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lyrasbookshelf's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
4.0
Unique and interesting premise and great execution. One small thing I wasn't very keen on throughout the book was the vilification of China, Ukraine and Russia in this entire game and emphasising the idea that UK has had higher standards and regulations from the get go. Whether intended or not, it came off xenophobic and/or chauvinistic.
The ending was also a little too 'and then they lived happily ever after' for me. I think the story would have benefited fromSusan dying tbh.
The ending was also a little too 'and then they lived happily ever after' for me. I think the story would have benefited from
derbit's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
onbeesbookshelf's review
4.0
"Children are begotten, not designed."
Susan has been desperate for a baby for so long, and now she’s finally pregnant and can start the family she’s always wanted. Unfortunately, it’s not her husband Steve’s… , it’s the result of a one night stand but it could be the answer to all her dreams. After all Steve is the daddy to her beautiful child, but not the father.
In a future where humanity is achieving technological greatness, genetic engineering and DNA science is slowly being widely legalised has made it possible for couples to have the perfect baby, without even having sex. Humans can be truly perfect despite the unthinkable risks they face. Now, the risks are becoming terrifying day by day, some babies being born without deadly genetic diseases, and some completely destroyed, victims of devastating “off-target” effects. Something is happening, something terrible and all she can do is hope that her secrets can stay hidden while she prays her own baby doesn’t turn out like the others have …
"DNA doesn't lie. Just people."
Off Target is an uncomfortably curious novel in a time of advancement and marvel, but with a hidden dystopia laying just beneath the shiny new surface. Full of thought-provoking terror, this book will make you think about just how far you would be willing to go, what you would sacrifice for perfection. Full of moral quandary, this highlights the very real and dangerous pressure placed upon women to achieve the perfect - being a perfect wife, a perfect mother, a perfect woman. With insightful narrative on the issues surrounding fertility, it makes a compelling point about the risk that eugenics and designer babies could cause in the future.
This was a slow, tense tale - it took a while to get going but there was always something interesting happening in this new world. Susan was expertly crafted, despite her not always making the right decisions she was impossible not to root for and care about. She was so viscerally human, and every mistake she made was somewhere in the grey - it was blurry, and it's up to the reader to figure out if she's right or wrong.
This story takes place over a number of years, with a large time jump - and as much as it definitely worked for the story, the jump felt very sudden and changed the tone of the story abruptly for me, and I was desperate to fill in the gaps.
A horrifying, chilling piece of speculative fiction that will leave your head reeling, Eve Smith as usual is one to watch out for.
“There’s a lesson there. Nature has no moral code. No ethical qualms about collateral damage. It’s about survival: of your and your progeny.”
Susan has been desperate for a baby for so long, and now she’s finally pregnant and can start the family she’s always wanted. Unfortunately, it’s not her husband Steve’s… , it’s the result of a one night stand but it could be the answer to all her dreams. After all Steve is the daddy to her beautiful child, but not the father.
In a future where humanity is achieving technological greatness, genetic engineering and DNA science is slowly being widely legalised has made it possible for couples to have the perfect baby, without even having sex. Humans can be truly perfect despite the unthinkable risks they face. Now, the risks are becoming terrifying day by day, some babies being born without deadly genetic diseases, and some completely destroyed, victims of devastating “off-target” effects. Something is happening, something terrible and all she can do is hope that her secrets can stay hidden while she prays her own baby doesn’t turn out like the others have …
"DNA doesn't lie. Just people."
Off Target is an uncomfortably curious novel in a time of advancement and marvel, but with a hidden dystopia laying just beneath the shiny new surface. Full of thought-provoking terror, this book will make you think about just how far you would be willing to go, what you would sacrifice for perfection. Full of moral quandary, this highlights the very real and dangerous pressure placed upon women to achieve the perfect - being a perfect wife, a perfect mother, a perfect woman. With insightful narrative on the issues surrounding fertility, it makes a compelling point about the risk that eugenics and designer babies could cause in the future.
This was a slow, tense tale - it took a while to get going but there was always something interesting happening in this new world. Susan was expertly crafted, despite her not always making the right decisions she was impossible not to root for and care about. She was so viscerally human, and every mistake she made was somewhere in the grey - it was blurry, and it's up to the reader to figure out if she's right or wrong.
