and always fun to follow.
Although, with this one you know that Loic's story has ended and it's an ending I was actually satisfied with.
Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
When a ten-year-old boy, Adrien, whom Loic brought it upon himself to take care of is taken by The Impressionists, men made of paint, Loic leaves the safe place of the tunnels to go in search for him. On his journey he comes across wooden nutcracker puppets, an opera singer who can shatter literally anything, skeletons wearing human skins as costumes, just overall craziness.
I love how that in each city these stories portray, what is to be seen post-change is always different, always unexpected and always fun to follow.
Although, with this one you know that Loic's story has ended and it's an ending I was actually satisfied with.
Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 2, 2017
This third installment in the change series follows the pattern of the first two. It's a fast fun read with very little plot, but set in a whimsical, fun, and interesting place. Despite seeming formulaic after recently reading the other two books, it kept my attention and I thoroughly enjoyed most of the story. The main characters of this story are less compelling than in the first two books. The antagonists are more well reasoned and fit better with the setting, which more than makes up for the simple protagonists.
When it came to the ending, however, it was a huge let down. As with the whole The Change series the ending is the weakest point of the story. In Paris, it was exceptionally weak, which was unfortunate because Paris was the strongest book of the series.
When it came to the ending, however, it was a huge let down. As with the whole The Change series the ending is the weakest point of the story. In Paris, it was exceptionally weak, which was unfortunate because Paris was the strongest book of the series.
August 19, 2017
Guy Adams does it again...but what am I saying? Of course he does. The Change has been a high-charged and entertaining series for me since book one. Adams continues the inventive streak he began then, and these books literally fly by as you read them.
In this book, as the cover suggests, we are in Paris and guillotines come out. There are other problems than falling blades as characters must deal with creatures called the Impressionists. These are enemies that are literally made out of paint. This is what happens, I suppose, to the Louvre when the Change (and Guy Adams) get their hands on it.
I recommend this book, as I do all in the series, for young readers and those who happen to be older but still enjoy a good time in fiction.
In this book, as the cover suggests, we are in Paris and guillotines come out. There are other problems than falling blades as characters must deal with creatures called the Impressionists. These are enemies that are literally made out of paint. This is what happens, I suppose, to the Louvre when the Change (and Guy Adams) get their hands on it.
I recommend this book, as I do all in the series, for young readers and those who happen to be older but still enjoy a good time in fiction.
August 23, 2017
The third book in this young adult series is set in Paris. It is not as gruesome as London but more so than New York.
Loic was homeless before the Change and was living in the subterranean city below Paris; made up of miles of tunnels, catacombs and a wide variety of people.
As with everywhere else as time moves on food sources have become more scarce. On one food run they decide not to try to kill a rhino that had escaped from the zoo - they had no way of getting that quantity of meat down to the tunnels.
The creatures are different. Parisian theatre district provides a lot of opportunities for the author's imagination to run rampant.
This is a very good series of YA books suitable for everyone. My thanks to Netgalley for providing copies in return for an honest review.
Loic was homeless before the Change and was living in the subterranean city below Paris; made up of miles of tunnels, catacombs and a wide variety of people.
As with everywhere else as time moves on food sources have become more scarce. On one food run they decide not to try to kill a rhino that had escaped from the zoo - they had no way of getting that quantity of meat down to the tunnels.
The creatures are different. Parisian theatre district provides a lot of opportunities for the author's imagination to run rampant.
This is a very good series of YA books suitable for everyone. My thanks to Netgalley for providing copies in return for an honest review.
September 12, 2017
Paint Men?
Impressionists?
OH MY!
This is book three in The Change series. Book two and three are better then the first that is for sure. I liked this book because of how unique is was. The people/creatures the main character Loic goes up against are so interesting. He is fighting to save a kid, Adrien, that he has taken under his wing. He wants to keep him alive and give him as good of a life as he possibly can in the crazy world they live in. I love the plot twist at the end of the book. I really wasn't expecting that. I am so glad I continued on with this series. I can't wait to read the last 3 books in the Novella series.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC of this book through Netgalley.
Impressionists?
OH MY!
This is book three in The Change series. Book two and three are better then the first that is for sure. I liked this book because of how unique is was. The people/creatures the main character Loic goes up against are so interesting. He is fighting to save a kid, Adrien, that he has taken under his wing. He wants to keep him alive and give him as good of a life as he possibly can in the crazy world they live in. I love the plot twist at the end of the book. I really wasn't expecting that. I am so glad I continued on with this series. I can't wait to read the last 3 books in the Novella series.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC of this book through Netgalley.
January 1, 2024
So I marginally preferred this to the second one in the trilogy (I haven’t read the first !) but I remain unconvinced.
The imagination is again evident and the creatures described in great detail - esp for a teenage audience - but I didn’t really understand the point of the story or the real context. Why did the myriad of fantastical creatures exist and had all of society disintegrated or was this chaos caused by a human revolution ?
