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Jinxed #2
Unleashed
When Lacey Chu wakes up in a hospital room with no memory of how she got there, she knows something went really wrong. And with her cat baku, Jinx, missing in action and MONCHA, the company behind the invention of the robot pet, threatening her family, she isn't sure who to turn to for answers. When Lacey is expelled and her mom starts acting strangely after the latest update from MONCHA, Lacey and her friends work together to get to the bottom of it and discover a sinister plot at the heart of the corporation. Lacey must use all her skills if she has a chance of stopping MONCHA from carrying out their plans. But can she take on the biggest tech company in North America armed with only a level 1 robot beetle and her friends at her side?
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 5, 2021
69 people are currently reading
724 people want to read
About the author
Amy McCulloch
13 books830 followersAmy McCulloch is a Chinese-White author, born in the UK, raised in Ottawa, Canada, now based in London, UK. She has written several novels for children and young adults, and been published in over fifteen different languages. Her debut adult novel, BREATHLESS, releases in 2022.
Before becoming a full-time writer, she was editorial director for Penguin Random House Children’s Books. In 2013, she was named one of The Bookseller‘s Rising Stars of publishing.
When not writing, she loves travelling, hiking and mountaineering. In September 2019, she became the youngest Canadian woman to climb Mt Manaslu in Nepal – the world’s eighth highest mountain at 8,163m (26,781ft). Other addictions include coffee, ramen and really great books.
Before becoming a full-time writer, she was editorial director for Penguin Random House Children’s Books. In 2013, she was named one of The Bookseller‘s Rising Stars of publishing.
When not writing, she loves travelling, hiking and mountaineering. In September 2019, she became the youngest Canadian woman to climb Mt Manaslu in Nepal – the world’s eighth highest mountain at 8,163m (26,781ft). Other addictions include coffee, ramen and really great books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
November 8, 2020
Jinxed was one of my favourite children's books of the last few years, largely thanks to the fantastically realised baku. Now, in case you're not up to speed, these are tech 'pets' that were designed to replace smartphones. Basically they are 'a customisable smart pet that functions as a phone but makes the perfect companion too'. Which sounds kinda fun, but until you have read the book you have NO IDEA just how amazing they are.
In the last book we met Jinx, a cat baku. Yes, take a moment to imagine the thrill of having a futuristic feline friend. It's as awesome as you might imagine. Things were hanging in the balance for Jinx and his human, Lucy, at the end of the novel and this picks up soon after. The company which makes baku are up to no good (shockingly unrealistic for a tech giant, am I right?!) but thankfully the Scoobies (or this book's version) are ready to step in to take them on. It's fun and well-paced, but has less depth than the first book. Or perhaps I just didn't like the smaller amount of time with Jinx... Either way, I'm hoping to see more from this pair!
ARC via Netgalley.
In the last book we met Jinx, a cat baku. Yes, take a moment to imagine the thrill of having a futuristic feline friend. It's as awesome as you might imagine. Things were hanging in the balance for Jinx and his human, Lucy, at the end of the novel and this picks up soon after. The company which makes baku are up to no good (shockingly unrealistic for a tech giant, am I right?!) but thankfully the Scoobies (or this book's version) are ready to step in to take them on. It's fun and well-paced, but has less depth than the first book. Or perhaps I just didn't like the smaller amount of time with Jinx... Either way, I'm hoping to see more from this pair!
ARC via Netgalley.
October 12, 2020
Bevrijd is het vervolg op Jinxed en we gaan ook meteen verder in het verhaal. Het bedrijf Moncha heeft duistere plannen voor de toekomst. Lacey en haar vrienden proberen dit tegen te houden. 4 sterren voor dit vervolg omdat ik de spanning en actie wat miste. Die kwam laat. Wél tevreden met het einde.
February 23, 2024
Ik heb erg genoten van dit boek! Het einde was wel niet zo voldoening gevend als ik had gewild. Ik miste een opbouw in de spanning om echt blij te kunnen zijn met het einde. Maar toch is dit zeer goed en sla ik mezelf omdat ik dit zo lang heb laten liggen en niet meteen las toen het uitkwam. Foei voor mezelf.
