Friday, 6 February 2015

Review: All Fall Down








All Fall Down
Author:
Publication Date: February 5th 2015        
Publisher: Orchard Books
~A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review~


Grace can best be described as a daredevil, an Army brat, and a rebel. She is also the only granddaughter of perhaps the most powerful ambassador in the world and Grace has spent every summer of her childhood running across the roofs of Embassy Row.

Now, at age sixteen, she's come back to stay - in order to solve the mystery of her mother's death. In the process, she uncovers an international conspiracy of unsettling proportions, and must choose her friends and watch her foes carefully if she and the world are to be saved


Ally Carter's done it again. Seriously. Can she do no wrong? The answer to that, obviously, is no. She cannot do no wrong because she always seems to create a story and a set of characters that are hilarious and relatable yet serious and kind of untouchable. She creates characters that in any other, would make you hate the character, but you'll instantly love and suck you in, because they are fleshed out. They are each their own and balanced. All Fall Down are not short on those characters, though this is my little glitch and why it was almost perfect for me instead of perfect. Some of the secondary characters felt a little left out. I wanted to get to know them more than we did, and that is literally my only complaint. Which, when you think about it, is pretty good since this is book one, we'll have time to get into the secondary cast more. I loved Grace though, she made my very sarcastic heart very happy. She's a little, uhm, shall we say, unstable? Yup. She's a little unstable because of people constantly telling her she is unstable over how she saw her mother die. The 'official' story versus Grace's story, but since she was thirteen when it happened, the adults like to tell her she's crazy.



This is where I get a little annoyed. BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE THE PROBLEM LIES. ADULTS. I know, I know, technically, I am one, but whatever.  The whole reasons behind Grace's actions lies on no one believing her, t the point she thinks she is indeed crazy, because of course, you don't think you're crazy, but everyone telling you you're crazy makes you think am I crazy? And you know, people telling you you're crazy makes you crazy. It's a cycle of crazy. The whole story and plot we see relies on this fact, because we don't know what is real or what is potentially in Grace's head. Yes, it's been done before, but this is Ally Carter. She does it well.

There isn't much going on besides that in this one just yet,  but I never got bored, there's plenty of sarcasm and banter and charming characters that kept me entertained, and the whole mystery surrounding Grace's mother's death. Oh, and Embassy Row, now that is interesting. There's also no romance, though I was hoping there would be since you get a vibe from Grace and Alexei.

If you loved her Gallagher Girl's or the Heist Society series then you won't be disappointed, All Fall Down has Ally Carter's signature style.

Rating: 4.5/5

Comments (18)

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I read All Fall Down last week, and of course I was super excited because Ally Carter, wheee! But I was disappointed by Grace. I couldn't relate to her at all. She had no self-preservation and might have put the diplomacy of several countries in danger. I liked the story, but not Grace. I hope she'd develop into a character with more finesse. I liked Gallagher Girls - that one was superb.
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3 replies · active 528 weeks ago
I don't agree with half the stuff she'd done, but she wouldn't have done it if they'd have told her the truth, so I don't think it's all her fault. But totally get it, I just loved it anyway. :)
I suppose that's true. I mean, I hope that's true. I hope the second one's better although I'm still deciding if I'm going to read it. But it's Ally Carter and so far, this is the first book I wasn't super impressed with...
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It probably will, especially now with her knowing the truth, but then again, her knowing the truth now will probably derail her a bit more, haha. It's worth giving it a shot though, right?
I just finished this book and writing a review on it this weekend. Ally Carter just knows how to write a grand story. This one seemed a bit more dark, serious, emotional, raw than her others but it was just as good. Yes still an amazing cast of characters. I just adore Noah and Rosie and Megan. Yes the adults were the problems in this book. I am an adult to but I am not a character in a YA book so I assume I am good. I did super love this book. It broke my heart many times and I never knew what was true and what was in her mind. I think the story will really take off in the next book and I am excited for that. Sorry for the book of thoughts. I just get overexcited over awesome books.
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1 reply · active 528 weeks ago
She does! Exactly, I loved Gallagher Girls but I never got any depth from the characters (I've only read the first 3, so don't know about the rest yet.) It's definitely more emotional character to Grace. Haha, book thoughts are awesome. :D
Ah I don't think I've tried a book by this author but I heard great things about her and her novels sound so much fun! I know I really need to try but I need to choose which one now lol. Mayb this one, it sounds really good! thanks for the review!
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1 reply · active 528 weeks ago
They are (I haven't tried Heist Society, but still sounds fun) If I hadn't already read any of hers I wouldn't either, haha.
I'm so happy to see that you enjoyed this one! I've been dying to read it and use actually just won it in a giveaway *squeals*. I haven't read anything by this author before but I have high hopes :)

And sarcasm and banter?! Yes, please! I love that in my characters :)
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1 reply · active 528 weeks ago
YES! Sarcasm galore. :D
Eeep I'm so glad that you loved this one, girl! I received it for review in the mail this week and I am really pumped about beginning it! I cannot wait to meet these fantabulous characters even though they have their little flaws.

Lovely review! <3 3
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1 reply · active 528 weeks ago
Yay! Hope you like it! :)
The craziness cycle sounds a little frustrating but I'm glad it didn't really detract from the book too much. The character dynamic seems pretty fun, too bad the secondary characters didn't get as much development though. Nice review!
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1 reply · active 528 weeks ago
It was a little, but not too much, I'm hoping they'll get more development in the next one. :)
I'm getting that kind of idea about Ally Carter! I loooved her Heist Society series and while I haven't read her other books, I bet I'll like them. Her writing is just so fun and yet it's not especially fluffy. I'll have to get myself a copy of this ASAP. :) Yay!
1 reply · active 528 weeks ago
I NEED to read the Heist Society books (and well, finish Gallagher Girls too) but they are! I could never compare them to some other ones because they're fun, but not fluffy, whereas ones like Liz Czukas are really fluffy.
YAY! I am so excited about this one, and have been trying to stop myself from buying it but... now I'll just go right ahead and purchase it! I hate the whole thing about adults telling her she is crazy but.... it happens in real life too, so I will allow it. I am SO glad you loved this book. And witty and sarcastic sounds like exactly what I need! Great review :)
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1 reply · active 528 weeks ago
Exactly, I know it's to protect her and everything, but she legit thought she was going crazy so much that it kind of drove her crazy. Not exactly protecting her there, haha.

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