There were definitely messages in here about the watchers and the watched - those that believed they were omnipotent and the ‘creatures’ they wanted to control. But the political subtleties were just too subtle . I don’t think I am going to bother to dig out the first book in the trilogy.
The imagination is again evident and the creatures described in great detail - esp for a teenage audience - but I didn’t really understand the point of the story or the real context. Why did the myriad of fantastical creatures exist and had all of society disintegrated or was this chaos caused by a human revolution ?
There were definitely messages in here about the watchers and the watched - those that believed they were omnipotent and the ‘creatures’ they wanted to control. But the political subtleties were just too subtle . I don’t think I am going to bother to dig out the first book in the trilogy.
July 4, 2017
Thanks to NetGalley, I got to read the third (and final?) book in Guy Adams's "The Change" series.
While not quite as horrific as the two previous, and certainly not as 'out there' as the second installment (The Queen of Coney Island), this book continued to tell the stories of those left behind after "The Change"(whatever that exactly was).
In Paris, a number of paintings from the Louvre have become animated, and are hunting down (among other things) some of those who survived.
Add to that a living guillotine, gargoyles, etc. and the adventure continues.
Bravo to Mr Adams for his ingenuity through the entire series.
While not quite as horrific as the two previous, and certainly not as 'out there' as the second installment (The Queen of Coney Island), this book continued to tell the stories of those left behind after "The Change"(whatever that exactly was).
In Paris, a number of paintings from the Louvre have become animated, and are hunting down (among other things) some of those who survived.
Add to that a living guillotine, gargoyles, etc. and the adventure continues.
Bravo to Mr Adams for his ingenuity through the entire series.
November 2, 2020
This third book, again in a different city to the previous ones, is set in central Paris. A group of people have made a life for themselves in the catacombs and tunnels underneath the city, largely safe from the strange monsters and beings that have taken over the city.
Loic, the main PoV character, is a former street child who has quite easily adapted to life under the streets, scavenging for food where he can. The main threat they face is the Impressionists, a race of paint-monsters who roam the streets and tunnels rounding up the people they find.
This book is more focused on people who have made a life for themselves following The Change (still a mystery, but safe to assume that weird things can happen now), rather than those struggling to come to terms with it.
It is quite an exciting tale of rescue, bargaining and trying to evade some very strange, but very Parisian, enemies who are never as they seem.
This book, for once, is fairly self-contained and has an ending and was a good short read.
Loic, the main PoV character, is a former street child who has quite easily adapted to life under the streets, scavenging for food where he can. The main threat they face is the Impressionists, a race of paint-monsters who roam the streets and tunnels rounding up the people they find.
This book is more focused on people who have made a life for themselves following The Change (still a mystery, but safe to assume that weird things can happen now), rather than those struggling to come to terms with it.
It is quite an exciting tale of rescue, bargaining and trying to evade some very strange, but very Parisian, enemies who are never as they seem.
This book, for once, is fairly self-contained and has an ending and was a good short read.
August 21, 2017
Out of all 3 books from this series I liked this the least. I couldn't get into the story as fast as the other 2. I liked some of the characters though and liked the idea of the impressionists.
What I did like was how the character Loic told this story and how the book started with him asking the question everyone asks in this series. This is what ties all the books in the series together. WHERE WERE YOU WHEN IT HAPPENED?
The scene at the end at the theatre I enjoyed as well. This to me was when I felt the pace I wanted from the rest of the book. Something happened just before the scene and I was like oh no may as well give up now but then out of nowhere I felt that the pace picked up and I had to get to the end quickly to find out what happens.
I received this copy from Netgalley to review
What I did like was how the character Loic told this story and how the book started with him asking the question everyone asks in this series. This is what ties all the books in the series together. WHERE WERE YOU WHEN IT HAPPENED?
The scene at the end at the theatre I enjoyed as well. This to me was when I felt the pace I wanted from the rest of the book. Something happened just before the scene and I was like oh no may as well give up now but then out of nowhere I felt that the pace picked up and I had to get to the end quickly to find out what happens.
I received this copy from Netgalley to review
August 15, 2017
This multiple character viewpoint novella is as random and unique as the rest of the series so far. The ending is not as abrupt with this novella as with the first two in the series, in fact it felt as if it could be a standalone novel. I am eager to read the rest of the series, find out if the storylines ever do join up, and find out what happened to all of the characters I have read about so far.
August 23, 2017
I wasn't as keen on this story as I was the first two, it was set in Paris after the events of The Change and was very surreal and weird and I never quite warmed to the characters.
That said, I'm still interested to read more on this subject as I'd like to see what happened to the previous characters in the instalments and what the change actually was.
That said, I'm still interested to read more on this subject as I'd like to see what happened to the previous characters in the instalments and what the change actually was.
