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muddypuddle's review against another edition
2.0
This had great potential at its start, but quickly spiraled down into a gobbledygook of scientific terminology and endless boring description, I absolutely hated 50% of the story and somewhat enjoyed the other 50%. I thought it would never end, and skimmed a lot of the second half so that I could see how they would (probably) be saved.....
beckiebookworm1974's review against another edition
4.0
I found Toxic to be a really unique experience: a mish-mash of multiple genres that when put together for me just flowed.
I would describe this if I had to clarify as a Romantic sci-fi YA with elements of horror.
Set in space on an organic ship it was the original premise put forward here that initially intrigued and drew me in.
A young girl that shouldn't exist: hidden for years in plain sight aboard a living ship: then later abandoned by her caretaker with only her closest companion Cyclo, left assessable for her needs.
Follow this with a suicide voyage of mercenaries sent to harvest data from the dying ship and what we have is a really ingenious and imaginative undertaking.
I actually really adored all the technical Jargon used here I think it added an almost authentic feel to the whole endeavour.
This for me has more of a Sci-Fi action vibe than an overly romantic one and it is in my opinion still age appropriate despite the intimate references of actions between Hana and Fennec.
These references are more about referral and don't go into any great detail.
I also felt Toxic stuck a good balance between the romance and action and it was certainly fast-paced managing to easily keep me on my toes.
While not overly complicated as a story this didn't really need to be and despite being somewhat predictable in places this didn't take away from my overall enjoyment here.
There was still plenty of curveballs to keep this interesting reading: a great experience.
This is a story that I am happy to recommend and one I really did enjoy.
I voluntary reviewed an Arc of Toxic.
All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
herbalmoon's review against another edition
3.0
Wild. Dark, violent. Gripping/hard to put down. Very much like a Star Trek mission gone horribly, horribly wrong.
I only rated it three because I don't know what else to say.
I only rated it three because I don't know what else to say.
vickycbooks's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars
One of the most notable things about Toxic was how readable and gripping it was. I started it (unwisely) on a school night, hoping to read a few chapters before setting it down and going to bed, but I ended up binging the majority of this book very late at night when I definitely should have been sleeping.
I was just hooked, for a lack of a better word. Not only was I absorbed in the entire concept (sentient, live spaceships), but the book was just paced really well and grabbed me from the start. I mean, you begin the book in the middle of a shocking revelation for the main character, and this just kind of builds throughout the entire novel.
The whole premise is so interesting--sentient spaceships that are dying and releasing toxic fumes plus a girl who is the only person left on that ship and a whole crew full of people going into research this live-ship and also die while they complete their work. It was just really interesting and novel and unique, and that's a big part of what I loved about Toxic.
Plus, back to how it was gripping, there's sort of a murder mystery element to this novel with figuring out who is behind the mysterious deaths of the crew member, and this definitely was another reason behind why I was so hooked on this book.
It was just so cool--with the life-threatening situations and the girl raised by her "mother" and the sentient ship. Plus, I love the way Kang explored heritage in a science-fiction setting with Hana and some of the artifacts and traditions her "mother" gave her.
I do think it's good to note that the main character feels more lower-YA (15/16) than what's now becoming upper YA (17-19), and I actually really appreciate having more lower YA main characters, because for me that was a transition time that was really hard, and finding books that were a good in between of MG and YA was hard for me as a teen. (Yay for more accurate teen representation on a whole spectrum!)
But, the reason why this was a 4 and not a 5 for me, despite me enjoying this novel so much, was because the romance felt really unnecessary. I mean, first off, I'm not a huge fan of reading naïve, youngish characters fall in love. This can be uncomfortable for me, especially when they feel young (15/16) and the love interest feels older (17/18), because these sorts of relationships feel more prone to being unhealthy & manipulative & full of delusion.
And even more than that, I feel like it just took away from some of the better aspects and unique parts of this book and made it cliché. I didn't really believe in the romance (it felt more like falling-in-love-with-your-savior) and I think it actually took away from the book, which I why my rating dropped so much.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading Toxic and would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a gripping science-fiction read!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Entangled Teen for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review!
Blog | Instagram | Twitter
One of the most notable things about Toxic was how readable and gripping it was. I started it (unwisely) on a school night, hoping to read a few chapters before setting it down and going to bed, but I ended up binging the majority of this book very late at night when I definitely should have been sleeping.
I was just hooked, for a lack of a better word. Not only was I absorbed in the entire concept (sentient, live spaceships), but the book was just paced really well and grabbed me from the start. I mean, you begin the book in the middle of a shocking revelation for the main character, and this just kind of builds throughout the entire novel.
The whole premise is so interesting--sentient spaceships that are dying and releasing toxic fumes plus a girl who is the only person left on that ship and a whole crew full of people going into research this live-ship and also die while they complete their work. It was just really interesting and novel and unique, and that's a big part of what I loved about Toxic.
