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I’m a nerd about genetics and science-y things so I really enjoyed this one. The science was a bitt of a stretch but it was interesting so I’ll let it slide.
This is one of the very, VERY few books I think would be better as an audiobook because of all of the scientific nomenclature. For the layperson, they may not know how to pronounce a lot of the words. Thankfully I have a science background.
I was mad about the book ending until the literal epilogue. It did leave some questions unanswered, though.
Crouch is a very good sci-fi writer and I’ve enjoyed all of his books so far. I’ve been reading him for a few years but this is only the second audiobook of his I’ve listened to.
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Dementia, Grief
However, here's the thing. Maybe it's because the mystery gets solved a little too early, but the middle of the book fizzled for me. It felt like the real meat of the story was over halfway through, and I struggled to keep the momentum going.
Overall, if you're looking for a mind-bending sci-fi adventure that'll tickle your ADHD curiosity, this is a good pick. Just be prepared for the possibility of needing a double-shot espresso to power through the second half.
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Death of parent
Moderate: Cursing, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Animal death, Child death
With that said, there's not much new ground covered here really. Nothing about this is offensive I don't think.
Moderate: Gun violence, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder
Minor: Confinement, Violence, Grief, Car accident
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Body horror, Suicide, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Dementia, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Car accident, War
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
Sadly, there was more focus on action scenes in the second half of the book, and although I didn't mind all the science dumping in the beginning, it got very annoying the farther the story progressed.
It was still a fun and fast-paced reading experience (especially with the help of the audiobook), I just kind of stopped caring along the way and yes, I see the irony in this. XD
So I liked it for what it was, but there was so much more potential to make this an outstanding story. It lacked emotion and the surprises factor other Blake Crouch books have. It was all very predictable. The epilogue finally delivered what I wished for, just too little too late. I would have loved to see a more nuanced discussion about the topics of the epilogue in the second half of the book alongside the action.
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
Graphic: Death, Violence, Death of parent
Moderate: Gun violence, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Gun violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail