The Dazzling Heights (Thousandth Floor, 2)

I loved the first volume of "The Thousandth Floor" series. I liked the second volume, but "The Dazzling Heights" just didn't live up to my expectations.Again we are enveloped in complex teen drama. (That's what we're here for, am I right?) Leda Cole became the villain of volume one, in the end blackmailing the other main characters with vicious malice. But something inexplicable happens in volume two. Leda is stalking and harassing her victims to keep them in line, and exploiting Watt both mentally (via Nadia) and sexually. I found it gross and came to hate her as a character, whereas in "The Thousandth Floor" I had seen her as a very strong, cunning female character whom I admired even if I didn't particularly like her. In "The Dazzling Heights" she is a true villain who can't seem to even speak a civil word to another human being. Which is fine, if that's what the author was aiming for. But spontaneously, without buildup or cause, Leda apologizes to everyone and wants to be friends again (or for the first time, in Rylin's case). Then she becomes very weak-willed and reliant upon Watt for her safety and security. It was very abrupt so I wasn't ready to forgive her, although, surprisingly, all the other characters were. It was too sudden a change for it to make any sense in the plot.A new player is introduced in "The Dazzling Heights": Calliope Brown. I. Loved. Her. (And, if you listen to the audiobook, the narrator, who never changes her voice from character to character, affects a British accent for Calliope and her mother. And it's not half-bad.) Calliope and her mother are con artists who travel the globe, robbing the rich to feed their insatiable need for attention and luxury. Calliope has history with a couple of the characters, which is a surprise to her, and adds drama to the mix. She is also portrayed as a potential love interest for Atlas, giving Avery a run for her money. I found her to be one of the most complex characters in the series to date, and while she is set up to emerge as the series' next lead villain, she's someone I couldn't help but like.I found "The Dazzling Heights" to have some continuity issues that really broke the flow of the story. Characters will engage in an activity and then later it's portrayed that no such thing happened. (For example, Leda and Watt hook up, then later she thinks to herself how she would never go there with him. But...she already did? And there is a time when Leda insists she had one drink, but then Rylin's chapter follows and she reminisces about having just had three drinks with Leda.)The timeline was also very confusing. One minute, Leda is at rehab. The next, she's been home for weeks and has done things that we're just told of, not shown, later on. It was impossible to keep up with the flow of time. It seemed like only three days or so passed, but it was supposedly an entire semester? I'm still lost. For me, I felt this book needed some better editing for continuity.The technology remains an interesting attribute of this sci-fi series, and is probably its strongest facet. I was especially impressed by the portrayal of fimography in the future as holography and enjoyed the way Rylin's relationship with her attractive young professor, Xiayne, developed. The student/teacher trope is a guilty pleasure of mine, though this one had a lot of buildup only to suddenly dive off a cliff with little fanfare. I'm hoping for an addendum in the next volume, but at this rate, I suspect it won't even be mentioned again.There is one thing I have to mention that has been bothering me since the first volume, because it's become a trend in this series. All the minority characters are either villains or get killed off. In recent years there has been a lot of attention on the way TV series tend to kill their lesbian characters (see "bury your gays"), and "The Thousandth Floor" falls right into that pit. And the worst character of all, the drug addict who sexually exploits a guy and blackmails her female friends, is the one specified black character. Young adult (and, really, all) authors should be more aware of what they're doing when they heap all these negative connotations onto their minority characters. Don't bother putting us in your book if your only reason is for the white guy to win and for the straight people to get their happily ever afters.

The Dazzling Heights starts where The Thousandth Floor finishes. Leda, Avery, Rylin, Watt and Mariel are trying to come to terms with Eris' death.I love how the "shared secret" between the four (Leda, Avery, Rylin and Watt) has changed the dynamic between them and how it had affected their lives.I enjoyed this novel more than "The Thousandth Floor" because the characters have grown, they changed their lives, patched rifts and fell in love. McGee has made her characters more believable, I actually want things to work between two of the couples and I want the new character to be given a chance (she didn't choose her lifestyle).A good step up for McGee in her writing and character development and that this is set up for another novel.Three and a half stars.

"It's always the same isn't it? Here they were, halfway around the world, and yet everyone was stuck in their little loops - engaging in the old tired flirtations, doomed to the same disappointments."THAT CLIFFHANGER!!! How am I supposed to wait until the third book is released, REALLY?!!Everyone's lives are filled with drama, everyone's got a secret, and everyone's blackmailing someone AND I LOVE IT! I find myself craving to learn what the next big thing is that will send everyone spiraling out of control. There is a lot of aftermath from Book 1 but I found that Katharine did a great job creating new character dynamic with the same setting. I have found that I have looked differently at several characters, some I still hate and but new ones I've grown to like.

