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charlieschifo's review against another edition
5.0
*I received a free copy of this book from the author via voracious readers only in exchange for an honest review*
This was one of those books which I find really hard to review, not because I didn’t enjoy it but because I just want to shout “it was amazing, you must read it now” and have done with it. Everything about it was so well executed, Shel introduces us to this amazingly complex and diverse world jam packed with secrets. There were so many twists and turns that I didn’t expect that kept me guessing.
The only thing I will say is that the ending didn’t feel like the end, it didn’t feel like everything was resolved so maybe there’ll be another book? I hope so!
This was one of those books which I find really hard to review, not because I didn’t enjoy it but because I just want to shout “it was amazing, you must read it now” and have done with it. Everything about it was so well executed, Shel introduces us to this amazingly complex and diverse world jam packed with secrets. There were so many twists and turns that I didn’t expect that kept me guessing.
The only thing I will say is that the ending didn’t feel like the end, it didn’t feel like everything was resolved so maybe there’ll be another book? I hope so!
shellfishhuman's review against another edition
3.0
DNF - the world building, writing, and characters didn't resonate enough with me to continue. Everything has been used before, been repurposed, or just poorly developed (except for the premise, which was actually really cool) . I am doomed to be woefully disappointed by most attempts at sci-fi it seems :(
raphaelreads's review against another edition
3.0
I would like to thank Brigid from Inspired Quill for the free ebook in exchange of an honest opinion.
This book had good things going on for it, I liked the story and the ideas that the author had. She shows lots of promise, especially for a first time author.
Now, I didn’t really connect with the characters but maybe that’s on me because a lot of reviewers really liked the characters development in the book. Also, I felt like there was a lot of info dumping especially in the beginning and it could be a little confusing at times but that’s just goes to show how rich the mythology in this book is. The ending didn’t really do it for me but overall I would say it’s a good first book and I wish the author good luck on her future endeavours!
This book had good things going on for it, I liked the story and the ideas that the author had. She shows lots of promise, especially for a first time author.
Now, I didn’t really connect with the characters but maybe that’s on me because a lot of reviewers really liked the characters development in the book. Also, I felt like there was a lot of info dumping especially in the beginning and it could be a little confusing at times but that’s just goes to show how rich the mythology in this book is. The ending didn’t really do it for me but overall I would say it’s a good first book and I wish the author good luck on her future endeavours!
thebooknerdmom's review against another edition
4.0
I received a free ebook thanks to Inspired Quill in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
Overall I enjoyed this book about a futuristic Australia where only the privileged have access to light. It had a Hunger Games-type feel to it. We’re following a war between two “players:” The Master, a power-hungry corrupt man who is determined to keep the world as it is no matter the cost; and an artificial intelligent feminine-esque being known as The Light, or Illustria, who wants to help unite all.
There were a few different main characters and they were all pretty well developed. In the beginning of the story it was confusing being introduced to them all but once you were able to get them sorted out, you got pretty invested in their journey through the story. Calopa did a great job eliciting anger or sympathy for certain characters when appropriate and when the characters felt betrayed or torn between sides in the war, I felt the character’s pain and confusion.
There were inclusions of important topics, such as racism, misogyny, politics, and classism, just to name a few. Calopa’s descriptions were vivid and I particularly liked how she discussed the communication system of the deaf community.
One thing that confused me was that this was considered a futuristic society but a few members of the elite classes hadn't even heard of some of the technology that we have in today's society. I also wanted more from the ending--what that would be, I don't know. The ending was not bad and perfectly satisfactory, I just was expecting more.
Despite the slow start with all the characters, this was an interesting and fun read. If you enjoy Sci-Fi or Fantasy Dystopian novels, I recommend checking this book out. You won’t regret it!
Overall I enjoyed this book about a futuristic Australia where only the privileged have access to light. It had a Hunger Games-type feel to it. We’re following a war between two “players:” The Master, a power-hungry corrupt man who is determined to keep the world as it is no matter the cost; and an artificial intelligent feminine-esque being known as The Light, or Illustria, who wants to help unite all.
There were a few different main characters and they were all pretty well developed. In the beginning of the story it was confusing being introduced to them all but once you were able to get them sorted out, you got pretty invested in their journey through the story. Calopa did a great job eliciting anger or sympathy for certain characters when appropriate and when the characters felt betrayed or torn between sides in the war, I felt the character’s pain and confusion.