March 5, 2021
Ik heb een hekel aan het einde :(
December 15, 2020
Where can I go to get my own Jinx? All the other bakus in this story seem like mindless robots in comparison. This second installment in the Jinx series is a fantastic STEM thrill ride. I was a bit underwhelmed with the first book, but intrigued by the promise of Jinx and does he ever deliver in Book 2. There is alot to unpack with this book: personal freedom, social media, family vs. friends, girls coding, and so much more. Many a discussion can be had about following the crowd, social media, and the need for discernment in adopting new technology. Will Lacey be in time to stop the evil plans of MONCHA and save the missing CEO, Monica Chan?
Thank you to Sourcebooks and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Sourcebooks and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
August 28, 2019
Ahhh 😍
This just made me want more. I did miss the fun of the school environment, and the Pokemon style battles, and a little bit of the techie tinkering. But I adored the corporate conspiracy we get instead!
Jinx is still sassy af, Lacey is awesome and super smart, and I loved Zora and the Academy crew. Plus we get to learn more about Paul hehe. I like neighbour Paul.
Honestly I just love a evil company and conspiracy story line and Eric Smith plays the bad guy so very well, he is properly evil. And I love the ambition he has and how it twisted into something sinister.
We did get the answers I wanted from the first book too - though I’d have liked a little more backstory around some of it, that’s just to flesh it out and spend more time in this fun world.
I still want a baku, and I’m sad this is over. A great stem read!
This just made me want more. I did miss the fun of the school environment, and the Pokemon style battles, and a little bit of the techie tinkering. But I adored the corporate conspiracy we get instead!
Jinx is still sassy af, Lacey is awesome and super smart, and I loved Zora and the Academy crew. Plus we get to learn more about Paul hehe. I like neighbour Paul.
Honestly I just love a evil company and conspiracy story line and Eric Smith plays the bad guy so very well, he is properly evil. And I love the ambition he has and how it twisted into something sinister.
We did get the answers I wanted from the first book too - though I’d have liked a little more backstory around some of it, that’s just to flesh it out and spend more time in this fun world.
I still want a baku, and I’m sad this is over. A great stem read!
May 27, 2022
*Squeals* This book was amazing!! It upped the stakes from the first book, building off the amazing, unique world. I loved the twist with a couple characters at the end and honestly wish there was more (but am also super happy with the way it ended). The only thing that really bothered me was how Tobias acted during the whole last half of the book, which felt kinda out of character for him and... kinda added some unneeded drama. Otherwise, though, this book had me on the edge of my seat, and there were more than a few times when I wished I wasn't reading it at night. 😆
If you're looking for a clean, thrilling sci-fi book, I highly recommend this duology!!
If you're looking for a clean, thrilling sci-fi book, I highly recommend this duology!!
January 19, 2020
At the end of book 1 we were left with Lacey unconscious so I was very excited to get to this book. Unfortunately it took a while to really keep my attention. Lacey is supposed to be super-smart but she seems quite clueless through the first part of the book. There are some really obvious things that she just ignores or forgets as soon as she's told, and a couple of events just seem to be glossed over. Luckily after the shaky start it got really gripping, even as I got near the end I couldn't see how it was all going to be resolved but there was a great ending.
March 17, 2021
I definitely loved this book more than Jinxed. The plot moved so much faster and I loved the character development throughout. I won't lie and say I didn't cry at the ending but that's just simply because I'm a big old softy!! Jinx definitely has to be my favourite character in this series as he reminds me a lot of Skulduggery Pleasant, you hear all of his sarcastic remarks in your own voice and that is why I love him! Definitely five stars for me.
October 18, 2021
Ik vond het echt een erg goed boek en ik heb echt van het verhaal genoten. De schrijfstijl was fijn en ik ben er dan ook doorheen gevlogen. Ik vond alleen dat alles net een beetje te soepeltjes verliep, waardoor ik de gebeurtenissen aan het einde wat uit verhouding vond. Ook het einde vond ik een klein beetje tegenvallen.
