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kristi_starr35's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book.
There are lots of other reviews here, as well as plot summaries. So let me throw in my two cents' worth here.
a) I was hoping this would be a stand-alone novel, but I see it's part of a series. I'd have been happy with the ending. Loose ends? Sure. But let the reader interpret. Still, with the knowledge of another volume, I'll be looking forward to it.
b) Chapter 11 - redefined. I'm not usually a big fan of gay characters, but I like Syd. He's not a stereotype, he's not a token. It's who he is, it works within the context of the novel, and it works for me.
c) On the topic of Syd - good choice of names. Tie it in with A Tale of Two Cities, of course.
d) Not overly preachy. Yeah, there's some. Rich vs. poor. Ethics. Religion. Business. Diversity. But nothing feels overdone.
e) Plot twists!! Yes, some of it you can see coming. Read other reviews with spoilers, if you want. But I recommend just reading and enjoying the ride.
Yes, there are the inevitable comparisons to The Whipping Boy. Use them in parallel. Or just keep in mind that when it all comes down to it, there's really nothing new under the sun.
Read, and enjoy!
There are lots of other reviews here, as well as plot summaries. So let me throw in my two cents' worth here.
a) I was hoping this would be a stand-alone novel, but I see it's part of a series. I'd have been happy with the ending. Loose ends? Sure. But let the reader interpret. Still, with the knowledge of another volume, I'll be looking forward to it.
b) Chapter 11 - redefined. I'm not usually a big fan of gay characters, but I like Syd. He's not a stereotype, he's not a token. It's who he is, it works within the context of the novel, and it works for me.
c) On the topic of Syd - good choice of names. Tie it in with A Tale of Two Cities, of course.
d) Not overly preachy. Yeah, there's some. Rich vs. poor. Ethics. Religion. Business. Diversity. But nothing feels overdone.
e) Plot twists!! Yes, some of it you can see coming. Read other reviews with spoilers, if you want. But I recommend just reading and enjoying the ride.
Yes, there are the inevitable comparisons to The Whipping Boy. Use them in parallel. Or just keep in mind that when it all comes down to it, there's really nothing new under the sun.
Read, and enjoy!
lannnnnnnnnaaaaaaaaa's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
daffz's review
4.0
I’m always really excited to read books that have lgbt+ main characters with a story that doesn’t focus just on their sexuality or a romance. Proxy is a very exciting, well written story that just happens to have a main character who is gay, and it was a wonderful read.
The start of this book was really strong, I loved seeing the differences between the two worlds and how the two main characters lived in it. I also really liked how the characters interacted with others and each other.
It feels like almost a completed story already, but I’m still curious to see what the sequel will bring.
The start of this book was really strong, I loved seeing the differences between the two worlds and how the two main characters lived in it. I also really liked how the characters interacted with others and each other.
Spoiler
After they escape and are on the run, there’s a little bit where I felt like it dragged, but then the ending more than made up for that. I really didn’t expect Knox to sacrifice himself like that. It was a really powerful scene that came totally out of the blue for me. I really loved it.It feels like almost a completed story already, but I’m still curious to see what the sequel will bring.
kanarazu's review
3.0
This was a really cool concept and I enjoyed the story, but I had some problems with it. There was a lot of info-dumping that made the beginning of the story very boring and I had to put it down for a while. Also, the POV changed frequently, so I was confused a lot of the time who was thinking.
atinydroid's review
4.0
Really enjoyed parts of this book. Some parts seemed very... unnecessary but honestly there's no book that I read that doesn't have unnecessary parts.
The main character is gay but that's honestly not even a defining point in the plot which is nice to see for fucking once. The author literally goes "he's gay. let's talk about it for a minute then bring it up every now and then. the end" which YESSSSS. As much as I love stories about gay characters finding themselves and accepting their sexuality this book really doesn't do that and that's refreshing. Although there wasn't really any point for the MC to have a "accepting his sexuality" moment because of the way he lives so I'm glad that coincided with the plot.
