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kaelaceleste's review
4.0
3.5.
Finished this up last night and I really enjoyed it. I don't read a lot of sci-fi so this was a bit of new territory for me.
Things I loved:
- The representation! So many cool diverse characters and different types of people peppered in throughout in a way that felt natural and real. I really especially represented the nonbinary & gender nonconforming rep, with characters even saying their pronouns when introducing themselves. Love.
- The day-to-day worldbuilding. I loved reading about stuff like their automated kitchens, the tip jars, the constant surveillance - lots of little details that brought it to life. I also loved that it was set in 2095, which feels like it's not too close to present day that this was unrealistic but also not too far in the future that it puts you a lil on edge.
- The pro-/anti-machine rights movement scenes and overarching plot. I just thought it was super interesting and again, could easily be likened to issues today that made it feel like this isn't THAT far off of real life. Same with the themes of drug use and addiction with the pills - just some really thought provoking stuff in there.
- Both narrating MCs. Normally in stories like this that have swapping narrators I tend to be much more interested in one story than the other, but I really loved both Welga and Nithya, and the little shifts in perspective that showed how they see things differently.
Things I wasn't crazy about:
- All the different terminology used. Most of it I was able to pick up within a few chapters, but there were a lot of words for things in this world that I wasn't entirely sure I understood right up to the end
Overall a good read and glad I picked it up!
Finished this up last night and I really enjoyed it. I don't read a lot of sci-fi so this was a bit of new territory for me.
Things I loved:
- The representation! So many cool diverse characters and different types of people peppered in throughout in a way that felt natural and real. I really especially represented the nonbinary & gender nonconforming rep, with characters even saying their pronouns when introducing themselves. Love.
- The day-to-day worldbuilding. I loved reading about stuff like their automated kitchens, the tip jars, the constant surveillance - lots of little details that brought it to life. I also loved that it was set in 2095, which feels like it's not too close to present day that this was unrealistic but also not too far in the future that it puts you a lil on edge.
- The pro-/anti-machine rights movement scenes and overarching plot. I just thought it was super interesting and again, could easily be likened to issues today that made it feel like this isn't THAT far off of real life. Same with the themes of drug use and addiction with the pills - just some really thought provoking stuff in there.
- Both narrating MCs. Normally in stories like this that have swapping narrators I tend to be much more interested in one story than the other, but I really loved both Welga and Nithya, and the little shifts in perspective that showed how they see things differently.
Things I wasn't crazy about:
- All the different terminology used. Most of it I was able to pick up within a few chapters, but there were a lot of words for things in this world that I wasn't entirely sure I understood right up to the end
Spoiler
- The abortion plotline. Still not really sure what this was supposed to accomplish other than showing women still don't have rights in 2095? Make me hate her husband? I guess it's supposed to be more social commentary but it was the only part that felt really heavy-handed and unnecessary to me.Overall a good read and glad I picked it up!
emco_0's review
Writing felt overly complicated and jargon-y. I was already starting to skim which isn’t a good sign so early in a book.
vendea's review
1.0
The short review: don't waste your time.
The long review: I was reading and reading along, rather dragging myself through the mud puddle of prose that comprised this book, and while I could pick out plenty of individual things that were annoying me, I couldn't put my finger on the overarching cause of my distaste for the book until at least three quarters of the way through. I finally realized: this book is incredibly immature. If I had to guess I would say it was a first novel. If it wasn't, it sure feels like it. The story, characters, and world building are all fundamentally contradictory - which would have been a fun conceit, if the author was aware of it. I don't think she was.
Everyone takes some innumerable amount of pills every day to stay alive. Everyone thinks this is great. Bots do everything and humans subsist by...being entertaining? It really is the gig economy taken to the extreme except in a really dumb way. Yeah everyone uses one global currency...which is all digital...so it all freezes when the net goes down...I'm sorry the whole smart modular clothes and houses is actually one of the worst ideas i have ever heard and i got sick of it being mentioned every five seconds. People can't cook, etc. etc. No thanks. This is not a world I wish to return to.