There were inclusions of important topics, such as racism, misogyny, politics, and classism, just to name a few. Calopa’s descriptions were vivid and I particularly liked how she discussed the communication system of the deaf community.
One thing that confused me was that this was considered a futuristic society but a few members of the elite classes hadn't even heard of some of the technology that we have in today's society. I also wanted more from the ending--what that would be, I don't know. The ending was not bad and perfectly satisfactory, I just was expecting more.
Despite the slow start with all the characters, this was an interesting and fun read. If you enjoy Sci-Fi or Fantasy Dystopian novels, I recommend checking this book out. You won’t regret it!
jessread_s's review against another edition
4.0
Review: I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, Inspired Quill, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Shel Calopa, and Brigid Kapuvari, a member of Inspired Quill’s publishing team, for this opportunity.
What Worked:
01. The world-building. I really enjoyed the idea of a futuristic Australia, especially since the majority of the novel truly does take place “down under.” It wasn’t hard for me to come up with an image in my head of Calopa's futuristic world. I had fun following Sam and Harper through the tunnels underground and sat on the edge of my seat as I lay witness to Aggy nearly drowning. Though I have never been to Australia myself, I felt almost as if I was transported there as I followed the characters on their journey towards the light.
02. The story that unfolded. I was very intrigued by the usage of Light as a luxury. In Calopa’s futuristic world, Light is a resource utilized exclusively by the wealthy. The poorer cities resort to living in the darkness, fumbling around as they try to make a living. To ensure that the wealthy and the wealthy only are granted the light, the poor children are blinded. I never truly thought about the importance of actual light until I read about Sam’s experiences as a poor individual in the novel. By the time I had found my way at the end, I couldn’t help but appreciate the little things in life.
03. The diversity. I applaud Calopa for creating such diverse characters. Characters of all different religious backgrounds, ethnicities, social class, and genders make an appearance. To take a step further, characters like Sam have disabilities. I greatly appreciated Calopa’s efforts to incorporate diverse characters into the storyline.
04. The perspectives. One aspect of the novel that I enjoyed immensely was the number of perspectives that were given. We got an inside look at how the main characters viewed their familial situations and how the social class system effected them.
What Didn’t Work:
01. The number of characters. The main thing I took issue with was the sheer number of characters I had to keep track of as the novel progressed. We got to know the main characters pretty well through their respective chapters, but I had a hard time keeping track of all of the Brothers, the different Cities, as well as Aggy’s crew. Just as soon as I got to know one character, another would pop up and I would have to workout what role they played in the story.
02. The pacing. I was faced with minor difficulties when I started this novel because the beginning was so slow. It was hard to break through the first couple of chapters and required a lot of patience. I am here to report though that I am glad I kept with it because things did pick up as the novel progressed.
03. The time jump. There were several areas in Calopa’s book that had me upside down because I had no sense of time. For instance, I was shocked by how quickly Calopa made the jump from Sam being initiated into the Brotherhood to his acceptance in the group. It was funky the way the story started out with him as a young boy only for him to have aged abnormally within the next chapter. It took me a while to reorder pieces of the story based upon what was thrown at me in the beginning. Other than the few time skips at the beginning, the rest was smooth sailing.
04. The ending. I was very confused by how the novel ended. Perhaps I’m missing something, but it was odd how quickly everyone went back to their normal way of life. I still feel like there are some loose ends that haven’t been taken care of yet. This may make way for a second book, but for the time being, I do believe that the novel ended abruptly.
Jess Approved?: ✓
Review originally posted to yabookaddiction
What Worked:
01. The world-building. I really enjoyed the idea of a futuristic Australia, especially since the majority of the novel truly does take place “down under.” It wasn’t hard for me to come up with an image in my head of Calopa's futuristic world. I had fun following Sam and Harper through the tunnels underground and sat on the edge of my seat as I lay witness to Aggy nearly drowning. Though I have never been to Australia myself, I felt almost as if I was transported there as I followed the characters on their journey towards the light.
02. The story that unfolded. I was very intrigued by the usage of Light as a luxury. In Calopa’s futuristic world, Light is a resource utilized exclusively by the wealthy. The poorer cities resort to living in the darkness, fumbling around as they try to make a living. To ensure that the wealthy and the wealthy only are granted the light, the poor children are blinded. I never truly thought about the importance of actual light until I read about Sam’s experiences as a poor individual in the novel. By the time I had found my way at the end, I couldn’t help but appreciate the little things in life.
