Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was so fun! i found the ending to not be perfect, and kind of rushed, but overall i really enjoyed reading it and would read it again to see if there were any clues or things I missed the first time
dark
mysterious
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book did a great job maintaining suspense and keeping me interested and entertained throughout the first two thirds, but I didn't feel that the suspense was resolved in a satisfying way. I was especially intrigued by the technological commentary aspect of the plot (one tech policy writer I follow called Ashby's specialty "extremely pointed techno-criticism"), but was most disappointed by this aspect of the book. Again, the book started with a lot of interesting angles and setups for this, such as the characters' work on a satirical start-up that promises to use computers and AI to calculate what everyone's "really feeling", to the seemingly haunted high-tech house they find themselves trapped in after the plane crash. I really enjoyed seeing the parallels and implied commentary the author drew here between the assumption that technological surveillance can improve our lives and the many pitfalls of that assumption. However, I felt that the choice of the villain and their motivation really weakened this commentary (in addition to being not very interesting in general as a conclusion to the story), and drew the theme more towards "Isn't it bad that so many tech bros are misogynistic and racist?" Which is absolutely true and should be pointed out! But since it's so obvious I didn't think it made for a compelling story.
Definitely a page turner with many funny-in-a-sad-way moments for anyone who follows technology, but I didn't get the specific thing I was looking for out of it (a story that made me think more deeply about the strengths/pitfalls of Internet of Things-based tech), and I didn't really feel that the whodunnit aspect was that compelling either.
Definitely a page turner with many funny-in-a-sad-way moments for anyone who follows technology, but I didn't get the specific thing I was looking for out of it (a story that made me think more deeply about the strengths/pitfalls of Internet of Things-based tech), and I didn't really feel that the whodunnit aspect was that compelling either.
The comp titles call this a whodunit meets Black Mirror and, as is so often the case, I think this does this book a disservice. Yes, there is a science-fiction thriller element to this book but to go in with the expectations that a comp title sets it up for failure. Unfortunate, because this worked for me in a way that a book hasn't worked in a hot minute.
I loved the tension. I loved the way the tech mentioned feels like it's a half step to the left of what we already have. I think the flashback chapters were perfectly interspaced into the rest of the narrative, it wasn't so much that I think you could really call this a fully nonlinear storyline, but it helped keep things interesting. Kristen isn't going to be a character everyone likes, but I always like an MC who's kind of a bitch and hates everyone near her with the exception of like two people.
My only real complaint is that I don't think the ending fully stuck the dismount. I enjoyed it, but it felt like it was a half step away from where I really wanted it to end. But this was still really solid and I can't believe it took me so long to get to. It's definitely a read that if it doesn't work for you in the first chapter or two it probably just isn't going to work at all but I skipped my planning period to finish this book so obviously I was obsessed.
I loved the tension. I loved the way the tech mentioned feels like it's a half step to the left of what we already have. I think the flashback chapters were perfectly interspaced into the rest of the narrative, it wasn't so much that I think you could really call this a fully nonlinear storyline, but it helped keep things interesting. Kristen isn't going to be a character everyone likes, but I always like an MC who's kind of a bitch and hates everyone near her with the exception of like two people.
My only real complaint is that I don't think the ending fully stuck the dismount. I enjoyed it, but it felt like it was a half step away from where I really wanted it to end. But this was still really solid and I can't believe it took me so long to get to. It's definitely a read that if it doesn't work for you in the first chapter or two it probably just isn't going to work at all but I skipped my planning period to finish this book so obviously I was obsessed.
OK having worked so long as a *womanintech,* I know these guys. I know these apps, and these pitches, in too many places ...
This was creepy. Excellent, diverting--and I need a hot bath.
This was creepy. Excellent, diverting--and I need a hot bath.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
I genuinely have no idea how I feel about this book and that almost never happens to me. But I finished reading and was left with the overall feeling that I wasn’t intelligent enough to enjoy this book. It felt very science heavy to the point I genuinely couldn’t and didn’t understand parts of the story. It also felt like there were things that the reader was expected to know but I don’t know how the reader was supposed to know them. I found myself rereading sections over and over trying to discern what I’d missed that would help it make sense and coming up empty. The story was interesting, pretty well paced, and definitely had some great twists. I also liked the characters, especially the FMC who I found fascinating. It gave Lost meets Knives Out meets Lucy Foley vibes, which I enjoyed. The end didn’t make a ton of sense and wasn’t super satisfying, but that felt fitting given how the rest of the book had been. Ultimately I feel like I spent the majority of the book really fucking confused. So I don’t know if I liked this book. I’m utterly baffled by what I just read.
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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:
Yes
Some interesting points about surveillance and technology were brought up. The book (especially the last 50 pages) were too disturbing for me.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2 stars. The first half was better than the second half. I would rate the first half 3 stars and the second half 2 stars. The story started to get a bit ridiculous and I also didn’t like the “before” chapters of this book. I felt like the end of this book came out of nowhere and didn’t make any sense. This had potential.