Easy read. Read it in one day but was a fun read. Couldn't really connect myself to the main character or the secondary character because well I'm strange but of course the one character I did strongly connect with died. Which... not shocking.
But all in all decent book. Going to read the second one soon.
The main character is gay but that's honestly not even a defining point in the plot which is nice to see for fucking once. The author literally goes "he's gay. let's talk about it for a minute then bring it up every now and then. the end" which YESSSSS. As much as I love stories about gay characters finding themselves and accepting their sexuality this book really doesn't do that and that's refreshing. Although there wasn't really any point for the MC to have a "accepting his sexuality" moment because of the way he lives so I'm glad that coincided with the plot.
Easy read. Read it in one day but was a fun read. Couldn't really connect myself to the main character or the secondary character because well I'm strange but of course the one character I did strongly connect with died. Which... not shocking.
But all in all decent book. Going to read the second one soon.
bookish_notes's review
4.0
[b:Proxy|16101023|Proxy (Proxy, #1)|Alex London|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1391051757s/16101023.jpg|19075979] drops you right in the middle of the action. This book follows Syd, an orphan who serves as a proxy to his patron, Knox. Anytime Knox does something out of line, Syd is the one who gets punished. This isn't quite your usual YA dystopian novel. Syd doesn't strike me as a revolutionary who wants to overthrow the system. Instead, he's kind of just thrust into the story and it's expected for him to be the one who leads the people out their current way of life.
This story is dark, people die left and right before you even get a chance to connect with the characters. On the other hand, the sacrifice at the end of the book should have seen coming from the very beginning, but I'm still in shock and in complete and utter denial as I write this. I'm not sure if I want to read [b:Guardian|17227209|Guardian (Proxy, #2)|Alex London|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1390840157s/17227209.jpg|23739936] immediately after reading Proxy, since I did truly love this character and I'm not ready to move on quite just yet.
Overall, it's an interesting world, but at times it feels like there's so much action packed into Proxy that the characters didn't have as much development and growth as I would have wanted.
This story is dark, people die left and right before you even get a chance to connect with the characters.
Spoiler
Looking at you, Egan. One minute he's the best friend, then he kills someone to save Syd and we're suspicious of his character. But then we're supposed to feel bad he died? I wasn't terribly saddened by his death as I perhaps should I felt as a reader.Overall, it's an interesting world, but at times it feels like there's so much action packed into Proxy that the characters didn't have as much development and growth as I would have wanted.
megatsunami's review
4.0
3.5 stars. Enjoyed the plot and character development quite a bit - there were a few BAD bad guys but otherwise people were pretty complex and multi-dimensional, and there were a lot of nuances in the characters' reactions to each other which I found very believable. The point-of-view changes between the two main characters was nicely done on the whole, except when it switched within a chapter/ scene, which was a little confusing.
Side note: The science at the end made ZERO sense to me.
Oh, also, I didn't buy the zoo scene: The animals wouldn't just immediately leap out and viciously attack all the humans once the invisible barriers came down. It would probably take some time for the animals to realize the barriers were down and then to have a reason to attack the humans.
Side note: The science at the end made ZERO sense to me.
Spoiler
So... in order to upload the virus, he has to broadcast it out over radio waves? But the radiation is so intense it will vaporize him? But it's happening within a contained chamber so it doesn't harm anyone nearby? But somehow it manages to broadcast its, uh, radiation, even though it's in a contained chamber? Perhaps I missed some key point of description. It led to a clever plot dilemma though.Oh, also, I didn't buy the zoo scene: The animals wouldn't just immediately leap out and viciously attack all the humans once the invisible barriers came down. It would probably take some time for the animals to realize the barriers were down and then to have a reason to attack the humans.
bookswithlukas's review against another edition
5.0
Read in one sitting, but sequel doesn't come for another year. NEED. IT. NOW.