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futurememory's review
3.0
I have to say, there's a lot to like about Quicksilver. It's got a very unusual protagonist and a pretty intriguing plot.
I really loved the way that race relations and sexism against women in the sciences were portrayed, and I LOVED Milo.
I actually think that if this book wasn't tied to Ultraviolet, I think I would have liked it better. I'm not the biggest fan of Faraday, at all.
Spoiler
an alien asexual engineer!I really loved the way that race relations and sexism against women in the sciences were portrayed, and I LOVED Milo.
I actually think that if this book wasn't tied to Ultraviolet, I think I would have liked it better. I'm not the biggest fan of Faraday, at all.
bookcub's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
catladyreba's review
3.0
It's rare to find a young adult sci-fi novel with such a strong female protagonist. I just wished that I had read this sequel closer to when I read the first title.
amandagstevens's review against another edition
4.0
NOTE: Spoilers below for [b:Ultraviolet|8843789|Ultraviolet (Ultraviolet, #1)|R.J. Anderson|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1338688532s/8843789.jpg|13718670].
Tori Beaugrand's life is a composite of secrets. From her intellect to her emotions to her origin, nothing is safe to reveal. To anybody. Not her friends, new or old. Not her parents. Certainly not her enemies. And for a seventeen-year-old, Tori's attracted some interesting enemies. There's the obsessed ex-cop who wants to know what really happened when she disappeared months ago. There's the curious genetics lab who got a peek at her unearthly DNA. And of course there's Mathis, to whom she is an experiment, not a person.
Tori is alone. But by now, she's used to it.
She doesn't let things faze her, not even running for her life (maybe literally), restarting in a new town, choosing a new name. Then Sebastian Faraday materializes (quite literally) in her world again with a message: Tori's in danger. Again.
This book never stops moving. Not until I browsed other reviews did I realize that, like [b:Ultraviolet|8843789|Ultraviolet (Ultraviolet, #1)|R.J. Anderson|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1338688532s/8843789.jpg|13718670], the physical action takes awhile to pick up. Tension propels this book even when Tori is working at Value Foods or pushing her parents for permission to explore her engineering skills at the local "makerspace." The plot takes several unexpected turns but is always driven by credible character choices, and I love Tori for her inner insecurities and her desire to be seen for who she is even as she weaves constant lies to protect herself.
As a well-rounded secondary character, I also love Milo. That Ms. Anderson wrote him and Tori as friends, not a teen romance, and that the characters themselves acknowledge to each other the difference--I don't know that I've read a young adult novel that deals as well with the complexities of teenage sexuality and peer pressure. Tori's disdain for the phrase "just a friend" is refreshing and perfectly fits who she is as a young woman forced to pretend her way through life, desiring friendship more than she'll admit even to herself.
Then there's the return of Alison and Faraday. Wow. I love them, too, this time around (yes, even Faraday). So much is hinted at in Faraday's reactions, and I salute the author for not spelling it all out.
As for the Crazy Ending Twist ... the She's Not Really Going To--OMGOSH moment ... well, like [b:Ultraviolet|8843789|Ultraviolet (Ultraviolet, #1)|R.J. Anderson|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1338688532s/8843789.jpg|13718670], this book is brilliant. Is it extreme? A little out there? Nudging a toe against the suspension-of-disbelief line? Absolutely. But with a tamer (dare I say more plausible?) climax, this book wouldn't measure up to its prequel.
Speaking of the prequel, these two books must be read together (I recommend in order) for full appreciation. Not only do they tie off threads left loose by the other, but their themes also blend beautifully. Both Alison and Tori reach a point of helplessness with nothing left to do or give, and in that emptiness, from that emptiness, they are saved. Redemption (though never named as such) glimmers in both books, more brightly when they are considered side by side.
As for the ending, knowing Ms. Anderson doesn't intend to continue with these characters ... sigh. There's a lot still unexplored, a lot of fallout, including that of Faraday's unforgivable choice, which happens too late in the book. Way too late, because then the story is over. And again (see my review of [b:Ultraviolet|8843789|Ultraviolet (Ultraviolet, #1)|R.J. Anderson|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1338688532s/8843789.jpg|13718670]), I was not ready. Apparently, this author believes in limited closure.
