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timinbc's review against another edition
3.0
This is tricky. I've read one Jack Reacher book. I don't watch action movies. I'm no expert.
But this is a comic book in text.
It's the sort of book that makes you think the author has a math degree. does stunts, and loves guns. Which in fact is the case.
The heroine isn't credible, the plot is iffy, the sidekicks are creepy, and for all that it's unputdownable.
So ... Cas is good at math, the way Spider-man is good at physics. But somehow that also gives her advanced parkour skills, Bruce Lee's reflexes, Olympic shooting accuracy, and enough money to have safe houses all over North America. She kills anyone who looks at her crosswise, yet somehow the authorities never notice. She's OK because Rio is worse. And because she's offset by Dudley Do-right, oops I mean Arthur.
Rio wears a duster. Sigh. Really?
And Rio-Arthur are the men from every Stephanie Plum novel.
Cas's math skills are that thing Cumberbatch's Sherlock does when he visualizes boards full of equations. But I admit Huang's math degree at least allows us to read about math concepts that actually exist.
The villain requires us to suspend disbelief in a different area, but that's OK in a superhero story.
And, lest things get too silly, there are in fact some interesting moral dilemmas. Some are credible. Others are more, "Should I have killed all those people (thinks a minute) Yeah. I'm good."
And, of course, Cas can also hotwire a car in seconds. Probably one-handed. This Only Happens In Movies. Stop It, You Authors! And of course she is an expert motorcycle rider.
Read this book fast, enjoy it, and don't ask too many questions.
Doubt I'll read #2. These are not engaging characters, the kind you can build a series on.
But this is a comic book in text.
It's the sort of book that makes you think the author has a math degree. does stunts, and loves guns. Which in fact is the case.
The heroine isn't credible, the plot is iffy, the sidekicks are creepy, and for all that it's unputdownable.
So ... Cas is good at math, the way Spider-man is good at physics. But somehow that also gives her advanced parkour skills, Bruce Lee's reflexes, Olympic shooting accuracy, and enough money to have safe houses all over North America. She kills anyone who looks at her crosswise, yet somehow the authorities never notice. She's OK because Rio is worse. And because she's offset by Dudley Do-right, oops I mean Arthur.
Rio wears a duster. Sigh. Really?
And Rio-Arthur are the men from every Stephanie Plum novel.
Cas's math skills are that thing Cumberbatch's Sherlock does when he visualizes boards full of equations. But I admit Huang's math degree at least allows us to read about math concepts that actually exist.
The villain requires us to suspend disbelief in a different area, but that's OK in a superhero story.
And, lest things get too silly, there are in fact some interesting moral dilemmas. Some are credible. Others are more, "Should I have killed all those people (thinks a minute) Yeah. I'm good."
And, of course, Cas can also hotwire a car in seconds. Probably one-handed. This Only Happens In Movies. Stop It, You Authors! And of course she is an expert motorcycle rider.
Read this book fast, enjoy it, and don't ask too many questions.
Doubt I'll read #2. These are not engaging characters, the kind you can build a series on.
gabbutm's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
hollyn_middle's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
lini002's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Zero Sum Game follows Cas Russell, a mathematical genius who takes on any job so long as the pay is good. She finds herself involved in a real-world conspiracy whose leader can manipulate the mind of anyone around them, she would regularly leave it well enough alone but they made it personal. The only issue is that she doesn't know what thoughts are hers.
This book is disjointed and not fun whatsoever. Character development is nonexistent and the MC is unbelievably boring. The other characters are lackluster and feel like any other action thriller cast. Cas could have been anyone else and I wouldn't have noticed. For some reason one of the side characters is a psychopath and that is never elaborated on. There's a lot of repetition of Cas naysaying certain plans but barely giving reasons why, arguing over what they should do, and stupid plans that obviously won't work.
I am interested in Water Outlaws by the same author so I won't write them off completely. 1.5/5 stars for this one though.
This book is disjointed and not fun whatsoever. Character development is nonexistent and the MC is unbelievably boring. The other characters are lackluster and feel like any other action thriller cast. Cas could have been anyone else and I wouldn't have noticed. For some reason one of the side characters is a psychopath and that is never elaborated on. There's a lot of repetition of Cas naysaying certain plans but barely giving reasons why, arguing over what they should do, and stupid plans that obviously won't work.
I am interested in Water Outlaws by the same author so I won't write them off completely. 1.5/5 stars for this one though.
melanietrumbo's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
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
3.0
myatcha18's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
turrean's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This is a fast-paced thriller with a tough, belligerent protagonist.
Cass Russell belongs to the Jessica Jones school of female badassery: a predilection for drinking, shooting, and fast driving; elastic morality; and a knee jerk reaction against the typically feminine. When fate provides a pink motorcycle, male characters guffaw, and Cass scowls. Serious injuries are shrugged off in a few days.
For a book with a female hero and a female villain, the book is woefully bereft of estrogen. There are no women in Cass’s inner circle. Hell, there are no women in her outer circle, either, other than a few victims and NPCs. Let’s hope this is remedied in the next books in the series.
One secondary character seems unable to use contractions, which made his dialog stilted at times.
Cass Russell belongs to the Jessica Jones school of female badassery: a predilection for drinking, shooting, and fast driving; elastic morality; and a knee jerk reaction against the typically feminine. When fate provides a pink motorcycle, male characters guffaw, and Cass scowls. Serious injuries are shrugged off in a few days.
For a book with a female hero and a female villain, the book is woefully bereft of estrogen. There are no women in Cass’s inner circle. Hell, there are no women in her outer circle, either, other than a few victims and NPCs. Let’s hope this is remedied in the next books in the series.
One secondary character seems unable to use contractions, which made his dialog stilted at times.
phenyl82's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
plmlighting's review against another edition
4.0
A decent debut novel which keeps the action coming. There are times I wished the author had gone through the details of Cas' calculations rather than vaguely explaining "the math all came together," but other than that, I look forward to a second novel which this feels open to.