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jelundberg's review
3.0
An entertaining and diverting novella with some memorable characters, though I think this would have benefited from being expanded into a proper novel. Too much of the worldbuilding has holes in it, and too much is left unexplained at the end. A fine attempt, even if it doesn’t stick the landing.
rowan86's review
4.0
My favourite character is July Wong (can you blame me though)-- I find him so utterly fascinating. I don't think I've ever read a sci-fi apocalyptical book with a courtesan as one of the main characters. I have so many questions about him: is he based off the empress' son etc.?
My only wish is that this was longer so that the plot and characters could've been more developed.
I bought this at BooksActually a few hours before the author was supposed to come in for a book talk but sadly didn't go because I was with friends and we had other plans. Oh well.
My only wish is that this was longer so that the plot and characters could've been more developed.
I bought this at BooksActually a few hours before the author was supposed to come in for a book talk but sadly didn't go because I was with friends and we had other plans. Oh well.
sarahoretsev's review
2.0
A rogue virus, 'The Messiah', threatens to wipe out life as humanity knows it - to wipe out the way in which the colonised universe has lived for a millenia, under the guidance of the Empress (an operating system whose overriding priority is the survival of her 'sheep' ie the entire human race).
A mish mash of characters from all different backgrounds in this world are against the clock to try and save the universe, creating a racing adventure that twists and turns.
I enjoyed this book, and loved the incorporation of such different characters at the heart of the story (a cyborg, for example, being just as important as a prostitute who is just as important as a Nurse and an engineer). However, it got 3 stars from me because at times the hopping between the different narratives and the pace at which the story moved left me a little lost. Enjoyable, but definitely one of those books that needs a second read for all the information and storyline to actually click into place.
A mish mash of characters from all different backgrounds in this world are against the clock to try and save the universe, creating a racing adventure that twists and turns.
I enjoyed this book, and loved the incorporation of such different characters at the heart of the story (a cyborg, for example, being just as important as a prostitute who is just as important as a Nurse and an engineer). However, it got 3 stars from me because at times the hopping between the different narratives and the pace at which the story moved left me a little lost. Enjoyable, but definitely one of those books that needs a second read for all the information and storyline to actually click into place.
thesundayeffect's review
3.0
This was fine?
I was actually pretty looking forward to reading this based on the author's intro/pitch of this book at the SWF. The pitch was about having all Asian characters, almost all female characters, and that the 'military' is actually made up of nurses.
There is that in the book, but honestly it feels a little superficial. Aside from character names and brief mentions of food and other objects, it didn't feel like much was written about the culture of the people. It doesn't feel like there is enough worldbuilding for me to connect to the world/characters as a Singaporean.
When you go from chapter to chapter, it feels a little chopped up/disjointed, like I couldn't really follow the flow of the story. I honestly have to say I didn't understand much of the details of what was happening. I could grasp the general gist but the details, not really. I know this might be a case where the author trusts the reader to make the connections about what they're trying to convey and I felt like I have kinda failed that.
What I do enjoy are the chapters that are private logs/interviews. It made me feel closer to the pov character of that chapter and it's just nice to read something in their voice. The premise of the book, and also some worldbuilding was interesting, and I would think that I would enjoy the book a lot more if it was longer and more pages could be dedicated to the worldbuilding and character development. For example I liked the concept of the classification of planets/worlds into red, blue, yellow and green, and would loved to read more about the different kind of planets that would fit into the different categories.
I was actually pretty looking forward to reading this based on the author's intro/pitch of this book at the SWF. The pitch was about having all Asian characters, almost all female characters, and that the 'military' is actually made up of nurses.
There is that in the book, but honestly it feels a little superficial. Aside from character names and brief mentions of food and other objects, it didn't feel like much was written about the culture of the people. It doesn't feel like there is enough worldbuilding for me to connect to the world/characters as a Singaporean.
When you go from chapter to chapter, it feels a little chopped up/disjointed, like I couldn't really follow the flow of the story. I honestly have to say I didn't understand much of the details of what was happening. I could grasp the general gist but the details, not really. I know this might be a case where the author trusts the reader to make the connections about what they're trying to convey and I felt like I have kinda failed that.
What I do enjoy are the chapters that are private logs/interviews. It made me feel closer to the pov character of that chapter and it's just nice to read something in their voice. The premise of the book, and also some worldbuilding was interesting, and I would think that I would enjoy the book a lot more if it was longer and more pages could be dedicated to the worldbuilding and character development. For example I liked the concept of the classification of planets/worlds into red, blue, yellow and green, and would loved to read more about the different kind of planets that would fit into the different categories.
medievalfantasyqueen's review
3.75
Set in an intergalactic empire ruled over by an artificial intelligence who calls herself the Empress, and a world where no one is allowed to feel anything but happy, and where women don't need to get pregnant before giving birth, where 90% of the world is female... Messiah Virus seems to be set in a future where current political movements seem to have taken deep root and sprung free from the chains of the past. However, Boey quickly reveals that not all is what it seems after a male-identifying virus called the Messiah infects the Empress.
I enjoyed every moment of it. There was not any time wasted in unnecessary exposition and info-dumping; the world was brought into the mind's eye seamlessly, and the characters are all already well-developed and are generally likable. Of particular interest to me, was July Wong, a male courtesan, in a world where men are the absolute minority and hence the ones who are objectified, which begins to reveal that perhaps, a female-majority world does not necessarily mean that problems will be automatically solved. It was interesting seeing a man take up the whore-with-a-heart-of-gold position in the story (he reminded me of Gigolo Joe from A.I.) and there were clear inspirations from The Neverending Story and Dune in some aspects.
Generally, a wonderful read, though I think that a few more pages would have allowed more space for character and plot development.
If you like Star Wars, Dune, ,Warhammer, and other sci-fi romps, you will definitely enjoy this one.
I enjoyed every moment of it. There was not any time wasted in unnecessary exposition and info-dumping; the world was brought into the mind's eye seamlessly, and the characters are all already well-developed and are generally likable. Of particular interest to me, was July Wong, a male courtesan, in a world where men are the absolute minority and hence the ones who are objectified, which begins to reveal that perhaps, a female-majority world does not necessarily mean that problems will be automatically solved. It was interesting seeing a man take up the whore-with-a-heart-of-gold position in the story (he reminded me of Gigolo Joe from A.I.) and there were clear inspirations from The Neverending Story and Dune in some aspects.
Generally, a wonderful read, though I think that a few more pages would have allowed more space for character and plot development.
If you like Star Wars, Dune, ,Warhammer, and other sci-fi romps, you will definitely enjoy this one.
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