What an incredible book! I absolutely loved The Dazzling Heights and couldn’t put it down. It’s even more fast-paced than The Thousandth Floor, with electrifying secrets and twisty romances, all set in a bright future world.I have found that sequels, especially in young adult series, often fall short of the first book. That was absolutely not the case here. If anything, my obsession with this series only grew! I love how Katharine deepened the relationships between the characters, making the rich and tangled web of their various relationships feel even more satisfying. There was an unexpected romance between two characters that I found myself shipping IMMEDIATELY! And a villain redeemed (which is so much more unusual than just killing off your villains, because it requires so much more work for the author. So props to Katharine for pulling that off). I also love that we got to see more of the future world in this book. It’s such a refreshing change from the dark futures of all the other YA novels right now.*spoilers ahead*I’ve seen some reviewers angry that the surprise death at the end wasn’t Avery. But I actually like that!! I mean, isn’t Avery the predictable choice? I like that in each of these books, the person who dies is pretty much the LAST character you expect. It really keeps you guessing!!Overall if you’re a fan of dramatic procedurals set in exciting high-stakes worlds, I think you will love this book!!

Katharine McGee continues to amaze me with her ability to draw readers into her inventive and exhilarating world. McGee brings her A game with this sequel, expertly wielding her creativity and imagination once again. I couldn't put down either The Thousandth Floor or The Dazzling Heights because it's so much fun to delight in the marvelous prose and storytelling that I've come to expect from McGee's writing. I'm most impressed by how thoughtfully each individual character's story has been developed, intricately weaving together complicated personalities. This book is written with incredible attention to detail and brilliant word choice that keeps me engaged when I'm reading and inspires reflection afterwards. I can't wait to see more from this author!

It was amazing! Even better than the first one. The characters are so complex, but also relatable. I wish it was made into a movie.

The anticipated sequel to 'The Thousandth Floor' and it does not disappoint.Six teens, faulty as all humans are. Two highliers and four lowliers, their lives brought together by a skilful writer who weaves their stories like a spider weaving a web. A web of secrets, lies, betrayal, revenge. A web of love, friendship, lust. Set against a sci-fi backdrop that is crazily inventive.Avery - has everything that money can buy but would swap it all in a heartbeat for the forbidden boy she loves.Leda - spiteful, vengeful and stubborn. Yet fragile. Haunted by the terrible thing she did.Watt and Rylin - trying to better themselves and their families. Hating Leda yet drawn to her even though they want to escape her.Calliope - a grafter, a drifter. Friendless. Yearning for some stability.Mariel - consumed by hatred.The story is told from their six points of view. Each chapter is headed with a character's name which makes it easy to follow the story and feel close to them.By the end of 'The Thousandth Floor' I liked Avery, Watt and Rylin because they are good people. I hated Leda, and Mariel did not register. By the end of this book I still like Avery, Watt and Rylin. But now I have learned to forgive Leda but she is mercurial so that may change with the next book ( I assume there will be another). This time Mariel registers. Maybe there should have been more of her or maybe opening and closing the story is enough - I can't decide. Calliope is a new character. It will be interesting to see how she is developed.I recommend this book.

I was absolutely obsessed with the first book. It was so so addictive and thrilling and I couldn’t put it down, so I had highly anticipated The Dazzling Heights and couldn’t wait to read it.Unfortunately, I found it to be a bit of a disappointment. I felt that it lacked the excitement and drama compared to the first one. I definitely feel that it was still an enjoyable read but not as spectacular as the first one.

A great first book in the Thousandth Floor series!Hooked from the beginning right until the end. Couldn't wait for the follow up books.A great read for anyone who likes Gossip Girl and futuristic stories.

Absolutely loved this book and the one before! Can’t wait to read the next one she writes!

When I was half-way reading The Thousandth Floor back in February, I knew I would love to read the sequel--and was I right! Katherine is a great writer and the story captures you so well, that you just don't want to ever stop reading it. I'm currently still reading The Dazzling Heights; but by far, my favorite character of this book is Calliope (my favorite one from The Thousandth Floor was Eris, but you all know how it ends . . .).

Para la segunda parte de la trilogía The Thounsandth Floor, nos centramos en los personajes secundarios del primer libro.Esto permite darle un toque fresco al mundo que conocimos en el primer libro. Aunque tengo que decir que en general preferí la historia del primer libro a éste segundo.

Muy apropiado para entretenerse y aprender inglés

No second book flailing here! Book 2 was just as gripping as book 1 - I can't wait for the third. This series would make a great movie!!!

Great book

love this series, can't wait for the next one to come out!

Soo good read this book is the best book I read in a long time!!!