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fantaghiro23's review
3.0
Dear Eliza,
I liked the book. Didn't love it, but I love what you set out to do here. And I think it only bodes well for your work and for Filipino literature in general.
Things I liked about Project 17:
- The short chapters. Gives the whole story a really fast pace.
- The snarky dialogue. I love a set of characters who sound smart and witty.
- The obvious love for science. It wasn't some just haphazard, tacked-on thing. It felt like you did your research or already had a good working knowledge of pharma and robotics. And I say this because you also didn't try to drown the story (i.e., impress the readers) with too much detail.
- The story set not just in Metro Manila, but also parts of Bulacan. Because I'm tired of everything happening in Manila.
Things I think could be improved, should there be another edition, (like maybe an international one?):
- More world-building. Pace is fast, but I was hoping to feel a more leisurely exposition in order to really get me into the world and lives of Lillian, Paul, and Caleb.
- More characterization. I actually wanted to understand them more, beyond knowing what it was they actually did in the story.
- A more drawn out resolution. Because it was exciting, but it felt rushed.
- A little more copyediting. Because I think there were a few confused pronouns in the text ("his" which should be "her," etc.) and pronouns which didn't have a clear antecedent.
Nevertheless, it is a novel and a smart and interesting one at that, and being a big supporter of Filipino authors writing more novels accessible to as many audiences as possible, I am only excited about Project 17 and what it bodes for the future. Congratulations to you and to your publishing team. I hope to read more of your novels in the years to come!
Honey
I liked the book. Didn't love it, but I love what you set out to do here. And I think it only bodes well for your work and for Filipino literature in general.
Things I liked about Project 17:
- The short chapters. Gives the whole story a really fast pace.
- The snarky dialogue. I love a set of characters who sound smart and witty.
- The obvious love for science. It wasn't some just haphazard, tacked-on thing. It felt like you did your research or already had a good working knowledge of pharma and robotics. And I say this because you also didn't try to drown the story (i.e., impress the readers) with too much detail.
- The story set not just in Metro Manila, but also parts of Bulacan. Because I'm tired of everything happening in Manila.
Things I think could be improved, should there be another edition, (like maybe an international one?):
- More world-building. Pace is fast, but I was hoping to feel a more leisurely exposition in order to really get me into the world and lives of Lillian, Paul, and Caleb.
- More characterization. I actually wanted to understand them more, beyond knowing what it was they actually did in the story.
- A more drawn out resolution. Because it was exciting, but it felt rushed.
- A little more copyediting. Because I think there were a few confused pronouns in the text ("his" which should be "her," etc.) and pronouns which didn't have a clear antecedent.
Nevertheless, it is a novel and a smart and interesting one at that, and being a big supporter of Filipino authors writing more novels accessible to as many audiences as possible, I am only excited about Project 17 and what it bodes for the future. Congratulations to you and to your publishing team. I hope to read more of your novels in the years to come!
Honey
earlapvaldez's review
5.0
Masterfully made sci-fi / action novel! I like how quick the pace of this novel is, and I hope to read more.
inilalahad's review
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
awesomereadsfordrei's review
4.0
Ang ganda mare ilang oras lang mula noong binuklat ko 'yung libro e natapos ko kaagad. Literal na may woAh moments ako habang nagbabasa haha. Maiksi pero ang ganda. Hanga na talaga ako sa'yo, Madam Eliza Victoria. Haha ayun nga lang medyo parang minadali 'yung dulo pero kebs naman haha at bitin!!! Haha cute rin ng tandem nila, ang solid!
cantaffordbooks'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
lostcanticles's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Very cool concept! It gave me the chills in the beginning, but took a different tone towards the middle. I expected more from the ending, it was just...okay for me; nothing surprising. The characters worked well together and were actually quite fun. There just wasn’t a lot of depth to them. I'd say though, if you're interested in reading a story set in a futuristic Philippines then you might want to pick this up!
pamalalala_'s review
3.0
I have read three books of Eliza so far and this is the only one that feels complete. I love the world building here, it feels now and yet feels future.
PS Why can't I find her books in the local book store? I have bought this copy second hand from a facebook seller.
PS Why can't I find her books in the local book store? I have bought this copy second hand from a facebook seller.
geraldthebookworm's review
4.0
Para sa Wikathon talaga sana 'to pero dahil sa isang ginagawa kong video, binasa ko na rin agad kasi gusto ko na rin talaga siyang basahin. Hahaha.