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February 23, 2020Book Bite on behalf of the Sunday Times: https://bit.ly/2PxtCph
~Why do they make schools so hideously ugly?~
~An underground street, a sloth baku and a conspiracy theory...Sounds like a wild dream.~
~With absolutely everything stored on the cloud, it's possible that if the internet went down and all the bakus failed, we'd have nothing real remaining.~
~Life doesn't always like to be colour-coded, even if I use the shiniest stickers. Sometimes, the things you think you can rely on, the foundations upon which you build your life, end up crumbling away.~
~You're too trusting...That's always been your problem. You think that human beings perform like one of your builds, where everything is predictable. But you can't...~
~Why do they make schools so hideously ugly?~
~An underground street, a sloth baku and a conspiracy theory...Sounds like a wild dream.~
~With absolutely everything stored on the cloud, it's possible that if the internet went down and all the bakus failed, we'd have nothing real remaining.~
~Life doesn't always like to be colour-coded, even if I use the shiniest stickers. Sometimes, the things you think you can rely on, the foundations upon which you build your life, end up crumbling away.~
~You're too trusting...That's always been your problem. You think that human beings perform like one of your builds, where everything is predictable. But you can't...~
February 16, 2021
A nice ending that closes this duology well!
I really liked how the action takes a much more decisive turn in this second volume: we see the much darker side of technology and its power, and it's pretty cool to discover, because quite realistic.
On the other hand, I was quite surprised by the lack of reactions from the adults who, apart from the antagonists, are quite absent or passive throughout the story ... which seems to me not very credible, even if I understand the idea that this is the children who discover "the ruse".
In short, a good conclusion, which made me spend a great time reading! ^^
I really liked how the action takes a much more decisive turn in this second volume: we see the much darker side of technology and its power, and it's pretty cool to discover, because quite realistic.
On the other hand, I was quite surprised by the lack of reactions from the adults who, apart from the antagonists, are quite absent or passive throughout the story ... which seems to me not very credible, even if I understand the idea that this is the children who discover "the ruse".
In short, a good conclusion, which made me spend a great time reading! ^^
July 31, 2020
Het voelt gek genoeg alweer als een hele tijd geleden dat ik Jinxed las. En naast dat ik zelf ongelooflijk hard van dit boek genoot, wist ik ook meteen dat het een boek was dat ik aan mijn nichtje wilde geven. Ze is een wetenschapsmeisje en ik wil dat graag een beetje aanwakkeren, cool maken, zorgen dat ze dat blijft. Dus, toen ik van Boekhandel Roojboek in Venray dit recensie-exemplaar in mijn handen kreeg gisteren kon ik mijn geluk niet op.
Het boek gaat verder waar het eerste deel stopte. Omdat Lacey wat problemen heeft met haar geheugen, wordt op een hele natuurlijke manier nog eens verteld wat er in het eerste boek allemaal gebeurd is, maar dan wordt het echt spannend. Waar het eerste boek vooral leuk en geheimzinnig was, vol met leuke trucjes, wedstrijden en technische hoogstandjes, is dit het boek dat zich vooral focust op de gevaren van die technologie en onze afhankelijkheid ervan. Dit is het boek dat ons vooral laat zien hoe makkelijk het is om van deze technologie zwaar misbruik te maken.
En als snel wordt duidelijk dat Lacey, net als veel tieners in andere young adults, de wereld zal moeten redden. Wat vooral heel mooi is, is dat dit boek nooit vergeet dat Lacey nog maar vijftien is, dat ze helemaal nog niet toe is aan het redden van de wereld. Ze heeft zenuwinzinkingen, ze is bang, ze heeft momenten waarop ze op wil geven en ze weet vooral dat ze het niet alleen kan. Het maakt Lacey heel realistisch en echt. En het maakt het verhaal des te geloofwaardiger.
Dat is knap, voor een verhaal dat zich afspeelt in een mogelijke toekomst met allerlei technische mogelijkheden waar wij ons nog geen voorstelling van kunnen maken. Hoewel, ergens voelt deze toekomst ook niet heel ver weg. Ik denk dat er zeker al prototypes van deze technologie mogelijk zijn. Dus wie weet, misschien gaan wij de eerste baku's nog wel meemaken en aansluiten op onze hersenen. En laten we dan hopen dat ze alle onafhankelijke commissies en veiligheidsbepalingen een paar stappen eerder invoeren.
