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gem_517's review
5.0
I love how Eliza Victoria narrates her works, it's very easy to read.
I love how this story ends, it's a mark of a new beginning for the characters. It kinda gives you the power to create or think about what will happen to the characters next.
I love how this story ends, it's a mark of a new beginning for the characters. It kinda gives you the power to create or think about what will happen to the characters next.
notyourleo's review
5.0
This book has averted my usual expectations of tropes and cliches when it comes to this kind of fiction, especially this kind of plot. Honestly a great read, a nice find in the midst of the pop fiction trend going in the country, just a tad bit sad it ended quickly.
scythefranz's review
4.0
3.5 but rounding up to 4.
Project 17 is a fast-paced, page-turner, futuristic sci-fi thriller. It's compelling and confusing in a good way. You know, the kind that makes you wonder what is really going on. You already have an idea but you're not sure about it so you read, read and read just to confirm your confusion and assumptions.
What I like:
- The familiar setting of the story which is mainly in Bulacan. It feels like home, really. It feels great reading about this.
- Fast pacing. I can't stop reading, ffs!
- Characters. Even they lack of back stories, I still find them interesting and worth rooting for.
- Social relevance. Involving facts about PH history is a yes-yes, indeed. Besides, it's not just an out-of-the-blue facts just to preach or something. It is relevant to to the story.
- The idea of the future where the good old ways are still apparent and haven't forgotten.
- Well-researched. Technical terms aren't overwhelming.
Indeed, in my opinion, it was a great novel. Though, I appreciate more back stories for the other characters. I want to know more about them. Also, I feel like the resolution/climax is quite rushed. The build-up has geared up me for an explosive climax but it isn't what I get. I'm kind of disappointed. However, the twist in that, slightly compensated for my dissatisfaction. You can't really know people.
Project 17 is a fast-paced, page-turner, futuristic sci-fi thriller. It's compelling and confusing in a good way. You know, the kind that makes you wonder what is really going on. You already have an idea but you're not sure about it so you read, read and read just to confirm your confusion and assumptions.
What I like:
- The familiar setting of the story which is mainly in Bulacan. It feels like home, really. It feels great reading about this.
- Fast pacing. I can't stop reading, ffs!
- Characters. Even they lack of back stories, I still find them interesting and worth rooting for.
- Social relevance. Involving facts about PH history is a yes-yes, indeed. Besides, it's not just an out-of-the-blue facts just to preach or something. It is relevant to to the story.
- The idea of the future where the good old ways are still apparent and haven't forgotten.
- Well-researched. Technical terms aren't overwhelming.
Indeed, in my opinion, it was a great novel. Though, I appreciate more back stories for the other characters. I want to know more about them. Also, I feel like the resolution/climax is quite rushed. The build-up has geared up me for an explosive climax but it isn't what I get. I'm kind of disappointed. However, the twist in that, slightly compensated for my dissatisfaction. You can't really know people.
thequeenreads's review
4.0
From mystery to suspense to sci fi. I loved it! I want some closure tho huhuhu
aletolgirl's review
4.0
I liked this book, but I can't say that I loved it. But, it was interesting enough for me to finish within a day, and that's saying something because I rarely do that anymore. I get so lazy or so distracted by other things that I hardly get to finish a 100+ paged book anymore. Same with her other book, Wounded Little Gods, I was able to finish it in one evening.
Project 17 is set in the future. But it doesn't really give a futuristic vibe to it while I was reading. Sure, there are robots involved and other hi-tech things, but the city and other places in the story didn't really plant an image of a city with hover boards (the floating kind) or flying cars, you know? It felt more like the same, current Philippines...but with robots.
Project 17 is set in the future. But it doesn't really give a futuristic vibe to it while I was reading. Sure, there are robots involved and other hi-tech things, but the city and other places in the story didn't really plant an image of a city with hover boards (the floating kind) or flying cars, you know? It felt more like the same, current Philippines...but with robots.
haechans's review
4.0
It surprised me that I finished this book in one sitting since I'm not the biggest fan of scifi. And that twist at the end? So good.
Fuck robots, man.
Fuck robots, man.
gothichues's review
2.0
What I Liked:
• The writing
• The concept
What I Disliked:
• Too short
• The characters
• The ending
• The writing
• The concept
What I Disliked:
• Too short
• The characters
• The ending
random_spider's review
2.5
Tsk, Tsk, Tsk…how do I start with this one? 'Cause it's problematic.
I think this is my first Novella, since it's a little too short to be considered a novel. It has Filipino elements, but if you're looking into a Filipino inspired plot, this ain't it. I like its eerie, slumped, cyberpunk aesthetic, and the occasional unrestricted writing full of vulgarity earned some chuckles. The characters, though never deep, were at least emotive.
The story follows Lillian, a girl applying for a caretaker job to the Dolores brothers. It may sound tiny in scale, which it is at first, but it's not. I think is a shame since it could have done better if it stayed that way. At the third act, there was so much going on yet the stakes wasn't personally connected to the main character. Also, this is a fast paced book, yet I think it was too fast.
I believe Project 17 is a Sci-Fi and Crime? Maybe a Psychological Thriller plus Slasher? Or perhaps a Mystery or Dystopia? IDK how to definitively label a genre cause its all of them. "Wow! That sound amazing as it encompasses various readers' tastes." Um...NO, IT'S NOT! In my observation, what I've got here is a book with an Identity Crisis. It's better to focus on a few things and be excellent on them.
In the end of the day, it's some pulpy, info-dumping mediocre book that does not stand out from its genre peers. After months of break from Filipino literature, I am kindly disappointed. I think the narrative would work better in a different medium (like a short movie or an episodic show.) I'll rate this 5/10.
I think this is my first Novella, since it's a little too short to be considered a novel. It has Filipino elements, but if you're looking into a Filipino inspired plot, this ain't it. I like its eerie, slumped, cyberpunk aesthetic, and the occasional unrestricted writing full of vulgarity earned some chuckles. The characters, though never deep, were at least emotive.
The story follows Lillian, a girl applying for a caretaker job to the Dolores brothers. It may sound tiny in scale, which it is at first, but it's not. I think is a shame since it could have done better if it stayed that way. At the third act, there was so much going on yet the stakes wasn't personally connected to the main character. Also, this is a fast paced book, yet I think it was too fast.
I believe Project 17 is a Sci-Fi and Crime? Maybe a Psychological Thriller plus Slasher? Or perhaps a Mystery or Dystopia? IDK how to definitively label a genre cause its all of them. "Wow! That sound amazing as it encompasses various readers' tastes." Um...NO, IT'S NOT! In my observation, what I've got here is a book with an Identity Crisis. It's better to focus on a few things and be excellent on them.
In the end of the day, it's some pulpy, info-dumping mediocre book that does not stand out from its genre peers. After months of break from Filipino literature, I am kindly disappointed. I think the narrative would work better in a different medium (like a short movie or an episodic show.) I'll rate this 5/10.
soupdumpling's review
4.0
I first read Eliza Victoria's other novel "Wounded Little Gods" and fell in love with her writing style and characters. This book definitely did not have the same depth of plot or character development but this quick 160-page read was definitely thrilling! So many of the scenes read as movies in my mind and it'd be so cool if one day this could somehow become a blockbuster hit.
Loved the relevance to history (past and contemporary) happening in the Philippines (especially given the current political climate). I wish the ending was a bit longer but also I understand the urgency and secrecy, as demonstrated throughout the whole book.
Loved the relevance to history (past and contemporary) happening in the Philippines (especially given the current political climate). I wish the ending was a bit longer but also I understand the urgency and secrecy, as demonstrated throughout the whole book.