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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.
beckermanex's review
4.0
The book was an enjoyable affair, something that was self contained and didn't feel as though it was setting up a universe (although it would be interesting to see how some of the concepts in the final chapters would come to life in a sequel). Warming up to the main character, Mal, takes some time in the beginning as the "oh-geez" off-putting lead, female character who doesn't want much to do with anything but see's inspiration in what's around her and the injustice in the world.
There were a few twists I wanted to see happen, and some more exploration on minor characters, but this was from a single point of view so it wouldn't have lent itself to anything beyond what Mal sees and interprets.
I would recommend for anyone familiar with game speak, conspiracy theories and a general dislike for overreaching corporations. But as a story, it has enough to keep you enticed and entertained through its brisk read.
There were a few twists I wanted to see happen, and some more exploration on minor characters, but this was from a single point of view so it wouldn't have lent itself to anything beyond what Mal sees and interprets.
I would recommend for anyone familiar with game speak, conspiracy theories and a general dislike for overreaching corporations. But as a story, it has enough to keep you enticed and entertained through its brisk read.
darwin's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Goddamn, this book was good. Slow start picks up halfway through and doesn't stop running. I found this book exceptionally hard to put down once it started rolling.
While reading, there were times when I found the world-building a little messy, but it all came together very well in the end. Turns out the inconsistency was the point!
The characters and their relationships, though, are where this book shines. The plot is engaging, absolutely, but the characters propelling it forward are what made it so hard to put down. The story matters because the people in it matter, an approach the book itself is well aware of and even leans into at times.
My final thought is that even though this book can be read as a stand-alone, I think it's much stronger for being a prequel to Archivist Wasp and Latchkey. It was so satisfying to watch all the pieces click together and get another angle at 06 and 22. If 22 was your favorite part of this book and you haven't yet, do yourself a favor and read Archivist Wasp.
While reading, there were times when I found the world-building a little messy, but it all came together very well in the end. Turns out the inconsistency was the point!
The characters and their relationships, though, are where this book shines. The plot is engaging, absolutely, but the characters propelling it forward are what made it so hard to put down. The story matters because the people in it matter, an approach the book itself is well aware of and even leans into at times.
My final thought is that even though this book can be read as a stand-alone, I think it's much stronger for being a prequel to Archivist Wasp and Latchkey. It was so satisfying to watch all the pieces click together and get another angle at 06 and 22. If 22 was your favorite part of this book and you haven't yet, do yourself a favor and read Archivist Wasp.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Gun violence, Classism, Death, Fire/Fire injury, War, Violence, Child death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Police brutality
Minor: Alcohol and Suicidal thoughts
emihansen's review
5.0
I absolutely loved this book. It was difficult for me to start, but that part is on me being easily distracted. But once I really began to imagine the setting, to know the characters and to crave to learn what happens next, I fell in love with this book. I’m no avid reader and I’m definitely not a justifiable reviewer, but I can honestly say that this book had me so eager to turn the next page. I loved unfolding Mallory’s story, I love how there were still so many unanswered questions at the end (and yes, I did cry) that are going to keep me wondering & curious for the next week. Maybe I’m biased because this is the first book like it that I’ve read in a long, long time, but I loved Firebreak so much.
posthumusly's review
3.0
I just couldn't see the importance of the VR game in the real life setting!
angelod24's review
2.0
Firebreak is a difficult book for me to review. The blurb was interesting to me and I looked forward to reading the book. However, I just couldn’t get into it for maybe the first 70%. I honestly kept reading only because I felt like I needed to complete it to write a review. I also always finish a book I start, one reason being I’m naively optimistic it will get better by the end.
And this one did get better by the end. It was just a little too late for me to recommend to others. I’d have liked the main characters to have a bit more depth to their backstories. I would have also liked a bit more world building. I also found myself losing interest in all the times they were in the game mode.
Overall, I’d give this one 2.5 stars. It’s not bad, it just couldn’t have been a lot better. In the end, I’m disappointed. This might work as a TV show, where they can build off the novel.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
And this one did get better by the end. It was just a little too late for me to recommend to others. I’d have liked the main characters to have a bit more depth to their backstories. I would have also liked a bit more world building. I also found myself losing interest in all the times they were in the game mode.