Het boek gaat verder waar het eerste deel stopte. Omdat Lacey wat problemen heeft met haar geheugen, wordt op een hele natuurlijke manier nog eens verteld wat er in het eerste boek allemaal gebeurd is, maar dan wordt het echt spannend. Waar het eerste boek vooral leuk en geheimzinnig was, vol met leuke trucjes, wedstrijden en technische hoogstandjes, is dit het boek dat zich vooral focust op de gevaren van die technologie en onze afhankelijkheid ervan. Dit is het boek dat ons vooral laat zien hoe makkelijk het is om van deze technologie zwaar misbruik te maken.
En als snel wordt duidelijk dat Lacey, net als veel tieners in andere young adults, de wereld zal moeten redden. Wat vooral heel mooi is, is dat dit boek nooit vergeet dat Lacey nog maar vijftien is, dat ze helemaal nog niet toe is aan het redden van de wereld. Ze heeft zenuwinzinkingen, ze is bang, ze heeft momenten waarop ze op wil geven en ze weet vooral dat ze het niet alleen kan. Het maakt Lacey heel realistisch en echt. En het maakt het verhaal des te geloofwaardiger.
Dat is knap, voor een verhaal dat zich afspeelt in een mogelijke toekomst met allerlei technische mogelijkheden waar wij ons nog geen voorstelling van kunnen maken. Hoewel, ergens voelt deze toekomst ook niet heel ver weg. Ik denk dat er zeker al prototypes van deze technologie mogelijk zijn. Dus wie weet, misschien gaan wij de eerste baku's nog wel meemaken en aansluiten op onze hersenen. En laten we dan hopen dat ze alle onafhankelijke commissies en veiligheidsbepalingen een paar stappen eerder invoeren.
December 21, 2020
Amy McCulloch's middle grade novel Jinxed absolutely charmed me when I read a galley late last year. When the publisher offered me a early chance to read the sequel Unleashed, via NetGalley, I jumped at the chance.
In this near-future science fiction setting, people don't simply have phones at hand, they have a baku--essentially, a computer that looks like an animal or insect, acting as their personal assistant and ready source of knowledge and connections. In the first book, bright young engineer Lacey Chu finds a battered cat baku and brings it back to life, not realizing until too late that this is a revolutionary new baku that escaped from the company she idolizes, Moncha. Of course, mischief ensues--she finds the cat, named Jinx, isn't a more robot, but sentient and full of snark, and that Moncha has a definite evil and ambitious side. That really comes to a head in the sequel, when she discovers that Moncha wants to make its users happy--at all costs.
I loved this book. It's a breezy, fast read that is full of action, realistic and complicated characters, and moral dilemmas that are addressed in non-preachy ways that will make readers of all ages stop and think. I did find Lacey's amnesia at the start of the book to be a bit too convenient a literary device, but fortunately, she works through that quickly. As ever, I adore Jinx. I want a Jinx of my own. I really appreciated how Lacey's connection with her school bully develops in surprising ways, too. These books have genuine depth while staying fun all the while.
Unleashed comes out on January 5th, 2021. Be sure to read Jinxed first so you can fully enjoy the full arc of this duology.
In this near-future science fiction setting, people don't simply have phones at hand, they have a baku--essentially, a computer that looks like an animal or insect, acting as their personal assistant and ready source of knowledge and connections. In the first book, bright young engineer Lacey Chu finds a battered cat baku and brings it back to life, not realizing until too late that this is a revolutionary new baku that escaped from the company she idolizes, Moncha. Of course, mischief ensues--she finds the cat, named Jinx, isn't a more robot, but sentient and full of snark, and that Moncha has a definite evil and ambitious side. That really comes to a head in the sequel, when she discovers that Moncha wants to make its users happy--at all costs.
