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nicoleme1212's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? No
5.0
eklipse219's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
4.0
jep6454's review
3.0
Found this one randomly on libby, was not disappointed.
If you like video games and anticapatlist war stories this is for you
If you like video games and anticapatlist war stories this is for you
bookmarvel's review
4.0
A batshit crazy book about a world that is even more on fire and even more a capitalist corporate hellhole than our current one. Love Mal’s vibes of “idk what I’m doing and by all rational means I should just keep my head down but for some reason I can’t”.
There’s no canon mention that Mal is aroace, but her strong platonic bond with Jenna through the whole book was great.
There’s no canon mention that Mal is aroace, but her strong platonic bond with Jenna through the whole book was great.
rilkegriffin's review
adventurous
dark
inspiring
sad
fast-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
4.5
sydneyfwhite's review
4.0
This was a really interesting story!
Mal is in a desperate situation, like many others. She lives in a hotel room with 9 people, works many jobs in order to afford food and water, and plays a VR war game that she streams with roommate and friend Jessa. After a really successful stream, a mysterious water donor requests to meet them and so Mal and Jessa meet B. B lets them in on a conspiracy about SpecOp operatives. Instead of creations from Stellaxis HQ, B tells Mal and Jessa that SpecOp agents are actually people who have been modified from childhood. This unlocks something within Mal and she must do everything in her power to save the few SpecOp agents left.
This was a really unique premise of a dystopian earth. Stories like this one that focus on corruption and corporate greed really frighten me, since they aren't very far away from something believable.
I also thought the author made a smart choice with how she wrote Mal as aro/ace because it was never blatantly obvious, in fact, I had no idea until I read a note from the author online... however, they was no romance or mention of it really. I found this refreshing since most stories have some kind of romance, and so having some stories with aro/ace representation is really awesome.
I did think there were some issues with pacing, and I found Mal as a character a bit boring. But otherwise, the story was fun and I enjoyed it!
Mal is in a desperate situation, like many others. She lives in a hotel room with 9 people, works many jobs in order to afford food and water, and plays a VR war game that she streams with roommate and friend Jessa. After a really successful stream, a mysterious water donor requests to meet them and so Mal and Jessa meet B. B lets them in on a conspiracy about SpecOp operatives. Instead of creations from Stellaxis HQ, B tells Mal and Jessa that SpecOp agents are actually people who have been modified from childhood. This unlocks something within Mal and she must do everything in her power to save the few SpecOp agents left.
This was a really unique premise of a dystopian earth. Stories like this one that focus on corruption and corporate greed really frighten me, since they aren't very far away from something believable.
I also thought the author made a smart choice with how she wrote Mal as aro/ace because it was never blatantly obvious, in fact, I had no idea until I read a note from the author online... however, they was no romance or mention of it really. I found this refreshing since most stories have some kind of romance, and so having some stories with aro/ace representation is really awesome.
I did think there were some issues with pacing, and I found Mal as a character a bit boring. But otherwise, the story was fun and I enjoyed it!
peneloperea's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you, NetGalley and Gallery Books for providing the arc of Firebreak by Nicole Kornher-Stace in exchange for my honest review.
In Firebreak, we follow Mal, Mallory, through a dystopian world where major corporations are battling for control and destroying everyone around them. When Mal was 8, her home was destroyed in an airstrike killing her entire family, along with many others. Mal was taken in by Stellaxis (one of the corporations) and send to a camp to live with other kids until she was old enough to be put into a converted hotel room living with 8 other young adults in 1 room.
The best part about this new world for Mal is the VR war game she plays with her BFF Jessa. It’s not the killing that Mal likes, it’s the chance to get close to the SpecOps operatives (superhero-like supersoldiers created and owned by Stellaxis).