Overall, I’d give this one 2.5 stars. It’s not bad, it just couldn’t have been a lot better. In the end, I’m disappointed. This might work as a TV show, where they can build off the novel.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
eastofthesunwestofthemoon's review
3.0
3 1/2 stars. This book was a good read overall , but I did feel like it had more momentum earlier - I didn't want to put the book down for the first half, and then that feeling tapered off. It's also on the darker dystopian side of the future, and I generally prefer a more optimistic outlook. I didn't relate well to the protagonist, who is antisocial to a degree that I question whether the strong sense of community that comes together around her is actually very believable, even given her tendency to help others and be generous.
Spoiler
I read to escape the drudgery of life. This book did not offer enough of a feeling that a better future would really be achieved. Too bleak for me. /Spoiler
bkachenbach's review
5.0
So the last time I read a book with a video game ish premise it was…disappointing. This book however, exceeded expectations and kept both the plot moving along and the characters developing. Well done.
lookingforamandaa's review
4.0
Firebreak follows Mal, who is a gaming streamer in a terrifyingly realistic dystopian future. It’s about 100 years or so in the future and two corporations have taken over the United States. One controls the water supply for the population and the other controls the agricultural supply for the population. Climate change has ravaged the coasts and the war between these two corporations has done its own damage. Mal lives in what was once a nice hotel in the city. She shares one room with like six other people. When she’s not working odd jobs (dog walking, babysitting, attempting to brew beer) she’s gaming and streaming with her best friend and roommate, Jessa. The two manage to spot one of the rarer special operatives in the game (read: the special operatives are essentially celebrities in this world) and talk to her for about a half a second before the power is cut for the day. This thrusts them into a minor spotlight, just enough to grab the attention of B. B is a mysterious sponsor who, after meeting with Jessa and Mal, shares a theory that she and others have about the special operatives. This is where the story really gets going.
I really liked Mal. She sort of held herself apart from her other roommates, and kept to herself. But I really was a great moment when she realized what a mistake that had been. That she should have taken more time to get to know them all. I loved her loyalty and love for Jessa. The two of them were and excellent friendship dynamic with how they pushed and pulled each other when it was called for. I liked how they complimented one another. But I liked Mal outside of her relationship with Jessa too. We get to see her act selflessly, recklessly, and with her whole heart. She was a really well-developed character and one that I enjoyed following through this story.
As for the story itself, oh man, what a wild ride. We get a brief summary of how the world ended up the way that it is in the story. Though I usually like more backstory and world building, I found that I liked learning how this future worked as the story went on. We see how society works as we follow Mal and we see what’s wrong with it as she does. I think that Mal questioning the status quo felt natural for her character. And everything after was really well done. The story starts with a slow build-up, showing us the world. Then starts to show what’s wrong with it, and once Mal’s eyes are opened to the theory that B shares, there’s just nonstop action. Also, I don’t know if this was on purpose, but I really thought the way the author took things from the game that Mal and Jessa play and started showing that same violence and action in the real world was absolutely fascinating.
Overall, this book was a wild ride to say the least. It’s a book that shows characters fighting for their basic human rights, against corporations that are just trying to wring every dollar out of anyone they can. I absolutely enjoyed this one and I will definitely be looking into this author’s backlist.
I really liked Mal. She sort of held herself apart from her other roommates, and kept to herself. But I really was a great moment when she realized what a mistake that had been. That she should have taken more time to get to know them all. I loved her loyalty and love for Jessa. The two of them were and excellent friendship dynamic with how they pushed and pulled each other when it was called for. I liked how they complimented one another. But I liked Mal outside of her relationship with Jessa too. We get to see her act selflessly, recklessly, and with her whole heart. She was a really well-developed character and one that I enjoyed following through this story.
As for the story itself, oh man, what a wild ride. We get a brief summary of how the world ended up the way that it is in the story. Though I usually like more backstory and world building, I found that I liked learning how this future worked as the story went on. We see how society works as we follow Mal and we see what’s wrong with it as she does. I think that Mal questioning the status quo felt natural for her character. And everything after was really well done. The story starts with a slow build-up, showing us the world. Then starts to show what’s wrong with it, and once Mal’s eyes are opened to the theory that B shares, there’s just nonstop action. Also, I don’t know if this was on purpose, but I really thought the way the author took things from the game that Mal and Jessa play and started showing that same violence and action in the real world was absolutely fascinating.
Overall, this book was a wild ride to say the least. It’s a book that shows characters fighting for their basic human rights, against corporations that are just trying to wring every dollar out of anyone they can. I absolutely enjoyed this one and I will definitely be looking into this author’s backlist.