Anyway, mga mamser, nakakatuwa ang librong 'to kasi kahit na science fiction siya at may mga terms na scientific, ganern, naintindihan ko pa rin siya at hindi naoverwhelm ang mga brain cells ko. Nagustuhan ko rin na this is futuristic but not that futuristic in a way na sobrang layo na sa Pilipinas na alam at kilala natin. At dahil dun, mas madali kong navivisualize yung settings kasi may familiarity na, ganern pero dahil sa short story lang ito, 159 pages, hindi masyadong nabuo ang world building but again... the familiarity of the settings kinda helps.
Gusto ko ang tandem ng mga characters na sina Lillian, Jamie, at Max and also their interactions with the other characters na sina Paul, Caleb, at Lester. Again, dahil sa ikli ng istorya, hindi masyadong nabigyan ng character development ang mga bida, hindi rin naexplore masyado ang back stories nila, but I am still rooting for them. They are just easy to vibes with. Pasado sila sa vibe check mga bhie, ganun.
The ending is kinda rushed tho. Natapos agad in a snap but naenjoy ko naman. Naintindihan ko naman, tinanggap ko naman, dahil ang mahalaga binuhay niyo ako-- ay char, Bobbie na pala? Hahaha.
I also enjoyed Eliza Victoria's writing style and way of story telling. Crush ko si Caleb. Crush ko rin si Paul. Magkapatid pero pwede ko namang pagsabayin so hindi na ako mamimili. Char! Hahahaha.
I am excited to read another Eliza Victoria in the future.
Anyway, mga mamser, nakakatuwa ang librong 'to kasi kahit na science fiction siya at may mga terms na scientific, ganern, naintindihan ko pa rin siya at hindi naoverwhelm ang mga brain cells ko. Nagustuhan ko rin na this is futuristic but not that futuristic in a way na sobrang layo na sa Pilipinas na alam at kilala natin. At dahil dun, mas madali kong navivisualize yung settings kasi may familiarity na, ganern pero dahil sa short story lang ito, 159 pages, hindi masyadong nabuo ang world building but again... the familiarity of the settings kinda helps.
Gusto ko ang tandem ng mga characters na sina Lillian, Jamie, at Max and also their interactions with the other characters na sina Paul, Caleb, at Lester. Again, dahil sa ikli ng istorya, hindi masyadong nabigyan ng character development ang mga bida, hindi rin naexplore masyado ang back stories nila, but I am still rooting for them. They are just easy to vibes with. Pasado sila sa vibe check mga bhie, ganun.
The ending is kinda rushed tho. Natapos agad in a snap but naenjoy ko naman. Naintindihan ko naman, tinanggap ko naman, dahil ang mahalaga binuhay niyo ako-- ay char, Bobbie na pala? Hahaha.
I also enjoyed Eliza Victoria's writing style and way of story telling. Crush ko si Caleb. Crush ko rin si Paul. Magkapatid pero pwede ko namang pagsabayin so hindi na ako mamimili. Char! Hahahaha.
I am excited to read another Eliza Victoria in the future.
kyameel's review
4.0
Read the full review at The Book Pile
It’s not always that I read about science fiction in a Philippine setting, and Eliza Victoria’s Project 17 hits the right notes. The story is set in a future where police are now robots controlled by anonymous controllers, and pharmaceutical companies are a huge power1. And in this world, could you really trust the people you work for, or yourself?
Without giving anything away, I loved that Victoria showed a plausible future—not too soon, but still plausible. The places felt cyberpunkish, too, even if Hagonoy, Bulacan seems like an unlikely place for it. I loved the characters, not just the leads, but Lillian’s neighbors Jamie and Max. And Alfred!2
I just wished it was longer. Victoria had built a world that’s both believable and very interesting, and I would’ve wanted to know more about it. I also wish it ended in a more lighter note, or at least given me a more better sense of closure. I also felt that the resolution seemed a bit too convenient, but maybe that’s the limit of the length.
Still, a really compelling read and I highly recommend it.
It’s not always that I read about science fiction in a Philippine setting, and Eliza Victoria’s Project 17 hits the right notes. The story is set in a future where police are now robots controlled by anonymous controllers, and pharmaceutical companies are a huge power1. And in this world, could you really trust the people you work for, or yourself?
Without giving anything away, I loved that Victoria showed a plausible future—not too soon, but still plausible. The places felt cyberpunkish, too, even if Hagonoy, Bulacan seems like an unlikely place for it. I loved the characters, not just the leads, but Lillian’s neighbors Jamie and Max. And Alfred!2
I just wished it was longer. Victoria had built a world that’s both believable and very interesting, and I would’ve wanted to know more about it. I also wish it ended in a more lighter note, or at least given me a more better sense of closure. I also felt that the resolution seemed a bit too convenient, but maybe that’s the limit of the length.
Still, a really compelling read and I highly recommend it.