03. The diversity. I applaud Calopa for creating such diverse characters. Characters of all different religious backgrounds, ethnicities, social class, and genders make an appearance. To take a step further, characters like Sam have disabilities. I greatly appreciated Calopa’s efforts to incorporate diverse characters into the storyline.
04. The perspectives. One aspect of the novel that I enjoyed immensely was the number of perspectives that were given. We got an inside look at how the main characters viewed their familial situations and how the social class system effected them.
What Didn’t Work:
01. The number of characters. The main thing I took issue with was the sheer number of characters I had to keep track of as the novel progressed. We got to know the main characters pretty well through their respective chapters, but I had a hard time keeping track of all of the Brothers, the different Cities, as well as Aggy’s crew. Just as soon as I got to know one character, another would pop up and I would have to workout what role they played in the story.
02. The pacing. I was faced with minor difficulties when I started this novel because the beginning was so slow. It was hard to break through the first couple of chapters and required a lot of patience. I am here to report though that I am glad I kept with it because things did pick up as the novel progressed.
03. The time jump. There were several areas in Calopa’s book that had me upside down because I had no sense of time. For instance, I was shocked by how quickly Calopa made the jump from Sam being initiated into the Brotherhood to his acceptance in the group. It was funky the way the story started out with him as a young boy only for him to have aged abnormally within the next chapter. It took me a while to reorder pieces of the story based upon what was thrown at me in the beginning. Other than the few time skips at the beginning, the rest was smooth sailing.
04. The ending. I was very confused by how the novel ended. Perhaps I’m missing something, but it was odd how quickly everyone went back to their normal way of life. I still feel like there are some loose ends that haven’t been taken care of yet. This may make way for a second book, but for the time being, I do believe that the novel ended abruptly.
Jess Approved?: ✓
Review originally posted to yabookaddiction
corimccarthy's review against another edition
4.0
Before I kick off this review, I would first like to thank the author and publishing team for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review! I was truly excited to read it, and now let's get to it!
This book was an absolute adventure! When I read the synopsis for this book, I was immediately intrigued because it was something unique and something I personally haven't heard of before. This is a dystopian read set in Australia, and light being the one source not everyone can have. The elite caste live in constant light, and the lower caste live in pure darkness. When reading through the story, we get to see character's from both castes, and how different they really are. One of my favorite things about this book was all the character pov's we get to read from. Getting to see the different ideals, and motivations from both sides of the caste was truly interesting to see. It took me a couple of chapters to fully remember who each character is, because the pov switches every chapter and there are 5 main point of views, but once my brain accustomed, I really did enjoy it! Out all the different character's I found myself really invested into Harper and Sam's story lines! Every character in this story was really intriguing, and by the end, I felt connected to all of them, just in different ways. The only thing I would say was the beginning was a bit slow for me, and all the different pov's happening, but as the story went on, I enjoyed it!
All in all, this book was truly a joy to read, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a good dystopian, sci-fi read! Get ready for some amazing characters, an intriguing world, and an unforgettable story!
"She threw her hood back and shook her auburn hair out in a very un-Sisterly manner. For a moment they were just two girls out for an afternoon stroll, not two highly-trained operatives."
-Shel Calopa
Final Rating: 4/5 Stars
This book was an absolute adventure! When I read the synopsis for this book, I was immediately intrigued because it was something unique and something I personally haven't heard of before. This is a dystopian read set in Australia, and light being the one source not everyone can have. The elite caste live in constant light, and the lower caste live in pure darkness. When reading through the story, we get to see character's from both castes, and how different they really are. One of my favorite things about this book was all the character pov's we get to read from. Getting to see the different ideals, and motivations from both sides of the caste was truly interesting to see. It took me a couple of chapters to fully remember who each character is, because the pov switches every chapter and there are 5 main point of views, but once my brain accustomed, I really did enjoy it! Out all the different character's I found myself really invested into Harper and Sam's story lines! Every character in this story was really intriguing, and by the end, I felt connected to all of them, just in different ways. The only thing I would say was the beginning was a bit slow for me, and all the different pov's happening, but as the story went on, I enjoyed it!
All in all, this book was truly a joy to read, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a good dystopian, sci-fi read! Get ready for some amazing characters, an intriguing world, and an unforgettable story!
