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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
This book is at best simply OK... which is a shame because the worldbuilding and character development are excellent. Unfortunately, the plot is extremely lacking: it is filled with plot contrivances, and I don't think the book knows what tone it is aiming for.
We start out in an in-game world, like Ready Player One, but very quickly the in-game world is dumped for the dystopian hell of Mallory's real world. Yet no sooner have the limits of the real world been established than we aren't in that world anymore, either... now there's a rebellion that Mal has somehow become the face of... until she isn't. And then she's helping a supersoldier (whom she has always been obsessed with for reasons that are never revealed to us) and his partner take down the corporation that is ruining their lives.
Lots of scenes had the feel of "of course that happened", because this book doesn't have a coherent plot so much as a series of scenes that are all linked together.
We start out in an in-game world, like Ready Player One, but very quickly the in-game world is dumped for the dystopian hell of Mallory's real world. Yet no sooner have the limits of the real world been established than we aren't in that world anymore, either... now there's a rebellion that Mal has somehow become the face of... until she isn't. And then she's helping a supersoldier (whom she has always been obsessed with for reasons that are never revealed to us) and his partner take down the corporation that is ruining their lives.
Lots of scenes had the feel of "of course that happened", because this book doesn't have a coherent plot so much as a series of scenes that are all linked together.
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-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
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ultimately, I found this forgettable. I appreciated the premise and the dystopian discussion, but it didn't feel like anything to sink my teeth into. I found the story lacking in relationship – which makes sense, giving the setting, but it's not just interiority of characters, but relationships between them that make me connect with fiction. There were glimpses of a deep, story-worthy relationship at the end, but that was the last few chapters with a foregone conclusion. Ironically, as someone always championing the "normal person" voices in dystopias, I think this story would've made more impact from behind the scenes of the supersoldier program.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent
state sanctioned "disappearing" of people
My public library’s Recommended Reads display is fire. This is the third really good novel I’ve found there.
Firebreak is kind of like fusion cuisine - it combines familiar elements and topics in a fresh and fun way. I’ve seen it compared to Ready Player One, and that’s somewhat true. The plots of both novels are driven largely by an online, immersive game and are set in dystopian, hyper-corporate futures. However, Firebreak focus much more on the dystopian real world and not at all on twentieth century nostalgia. It has some parallels to the Hunger Games in that game sponsors are key to success and in the revolutionary undertones. The main character, Mal, comes to a leadership role only reluctantly, like Katniss Everdeen does. She doesn’t seek fame or importance.
Refreshingly, Firebreak does not include a romance and does not lionize the hero - she does good and important stuff, but as she might put it, her shit’s a mess pretty much throughout the novel. There but by the grace of God goes she. At no point did I reflect how fun/cool/badass it would be to stand in her shoes at a particular moment.
For some reason, I kept reflecting on how the novel would make a good manga, even without the romance or Conquering Hero element. Can someone get on that?
In sum, this book isn’t going to launch a new genre, but it’s a solid and enjoyable read, and I wonder how much of the water scarcity theme will come to pass in parts of the world.
Firebreak is kind of like fusion cuisine - it combines familiar elements and topics in a fresh and fun way. I’ve seen it compared to Ready Player One, and that’s somewhat true. The plots of both novels are driven largely by an online, immersive game and are set in dystopian, hyper-corporate futures. However, Firebreak focus much more on the dystopian real world and not at all on twentieth century nostalgia. It has some parallels to the Hunger Games in that game sponsors are key to success and in the revolutionary undertones. The main character, Mal, comes to a leadership role only reluctantly, like Katniss Everdeen does. She doesn’t seek fame or importance.
Refreshingly, Firebreak does not include a romance and does not lionize the hero - she does good and important stuff, but as she might put it, her shit’s a mess pretty much throughout the novel. There but by the grace of God goes she. At no point did I reflect how fun/cool/badass it would be to stand in her shoes at a particular moment.
For some reason, I kept reflecting on how the novel would make a good manga, even without the romance or Conquering Hero element. Can someone get on that?
In sum, this book isn’t going to launch a new genre, but it’s a solid and enjoyable read, and I wonder how much of the water scarcity theme will come to pass in parts of the world.
kind of didn’t do it for me. felt a little clumsy or didactic at times. some missed opportunities too—like there’s one scene where mallory mentions the game to 22 and he has no idea what it is, and then it never comes up again. bumping it up to 3 stars because i did still enjoy it.
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes