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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The whole naming conventions in this book and the dystopian ultra capitalistic system were definitely not the strong parts, but I surely enjoyed all the story in the past, especially in the coconut plantation and then Rao’s development of his business. It may have all the trappings of sci-fi but where the writing shines is in the human story - the exploration of the emotions and relationships. I may not have been fully satiated with it but I definitely enjoyed the writing and look forward to what the author publishes next.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
#NetGalley #AudioARC
Vauhini Vara has written a unique, genre-bending novel packed full of a variety of characters following different timelines. At first, things were a little difficult to keep track of, but once I got the feel for it I was hooked.
The core of this novel grapples with humans and technology. King Rao is a genius who uses his computer skills to change the world. But the ultimate question is did he make things better or worse?
I love books that deal with the complex issues of human interactions with the world around us and how science, technology, and just knowledge are wonderful things, but in certain hands, it can prove to be detrimental.
This is one of those reads that I feel every reader will walk away with a different message because the author explores so many different themes and yet somehow it all works together to deliver an unforgettable story.
Vauhini Vara has written a unique, genre-bending novel packed full of a variety of characters following different timelines. At first, things were a little difficult to keep track of, but once I got the feel for it I was hooked.
The core of this novel grapples with humans and technology. King Rao is a genius who uses his computer skills to change the world. But the ultimate question is did he make things better or worse?
I love books that deal with the complex issues of human interactions with the world around us and how science, technology, and just knowledge are wonderful things, but in certain hands, it can prove to be detrimental.
This is one of those reads that I feel every reader will walk away with a different message because the author explores so many different themes and yet somehow it all works together to deliver an unforgettable story.
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book was such a refreshing take on a sci-fi dystopian novel that delved into the lives of the characters in an intimate way. My only criticism is that I wish it focused more on the women characters, especially Athena. Vara did an amazing job of rooting her story in history from 70's America to the Naxalbari Uprising in India. The future that Vara imagined felt so real and like it could truly happen. The idea of an algorithm deciding your social standing in society and determining what jobs you can have, who will talk to you is horrifying. The Immortal King Rao felt like an Epic from the start. I loved how intentional the storyline is crafted, to the Greek mythology references, and it all leads to a rewarding ending. This is one of those books you can't stop thinking about!
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
This new release is an interesting combination of tech speculative fiction and immigrant origin story set in 1950's rural India. Vara has been a journalist focusing on business and technology and it shows. Her command of the details of this speculative future world in which your Social profile determines everything and society is run by a mega corporation rather than a government, feels real.
We inhabit Athena's mind, whose father King Rao was the architect of this new world order, who has also injected his whole memory bank into her brain. She leaves home to live with the nearby off-grid rebel community whose leader knocked King Rao down from power 20 years ago. So it's complicated! Athena might be the key to a new better future, but who really knows...
I enjoyed the book overall, even if I wasn't fully immersed in the flow of Vara's writing -- some plot points were pretty general but then so much of the Seattle-area environment was almost too specific. An interesting author to watch, though!
We inhabit Athena's mind, whose father King Rao was the architect of this new world order, who has also injected his whole memory bank into her brain. She leaves home to live with the nearby off-grid rebel community whose leader knocked King Rao down from power 20 years ago. So it's complicated! Athena might be the key to a new better future, but who really knows...
I enjoyed the book overall, even if I wasn't fully immersed in the flow of Vara's writing -- some plot points were pretty general but then so much of the Seattle-area environment was almost too specific. An interesting author to watch, though!
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A dense intergenerational tech dystopia that is both lyrical and harrowing. Although not fast-paced, it's a compelling read that was difficult to put down. A timely and challenging novel for this, our post-pandemic hellscape.