Book Review (SPOILERS!) for Shift Omnibus (Silo #2) by Hugh Howey

Shift Omnibus Edition (Silo, #2) by Hugh Howey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Let me preface this review by saying that I have loved the Wool/Silo series thus far and admire Hugh Howey's fantastic writing and story-telling style. I also do plan to read the next in the series after a short break in between. That said, I had to give the Shift Omnibus Edition only three stars.

Despite this series answering several questions for the reader and getting to know key characters in more depth, there seemed to be some issues with the plot and sequencing, making it a tough slog at times. In addition, and this may be my personal preference, I generally don't like approaching the same story from a different angle (e.g. the interaction between Jimmy and Juliette that we knew all along was coming), so my review might be skewed by that.

SLOG: I found myself about half-way through the novel just wanting to skim over the Jimmy chapters. I was bored with his Solo life and catching fish for his cat Shadow. The entire sequence did not seem to add much to the overall story and dragged on in my opinion.

PLOT CONFUSION #1: Donald woke up with everyone thinking he was Thurman? I don't understand how that can be. There must be photos of each person to match to their names in their computer databases, not to mention the cryogenic pods.

PLOT CONFUSION #2: I kept thinking my Kindle version was re-arranged somehow towards the end, or maybe the segment where Donald wakes his sister was a dream? Donald and his sister fly a drone until it won't work anymore. Next scene is Donald waking up the real Thurman. Huh? How did they get back to Silo 1? Maybe I need to follow the chapter date sequence more closely.

PLOT CONFUSION #3: Donald turning murderer. I don't understand the point of killing Anna and of having a conversation with her first if he was going to kill her anyhow. Maybe we are to believe that he is going crazy, brain damage or cancer of the brain, as he keeps coughing up blood (which no one seems to notice or comment on, even though he carries around a blood stained rag to cough into and his shirt sleeves are stained from his coughing into his elbow).

Despite giving this 3 stars, I am hopeful that I'll be back to a 5 star review for the next installment of the Silo saga, can't wait!


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