Scan barcode
sylvrreads's review against another edition
3.0
Uh... what?!
Where is the end?! How does the new Arcadia work? Does Devon survive? Does Gideon? How is Holly? Is there a sequel?! Too many questions unanswered!
The writing was very good though.
Where is the end?! How does the new Arcadia work? Does Devon survive? Does Gideon? How is Holly? Is there a sequel?! Too many questions unanswered!
The writing was very good though.
jessdone's review against another edition
2.0
I never finished this book. Early on it kept introducing characters and didn't give a lot defining them. This got me lost. Plus I couldn't figure out what, if anything of note was going one. I'm disappointed because it has good overall reviews and the summary interests me.
Perhaps I wasn't in the right frame of mind?
Perhaps I wasn't in the right frame of mind?
pathogenesis's review against another edition
dark
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
taffanyq's review against another edition
4.0
Initially I was skeptical but the more I dived into the book the more I was enthralled with the ideas and not-so-crazy world that the author created. I kept going back to check when this book was written because it eerily depicts a country we could live in without realizing where we're actually heading. I enjoyed the parts that reminded me of Handmaid's Tale, especially the subtlety the characters noted as their country changed around them. Not too far from what could happen but also a bit of a stretch. Then again, you never know. All in all, a very interesting read.
orwecouldnott's review against another edition
5.0
Science Fiction turned Fact in this frightening portrait of the near future. Characters who don't need full development because we see so much of our weakest selves in them. While being written before the 2016 election, so much of this world seems to be Trump's America in an errily short amount of time.
The writing style may not be for everyone, but if you can let yourself be submerged into it, this becomes a book you won't want to put down. Even finished, I can't stop thinking about this book.
The writing style may not be for everyone, but if you can let yourself be submerged into it, this becomes a book you won't want to put down. Even finished, I can't stop thinking about this book.
stephreadsal0t's review against another edition
4.0
I would give this 3.5 stars but I rounded up for Goodreads. I'm really curious to see how others think of it after it's released for the masses. I read it as a Kindle First book.
Overall I enjoyed it. It was like an episode of Black Mirror, so if you're into that you would like this I think. I found myself wanting to read more. I really enjoy books that use mixed media to tell the story and this does this -- blog and news articles and message board threads are weaved within the chapters. I think the author did a good job of utilizing those. Advertising is a big aspect of it. It makes me think of a writing teacher I had once who said to never use a brand like Coke in your story unless you were getting paid by them. I think he forgot how poignant subverting advertising can be.
It's not dystopian to me, even though it's being billed as such. I also wondered if the author was applying a little too much of 2017 to 2035 (I think that's the year it takes place in). A lot of trendy slang now is used, news sources like Buzzfeed and Slate are referenced, the NYT is the liberal fake news, and people drive Prisus's which I don't 100% buy, but maybe I'm being overly critical. I mean we still drive Accords from the 90's and say "hella". But I thought there was space to create a new generation and instead it seemed like 20-something Millennials placed 2035 and the setting in time became meaningless.
I found the characters realistic and relatable. I especially liked Teresa. I liked the role race played, which was often used to point out hypocrisy and racism. It seemed realistic and scary. Other reviews have pointed out their lack of character development, which I can understand. I wish Autumn's character was more developed. I think Gideon especially was painted with a broad brush without a lot of critical thought. I think he was in many ways the character it centered around and I ended up hating him. Ultimately everyone is an anti-hero, but isn't that life?
This was definitely written from a perspective of a liberal man and there's nothing wrong with this but I want to read Margaret Atwood's version of it too.
I found the ending abrupt. Maybe because I grew up on Disney films, I want this to have a sequel with some redemption and someone to fight against the man. If you are looking for asskicking, this is not the book to read.
I can see why people would have problems with it but so far everyone I've read who disliked it didn't like it because of the use of "fuck" or the sex worker (cam girl) aspect of it or maybe are just Trump voters who are uncomfortable with the way this book reflects the way they voted and our countries trajectory back at them.
Overall I think it's worth the read.
Overall I enjoyed it. It was like an episode of Black Mirror, so if you're into that you would like this I think. I found myself wanting to read more. I really enjoy books that use mixed media to tell the story and this does this -- blog and news articles and message board threads are weaved within the chapters. I think the author did a good job of utilizing those. Advertising is a big aspect of it. It makes me think of a writing teacher I had once who said to never use a brand like Coke in your story unless you were getting paid by them. I think he forgot how poignant subverting advertising can be.
It's not dystopian to me, even though it's being billed as such. I also wondered if the author was applying a little too much of 2017 to 2035 (I think that's the year it takes place in). A lot of trendy slang now is used, news sources like Buzzfeed and Slate are referenced, the NYT is the liberal fake news, and people drive Prisus's which I don't 100% buy, but maybe I'm being overly critical. I mean we still drive Accords from the 90's and say "hella". But I thought there was space to create a new generation and instead it seemed like 20-something Millennials placed 2035 and the setting in time became meaningless.
I found the characters realistic and relatable. I especially liked Teresa. I liked the role race played, which was often used to point out hypocrisy and racism. It seemed realistic and scary. Other reviews have pointed out their lack of character development, which I can understand. I wish Autumn's character was more developed. I think Gideon especially was painted with a broad brush without a lot of critical thought. I think he was in many ways the character it centered around and I ended up hating him. Ultimately everyone is an anti-hero, but isn't that life?
This was definitely written from a perspective of a liberal man and there's nothing wrong with this but I want to read Margaret Atwood's version of it too.
I found the ending abrupt. Maybe because I grew up on Disney films, I want this to have a sequel with some redemption and someone to fight against the man. If you are looking for asskicking, this is not the book to read.
I can see why people would have problems with it but so far everyone I've read who disliked it didn't like it because of the use of "fuck" or the sex worker (cam girl) aspect of it or maybe are just Trump voters who are uncomfortable with the way this book reflects the way they voted and our countries trajectory back at them.
Overall I think it's worth the read.
hcgambrell's review against another edition
2.0
I have not had good luck with these Kindle First books.
This book was far too disjointed--too many characters, too many plot points, too much focus on social commentary--that nothing seemed well-developed.
Also--spoiler alert--WHY introduce a killer virus AND a completely undeveloped concept of AI in the last 15% of the book??? It made the first 85% of the book seem completely unnecessary if that's the ultimate goal.
Ugh. This book made me so mad. I can't believe I read this whole thing when I could have been reading anything else instead.
This book was far too disjointed--too many characters, too many plot points, too much focus on social commentary--that nothing seemed well-developed.
Also--spoiler alert--WHY introduce a killer virus AND a completely undeveloped concept of AI in the last 15% of the book??? It made the first 85% of the book seem completely unnecessary if that's the ultimate goal.
Ugh. This book made me so mad. I can't believe I read this whole thing when I could have been reading anything else instead.
theoliveprincess's review against another edition
2.0
What!!? It took me forever to get through this book and at the point where it finally started to hold my interest it just ... ended. I’m left with a feeling of disbelief at the sudden ending and relief that I can finally move on.
I gave this book 2 stars instead of 1 because you can tell there are a lot of good concepts for a book flying around in the author’s brain, but wtf? Did the editor just give up? Was there a limit to how long the book could be? Do they think they’re going to write a sequel because that’s not going to work considering this first book was such a collage of huh?
I gave this book 2 stars instead of 1 because you can tell there are a lot of good concepts for a book flying around in the author’s brain, but wtf? Did the editor just give up? Was there a limit to how long the book could be? Do they think they’re going to write a sequel because that’s not going to work considering this first book was such a collage of huh?