Can I choose to be satisfied with that? Can I recommend these books anyway, especially to readers in search of young adult fiction that will bend genres and push boundaries and shatter formulas?
Sure thing.
Tori Beaugrand's life is a composite of secrets. From her intellect to her emotions to her origin, nothing is safe to reveal. To anybody. Not her friends, new or old. Not her parents. Certainly not her enemies. And for a seventeen-year-old, Tori's attracted some interesting enemies. There's the obsessed ex-cop who wants to know what really happened when she disappeared months ago. There's the curious genetics lab who got a peek at her unearthly DNA. And of course there's Mathis, to whom she is an experiment, not a person.
Tori is alone. But by now, she's used to it.
She doesn't let things faze her, not even running for her life (maybe literally), restarting in a new town, choosing a new name. Then Sebastian Faraday materializes (quite literally) in her world again with a message: Tori's in danger. Again.
This book never stops moving. Not until I browsed other reviews did I realize that, like [b:Ultraviolet|8843789|Ultraviolet (Ultraviolet, #1)|R.J. Anderson|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1338688532s/8843789.jpg|13718670], the physical action takes awhile to pick up. Tension propels this book even when Tori is working at Value Foods or pushing her parents for permission to explore her engineering skills at the local "makerspace." The plot takes several unexpected turns but is always driven by credible character choices, and I love Tori for her inner insecurities and her desire to be seen for who she is even as she weaves constant lies to protect herself.
As a well-rounded secondary character, I also love Milo. That Ms. Anderson wrote him and Tori as friends, not a teen romance, and that the characters themselves acknowledge to each other the difference--I don't know that I've read a young adult novel that deals as well with the complexities of teenage sexuality and peer pressure. Tori's disdain for the phrase "just a friend" is refreshing and perfectly fits who she is as a young woman forced to pretend her way through life, desiring friendship more than she'll admit even to herself.
Then there's the return of Alison and Faraday. Wow. I love them, too, this time around (yes, even Faraday). So much is hinted at in Faraday's reactions, and I salute the author for not spelling it all out.
As for the Crazy Ending Twist ... the She's Not Really Going To--OMGOSH moment ... well, like [b:Ultraviolet|8843789|Ultraviolet (Ultraviolet, #1)|R.J. Anderson|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1338688532s/8843789.jpg|13718670], this book is brilliant. Is it extreme? A little out there? Nudging a toe against the suspension-of-disbelief line? Absolutely. But with a tamer (dare I say more plausible?) climax, this book wouldn't measure up to its prequel.
Speaking of the prequel, these two books must be read together (I recommend in order) for full appreciation. Not only do they tie off threads left loose by the other, but their themes also blend beautifully. Both Alison and Tori reach a point of helplessness with nothing left to do or give, and in that emptiness, from that emptiness, they are saved. Redemption (though never named as such) glimmers in both books, more brightly when they are considered side by side.
As for the ending, knowing Ms. Anderson doesn't intend to continue with these characters ... sigh. There's a lot still unexplored, a lot of fallout, including that of Faraday's unforgivable choice, which happens too late in the book. Way too late, because then the story is over. And again (see my review of [b:Ultraviolet|8843789|Ultraviolet (Ultraviolet, #1)|R.J. Anderson|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1338688532s/8843789.jpg|13718670]), I was not ready. Apparently, this author believes in limited closure.
Can I choose to be satisfied with that? Can I recommend these books anyway, especially to readers in search of young adult fiction that will bend genres and push boundaries and shatter formulas?
Sure thing.
etinney's review against another edition
4.0
4 out of 5 stars
These books really surprised me. I thought they were going to be ok, and I put them on my TBR on a whim. However, I really enjoyed the books because they had some really refreshing elements. For example, the fact that Niki is asexual gives a sense of sexual diversity that isn't present in most young adult novels, and the fact that she could still have a romantic relationship with Milo at the end of the book really shows the complexity of love and sexuality in terms of relationships. Anderson's attention to detail, especially in the chapter headings and descriptions shows the meticulous effect that went into the creation of this duology. The science fiction aspects were really fun and pretty unique.
