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leahegood's review against another edition
4.0
Gordon doesn't have an easy life. Weak from anemia, the target of bullying, and orphaned in the aftermath of a scandal caused by a mistake on the part of his doctor father, it doesn't seem that things can get much worse. Until they do.
Reduced to grasping a last-resort, experimental cure, Gordon is sitting in a waiting room when something inexplicable happens. He finds himself in a different place. A dangerous, unfamiliar place. One where there's a cure for everything and a bettering of nothing. Two strangers tell him he's the world's only hope. He's been transported to the future and has only a week before the fold in time rights itself and tosses him back into the waiting room.
I've had this book sitting on my shelf for two years. My brother read it and told me I needed to make time for it. Tonight was the night. After a bit of a reading drought, I randomly decided to grab a book and spend an hour reading. One hour turned into two-and-a-half, and I ended up reading the entire book in one sitting--something I haven't done in a really long time!
Gordon was a really compelling character. A real ordinary hero. Burdened with a terminal illness, asked to be a hero, and ill-equipped (sometimes even unwilling) for the job in front of him. He's got a normal, sweet personality that makes him easy to follow along and empathize with. The mistakes he makes are ones I'd definitely make too! And every time he finds the courage to do the right thing, you get a little sense of satisfaction with him. Also, the author managed to pull of an ending that was "happy" and satisfying without being the brand of perfect that only happens in fiction.
If you like sci-fi with lots of world building, a huge cast, and a winding, epic plot ... this isn't that brand of sci-fi. Personally, I loose interest with hard core sci-fi. I end up skimming through the technical science parts and bulky world building passages, and I invariably miss essential plot points in the process. Implant is straight forward, focusing on the characters and using the sci-fi setting to drive their journey. Works for me!
Overall, definitely would recommend this story, especially for any fellow dystopian-lovers out there.
Reduced to grasping a last-resort, experimental cure, Gordon is sitting in a waiting room when something inexplicable happens. He finds himself in a different place. A dangerous, unfamiliar place. One where there's a cure for everything and a bettering of nothing. Two strangers tell him he's the world's only hope. He's been transported to the future and has only a week before the fold in time rights itself and tosses him back into the waiting room.
I've had this book sitting on my shelf for two years. My brother read it and told me I needed to make time for it. Tonight was the night. After a bit of a reading drought, I randomly decided to grab a book and spend an hour reading. One hour turned into two-and-a-half, and I ended up reading the entire book in one sitting--something I haven't done in a really long time!
Gordon was a really compelling character. A real ordinary hero. Burdened with a terminal illness, asked to be a hero, and ill-equipped (sometimes even unwilling) for the job in front of him. He's got a normal, sweet personality that makes him easy to follow along and empathize with. The mistakes he makes are ones I'd definitely make too! And every time he finds the courage to do the right thing, you get a little sense of satisfaction with him. Also, the author managed to pull of an ending that was "happy" and satisfying without being the brand of perfect that only happens in fiction.
If you like sci-fi with lots of world building, a huge cast, and a winding, epic plot ... this isn't that brand of sci-fi. Personally, I loose interest with hard core sci-fi. I end up skimming through the technical science parts and bulky world building passages, and I invariably miss essential plot points in the process. Implant is straight forward, focusing on the characters and using the sci-fi setting to drive their journey. Works for me!
Overall, definitely would recommend this story, especially for any fellow dystopian-lovers out there.
jdsutter's review against another edition
4.0
Implant is a gripping science fiction tale set in the not-too-distant future. It follows the story of a young man named Gordon Harding as he's suddenly thrust into a future world that he doesn't understand. Gordon is a very average guy, the typical antihero, but the story doesn't come across as clichéd. Gordon is likable and relatable. Secondary characters, like Neil and Doc, are also well-developed.
The setting in the opening chapters was a little confusing to me at first. The world is so similar to current day, but with a few obvious things that are "off" just enough as to be foreign that I had difficulty placing where in time we were. The year is never explicitly stated and the reader has to do some math with a little hint that is easily missed. There are a couple more tidbits that are given in the second half of the book that finally makes things clearer when you figure it out, but I do wish Pennington would have provided a few more hints earlier in the story to help put things in context. Aside from that slight annoyance, the story world is vivid and lifelike.
The plot progresses at the perfect clip; quick enough to keep one's attention, but not so fast that you feel like you're in a whirlwind and can't keep up. The whole story seems to have been well thought out and even the tertiary characters feel very intentional. A few of the elements were a tad predictable and I had figured out how a few things were going to turn out. Even so, it was not a disappointment when I reached the last pages and found out I was correct. And there were still enough surprises along the way to keep me interested and turning the pages.
I loved Pennington's writing style. The way she tells a story is so engrossing that I was thoroughly enthralled. There is a realness to the way she puts a character's thoughts on the page that just rings true. This is only the second book that I've read by her, but her prose is exceptional. Some of the best I've read by a self-published/indie author.
The only content advisory for this book is that there are some very explicit descriptions of violence and death that some may find bothersome. Overall, Implant is a well-written sci-fi story with great characters and a compelling plot that was a pleasure to read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will probably read it again at some point.
