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adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug abuse, Gore, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Blood, Dementia, Cannibalism, Car accident, Alcohol
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief
Moderate: Genocide, Suicide, Murder
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Dark Matter and Recursion were both better than this one, but I still enjoyed it. Fast paced, interesting sci fi concepts, balanced with some philosophizing about humanity, but just a bit lacking in character development and the truly mind bending stuff of his other books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Suicide, Death of parent
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Upgrade by Blake Crouch lived up to my expectations and was a quick, exciting read. My first Crouch novel was back in 2017 when I read Dark Matter, and I remember loving the fast-paced science fiction mood. When I saw the plot for his latest book, I was intrigued… and when I heard from a friend that it held its own against Dark Matter, I knew I’d be buying it.
In Upgrade we meet the protagonist, Logan, in a presumably future world where genetic engineering has gone awry, and the government has put in place restrictive laws. Scientists have been jailed and remain on watch lists, artificial intelligence scans identity in the streets, and the world is recovering from a global famine.
One day Logan wakes with the feeling that he is changing. He can’t put his finger on how or why, but once he starts to understand what’s happening the pace accelerates. As Logan pieces it together, the reader does too, and it’s a battle of morality and survival for humanity.
I’m drawn to science-fiction and particularly enjoy stories that are a degree away from the current reality. This novel has fictional elements that feel both futuristic and incredibly plausible. It begs the question of whether this could be reality and as the story progresses, it pushes moral and scientific questions to the surface for consideration.
The mystery unfolds and solves itself with satisfaction, with minimal loose ends to consider, and the epilogue was my favorite part. If you enjoyed Dark Matter, this is worth the read. This reminds me of a Jason Bourne type plot with an injection (terrible pun… forgive me) of futuristic science fiction.
Content warnings: Violence, Gun violence, Death, Self-harm, Torture, Grief
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Grief
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Grief
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
- def lower end of 3 stars, i think
- it wasn't bad, conceptually it was actually very interesting, but it definitely needed editing
- lots of introspection and not a lot of plot progression, plus the final 10% felt like a drag that i just wanted to get over with to the point where I skimmed it mostly
- a weird case of it needing to be shorter but also needing to be longer - cut the repetitive waffle, add more insight that isn't introspective
- thought provoking at times, but definitely one that you have to really think about, not really a book you can 'get lost in'
- confusing at times with the enhancements that worked in some scenarios but not in others
- i have only read one blake crouch (dark matter) but this doesn't come close to it, i'm afraid
TWs: vomiting, hospitalisation, explosion, violence, gunshot wounds, gun violence, death of father (past, suicide), death of mother, death of brother (past, leukemia), death of sister (murder), strained family relationships, murder, torture, needles, blood, gore, scarring, drug use, smoking, alcohol consumption, animal abuse/testing
Thank you to bookbreak and the author for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review. all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
- it wasn't bad, conceptually it was actually very interesting, but it definitely needed editing
- lots of introspection and not a lot of plot progression, plus the final 10% felt like a drag that i just wanted to get over with to the point where I skimmed it mostly
- a weird case of it needing to be shorter but also needing to be longer - cut the repetitive waffle, add more insight that isn't introspective
- thought provoking at times, but definitely one that you have to really think about, not really a book you can 'get lost in'
- confusing at times with the enhancements that worked in some scenarios but not in others
- i have only read one blake crouch (dark matter) but this doesn't come close to it, i'm afraid
TWs: vomiting, hospitalisation, explosion, violence, gunshot wounds, gun violence, death of father (past, suicide), death of mother, death of brother (past, leukemia), death of sister (murder), strained family relationships, murder, torture, needles, blood, gore, scarring, drug use, smoking, alcohol consumption, animal abuse/testing
Thank you to bookbreak and the author for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review. all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Gore, Torture, Blood
Minor: Animal cruelty, Cancer, Child death, Drug use, Suicide, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Alcohol, War
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was thrilled to get this advanced copy from Random House - Ballantine. As always Blake Crouch is keeping us enthralled with his ability to write science fiction in the most thrilling possible way. This is a perfect addition to his already amazing books!