I loved this book. It's a breezy, fast read that is full of action, realistic and complicated characters, and moral dilemmas that are addressed in non-preachy ways that will make readers of all ages stop and think. I did find Lacey's amnesia at the start of the book to be a bit too convenient a literary device, but fortunately, she works through that quickly. As ever, I adore Jinx. I want a Jinx of my own. I really appreciated how Lacey's connection with her school bully develops in surprising ways, too. These books have genuine depth while staying fun all the while.
Unleashed comes out on January 5th, 2021. Be sure to read Jinxed first so you can fully enjoy the full arc of this duology.
February 27, 2021
I loved the first novel in this series, Jinxed. So, I was definitely on board for this follow up!
Jinx is a baku...a personalized smart pet. Lacey Chu loves her baku very much, even though she really isn't supposed to have Jinx. She found and repaired him. (Read the first book!) MONCHU the company that builds baku is up to some shady things. At the end of the first book, Lacey was in trouble...and the situation gets even more tense in Unleashed. Can Lacey and her friends prevent MONCHU from succeeding in its sinister plans?
I absolutely LOVE the idea of a fully customizable smart pet! I would own a Jinx in a heartbeat (don't tell my dogs & cats...)!
This book closes out the Jinx duology. Excellent, cute and exciting books for middle grade readers (and adults, too!).
I can't wait to read what Amy McCulloch writes next! Children's books are such a wonderful escape for me -- and Lord knows after the last year, I needed escape! These stories about Lacey and her baku Jinx fit the bill perfectly!
Full stars from me! Fun, entertaining and wonderful!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book....and immediately bought the audio book when it came out! :) All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
Jinx is a baku...a personalized smart pet. Lacey Chu loves her baku very much, even though she really isn't supposed to have Jinx. She found and repaired him. (Read the first book!) MONCHU the company that builds baku is up to some shady things. At the end of the first book, Lacey was in trouble...and the situation gets even more tense in Unleashed. Can Lacey and her friends prevent MONCHU from succeeding in its sinister plans?
I absolutely LOVE the idea of a fully customizable smart pet! I would own a Jinx in a heartbeat (don't tell my dogs & cats...)!
This book closes out the Jinx duology. Excellent, cute and exciting books for middle grade readers (and adults, too!).
I can't wait to read what Amy McCulloch writes next! Children's books are such a wonderful escape for me -- and Lord knows after the last year, I needed escape! These stories about Lacey and her baku Jinx fit the bill perfectly!
Full stars from me! Fun, entertaining and wonderful!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book....and immediately bought the audio book when it came out! :) All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
September 15, 2020
(Jinxed 2) Unleashed
story 4/5
characters 4,5/5
writing 4,5/5
audio/paper Papier.
reread? Yes.
Recommend it? Yes!
Verhaal: 4/5
Karakters: 4,5/5
Schrijfstijl: 4,5/5
Papier/audio? Papier.
Herlezen: Ja.
Aanrader? Zeker!
story 4/5
characters 4,5/5
writing 4,5/5
audio/paper Papier.
reread? Yes.
Recommend it? Yes!
Verhaal: 4/5
Karakters: 4,5/5
Schrijfstijl: 4,5/5
Papier/audio? Papier.
Herlezen: Ja.
Aanrader? Zeker!
January 27, 2021
Book One of 2021
I read the first book in this series a few weeks ago and WOW am I glad that I didn't have a long wait for this one because the cliffhanger at the end of book one nearly killed me! This book jumps right back into the action, set in a futuristic Toronto where a company called Moncha Corp. is up to some sinister stuff. The main premise of this book follows our main character Lacey Chu as she works to answer the questions the first book left her with. My favorite part of this series was the futuristic animal companions called bakkus. Made of metal, they're like self phones...but better.
This book, however, deals with the idea of whether or not AI is a real creature and just how safe is the technology we surround ourselves with. I loved the moral issues that were discussed in this book! Jinx, Lacey's wayward bakku is still as funny as ever but unfortunately isn't around for the first part of the novel, which is a big bummer.
The only reason I gave this book a 4/5 instead of a 5/5 is because I was sad that we missed out on the school setting as well as the bakku battles seen in the first book. I also was saddened by Toby's character degression. Still, this was a well-rounded sequel and I will definitely be looking into this author's backlist as well as whatever else she decides to write.
