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wordwrestler's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
ddrake's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
moiram's review against another edition
4.0
Always great to discover a new author to love. Just finished the first Cas Russell book and immediately rushed out to buy the next two. Really looking forward to reading them!
lsparrow's review against another edition
1.0
just couldnt get into this action, conspiracy, save the world book.
meemzter's review against another edition
4.0
For some reason, I don't read a whole lot of action/thriller books. Zero Sum Game -- a fast-paced, larger-than-life story in which math is a superpower -- has left me wondering why.
This book was piles of fun - Cas Russell is a badass and endlessly interesting lead, and I find myself dearly attached to the supporting characters of Arthur, Checker, and Rio.
It's definitely a departure from the kind of thing I normally read, and at times some of the plot mechanisms edged toward the absurd - but they never ceased to entertain. Even if at times I thought something was a little cliche, I flew through this book - I never wanted to stop reading.
I just did some digging around on the internet and discovered that there are already several more books written for this series, and an indefinite amount planned. I'm very relieved - there's a lot more story here. You'll catch me back here whenever book 2 gets released! Can't wait to find out more about Cas Russell and her wacky gang of friends in the next installment.
This book was piles of fun - Cas Russell is a badass and endlessly interesting lead, and I find myself dearly attached to the supporting characters of Arthur, Checker, and Rio.
It's definitely a departure from the kind of thing I normally read, and at times some of the plot mechanisms
Spoiler
(a shady, all-powerful but secret organization; a lead character with seemingly endless access to guns, money, and grenades; a hacker who can hack anything)I just did some digging around on the internet and discovered that there are already several more books written for this series, and an indefinite amount planned. I'm very relieved - there's a lot more story here.
Spoiler
What the heck is the "personal" secret that Checker alluded to re: Arthur? And more importantly who in the heck IS cas russell and what is the nature of her relationship to Rio?????lollijo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
kmanderson42's review against another edition
3.0
A fast-paced and exciting book filled with delightful little nuggets of math.
bloodragon's review against another edition
3.0
Math Genius Vigilante
Although not exactly terms that would generally go together in a sentence, they surprisingly make for a fantastic character concept.
The writing of [a:SL Huang|29345359|SL Huang|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] is interesting, entertaining, and heavily focused on plot development. Rich and vibrant characters with clear motivations and behaviours are present.
[b:Zero Sum Game|37534869|Zero Sum Game (Cas Russell, #1)|S.L. Huang|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1516729621l/37534869._SY75_.jpg|68422320] never feels overly or inadequately stimulating because of the constant passive intensity and tension it maintains throughout.
Some of the sci-fi elements occasionally came across as a little wishy-washy and would present coherence inconsistencies under close examination.
The book's biggest flaw, in my opinion, is that it is very forgettable. The characters, writing, and theoretical sci-fi elements were all well done. However, the overall narrative was just okay.
Although not exactly terms that would generally go together in a sentence, they surprisingly make for a fantastic character concept.
The writing of [a:SL Huang|29345359|SL Huang|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] is interesting, entertaining, and heavily focused on plot development. Rich and vibrant characters with clear motivations and behaviours are present.
[b:Zero Sum Game|37534869|Zero Sum Game (Cas Russell, #1)|S.L. Huang|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1516729621l/37534869._SY75_.jpg|68422320] never feels overly or inadequately stimulating because of the constant passive intensity and tension it maintains throughout.
Some of the sci-fi elements occasionally came across as a little wishy-washy and would present coherence inconsistencies under close examination.
The book's biggest flaw, in my opinion, is that it is very forgettable. The characters, writing, and theoretical sci-fi elements were all well done. However, the overall narrative was just okay.
tensy's review against another edition
4.0
A high octane thriller with a cinematic plot that drops you in the middle of the action on page one without much of a back story. Our spunky heroine, Cas Russell, working as an extraction specialist, with a scary array of mathematical and physical skills, is trying to extract a young woman from the hands of a drug cartel with the aid of her "friend" Rio, a psychopath with a strong biblical moral code. Great characters and a twisty plot makes for a fast read which I highly recommend for a long plane ride.
nevclue's review against another edition
3.0
Doesn't really feel like near future sci-fi (as per the blurb), but rather current day with people who have extraordinary abilities. Fast read, Cas is a fun narrator, but world-building is still in early stages. I'd read the next one.