There were only a couple of things that kept me from giving this a full five stars. One is that the relationship between Sebastian and Alison still kind of creeped me out and did not really seem founded in any sort of way. Maybe that is just me being prudish but I don't know. Secondly, I felt like some technical things were not explained fully, especially towards the end when she had her finally plan to finally shut down the relay system. But perhaps that was because I was reading quickly (I am in the middle of a read-a-thon) so if I was reading slower, it would have made more sense.
I do recommend these books because they are quick and unique reads that a lot of people would enjoy.
These books really surprised me. I thought they were going to be ok, and I put them on my TBR on a whim. However, I really enjoyed the books because they had some really refreshing elements. For example, the fact that Niki is asexual gives a sense of sexual diversity that isn't present in most young adult novels, and the fact that she could still have a romantic relationship with Milo at the end of the book really shows the complexity of love and sexuality in terms of relationships. Anderson's attention to detail, especially in the chapter headings and descriptions shows the meticulous effect that went into the creation of this duology. The science fiction aspects were really fun and pretty unique.
There were only a couple of things that kept me from giving this a full five stars. One is that the relationship between Sebastian and Alison still kind of creeped me out and did not really seem founded in any sort of way. Maybe that is just me being prudish but I don't know. Secondly, I felt like some technical things were not explained fully, especially towards the end when she had her finally plan to finally shut down the relay system. But perhaps that was because I was reading quickly (I am in the middle of a read-a-thon) so if I was reading slower, it would have made more sense.
I do recommend these books because they are quick and unique reads that a lot of people would enjoy.
elliedwrites's review
4.0
Oh. My God. A book with an asexual character. I'm in love.
But why, RJ... why did you end the book with a kiss?
But why, RJ... why did you end the book with a kiss?
intorilex's review
3.0
Find this and other Reviews at InToriLex
I enjoyed this, even though it left me feeling mixed emotions. This was alot different than the first one, and dealt with Tori (yay a mc with my name) who was unsure of herself, but was determined to find a way to survive. While Ms. Anderson is a great story teller, the writing itself didn't grip, as I would have liked. For example I like to find interesting quotes or dialogue which I connected with, but I just couldn't pull any from this story. The quote above is from the beginning of a chapter. Even though on paper it' what I like YA, involves aliens, has decent writing and is sci-fi I somehow just didn't get it.
Don't get me wrong this wasn't all bad it had great scifi elements, intrigue and action. To me the book just didn't flow well, things that happened seemed to happen in a jumble and became less anti-climatic than they should have been. I probably won't be reading the next in series if there is one on the horizon. What redeeming quality this novel did have was Tori, she was a main character who broke stereotypes and was not overly obsessed with falling in love. This book was about her survival when faced with constantly changing circumstances. She was rightly not focused on getting lost in someones eyes, but she also never really faced a obstacle where another character wasn't conveniently able to offer her help.
Other reviews liked the change of perspective which didn't involve Allison reflecting on the colors and tastes of letters and numbers, but I thought that was an engaging part of the first book Ultraviolet. Overall I just wanted this book to do a better job developing a emotional connection with readers, there was scenes where I know I was supposed to feel something but instead felt like I should hurry up and finish the book.
"Regenerative Feedback: The increase in signal strength that occurs when part of the output energy returns to the input signal and reinforces it."
I enjoyed this, even though it left me feeling mixed emotions. This was alot different than the first one, and dealt with Tori (yay a mc with my name) who was unsure of herself, but was determined to find a way to survive. While Ms. Anderson is a great story teller, the writing itself didn't grip, as I would have liked. For example I like to find interesting quotes or dialogue which I connected with, but I just couldn't pull any from this story. The quote above is from the beginning of a chapter. Even though on paper it' what I like YA, involves aliens, has decent writing and is sci-fi I somehow just didn't get it.