📱🐈⬛🥼
I read the first book in this series a few weeks ago and WOW am I glad that I didn't have a long wait for this one because the cliffhanger at the end of book one nearly killed me! This book jumps right back into the action, set in a futuristic Toronto where a company called Moncha Corp. is up to some sinister stuff. The main premise of this book follows our main character Lacey Chu as she works to answer the questions the first book left her with. My favorite part of this series was the futuristic animal companions called bakkus. Made of metal, they're like self phones...but better.
This book, however, deals with the idea of whether or not AI is a real creature and just how safe is the technology we surround ourselves with. I loved the moral issues that were discussed in this book! Jinx, Lacey's wayward bakku is still as funny as ever but unfortunately isn't around for the first part of the novel, which is a big bummer.
The only reason I gave this book a 4/5 instead of a 5/5 is because I was sad that we missed out on the school setting as well as the bakku battles seen in the first book. I also was saddened by Toby's character degression. Still, this was a well-rounded sequel and I will definitely be looking into this author's backlist as well as whatever else she decides to write.
📱🐈⬛🥼
October 10, 2019
I very much enjoyed this sequel. I liked Jinxed a lot when I read it last year, especially the last 100 or so pages and this one keeps up that pace almost all the way through. I very much like the friendships Lacey has and how they all work together. One big thing was a little obvious to me and took the characters themselves a long time to work out but it didn't stop me enjoying the book at all.
A solid 4.5 stars and the sadness that I can't have a baku is real.
A solid 4.5 stars and the sadness that I can't have a baku is real.
February 3, 2021
The first book was so fun and I couldn't find this one anywhere. We finally ordered a copy out of England. It was ok but nothing I will reread. I still love the premise but the author had an agenda and it didn't seem to mesh with a cohesive story line.
March 12, 2022
kinda had high expectations for this because i remembered really liking the first book and it just.. didn't really meet them
still a good book
i believe this is the conclusion of the story, but there are a lot of seemingly open ends and i just don't like that
still a good book
i believe this is the conclusion of the story, but there are a lot of seemingly open ends and i just don't like that
October 1, 2019
Meh. Not as good as the first book. Not as well written. Kind of predictable. More telling than showing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2020
Spoiler alert!
The last chapter was a real tear-jerker.
Still not really over it, even though the ending was a happy one.
The last chapter was a real tear-jerker.
Still not really over it, even though the ending was a happy one.
March 25, 2020
Net als het eerste deel viel me hier in het begin ook wel op dat Lacey niet helemaal leek te weten wat ze nu juist wil. Het is nu weer het een, dan weer het ander. Na een bladzijde of 50 begint dat wel te veranderen en gaat ze meer recht op haar doel af.
Ook verder is er een verbetering zichtbaar. Jinx heeft zijn irritante trekjes verloren (al krijg ik nu van Slick de griezels, maar goed, dat moet ook wel) en naast Lacey worden er ook een paar andere personages meer uitgewerkt. De aandacht naar Zora is aangenaam! Wat dan weer minder was, is de plotlijn over Laceys vader die er opeens tussenkomt en die mij persoonlijk echt geen zier kon schelen.
Het verhaal zelf is wel redelijk origineel. Er zitten, net zoals in Boek 1, een aantal gebruikelijke elementen in - high-tech snufjes die net iets té high-tech zijn, een groot bedrijf dat aan machtsmisbruik doet - en daar kijken we dan ook minder van op. Maar er worden wel originele twists aan gegeven. De koepel over Lake Baku, bijvoorbeeld, alsook de hele update waar een groot deel van het verhaal uiteindelijk om draait. Als het gaat om concrete ideeën, zijn die zeker mooi bedacht.
Ik vraag me wel af hoe dat nu zit met Jinx op het einde. Dat was... vaag. Aan de andere kant: het eindigt een keer niet met een romance, da's ook weer iets. Over het algemeen denk ik, 'laat maar komen, geen probleem,' maar soms komt het ook gewoon je strot uit, en dan is het tof dat er nog eens een boek is dat niet zo cliché eindigt. Ook plezant is het einde met Monica en al de rest. Is het verrassend? Nee, niet echt, maar dat hoeft ook niet.
