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cs4_0reads's review against another edition
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
missbibliography's review against another edition
5.0
As I am sure anyone reading this synopsis can tell, this book is set in such a cool future. Obviously, its a dystopia, but the best YA novels always are. The way the city is set up, though, feels all too real. Yes, its a domed city, and yes, the technology is futuristic – but the layers in the city and the separation of wealth and affluence from the grime of a dirt poor existence is literally represented by height. How cool is that?! The more affluent you are, the higher in the dome you live — basically a commentary on the current societal expectations of wealth. And only the wealthy can afford implants, which are basically smart phone-like devices that are accessible through eye movement, etc. They connect you to other people instantly, so when synched you can basically secretly chat across any distance. It was hard to read the chat dialogues sometimes, but it added another layer of secrecy to an already secret organization. Reading about what it would be like to be constantly connected to everyone at all times made me realize how important it is to disconnect and just appreciate our surroundings and genuine, face-to-face human interaction. Not that I don’t love all of my followers!
I also didn’t mind reading about the secret agent-like organization, Aventine, and their cool, out of this world way of storing data in their employees blood. I love this sort of sci-fi stuff, and I can actually see this happening, with the research that we have going on at uni, so I really enjoyed seeing where the author took it. Further, the fact that Emery is so empowered, and can totally kick butt of everyone she meets made me love her even more. She tries to protect everyone she loves, she carries data in her blood, and she can kick butt? COUNT ME IN!
One other cool thing (since everyone knows how much I can harp on romances that are unreal) is the way that Emery’s and Randall’s relationship grows throughout the pages of the novel. Even for a regular, everyday type of love (you know, the kind that doesn’t let other people live inside your head) theirs would have satisfied my inner romantic skeptic. But the implications of a love that grows through an implant that connects your psyches together? Absolute must read!
I also didn’t mind reading about the secret agent-like organization, Aventine, and their cool, out of this world way of storing data in their employees blood. I love this sort of sci-fi stuff, and I can actually see this happening, with the research that we have going on at uni, so I really enjoyed seeing where the author took it. Further, the fact that Emery is so empowered, and can totally kick butt of everyone she meets made me love her even more. She tries to protect everyone she loves, she carries data in her blood, and she can kick butt? COUNT ME IN!
One other cool thing (since everyone knows how much I can harp on romances that are unreal) is the way that Emery’s and Randall’s relationship grows throughout the pages of the novel. Even for a regular, everyday type of love (you know, the kind that doesn’t let other people live inside your head) theirs would have satisfied my inner romantic skeptic. But the implications of a love that grows through an implant that connects your psyches together? Absolute must read!
winterreader40's review against another edition
4.5
Emery is blackmailed into a job that essentially boils down to doing clandestine data handoffs through her blood, data is encrypted onto her blood cells and reinjected into her body so she can carry it to the designated location in a futuristic version of Fort Worth called New Worth, a city under a dome because we destroyed the earth.
In this future there are people with implants and people without(disconnects), implants allow direct mind-to mind linking and it encourages a level of intimacy unheard of except among full telepaths but it also allows people to become very unaware of the real world.
The goal is Emergence as they attempt to rehabilitate the earth, some people think it's time, others are aware that the land isn't ready. The main conflict is with the implanted and the disconnects and the governments inability or unwillingness to aid the terrestrial district of the dome and Emery coming into a data transfer that everyone is trying to kill her over.
This was a fun mix of tech, dystopia, spy/political thrills with a bit of romance thrown in.
In this future there are people with implants and people without(disconnects), implants allow direct mind-to mind linking and it encourages a level of intimacy unheard of except among full telepaths but it also allows people to become very unaware of the real world.
The goal is Emergence as they attempt to rehabilitate the earth, some people think it's time, others are aware that the land isn't ready. The main conflict is with the implanted and the disconnects and the governments inability or unwillingness to aid the terrestrial district of the dome and Emery coming into a data transfer that everyone is trying to kill her over.