The setting in the opening chapters was a little confusing to me at first. The world is so similar to current day, but with a few obvious things that are "off" just enough as to be foreign that I had difficulty placing where in time we were. The year is never explicitly stated and the reader has to do some math with a little hint that is easily missed. There are a couple more tidbits that are given in the second half of the book that finally makes things clearer when you figure it out, but I do wish Pennington would have provided a few more hints earlier in the story to help put things in context. Aside from that slight annoyance, the story world is vivid and lifelike.
The plot progresses at the perfect clip; quick enough to keep one's attention, but not so fast that you feel like you're in a whirlwind and can't keep up. The whole story seems to have been well thought out and even the tertiary characters feel very intentional. A few of the elements were a tad predictable and I had figured out how a few things were going to turn out. Even so, it was not a disappointment when I reached the last pages and found out I was correct. And there were still enough surprises along the way to keep me interested and turning the pages.
I loved Pennington's writing style. The way she tells a story is so engrossing that I was thoroughly enthralled. There is a realness to the way she puts a character's thoughts on the page that just rings true. This is only the second book that I've read by her, but her prose is exceptional. Some of the best I've read by a self-published/indie author.
The only content advisory for this book is that there are some very explicit descriptions of violence and death that some may find bothersome. Overall, Implant is a well-written sci-fi story with great characters and a compelling plot that was a pleasure to read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will probably read it again at some point.
hannacolwrites's review against another edition
4.0
One look at my bookshelf and you’ll quickly realize that dystopia and science fiction really isn’t my thing. Honestly, I hadn’t read anything from either genre until this month when I read "Implant" by J. Grace Pennington.
"Implant" first came across my radar when I saw a tweet about it on Twitter. I’d previously heard great things about her science fiction trilogy, and the synopsis for this upcoming release sounded intriguing. My interest heightened during the release week party and I mentally jotted it down as something I wanted to try out at some point. When, at the end of September, Miss Pennington sent out a request for volunteer reviewers, I jumped at the opportunity.
And I am glad I did. "Implant" wastes little time in throwing Gordon Harding, a newly diagnosed leukemia patient, into a future society he quickly learns he helped bring about. The writing is vivid and doesn’t sugar coat the terrible things Gordon witnesses, while at the same time not focusing on the graphic details of wounds or deaths.
The characters are gripping. Doc in particular is a fascinating character to watch unfold on the page as you read. His brusque manner and chain smoking habits first strike you negatively, but you quickly learn there’s so much more to him beyond his outward appearance. His friendship of sorts with the rebel leader Neil Crater was one of my favorite aspects of the story. It’s a complicated relationship, but at the same time they work extraordinarily well together.
The story’s lessons on the high cost of fighting for freedom, how the easy way isn’t always the right way, and how our actions and choices vitally impact those around us are timeless. A number of the themes explored in "Implant" are very timely for our culture and important for people to be aware of, especially with the speed technology is growing.
I would definitely recommend "Implant" to readers of dystopia and science fiction, and to people who have even a passing interest in the genre or the themes the novel explores. While dystopia and science fiction still isn’t my thing, I will definitely be checking out Miss Pennington’s other works and future releases.
I received a free digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
"Implant" first came across my radar when I saw a tweet about it on Twitter. I’d previously heard great things about her science fiction trilogy, and the synopsis for this upcoming release sounded intriguing. My interest heightened during the release week party and I mentally jotted it down as something I wanted to try out at some point. When, at the end of September, Miss Pennington sent out a request for volunteer reviewers, I jumped at the opportunity.
And I am glad I did. "Implant" wastes little time in throwing Gordon Harding, a newly diagnosed leukemia patient, into a future society he quickly learns he helped bring about. The writing is vivid and doesn’t sugar coat the terrible things Gordon witnesses, while at the same time not focusing on the graphic details of wounds or deaths.
The characters are gripping. Doc in particular is a fascinating character to watch unfold on the page as you read. His brusque manner and chain smoking habits first strike you negatively, but you quickly learn there’s so much more to him beyond his outward appearance. His friendship of sorts with the rebel leader Neil Crater was one of my favorite aspects of the story. It’s a complicated relationship, but at the same time they work extraordinarily well together.
The story’s lessons on the high cost of fighting for freedom, how the easy way isn’t always the right way, and how our actions and choices vitally impact those around us are timeless. A number of the themes explored in "Implant" are very timely for our culture and important for people to be aware of, especially with the speed technology is growing.
I would definitely recommend "Implant" to readers of dystopia and science fiction, and to people who have even a passing interest in the genre or the themes the novel explores. While dystopia and science fiction still isn’t my thing, I will definitely be checking out Miss Pennington’s other works and future releases.
I received a free digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
meganmcculloughbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book! I do wish there was an epilogue or something to see what happens after the book. The end was a little confusing.
oliviacornwell's review
3.0
Full review here: http://oliviasinkspots.blogspot.com/2016/03/book-review-implant-j-grace-pennington.html
I'm not sure why, but something about this novel felt off to me. But I liked the growth Gordon undergoes, and the plot twists were done well. The antagonist's motives are interesting too, but it took me a minute to understand.
But overall, I liked this novel. The interactions between Doc and Neil were interesting, and Doc's interacting with Gordon was nice, especially later on. It was a fun story.
I'm not sure why, but something about this novel felt off to me. But I liked the growth Gordon undergoes, and the plot twists were done well. The antagonist's motives are interesting too, but it took me a minute to understand.
But overall, I liked this novel. The interactions between Doc and Neil were interesting, and Doc's interacting with Gordon was nice, especially later on. It was a fun story.
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