Wat misschien het grootste probleem is aan dit boek, is dat het voor mij nooit écht spannend werd. Al is er echt een deadline in het verhaal, ik had nooit helemaal het gevoel dat die niet bereikt zou worden. De spanning had overal wel wat opgedreven mogen worden.
Maar och, aan de andere kant: dit is gewoon een beetje een no nonsense-boek waar je op een namiddag of avond doorvliegt, als je vanwege corona toch thuis vastzit. Je kunt gewoon even dat boek openslaan en genieten maar. Even tijdverdrijf, al vind ik Amy's Potion-boeken nog steeds beter.
7,6/10
Ook verder is er een verbetering zichtbaar. Jinx heeft zijn irritante trekjes verloren (al krijg ik nu van Slick de griezels, maar goed, dat moet ook wel) en naast Lacey worden er ook een paar andere personages meer uitgewerkt. De aandacht naar Zora is aangenaam! Wat dan weer minder was, is de plotlijn over Laceys vader die er opeens tussenkomt en die mij persoonlijk echt geen zier kon schelen.
Het verhaal zelf is wel redelijk origineel. Er zitten, net zoals in Boek 1, een aantal gebruikelijke elementen in - high-tech snufjes die net iets té high-tech zijn, een groot bedrijf dat aan machtsmisbruik doet - en daar kijken we dan ook minder van op. Maar er worden wel originele twists aan gegeven. De koepel over Lake Baku, bijvoorbeeld, alsook de hele update waar een groot deel van het verhaal uiteindelijk om draait. Als het gaat om concrete ideeën, zijn die zeker mooi bedacht.
Ik vraag me wel af hoe dat nu zit met Jinx op het einde. Dat was... vaag. Aan de andere kant: het eindigt een keer niet met een romance, da's ook weer iets. Over het algemeen denk ik, 'laat maar komen, geen probleem,' maar soms komt het ook gewoon je strot uit, en dan is het tof dat er nog eens een boek is dat niet zo cliché eindigt. Ook plezant is het einde met Monica en al de rest. Is het verrassend? Nee, niet echt, maar dat hoeft ook niet.
Wat misschien het grootste probleem is aan dit boek, is dat het voor mij nooit écht spannend werd. Al is er echt een deadline in het verhaal, ik had nooit helemaal het gevoel dat die niet bereikt zou worden. De spanning had overal wel wat opgedreven mogen worden.
Maar och, aan de andere kant: dit is gewoon een beetje een no nonsense-boek waar je op een namiddag of avond doorvliegt, als je vanwege corona toch thuis vastzit. Je kunt gewoon even dat boek openslaan en genieten maar. Even tijdverdrijf, al vind ik Amy's Potion-boeken nog steeds beter.
7,6/10
January 4, 2021
Thank you to Edelweiss+ and the publisher for an eARC of this book.
I just finished the first book, Jinxed, last week, and I was thrilled to find out that the sequel was available on Edelweiss+.
In this story, we find that Lacey is in the hospital and has no memory of how she ended up there. As she starts to recover and pieces of her memory return, she discovers that without her level 3 baku, Jinx, she's been expelled from school. She decides to upgrade her beetle...until strange things start to happen with it, and also with her mom. As Lacey, her best friend, and her former teammates work together to understand what's going on, they uncover a massive plot for corporate takeover that affects countless unsuspecting citizens. It's a race against the clock to find the missing CEO and stop the unthinkable from happening.
I love the STEM focus of these books, and find the technology intriguing and thought-provoking. This story also comes with a moral question about what it means to be happy, and what price a person is willing to pay for it. I so enjoy watching Lacey and Zora capably handle the building and coding challenges that come their way, and think young readers need to see more girls who rock in these areas. Jinx is my favorite character as he's full of surprises, and hope never seems to be lost because of all his special abilities.
I wasn't a huge fan of the ending, as I hoped for more to develop and be explained. I'd love to see more books in this series, and look forward to sharing this one.
