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tabatha_shipley's review
3.0
Rounded up from 2.5
Electronic copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
What I Did Like:
-Ending was good. Despite some pacing issues, the ending finally made clear for me the lessons we were supposed to draw.
-Intriguing concept. I do like the idea of extending life for some people by taking it from others. I like the way it was explored. It’s a dramatic idea that was examined in an interesting way.
Who Should Read This One:
-Fans of dystopian style science fiction intrigued by the concept of medicine essentially trading years of life between patients.
My Rating: 2.5 stars (rounded up to 3 for review sites that don’t allow halves). The concept is intriguing but this one would’ve benefitted from an extra grammatical pass and a little tightening. Slightly problematic.
For Full Review: https://youtu.be/8wYuuMSAma4
Electronic copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
What I Did Like:
-Ending was good. Despite some pacing issues, the ending finally made clear for me the lessons we were supposed to draw.
-Intriguing concept. I do like the idea of extending life for some people by taking it from others. I like the way it was explored. It’s a dramatic idea that was examined in an interesting way.
Who Should Read This One:
-Fans of dystopian style science fiction intrigued by the concept of medicine essentially trading years of life between patients.
My Rating: 2.5 stars (rounded up to 3 for review sites that don’t allow halves). The concept is intriguing but this one would’ve benefitted from an extra grammatical pass and a little tightening. Slightly problematic.
For Full Review: https://youtu.be/8wYuuMSAma4
wolfshine's review
5.0
When we first meet Sam, she's living a boring life as the bodyguard of one of the richest men in the world. It isn't exciting compared to the life she used to live, but at the very least, she's able to support her family. When her daughter is kidnapped and murdered, she tries to desperately hold her life together. When her husband commits suicide, it's the straw that broke the camel's back. Sam goes on a mission for revenge, and she won't stop until everyone who turned her life upside down pays.
I always love a good story about a strong woman, and this was a book that didn't disappoint. The complete transformation that Sam went through was an immersive rollercoaster. It was easy to root for her, and I hoped from the very first chapter that things would get better for her. Not only were the characters well created, but the world that Matt has put them in was very unique. Not unique though is the difference between the rich and the poor class. The elite are able to live longer lives simply by using the organs of those unfortunate enough to have to sell them to live.
Very powerful book.
If you like stories full of action, suspense, and a plot that leaves you breathless, this is the book for you.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
I always love a good story about a strong woman, and this was a book that didn't disappoint. The complete transformation that Sam went through was an immersive rollercoaster. It was easy to root for her, and I hoped from the very first chapter that things would get better for her. Not only were the characters well created, but the world that Matt has put them in was very unique. Not unique though is the difference between the rich and the poor class. The elite are able to live longer lives simply by using the organs of those unfortunate enough to have to sell them to live.
Very powerful book.
If you like stories full of action, suspense, and a plot that leaves you breathless, this is the book for you.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
stephbookshine's review
4.0
*I received a free ARC of this book, with thanks to the author. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
This punchy, fast-paced thriller combines vigilantism with politics in a plot to bring down a dystopian (but horribly believable) future society.
In Sam’s world, the poor donate their surplus body parts to the rich, so the rich can enjoy ‘life extension’ and the poor can scrape enough money to support themselves. Sam doesn’t seem too worried about it, as long as she can keep a roof over her family and afford to feed them. That is, until she finds out the hard way that some people are being kidnapped and sold for parts against their will, like her young daughter. And all of a sudden, Sam needs revenge and her military training has given her the right skill set to get it.
It’s kind of like a cross between Kill Bill or Taken with sci-fi stories about genetic modification like Spares. I was keen to better understand the details of the death-donor element of the story – the process, the science, how it worked in practice – but the main focus of the story is actually the vengeance quest, and themes of sacrifice, good vs. evil, and what we would do to avenge those we love.
Packed with action, violence and with a very intriguing central premise, this is ideal for those looking for a gripping, dystopian sci-fi thriller, with more focus on the twisty plot than on the character development or any emotional connection.