I’m not a gamer, but I do love a gamer’s world and I thought the gaming aspect of Firebreak was very well done. We get to see two female gamers who know what they are doing and kick some butt doing it. Unfortunately, I had a tough time with the MC. Mal is a flawed character. She’s an introvert, which isn’t a bad thing and when done right, can be fun to read, but her snark and rudeness to those around her gnawed at me. She’s protective of strangers but rude to the people she’s closest to. Most importantly there is no character growth. She is the same person from start to finish, which doesn’t make sense given all she goes through.
The story itself gave off a YA vibe that I found interesting, however, there were a lot of swear words that felt out of place. Almost like a young kid swearing just for the sake of swearing and not because they need or want to swear.
Overall I would say it was a fun-ish read. I had moments when I really enjoyed the world and I have no problem suggesting this book for fans of dystopian and sci-fi gaming stories. It just didn’t blow my mind the way I had hoped it would.
In Firebreak, we follow Mal, Mallory, through a dystopian world where major corporations are battling for control and destroying everyone around them. When Mal was 8, her home was destroyed in an airstrike killing her entire family, along with many others. Mal was taken in by Stellaxis (one of the corporations) and send to a camp to live with other kids until she was old enough to be put into a converted hotel room living with 8 other young adults in 1 room.
The best part about this new world for Mal is the VR war game she plays with her BFF Jessa. It’s not the killing that Mal likes, it’s the chance to get close to the SpecOps operatives (superhero-like supersoldiers created and owned by Stellaxis).
I’m not a gamer, but I do love a gamer’s world and I thought the gaming aspect of Firebreak was very well done. We get to see two female gamers who know what they are doing and kick some butt doing it. Unfortunately, I had a tough time with the MC. Mal is a flawed character. She’s an introvert, which isn’t a bad thing and when done right, can be fun to read, but her snark and rudeness to those around her gnawed at me. She’s protective of strangers but rude to the people she’s closest to. Most importantly there is no character growth. She is the same person from start to finish, which doesn’t make sense given all she goes through.
The story itself gave off a YA vibe that I found interesting, however, there were a lot of swear words that felt out of place. Almost like a young kid swearing just for the sake of swearing and not because they need or want to swear.
Overall I would say it was a fun-ish read. I had moments when I really enjoyed the world and I have no problem suggesting this book for fans of dystopian and sci-fi gaming stories. It just didn’t blow my mind the way I had hoped it would.
lightasaheather92's review
4.0
I received a free copy of this book via Goodreads giveaway.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. I really enjoyed the storyline and the plot and both kept my interest, but had a couple issues:
- the background/world-building felt confusing and incomplete at the beginning. It took longer than I would have liked to get a picture of the world and it frustrated me.
- sometimes the writing didn’t feel cohesive and it would take me out of the story. Blatant info drops, having to go back two paragraphs to pick up what was being referenced by a particular pronoun or determiner, etc. small things but I noticed them all the same.
Regardless, an enjoyable story if you like dystopian sci-fi.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. I really enjoyed the storyline and the plot and both kept my interest, but had a couple issues:
- the background/world-building felt confusing and incomplete at the beginning. It took longer than I would have liked to get a picture of the world and it frustrated me.
- sometimes the writing didn’t feel cohesive and it would take me out of the story. Blatant info drops, having to go back two paragraphs to pick up what was being referenced by a particular pronoun or determiner, etc. small things but I noticed them all the same.
Regardless, an enjoyable story if you like dystopian sci-fi.
sundragonheartt's review
3.0
this book was nowhere near on the level of archivist wasp. wasp was a highly resourceful and witty protagonist , whereas mal happened to be at the right place at the right time. her main asset was Cynicism and That was about it.
i would sum this up as a feminist retelling of ready player one. Which was fine, but gimmicky and not really my thing.
3 stars for this books as a whole but 5 stars to my boy 22 who steals every scene he’s in.
i would sum this up as a feminist retelling of ready player one. Which was fine, but gimmicky and not really my thing.
3 stars for this books as a whole but 5 stars to my boy 22 who steals every scene he’s in.