I just finished the first book, Jinxed, last week, and I was thrilled to find out that the sequel was available on Edelweiss+.
In this story, we find that Lacey is in the hospital and has no memory of how she ended up there. As she starts to recover and pieces of her memory return, she discovers that without her level 3 baku, Jinx, she's been expelled from school. She decides to upgrade her beetle...until strange things start to happen with it, and also with her mom. As Lacey, her best friend, and her former teammates work together to understand what's going on, they uncover a massive plot for corporate takeover that affects countless unsuspecting citizens. It's a race against the clock to find the missing CEO and stop the unthinkable from happening.
I love the STEM focus of these books, and find the technology intriguing and thought-provoking. This story also comes with a moral question about what it means to be happy, and what price a person is willing to pay for it. I so enjoy watching Lacey and Zora capably handle the building and coding challenges that come their way, and think young readers need to see more girls who rock in these areas. Jinx is my favorite character as he's full of surprises, and hope never seems to be lost because of all his special abilities.
I wasn't a huge fan of the ending, as I hoped for more to develop and be explained. I'd love to see more books in this series, and look forward to sharing this one.
December 18, 2021
While I felt lukewarm about Jinxed, I loved Unleashed. It felt like a stronger book in many ways. My only complaint is that scenes felt resolved too easily or brushed aside at times. However, the stakes were a lot higher in this one and I really enjoyed the characterizations. Lacey really came to life in this book, and I loved getting to know more about her family and friends. Zora gets a lot more time in this book. She is a great character that I came to love in this book. I still adore the bakus. They are really great, and I loved how Lacey got to give some love to Slick in this one. This was an overall fantastic continuation of Jinxed and I would love to see more work from this author.
I would like to thank Sourcebooks who provided me a copy through their Early Reads program.
I would like to thank Sourcebooks who provided me a copy through their Early Reads program.
August 22, 2020
Weet niet goed wat ik van het einde van dit boek vind, en het laat me achter met gemengde gevoelens. Vind ook dat in het boek bepaalde details niet kloppend waren. Ik weet ook nog niet of ik hoop op een deel 3 voor wat meer duidelijkheid of dat het zo beter afgesloten kan blijven. Ik ga hem wel 3 sterren geven omdat ik een 4 te hoog vind, er waren nog al wat voorspelbare stukken en die niet kloppende details. Maar het blijft buiten dat om is het een makkelijk lezend verhaal en is het (op het einde na) een waardig deel 2.
September 8, 2021
This was the second book of the Jinxed series. I loved the first book so I just had to read the second one! After I finished the first book, I immediatly hopped into line for this one! This book had you hooked to the pages for hours! I was reading this book every second I had to spare. This was definitely my favorite series I've read so far. The ending was so beautiful, I started crying. I hope a third book comes out! Definitely recommend!
February 2, 2022
Alright! Finally got to the end of Unleashed! And I have to say, perfect ending for the duology I wish I had had around growing up!
I don't even know where to start, really. I don't like to give spoilers in my comments, I like to keep them as clean as possible, but really so much happens. This tiny book felt massive in the best way possible!
And I've really come out of it with a huge smile and no words to say except maybe...
Jinx!
I don't even know where to start, really. I don't like to give spoilers in my comments, I like to keep them as clean as possible, but really so much happens. This tiny book felt massive in the best way possible!
And I've really come out of it with a huge smile and no words to say except maybe...
Jinx!
July 6, 2020
I fell in love with the entire atmosphere of the first book, and even though the whole Hogwarts feeling wasn't there anymore now, I still really enjoyed this book too. It was exciting, lots of things were happening, and it raised a few very intriguing questions about technology and our dependance on it. And of course there was Jinx, which is kind of enough for an awesome book already.
September 19, 2021
OMG! just when I thought it couldn't top book 1....BAM. This is a new top fav series. And maybe my all time fav middle grade/young ya. The inspiring mcs, the relatable struggles, the LIFE LESSONS....I learned from this book as a 28 year old woman. It hit me in the feels and left me with a smile and a sense of hope and I know this review isn't written well but honestly, it's because my mind is still feeling from this amazing and beautiful book. You have to read this!
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