Don't get me wrong this wasn't all bad it had great scifi elements, intrigue and action. To me the book just didn't flow well, things that happened seemed to happen in a jumble and became less anti-climatic than they should have been. I probably won't be reading the next in series if there is one on the horizon. What redeeming quality this novel did have was Tori, she was a main character who broke stereotypes and was not overly obsessed with falling in love. This book was about her survival when faced with constantly changing circumstances. She was rightly not focused on getting lost in someones eyes, but she also never really faced a obstacle where another character wasn't conveniently able to offer her help.
Other reviews liked the change of perspective which didn't involve Allison reflecting on the colors and tastes of letters and numbers, but I thought that was an engaging part of the first book Ultraviolet. Overall I just wanted this book to do a better job developing a emotional connection with readers, there was scenes where I know I was supposed to feel something but instead felt like I should hurry up and finish the book.
charonlrdraws's review
5.0
Well I'm going to feel a little empty after finishing this duology in such a short space of time but hey it was worth it and this was a fantastic sequel and yes more binge reading from yours truly because heck books come when I'm determined to smash my reading goals so yeah.
Anyway here's a summery of Quicksilver:
Back in her hometown, Tori Beaugrand had everything a teenaged girl could want—popularity, money, beauty. But she also had a secret. A secret that could change her life in an instant, or destroy it.
Now she’s left everything from her old life behind, including her real name and Alison, the one friend who truly understood her. She can’t escape who and what she is. But if she wants to have anything like a normal life, she has to blend in and hide her unusual... talents.
Plans change when the enigmatic Sebastian Faraday reappears and gives Tori some bad news: she hasn’t escaped her past. In fact, she’s attracted new interest in the form of an obsessed ex-cop turned investigator for a genetics lab.
She has one last shot at getting her enemies off her trail and winning the security and independence she’s always longed for. But saving herself will take every ounce of Tori’s incredible electronics and engineering skills—and even then, she may need to sacrifice more than she could possibly imagine if she wants to be free.
Yeah like Ultraviolet this book is fast-paced and we see the story from Tori's POV as oppose to Alison's and this book I guess you could say is the events that happen before, during and after the events of Ultraviolet but heck the different POV was needed and we learn a lot of new things and understand why certain things happened in Ultraviolet this book holds the answers to those questions and I enjoyed every minute of it.
Upside is I've read a load of good books recently and it's nice to end the on a positive so this book takes the crown for what I felt was a satisfying ending and it is very well written and unique in its own right and I need to buy more by this author ASAP.
Anyway here's a summery of Quicksilver:
Back in her hometown, Tori Beaugrand had everything a teenaged girl could want—popularity, money, beauty. But she also had a secret. A secret that could change her life in an instant, or destroy it.
Now she’s left everything from her old life behind, including her real name and Alison, the one friend who truly understood her. She can’t escape who and what she is. But if she wants to have anything like a normal life, she has to blend in and hide her unusual... talents.
Plans change when the enigmatic Sebastian Faraday reappears and gives Tori some bad news: she hasn’t escaped her past. In fact, she’s attracted new interest in the form of an obsessed ex-cop turned investigator for a genetics lab.
She has one last shot at getting her enemies off her trail and winning the security and independence she’s always longed for. But saving herself will take every ounce of Tori’s incredible electronics and engineering skills—and even then, she may need to sacrifice more than she could possibly imagine if she wants to be free.
Yeah like Ultraviolet this book is fast-paced and we see the story from Tori's POV as oppose to Alison's and this book I guess you could say is the events that happen before, during and after the events of Ultraviolet but heck the different POV was needed and we learn a lot of new things and understand why certain things happened in Ultraviolet this book holds the answers to those questions and I enjoyed every minute of it.
Upside is I've read a load of good books recently and it's nice to end the on a positive so this book takes the crown for what I felt was a satisfying ending and it is very well written and unique in its own right and I need to buy more by this author ASAP.
holy_reads's review
5.0
This book had a great plot and characters and was also great for me personally since it was the first book I've read with an asexual character in it and I think her asexuality was handled well. Overall, it is a brilliant book.