The long review: I was reading and reading along, rather dragging myself through the mud puddle of prose that comprised this book, and while I could pick out plenty of individual things that were annoying me, I couldn't put my finger on the overarching cause of my distaste for the book until at least three quarters of the way through. I finally realized: this book is incredibly immature. If I had to guess I would say it was a first novel. If it wasn't, it sure feels like it. The story, characters, and world building are all fundamentally contradictory - which would have been a fun conceit, if the author was aware of it. I don't think she was.
Everyone takes some innumerable amount of pills every day to stay alive. Everyone thinks this is great. Bots do everything and humans subsist by...being entertaining? It really is the gig economy taken to the extreme except in a really dumb way. Yeah everyone uses one global currency...which is all digital...so it all freezes when the net goes down...I'm sorry the whole smart modular clothes and houses is actually one of the worst ideas i have ever heard and i got sick of it being mentioned every five seconds. People can't cook, etc. etc. No thanks. This is not a world I wish to return to.
lauralauralaura's review against another edition
3.5
If we take current trends in capitalism, psychopharmacology, and AI to a certain set of logical conclusions, then what? This book is an interesting thought experiment. It dabbles a little bit in the ethics, but only barely. While this book has the kind of hypercompetent female lead that I generally love so much, the protagonist of this book was missing a bit of vulnerability that would have helped the story resonate just a little bit more.
geekwayne's review
3.0
'Machinehood' by S.B. Divya is a novel about the future full of labor rights, gig economy, and technology.
Weiga Ramirez is ex-military and works gigs as a Shield or bodyguard. Technology means she can broadcast her exploits and earn tips from viewers. When a movement called the Machinehood shows up and threatens life as she knows it, she is called back to a military that betrayed her to fight something she doesn't understand.
I liked the near future world and the people struggling to make a living. I liked the technology also, but the book dragged a bit for me and had sections that felt a bit too preachy.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Gallery Books and NetGalley. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
Weiga Ramirez is ex-military and works gigs as a Shield or bodyguard. Technology means she can broadcast her exploits and earn tips from viewers. When a movement called the Machinehood shows up and threatens life as she knows it, she is called back to a military that betrayed her to fight something she doesn't understand.
I liked the near future world and the people struggling to make a living. I liked the technology also, but the book dragged a bit for me and had sections that felt a bit too preachy.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Gallery Books and NetGalley. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
scalygusgus1993's review
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
mary_soon_lee's review against another edition
3.0
"Machinehood" is one of this year's Nebula nominees, science fiction set in 2095 that imagines a future where most people are reliant on pills and few have stable jobs. The narrative switches between Welga, an ex-marine now working as a bodyguard, and her sister-in-law Nithya, who works for one of the pill companies. I loved the inventiveness of the book, which extrapolates many changes -- social, economic, technological. Humans struggle to find employment amid a multitude of AIs; privacy is a rarity amid a multitude of drones; people pop a multitude of pills to make themselves stronger and smarter. Even the furniture reconfigures itself.
I liked both Welga and Nithya, and I very much liked that the novel shows their many connections -- to partners, family, colleagues -- across multiple cultures and countries. The plot has plenty of drama and quite a bit of violence. Yet it is also rather dialogue-heavy, with lengthy debates, both internal and between characters. Neo-Buddhism has a prominent role. The high stakes of the main plot didn't always engage me emotionally, but the smaller character-centered dramas held my attention. One thread in particular concerning had me on tenterhooks.
3.5 out of 5 dakini stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
I liked both Welga and Nithya, and I very much liked that the novel shows their many connections -- to partners, family, colleagues -- across multiple cultures and countries. The plot has plenty of drama and quite a bit of violence. Yet it is also rather dialogue-heavy, with lengthy debates, both internal and between characters. Neo-Buddhism has a prominent role. The high stakes of the main plot didn't always engage me emotionally, but the smaller character-centered dramas held my attention. One thread in particular concerning
Spoiler
an unplanned pregancy3.5 out of 5 dakini stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
xylotrupes_gideon's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
the_discworldian's review against another edition
Didn’t really dig the world, and couldn’t get into it.