Matt > Recent Status Updates

Love the concept. Writing can feel a little disjointed, conversations sometimes a bit hard to follow. Could do with a list of expats, codenames, and bridges. Not a fan of romance and MC seems to be attracted to all expats but interesting to see the relationships develop. Genuinely don’t know where it’s going to go.

Not sure I like the turn this boom has made. I can see why people DNF around 60% I’m going to keep pushing through. I still like the writing style just still don’t love the characters even though I really wanted to

Great world building and slowly revealing things bit by bit. Story pulls you in,

At last Robin has motivation, he’s seen the problem with his own eyes rather than taking everyone’s word unquestioningly. Before he just followed what he was told without hearing the other side of understanding the truth. Now he’s seen the truth and can make a decision. I wasn’t expecting the twist that came next, I don’t know where it will go from here.

All of the main 4 characters are pretty unlikeable. I really want to like them but they’re so focused on themselves. They’re young adults so it fits but it makes it hard to root for them

Picked it back up today for the first time in months

It feels like it’s a twist and a resolution from the end of the book yet I’m just over 1/3 hours of the way through. I’m not sure where it’s going to go next

I sense there’s about to be a twist so thoughts so far. Interesting exploration of adapting to 21st C. Honest examination of progress but also oddities of modern thinking. Not a fan of burgeoning romance, a bit self indulgent but will see where it goes. Intriguing by workings of the ministry. Get a bit lost sometimes where the story jumps scenes. Enjoying the interactions between expats and modern life

Clever concept, feels like it jumps around a lot probably to stop the pacing being too slow. This can make it feel a bit confusing. Promising start though

Well written, I feel drawn in to the story

Enough information to keep the story moving, enough held back to me reading

He’s fighting, I’m very intrigued by the class system and Will.

I love the sections about the philosophy, ethics, and methodology of translation. For some this may be a little dry but with my life long fascination with translation and other cultures and languages, it’s right up my street

I don’t particularly like Robin. I don’t understand his motivation and I don’t like his need to feel superior - although he is a young adult so I suppose that’s how we all felt at that age. Slightly ironically I do like Ramy even though he’s written to be irritating. Some of the things the character and other readers may be feeling, perhaps I don’t through lived experience and neurodiversity.

Edie has to face her past. The painful memories of years gone by may help her solve the case before more people die

Edie is on the case slowly piecing together what’s going on. Two are dead, both connected to the school she used to teach at. Sky is back in Weymouth and Sean is getting frustrated with his great aunt’s meddling. More pieces have arrived so Edie is trying to work out who’s next.