This was a fun mix of tech, dystopia, spy/political thrills with a bit of romance thrown in.
jogutierrz's review against another edition
2.0
There were aspects of the story I liked but a lot of it felt very superficial. I know nothing about Emery, or her best friend, or her family. There's very little substance to her relationships.
davecapp's review against another edition
5.0
For fans of speculative science fiction this book is a must read. A premise similar to The NIght Land (William Hope Hodgson) where the remaining population is broken into self contained city states (literally contained in a dome), with a long term objective of Emergence from the dome to the slowly reclaimed landscape of native earth. But the most fascinating part of this story is the integration of technology and culture and how that impacts individual lives. Similar to Neuromancer and Snow Crash, citizens have implants that allow not only instant communications between friends they have linked with - but they can also sense emotions. Preferences determine how much or how little depth gets communicated between each link (think Facebook preferences), but this is a society that has lived with Implants for generations, to the point where the thought of NOT getting an implant is considered subversive. The authors exploration of the impact on people and society of this level of “connectedness” is fascinating.
And on top of all that, the storyline is compelling with great characters, politics, intrigue and a healthy dose of action. All in all a very satisfying read.
And on top of all that, the storyline is compelling with great characters, politics, intrigue and a healthy dose of action. All in all a very satisfying read.
bookishwendy's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fun concept with just the right amount of world-building that doesn't spend pages on explaining, but never left me feeling lost, either. I especially loved the mechanics of the blood courier system (I don't mind a bit of squick, ymmv). And while I liked the subtle romance--I'm not usually much for main-plot romance so this is just about my speed--I honestly would have been happy with more in that regard.
jerseygrrrl's review against another edition
3.0
This isn't a novel. It's a video game!
Pros:
* Strong female lead
* Interesting exploration of how tech might advance
* Lots of action
Cons:
* Logic takes a back seat to action. The reader has to make many cognitive leaps that make no sense, just because the characters have decided that they're right.
* The strong female lead makes *terrible* decisions constantly. Maybe she wasn't meant to be smart (or maybe she was supposed to have a cognitive disorder?). I was surprised by how badly she navigated the choices available to her. I found myself rolling my eyes and saying "really?"
* The writing style is choppy and the plotting is disjointed. But this is Teffeau's debut novel, so I'm sure this will improve.
* One more thing: I was shocked by how little she worried about her parents. I would have understood that more if there was some backstory (maybe they were terrible people?). But without explanation, it was just implausible how little she cared for people other than her love interest and one friend.
Pros:
* Strong female lead
* Interesting exploration of how tech might advance
* Lots of action
Cons:
* Logic takes a back seat to action. The reader has to make many cognitive leaps that make no sense, just because the characters have decided that they're right.
* The strong female lead makes *terrible* decisions constantly. Maybe she wasn't meant to be smart (or maybe she was supposed to have a cognitive disorder?). I was surprised by how badly she navigated the choices available to her. I found myself rolling my eyes and saying "really?"
* The writing style is choppy and the plotting is disjointed. But this is Teffeau's debut novel, so I'm sure this will improve.
* One more thing: I was shocked by how little she worried about her parents. I would have understood that more if there was some backstory (maybe they were terrible people?). But without explanation, it was just implausible how little she cared for people other than her love interest and one friend.
energyrae's review against another edition
5.0
It's a new world. People are living in a dome because life outside is impossible. Most people have an implant. It makes life easier, it's quick access to all the information you could need. Some people would even kill just to get one because it's starting to become a luxury for the elite.
But Emery is just a typical girl who really enjoys simulation, and video games. This is where she meets Rik, so to speak. They know each other so well in the game world. They can connect through their implants outside of it as well. But they've never actually met, despite the connection.
When Emery draws the attention of a courier service, she must learn a new way of life. And while she is learning valuable skills and adjusting to her new life, her old life gets left behind. Tasked with transporting important information, Emery gets herself into trouble. Who best to turn to when things get hard?
Implanted feels a bit dystopian to me, and I really love that aspect of the book. The entire genre is not something typical for me and I am so glad I read this book because Teffeau has done a great job with this. The characters are in-depth, they are fun, smart, and relatable. Each scene is written to make you feel like you're there. This was such a surprisingly fun read for me and while it didn't end on a cliffhanger, I do hope that the author plans to do a book 2 because I'm not ready to let Emery, Rik, or Tahir go.