This story takes place over a number of years, with a large time jump - and as much as it definitely worked for the story, the jump felt very sudden and changed the tone of the story abruptly for me, and I was desperate to fill in the gaps.
A horrifying, chilling piece of speculative fiction that will leave your head reeling, Eve Smith as usual is one to watch out for.
“There’s a lesson there. Nature has no moral code. No ethical qualms about collateral damage. It’s about survival: of your and your progeny.”
megjacks00's review
4.0
A longed-for baby
An unthinkable decision
A deadly mistake
Susan has longed for baby for quite some time. Her husband Steve reluctant about fertility treatments given past experiences with an Ex. When Susan finds herself pregnant after a one night stand with a colleague she is plunged into emotional turmoil: she desperately wants a child, but it isn’t her husbands.
Set in the (terrifyingly) not so distant future, where science has advanced into genetic modification. Susan makes the unthinkable decision to visit a foreign clinic to modify her unborn baby’s genetics, making her DNA her husbands rather than her colleagues. The baby is born healthy and Susan’s secret is safe… or is it?
Fast forward more than 10 years later when worldwide news hits TV screens about unexpected symptoms and mortality rising in those with genetic meddling, Susan finds herself in a dangerous situation and her secret past has come to haunt her.
Now, I love science and medicine but dystopian is normally not my bag. So when I received Off Target from @ as the March read I was automatically thinking this really isn’t for me at all. Lo and behold, 1/4 of the way in and I was hooked. The scary realisation that medicine and science is moving so fast in the current day and age that the theme of this book could just become reality.
I was sucked into Eve Smiths dystopian thriller and couldn’t put it down. Definitely an interesting ready. The only thing that lost a star for me was the ending unfortunately. It was not under any circumstances a bad ending, it just didn’t feel like enough to wrap the book up. I was left disappointed
An unthinkable decision
A deadly mistake
Susan has longed for baby for quite some time. Her husband Steve reluctant about fertility treatments given past experiences with an Ex. When Susan finds herself pregnant after a one night stand with a colleague she is plunged into emotional turmoil: she desperately wants a child, but it isn’t her husbands.
Set in the (terrifyingly) not so distant future, where science has advanced into genetic modification. Susan makes the unthinkable decision to visit a foreign clinic to modify her unborn baby’s genetics, making her DNA her husbands rather than her colleagues. The baby is born healthy and Susan’s secret is safe… or is it?
Fast forward more than 10 years later when worldwide news hits TV screens about unexpected symptoms and mortality rising in those with genetic meddling, Susan finds herself in a dangerous situation and her secret past has come to haunt her.
Now, I love science and medicine but dystopian is normally not my bag. So when I received Off Target from @ as the March read I was automatically thinking this really isn’t for me at all. Lo and behold, 1/4 of the way in and I was hooked. The scary realisation that medicine and science is moving so fast in the current day and age that the theme of this book could just become reality.
I was sucked into Eve Smiths dystopian thriller and couldn’t put it down. Definitely an interesting ready. The only thing that lost a star for me was the ending unfortunately. It was not under any circumstances a bad ending, it just didn’t feel like enough to wrap the book up. I was left disappointed
saeruh's review against another edition
dark
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
This was not a bad book, it was just a bit… clunky. The premise was great! I think the author had a really good idea and then struggled to let the story form for a good while of this book.
The writing was abrupt. Smith never really quite let things develop or just simply settle in the story before she was there to explain it away. The characters were all pretty one dimensional and all of them had weird names - from Susan and Steve to Zurel??? and I’m pretty sure Susan’s bff who was named Carmel was a black women so that’s ugh. I could be wrong tho I’m not sure if ANY of the appearances are actually described.
It was overall entertaining and kept me busy for a couple of days but yeah the meaningful questions it tries to spark fell extremely flat with me.
The writing was abrupt. Smith never really quite let things develop or just simply settle in the story before she was there to explain it away. The characters were all pretty one dimensional and all of them had weird names - from Susan and Steve to Zurel??? and I’m pretty sure Susan’s bff who was named Carmel was a black women so that’s ugh. I could be wrong tho I’m not sure if ANY of the appearances are actually described.
It was overall entertaining and kept me busy for a couple of days but yeah the meaningful questions it tries to spark fell extremely flat with me.