Reviews

Arca by Van Jensen

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el_wheel's review

adventurous challenging inspiring mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I feel like it could've been more fleshed out and the two plot twists I both saw coming long before they were revealed which was a little disappointing. I liked the art a lot. This book definitely also hit close to home given current political events. Overall, it was good. Wasn't the best thing I've ever read but was also far from the worst

fluffily's review

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2.75

good concept but very rushed

lutin's review

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mysterious reflective medium-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? No

3.5

awesomejen2's review

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emotional mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

kitsuneheart's review against another edition

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4.0

I just couldn’t get into this one. I finished the book, yes, but at no point did I care about the characters or the story itself. :/

The rich and powerful have fled Earth on a long-voyage ship. But they’re not going to, like, do any WORK on the trip. Bleh. So they took along with them a crew of children, meant to wait on them hand-and-foot, for the promise of a better life.

Main character Persephone has suspicions about the mission. Especially when she is unable to get in contact with the older teen who had trained her in her duties. What happens when you get older and age out?

I mean, obviously, it’s dystopian. You don’t age out. I will say, there’s a bigger plot twist beyond what happens to older teens, but it still didn’t interest me.

Advanced reader copy provided by the publisher.

alandmorriss's review

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4.0

Thank you to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for supplying me with a digital copy to review.

While the premise of a generation ship supporting the last of the human race's journey to a new home after the destruction of Earth and even an authoritarian leadership of the rich and powerful that seem to hide dark secrets of the true cost of mankind's survival might be nothing new. But what Arca does it does with style and enough twists to keep you questioning the true nature of what is unfolding.

Aboard the generational ship Arca, Effie, a settler just shy of retiring at 18 years old from her obedient service to the citizens who inhabit the ship starts to question what happens to the settlers after they retire, move to another section of the ship and never seen again.

The story drew me in and kept me hooked until the end.

Overall I give Arca 4 Stars.