But Emery is just a typical girl who really enjoys simulation, and video games. This is where she meets Rik, so to speak. They know each other so well in the game world. They can connect through their implants outside of it as well. But they've never actually met, despite the connection.
When Emery draws the attention of a courier service, she must learn a new way of life. And while she is learning valuable skills and adjusting to her new life, her old life gets left behind. Tasked with transporting important information, Emery gets herself into trouble. Who best to turn to when things get hard?
Implanted feels a bit dystopian to me, and I really love that aspect of the book. The entire genre is not something typical for me and I am so glad I read this book because Teffeau has done a great job with this. The characters are in-depth, they are fun, smart, and relatable. Each scene is written to make you feel like you're there. This was such a surprisingly fun read for me and while it didn't end on a cliffhanger, I do hope that the author plans to do a book 2 because I'm not ready to let Emery, Rik, or Tahir go.
intorilex's review against another edition
2.0
I DNFed 45 pages in, I couldnt relate to the characters or get immersed in the story
keyboardscoffee's review against another edition
4.0
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Pinky swear!
Yesssssss.
Implanted started off a little slow and weird. I was a tad confused by what was going on with Emery for the first chapter or so, although the backstory on what was going on did get explained later. You just get dropped into the story and it was a little jolting to begin with.
Once it picks up, it picks up. The plot is really interesting, if slightly predictable at times. I enjoyed the scienc-y/techie aspects a lot, I think they added an intriguing layer to the plot over all. The idea that you can have someone in your head all the time, whether that person is chosen or forced upon you, I thought was really cool. The technology and the environment – domed cities in a dystopian future because of course humanity has killed Mother Earth – speaks to a likely future, which I always find interesting to read about. It makes it more realistic, which can also make it a little more scary.
The side characters and relationships were also quite well done. Each relationship that Emery has is focused on in a different way, since she basically has to fake her death in order to become a courier and her new “friendships” aren’t exactly coming at a great time for her. Having to cut off her old friends and make new friends in a place she’s been blackmailed into becoming a part of was emotional to read about.
Her relationship with Rik didn’t exactly work out how I thought it would, which was good. I appreciated that it wasn’t completely straight-forward. Through their rollercoaster, I think we saw the most growth with Emery, even if some of the stuff she did regarding him annoyed me. Her lack of communication was somewhat warranted but it still got on my nerves. He was quite a softie and wasn’t at all what I was expecting when we were first introduced to him.
The best part for me was that Implanted read more like a movie than it did a book. I love books like that. I hope it gets optioned one day so I can see it on the big screen 🙂
Yesssssss.
Implanted started off a little slow and weird. I was a tad confused by what was going on with Emery for the first chapter or so, although the backstory on what was going on did get explained later. You just get dropped into the story and it was a little jolting to begin with.
Once it picks up, it picks up. The plot is really interesting, if slightly predictable at times. I enjoyed the scienc-y/techie aspects a lot, I think they added an intriguing layer to the plot over all. The idea that you can have someone in your head all the time, whether that person is chosen or forced upon you, I thought was really cool. The technology and the environment – domed cities in a dystopian future because of course humanity has killed Mother Earth – speaks to a likely future, which I always find interesting to read about. It makes it more realistic, which can also make it a little more scary.
The side characters and relationships were also quite well done. Each relationship that Emery has is focused on in a different way, since she basically has to fake her death in order to become a courier and her new “friendships” aren’t exactly coming at a great time for her. Having to cut off her old friends and make new friends in a place she’s been blackmailed into becoming a part of was emotional to read about.
Her relationship with Rik didn’t exactly work out how I thought it would, which was good. I appreciated that it wasn’t completely straight-forward. Through their rollercoaster, I think we saw the most growth with Emery, even if some of the stuff she did regarding him annoyed me. Her lack of communication was somewhat warranted but it still got on my nerves. He was quite a softie and wasn’t at all what I was expecting when we were first introduced to him.
The best part for me was that Implanted read more like a movie than it did a book. I love books like that. I hope it gets optioned one day so I can see it on the big screen 🙂