December 11, 2017
After reading The Change: London Orbital I was looking forward to reading this book to see how it developed. Containing a different set of characters, that was fine, I looked forward to a different viewpoint to The Change however, I was disappointed, I felt the story didn’t develop and the story weaker than the previous book. A shame.
January 17, 2021
I have to admit, that while these books are a very, very, unique escape, I'm having less and less desire to read them as I go through the series. It's just so much, that I am starting to feel as if it is too much. I kept putting it down, picking it back up. Not really caring if I had forgotten what happened when I last read. It's all so ridiculous it almost didn't matter.
August 31, 2017
This is the weakest of the first 3 books in the series, character-wise, though it has the most interesting historical detail. The first two in the series are the better ones, but I will look forward to seeing how the series develops further.
January 4, 2018
This is just not the series for me. I didn't much like books one and three (two not at all), but that's just personal taste! They're very well written so if they're your thing then go for it I say.
November 30, 2021
Count your damned blessings people. The third installment of The Change includes the boilerplate legal note in the book details. 'This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.'
Hopefully Paris is not filled with giant murderous marionettes, living entities made of paint, or other horrors. If it it is infested, let us hope the resemblance is minimally accurate. Anything you can dream up post change can manifest, how and why is any one's guess.
Book three of The Change is a fine standalone book as well as world continuation. In this version of Earth, anyone looking to the sky on the date of change fell over instantly as lifeless meat sacks. Those who witnessed via recorded media are lunatics. Everyone else is just surviving day by day.
One might think themselves crazy if they dwell on the topic.
In Paris, the safest place is in the Catacombs. What once was a dangerous trap for the unsuspecting, now serves as a maze of dark safety for bands of humans. Growing mushrooms for sustenance and eating food scavenged from city raids, they are getting along reasonably.
Loic is a sixteen year old citizen of the underground. He is a member of one of the scavenger teams. He looks after post-apocalypse adoptive brother Adrien. He gets by.
Unfortunately, The Impressionists do not require light to move through the tunnels. They are not afraid of the dark, not disturbed by the moaning movements of the centuries old dead sitting by the walls. When The Impressionists raid the colony of survivors, they wrap their paint around their victims and drag them away, who knows where.
After Loic returns from a scavenging trip he finds that The Impressionists have taken Adrien and another child. Loic heads back to the surface in search of his brother.
Of all the books of The Change, this novella was by far my favorite. It contained some severe images which required me to wikipedia. For example, La Tricoteuse sitting by a guillotine knitting the innards of the dead. While historically inaccurate (use of innards), it is absolutely representative of the dark and disturbing La Tricoteuse pass time. Humans are screwed up.
The real kick for me was reading an argument between Robespierre’s children. Atheism arguing with Ego arguing with... it was a nice touch.
Great novella for sure.
--
Disclosure: This collection of words (nouns verbs adverbs etc) was presented digitally by the publication company for my opinion to be applied against in the form of written perception. Chance of false opinion is an impossibility as I am kind of an outspoken ass who likes to complain as much as talk about things I enjoy.
Hopefully Paris is not filled with giant murderous marionettes, living entities made of paint, or other horrors. If it it is infested, let us hope the resemblance is minimally accurate. Anything you can dream up post change can manifest, how and why is any one's guess.
Book three of The Change is a fine standalone book as well as world continuation. In this version of Earth, anyone looking to the sky on the date of change fell over instantly as lifeless meat sacks. Those who witnessed via recorded media are lunatics. Everyone else is just surviving day by day.
One might think themselves crazy if they dwell on the topic.
In Paris, the safest place is in the Catacombs. What once was a dangerous trap for the unsuspecting, now serves as a maze of dark safety for bands of humans. Growing mushrooms for sustenance and eating food scavenged from city raids, they are getting along reasonably.
Loic is a sixteen year old citizen of the underground. He is a member of one of the scavenger teams. He looks after post-apocalypse adoptive brother Adrien. He gets by.
Unfortunately, The Impressionists do not require light to move through the tunnels. They are not afraid of the dark, not disturbed by the moaning movements of the centuries old dead sitting by the walls. When The Impressionists raid the colony of survivors, they wrap their paint around their victims and drag them away, who knows where.
After Loic returns from a scavenging trip he finds that The Impressionists have taken Adrien and another child. Loic heads back to the surface in search of his brother.
Of all the books of The Change, this novella was by far my favorite. It contained some severe images which required me to wikipedia. For example, La Tricoteuse sitting by a guillotine knitting the innards of the dead. While historically inaccurate (use of innards), it is absolutely representative of the dark and disturbing La Tricoteuse pass time. Humans are screwed up.
The real kick for me was reading an argument between Robespierre’s children. Atheism arguing with Ego arguing with... it was a nice touch.
Great novella for sure.
--
Disclosure: This collection of words (nouns verbs adverbs etc) was presented digitally by the publication company for my opinion to be applied against in the form of written perception. Chance of false opinion is an impossibility as I am kind of an outspoken ass who likes to complain as much as talk about things I enjoy.
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