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2022/11/09/catch-up-quickies-30/
This punchy, fast-paced thriller combines vigilantism with politics in a plot to bring down a dystopian (but horribly believable) future society.
In Sam’s world, the poor donate their surplus body parts to the rich, so the rich can enjoy ‘life extension’ and the poor can scrape enough money to support themselves. Sam doesn’t seem too worried about it, as long as she can keep a roof over her family and afford to feed them. That is, until she finds out the hard way that some people are being kidnapped and sold for parts against their will, like her young daughter. And all of a sudden, Sam needs revenge and her military training has given her the right skill set to get it.
It’s kind of like a cross between Kill Bill or Taken with sci-fi stories about genetic modification like Spares. I was keen to better understand the details of the death-donor element of the story – the process, the science, how it worked in practice – but the main focus of the story is actually the vengeance quest, and themes of sacrifice, good vs. evil, and what we would do to avenge those we love.
Packed with action, violence and with a very intriguing central premise, this is ideal for those looking for a gripping, dystopian sci-fi thriller, with more focus on the twisty plot than on the character development or any emotional connection.
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2022/11/09/catch-up-quickies-30/
popthebutterfly's review
4.0
Disclaimer: I received this e-book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Death Donor
Author: Matt Ward
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: Political intrigue
Publication Date: May 30, 2020
Publisher: Myrmani
Pages: 334
Recommended Age: 18+ (violence, gore, language, death, dismemberment)
Synopsis: Special forces vet, Samantha Jones, is a lowly bodyguard for Ethan Anderson, the biotech billionaire who revolutionized life extension. But at least she’s got a job, unlike most, and won’t have to sell her organs to support her family. Sure, they’re poor, but she’s got death insurance and a roof over her head. Life is livable...
But then Sam’s daughter is kidnapped and sold for parts. Overnight, her life (and belief in the system) shatters. When the rich bastards get off scot-free, Sam’s weak husband commits suicide, and the ex-assassin snaps.
Someone is going to pay.
The question: how to kill the heartless elites that use the poor like livestock and whose security rivals the president. And then there’s the senator fighting to abolish life extension, the trillion-dollar corporate standoff, and bloody protests in the streets as conditions deteriorate. Things are about to get ugly.
Review: For the most part I liked this book. It had a Repo Man vibe and the book was very fast paced. The author also did well with the world building.
However, I did think character development was a bit rushed and that it could have been built a bit better. The main character seemed to only have one personality trait for the majority of the novel, but it did get better towards the end.
Verdict: It's a decent novel. Definitely recommend.
Book: Death Donor
Author: Matt Ward
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: Political intrigue
Publication Date: May 30, 2020
Publisher: Myrmani
Pages: 334
Recommended Age: 18+ (violence, gore, language, death, dismemberment)
Synopsis: Special forces vet, Samantha Jones, is a lowly bodyguard for Ethan Anderson, the biotech billionaire who revolutionized life extension. But at least she’s got a job, unlike most, and won’t have to sell her organs to support her family. Sure, they’re poor, but she’s got death insurance and a roof over her head. Life is livable...
But then Sam’s daughter is kidnapped and sold for parts. Overnight, her life (and belief in the system) shatters. When the rich bastards get off scot-free, Sam’s weak husband commits suicide, and the ex-assassin snaps.
Someone is going to pay.
The question: how to kill the heartless elites that use the poor like livestock and whose security rivals the president. And then there’s the senator fighting to abolish life extension, the trillion-dollar corporate standoff, and bloody protests in the streets as conditions deteriorate. Things are about to get ugly.
Review: For the most part I liked this book. It had a Repo Man vibe and the book was very fast paced. The author also did well with the world building.
However, I did think character development was a bit rushed and that it could have been built a bit better. The main character seemed to only have one personality trait for the majority of the novel, but it did get better towards the end.
Verdict: It's a decent novel. Definitely recommend.
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