Plus, back to how it was gripping, there's sort of a murder mystery element to this novel with figuring out who is behind the mysterious deaths of the crew member, and this definitely was another reason behind why I was so hooked on this book.
It was just so cool--with the life-threatening situations and the girl raised by her "mother" and the sentient ship. Plus, I love the way Kang explored heritage in a science-fiction setting with Hana and some of the artifacts and traditions her "mother" gave her.
I do think it's good to note that the main character feels more lower-YA (15/16) than what's now becoming upper YA (17-19), and I actually really appreciate having more lower YA main characters, because for me that was a transition time that was really hard, and finding books that were a good in between of MG and YA was hard for me as a teen. (Yay for more accurate teen representation on a whole spectrum!)
But, the reason why this was a 4 and not a 5 for me, despite me enjoying this novel so much, was because the romance felt really unnecessary. I mean, first off, I'm not a huge fan of reading naïve, youngish characters fall in love. This can be uncomfortable for me, especially when they feel young (15/16) and the love interest feels older (17/18), because these sorts of relationships feel more prone to being unhealthy & manipulative & full of delusion.
And even more than that, I feel like it just took away from some of the better aspects and unique parts of this book and made it cliché. I didn't really believe in the romance (it felt more like falling-in-love-with-your-savior) and I think it actually took away from the book, which I why my rating dropped so much.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading Toxic and would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a gripping science-fiction read!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Entangled Teen for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review!
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shealea's review against another edition
4.0
At its heart, this is a story about redemption and forgiveness. It tackles a number of themes that are rarely discussed within YA.
The middle part drags on a little bit, but the story really picks up towards the end. I have a lot of thoughts. Full review to follow.
The middle part drags on a little bit, but the story really picks up towards the end. I have a lot of thoughts. Full review to follow.
jedbird's review against another edition
4.0
Very enjoyable sci-fi YA romance. The premise of a genetically-tweaked humanoid hiding away on a living ship is not one I've encountered before. I have no idea if any of the science was remotely correct, but it had a satisfying truthiness. Likable main characters, including the ship (to a point).
imaginethisreader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This was a good book.
It's marketed as YA science fiction, but everyone should know that it is also a thriller/minor horror, about half way through there is a murder. I would advise not reading this alone at 2AM. You will scare yourself.
I really enjoyed it and finished it within 24 hours. The book was rather dark and tense and the instalove was rather ridiculous, however I did really enjoy this read and would recommend to romance and sci fi readers alike. (13+ though)
There are two main characters,
The mc Hana and her love interest Fennec.
Hana is a teenager (17) who grew up on a bioship (a living ship) but her existence was secret as she was an extra member to a crew and would have been destroyed had she been revealed to the world. The ship starts dying and the crew is evacuated, and Hana is left behind. Why would her mother forget her? Why would her mother leave her on a dying ship? Due to this bioship (Cyclo) being one of the first of her kind, the designers/manufacturers of the ship send out a suicide team to gather data on the dying ship, and then die there themselves. This crew is comprised of four convicts, including Fennec.
during there stay the ship starts killing people they have to find a way off the ship and too safety before there's none of them left.
It's marketed as YA science fiction, but everyone should know that it is also a thriller/minor horror, about half way through there is a murder. I would advise not reading this alone at 2AM. You will scare yourself.
I really enjoyed it and finished it within 24 hours. The book was rather dark and tense and the instalove was rather ridiculous, however I did really enjoy this read and would recommend to romance and sci fi readers alike. (13+ though)
There are two main characters,
The mc Hana and her love interest Fennec.
Hana is a teenager (17) who grew up on a bioship (a living ship) but her existence was secret as she was an extra member to a crew and would have been destroyed had she been revealed to the world. The ship starts dying and the crew is evacuated, and Hana is left behind. Why would her mother forget her? Why would her mother leave her on a dying ship? Due to this bioship (Cyclo) being one of the first of her kind, the designers/manufacturers of the ship send out a suicide team to gather data on the dying ship, and then die there themselves. This crew is comprised of four convicts, including Fennec.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gore, and Violence
Minor: Sexual content and Abandonment
elysareadsitall's review against another edition
4.0
I got sucked straight into this story. It's exciting and mysterious. The love story was just fine; romance isn't my favorite thing to read about, but this one was interesting. The relationships between the ship, Hana, Fenn, and Hana's dead mother are all fascinating. I wanted to learn more about their pasts and how they got there, but I also couldn't wait to see what happened. I was on the edge of my seat with this deadly mystery.
jemifraser's review against another edition
5.0
So good!
An emotional story with so many unique and intriguing elements. The characters are fascinating and the plot pulls you in and doesn't let you go. A fantastic read!!
An emotional story with so many unique and intriguing elements. The characters are fascinating and the plot pulls you in and doesn't let you go. A fantastic read!!