"She threw her hood back and shook her auburn hair out in a very un-Sisterly manner. For a moment they were just two girls out for an afternoon stroll, not two highly-trained operatives."
-Shel Calopa
Final Rating: 4/5 Stars
lazyowl's review against another edition
4.0
The book is set in a world where light is only available to the upper class of society. The main protagonist in the beginning of the story is about a boy named Sam who has grown up in a town full of blind workers.
I really enjoyed the references that the author made to Australian cities and culture. The author has mixed this well in a setting with advanced technology given to the elite and very basic and poor living conditions of the working class.
I found this story quite creative and there were definitely underlying messages about prejudices and how generations can inherit prejudices, but that there can also be the ability for our prejudices to be influenced by others as well.
Overall this was a great read that I would give 3.5 stars out of 5.
I really enjoyed the references that the author made to Australian cities and culture. The author has mixed this well in a setting with advanced technology given to the elite and very basic and poor living conditions of the working class.
I found this story quite creative and there were definitely underlying messages about prejudices and how generations can inherit prejudices, but that there can also be the ability for our prejudices to be influenced by others as well.
Overall this was a great read that I would give 3.5 stars out of 5.
raphaelreads's review
3.0
I would like to thank Brigid from Inspired Quill for the free ebook in exchange of an honest opinion.
This book had good things going on for it, I liked the story and the ideas that the author had. She shows lots of promise, especially for a first time author.
Now, I didn’t really connect with the characters but maybe that’s on me because a lot of reviewers really liked the characters development in the book. Also, I felt like there was a lot of info dumping especially in the beginning and it could be a little confusing at times but that’s just goes to show how rich the mythology in this book is. The ending didn’t really do it for me but overall I would say it’s a good first book and I wish the author good luck on her future endeavours!
This book had good things going on for it, I liked the story and the ideas that the author had. She shows lots of promise, especially for a first time author.
Now, I didn’t really connect with the characters but maybe that’s on me because a lot of reviewers really liked the characters development in the book. Also, I felt like there was a lot of info dumping especially in the beginning and it could be a little confusing at times but that’s just goes to show how rich the mythology in this book is. The ending didn’t really do it for me but overall I would say it’s a good first book and I wish the author good luck on her future endeavours!
readingraiinbow's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
tykewriter's review
4.0
ONE of the perks of being published with Inspired Quill (IQ) is the free access it grants us to the works of our fellow authors, so when Shel Calopa's Letters from the Light hit the digital shelves, I was sufficiently intrigued to snap up a Kindle copy all to myself.
Consider that a necessary disclosure for the sake of transparency, then: yes, I'm also an IQ author, and, yes, I took advantage of a freebie for my reading pleasures, but that's as far as it goes. No favours, or indeed favouritism, just because we're stablemates.
So, with that said, what of the Australian author's debut novel? Happily, it more than lived up to that initial piqued curiosity that first inspired me to take the plunge.
Letters from the Light is a dystopian science fiction tale. As such, being an author of dystopias myself, it was perhaps almost bound to snatch my attention, but it has an intriguing premise all of its own that really clinched it for me.
Calopa presents us with a tale of light and dark, but not in the sense of good and evil; well, not in any classic supernatural sense at least. No, this is a story of privileged elites and the underdogs toiling to keep the ruling caste in the luxury it takes for granted.
On the face of it, this social order is preserved by a caste of priests and their nun-like counterparts, but a corrosive cocktail of ancient secrets, political intrigue, the emergence of subversive myths and legends, is combining to corrode the pyramid from within.
The 'proles', forced to live in darkness, are becoming discontented. There's more to this society than meets the eye, of course. But things are changing.
Light is a precious resource, quite literally, in this far-future rendition of Australia. Wealth and status are bound to one's access to illumination. The elite bask in it, and never know the gloom of night except on special ceremonial occasions; the poor must stumble in the gloom, while the very poorest endure utter darkness underground.
In a horrible twist of Calopa's pen, these latter wretches are bound to their station – kept ignorant of their lightless conditions – in a truly cruel manner. Though, of course, those culpable justify it as humane; such is the banality of human hypocrisy.
Calopa doesn't judge; instead she leaves that to we, the readers, but I guess you could say she leads us on with plentiful testimony. Her writing brings this world to life in rich detail. That's true in terms of its physical settings and in its depiction of the ways that life and society is conducted, both in the light and the dark places.
She demonstrates the casual entitlement of the privileged to their well-lit ways, along with the dulled acceptance of those cast into shadow, in ways that often got my teeth grinding at the injustice of it all.