We follow our main character Logan Ramsey in a dystopian future. He works for the GPA (Gene Protection Agency) and lives with guilt every day. The human race has survived, barely, what is called the "Great Starvation", and science has developed to a point where anyone can try to upgrade their DNA. The government of course has put a quick stop to it, whether it be the well meaning families trying to help their children, or large scale bio-weapon labs. Logan's job is to stop them. Even when it means stopping the "good" guys who are making real and meaningful advances for the world. He goes on a raid one night and everything goes wrong... more than anyone could have guessed.
This story had me on the edge of my seat. I love the way the science is part of the story, but doesn't feel like a barrier or something you feel you need to understand before reading.
I highly recommend you pick this up in July when it is published!
We follow our main character Logan Ramsey in a dystopian future. He works for the GPA (Gene Protection Agency) and lives with guilt every day. The human race has survived, barely, what is called the "Great Starvation", and science has developed to a point where anyone can try to upgrade their DNA. The government of course has put a quick stop to it, whether it be the well meaning families trying to help their children, or large scale bio-weapon labs. Logan's job is to stop them. Even when it means stopping the "good" guys who are making real and meaningful advances for the world. He goes on a raid one night and everything goes wrong... more than anyone could have guessed.
This story had me on the edge of my seat. I love the way the science is part of the story, but doesn't feel like a barrier or something you feel you need to understand before reading.
I highly recommend you pick this up in July when it is published!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
~~~
At this point, I will read literally anything that Blake Crouch writes. He is incredible at coming up with high stakes scenarios that are not only enjoyable to read, but also give the reader some interesting concepts to think about along the way. I also find his works to be really accessible to those who are just getting into sci-fi so if that sounds like you, I'd recommend his books for sure.
~~~
Upgrade is the story of Logan Ramsay, an officer with the Gene Protection Agency. His job: identify and take out genetic engineering operations. Reconciling his work and personal identity with his family's legacy becomes the least of his worries when he finds himself compromised after a failed sting. It isn't long before the changes start, forcing Logan to face his family and the events that he's been running from his whole adult life. Who will he be once all is said and done?
~~~
The thing I loved most about this book were the philosophical undertones. This book asks some really interesting questions about humanity, identity, and the age-old debate of logic vs. emotion. I love reading books that give you something to chew on even after you've finished, and this book definitely delivered that for me.
The plot thoroughly captured me from the first chapter. There were some slumps in the middle, which is why it didn't quite make 5-stars, but it really picked up toward the end and wrapped up with quite a satisfying conclusion, regardless.
All things considered, I had a good time with this read and would recommend it to those who enjoy near-future sci-fi + thriller reads that leave you thinking, but also sort of terrify you with their relevance.
~~~
At this point, I will read literally anything that Blake Crouch writes. He is incredible at coming up with high stakes scenarios that are not only enjoyable to read, but also give the reader some interesting concepts to think about along the way. I also find his works to be really accessible to those who are just getting into sci-fi so if that sounds like you, I'd recommend his books for sure.
~~~
Upgrade is the story of Logan Ramsay, an officer with the Gene Protection Agency. His job: identify and take out genetic engineering operations. Reconciling his work and personal identity with his family's legacy becomes the least of his worries when he finds himself compromised after a failed sting. It isn't long before the changes start, forcing Logan to face his family and the events that he's been running from his whole adult life. Who will he be once all is said and done?
~~~
The thing I loved most about this book were the philosophical undertones. This book asks some really interesting questions about humanity, identity, and the age-old debate of logic vs. emotion. I love reading books that give you something to chew on even after you've finished, and this book definitely delivered that for me.
The plot thoroughly captured me from the first chapter. There were some slumps in the middle, which is why it didn't quite make 5-stars, but it really picked up toward the end and wrapped up with quite a satisfying conclusion, regardless.
All things considered, I had a good time with this read and would recommend it to those who enjoy near-future sci-fi + thriller reads that leave you thinking, but also sort of terrify you with their relevance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Gun violence, Violence
Moderate: Death, Torture, Death of parent
Minor: Grief