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trenchcoat_moss's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
lizzig's review
3.0
3.5 stars. I enjoyed the premise and the world of this book, but the protagonist was a little too naive about even herself to be identifiable (mild spoiler) . I very much enjoyed the story when I was reading, but when I put it down I didn't always have the urge to pick it up again.
Spoiler
(was there no puberty? No gossip? No other naughty teenagers going where they shouldn't?)tien's review
2.75
A bit of a confusing start or maybe, a rather slow one as this world required a bit of a setup so it took me some time before I feel comfortable to sit back and enjoyed the read. While I found it an easy & fast read, it reminds me quite a bit of Divergent in the stratified society and a mystery of water dripping from the ceiling. Unfortunately, then my expectation was managed and the ending/twist did not in any way shocked me.
The protagonist, Hayley, wasn't particularly likeable though not super annoying either. At the beginning, I felt she was a bit of an 'unreliable narrator' - the chronic head pains and believing that she may be seeing things that aren't there. As you read on though, this is the role assigned to her by a society that does not appreciate 'anomaly'. She did grow a bit though most of it would probably have to be done in book 2 as she discovered more about the world.
hanacopter's review
1.0
1st person pov of bees if they were Amish or something idk
Weirdly religious and cultish?? Why did I read this
I giggled exactly once while reading at this exact passage:
Poor Celia should've been at the club
Weirdly religious and cultish?? Why did I read this
I giggled exactly once while reading at this exact passage:
"Celia should have been with the other girls close to our age, she should have been discussing which boy she'd choose when it was her turn to marry and which flowers she'd make into a bouquet. She should have been brushing her hair and oiling her skin. She shouldn't have been sitting in the dirt beneath a lonely blackwood tree trying to distract me from head pains and the threat of madness."
Poor Celia should've been at the club
pagsbelfield's review
4.0
A really easy read with simple yet complex worldbuilding. I enjoyed the constant flow of this book, and what it achieved in such a small space. Keen to read the next book soon.
emz2702's review
3.0
Audiobook review 3.5 stars
Hive was an enjoyable listen, refreshingly short for dystopian fiction at only 6 hours. It was well read, enhancing the smooth transitions and good pacing that Betts has achieved, although not especially gripping or emotional. The world building was probably the best bit
Hive was an enjoyable listen, refreshingly short for dystopian fiction at only 6 hours. It was well read, enhancing the smooth transitions and good pacing that Betts has achieved, although not especially gripping or emotional. The world building was probably the best bit
esotericelixir's review
2.0
I really wanted to enjoy this book as it’s from a Perth author and I love that fact. This book just really didn’t do it for me.
It reminded me a lot of The Island, but instead of the swoon worthy Ewan McGregor, it had way too many religious references.
I couldn’t go a page or two without there being reference to God and if that’s you’re thing you might enjoy it, but it’s definitely not my thing and I didn’t really enjoy it.
3 stars though as someone else might like it?
It reminded me a lot of The Island, but instead of the swoon worthy Ewan McGregor, it had way too many religious references.
I couldn’t go a page or two without there being reference to God and if that’s you’re thing you might enjoy it, but it’s definitely not my thing and I didn’t really enjoy it.
3 stars though as someone else might like it?
kiwikathleen's review
4.0
I read a book last year (or the year before, or maybe ...) that was about bees. It was fiction - oh yes [b:The Bees|20894952|The Bees|Laline Paull|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1393220900s/20894952.jpg|26457997] - and for a while I thought this book was going to be similar. But it's not. There are bees in it, and they are an important plot point, but the Hive is actually the home that the people dwell in and yes, it is structured in hexagons.
Other reviewers have compared it to another famous novel, but let's not. Let's just look at this for what it is. It's a story about a girl who's afraid she's going mad. In their highly structured society, a person who has frequent headaches is a worry. Hayley's best friend secretly grows a herb that gives some relief, but the only way she finds real respite when her headaches come is to sneak into a deserted corridor (that leads to a sealed-off room that is talked of in tones of alarm). Now though, not only are the headaches getting worse, but she stumbles upon a secret.
I didn't find anything surprising in this book, but then I've been reading science fiction since before this author was born. However, I enjoyed the tension and I really liked Hayley. I'm looking forward to the book that follows this.
Other reviewers have compared it to another famous novel, but let's not. Let's just look at this for what it is. It's a story about a girl who's afraid she's going mad. In their highly structured society, a person who has frequent headaches is a worry. Hayley's best friend secretly grows a herb that gives some relief, but the only way she finds real respite when her headaches come is to sneak into a deserted corridor (that leads to a sealed-off room that is talked of in tones of alarm). Now though, not only are the headaches getting worse, but she stumbles upon a secret.
I didn't find anything surprising in this book, but then I've been reading science fiction since before this author was born. However, I enjoyed the tension and I really liked Hayley. I'm looking forward to the book that follows this.