But don't expect a neat delineation between the 'good' and the 'bad' in this story. The heroes and villains in Calopa's novel are drawn from all stations; they inherited their place in this world, in more ways than one, and like any of us here in the real world, they can only make the most of the hand they are dealt. Would we conduct ourselves any better in their shoes?
Beyond this bitter ‘socio-luminarchy', the story presents us with a gloriously strange combination of elements. A despoiled Earth has long-since been abandoned by humanity, as it spread to the stars only to face catastrophe at the height of its prowess. An immortal Australian oligarch, imprisoned at the core of a planetoid orbiting a distant star for crimes against humanity, is pursuing his own machinations against his AI companion turned jailer. In deep space, a human-crewed starship nears the end of a century-long search...
For what? You'll have to read the book to discover how these disparate elements intersect. It's difficult to say much more without risk of spoilers. Suffice to say, Calopa has delivered the goods.
Letter from the Light is an allegory for our times, a morality tale of enlightenment and redemption; an example of how those who dwell in light can – as if it really needs saying – be blind perpetrators of the most dreadful darkness. Above all, Calopa's novel offers an inventive excursion into the human condition.
Consider that a necessary disclosure for the sake of transparency, then: yes, I'm also an IQ author, and, yes, I took advantage of a freebie for my reading pleasures, but that's as far as it goes. No favours, or indeed favouritism, just because we're stablemates.
So, with that said, what of the Australian author's debut novel? Happily, it more than lived up to that initial piqued curiosity that first inspired me to take the plunge.
Letters from the Light is a dystopian science fiction tale. As such, being an author of dystopias myself, it was perhaps almost bound to snatch my attention, but it has an intriguing premise all of its own that really clinched it for me.
Calopa presents us with a tale of light and dark, but not in the sense of good and evil; well, not in any classic supernatural sense at least. No, this is a story of privileged elites and the underdogs toiling to keep the ruling caste in the luxury it takes for granted.
On the face of it, this social order is preserved by a caste of priests and their nun-like counterparts, but a corrosive cocktail of ancient secrets, political intrigue, the emergence of subversive myths and legends, is combining to corrode the pyramid from within.
The 'proles', forced to live in darkness, are becoming discontented. There's more to this society than meets the eye, of course. But things are changing.
Light is a precious resource, quite literally, in this far-future rendition of Australia. Wealth and status are bound to one's access to illumination. The elite bask in it, and never know the gloom of night except on special ceremonial occasions; the poor must stumble in the gloom, while the very poorest endure utter darkness underground.
In a horrible twist of Calopa's pen, these latter wretches are bound to their station – kept ignorant of their lightless conditions – in a truly cruel manner. Though, of course, those culpable justify it as humane; such is the banality of human hypocrisy.
Calopa doesn't judge; instead she leaves that to we, the readers, but I guess you could say she leads us on with plentiful testimony. Her writing brings this world to life in rich detail. That's true in terms of its physical settings and in its depiction of the ways that life and society is conducted, both in the light and the dark places.
She demonstrates the casual entitlement of the privileged to their well-lit ways, along with the dulled acceptance of those cast into shadow, in ways that often got my teeth grinding at the injustice of it all.
But don't expect a neat delineation between the 'good' and the 'bad' in this story. The heroes and villains in Calopa's novel are drawn from all stations; they inherited their place in this world, in more ways than one, and like any of us here in the real world, they can only make the most of the hand they are dealt. Would we conduct ourselves any better in their shoes?
Beyond this bitter ‘socio-luminarchy', the story presents us with a gloriously strange combination of elements. A despoiled Earth has long-since been abandoned by humanity, as it spread to the stars only to face catastrophe at the height of its prowess. An immortal Australian oligarch, imprisoned at the core of a planetoid orbiting a distant star for crimes against humanity, is pursuing his own machinations against his AI companion turned jailer. In deep space, a human-crewed starship nears the end of a century-long search...
For what? You'll have to read the book to discover how these disparate elements intersect. It's difficult to say much more without risk of spoilers. Suffice to say, Calopa has delivered the goods.
Letter from the Light is an allegory for our times, a morality tale of enlightenment and redemption; an example of how those who dwell in light can – as if it really needs saying – be blind perpetrators of the most dreadful darkness. Above all, Calopa's novel offers an inventive excursion into the human condition.