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audiobookingwithleah's review
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
2⭐
Try this if you like…
- thrills and chills in deep space
- futuristic planetary hotels
- super fast-paced single POV
The narration is what killed this for me. She has a great voice and her dialogue was really quite good…but everything else felt like AI was reading a book to me. That, coupled with the super fast pacing made this a less than mediocre listen. Normally, I like my books fast-paced but this one took it to a whole new level because I had a lot of WTF is going on moments.
- The narration by Carolina Hoyos was not very good😞
- ratings score ⬗ 3.93/10
lynguy1's review against another edition
4.0
If you enjoy books with a main character who finds herself in the middle of a crisis and hoping to survive, then look no further than Joe Pitkin’s Exit Black. Imperium is an orbiting laboratory that still has working labs, but is now the first low orbit space hotel for the wealthy. Dr. Chloe Bonilla, the resident biophysicist wonders whether babysitting space glampers is worth the distraction from her research.
A private rocket delivers several billionaires plus a sponsored social media influencer. However, among the staff are members of a global group called the Reckoners intent on changing the economic inequality on Earth. This group takes control of the space hotel and demand $8 billion in ransom from their wealthy hostages. Additionally, they forced the other support staff in the room with the wealthy hostages. Their problem? Chloe woke up and left her room before they got to her. It’s up to her to save the hostages.
While most of the book is from Chloe’s point of view, readers get insight into a few of the other characters as well. Chloe has insomnia, can be stubborn when challenged, has a sense of detachment, and enjoys brainteasers. The other characters have varying degrees of depth, but felt rounded with complex traits. This includes a couple of the antagonists.
What a beginning prologue! It pulled me into the story immediately. While the story is descriptive, it doesn’t slow the pacing, which is heart-poundingly fast. After the opening gala for the space tourists, the velocity of the tale increases significantly. I felt like I was fighting for survival along with Chloe.
The story instills in the reader a feeling of deep anxiety for Chloe and the safety of the hostages as Chloe tries to save them and herself. It was compelling to see how different people act and react under stress. The book has a wonderfully executed action thriller plot and good character development along with a low earth orbit setting that adds another dimension. The worldbuilding was excellent. I was transported into the terrifying situation Chloe and the hostages found themselves in. The epilogue contains some surprises that completely caught me off-guard. Themes include wealth inequality, social inequality, oppression, injustices, loneliness, relationships, lies, secrets, anger, moral and physical struggles, and much more.
Overall, this is an action-packed science fiction thriller that is also thought-provoking with complex characters and plenty of angst and suspense. It kept me guessing what would happen next throughout the novel. The author is a superb space action-thriller storyteller who kept me on the edge of my seat rapidly turning the pages.
Blackstone Publishing and Joe Pitkin provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for February 20, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
----------------------------------------
My 4.25 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
A private rocket delivers several billionaires plus a sponsored social media influencer. However, among the staff are members of a global group called the Reckoners intent on changing the economic inequality on Earth. This group takes control of the space hotel and demand $8 billion in ransom from their wealthy hostages. Additionally, they forced the other support staff in the room with the wealthy hostages. Their problem? Chloe woke up and left her room before they got to her. It’s up to her to save the hostages.
While most of the book is from Chloe’s point of view, readers get insight into a few of the other characters as well. Chloe has insomnia, can be stubborn when challenged, has a sense of detachment, and enjoys brainteasers. The other characters have varying degrees of depth, but felt rounded with complex traits. This includes a couple of the antagonists.
What a beginning prologue! It pulled me into the story immediately. While the story is descriptive, it doesn’t slow the pacing, which is heart-poundingly fast. After the opening gala for the space tourists, the velocity of the tale increases significantly. I felt like I was fighting for survival along with Chloe.
The story instills in the reader a feeling of deep anxiety for Chloe and the safety of the hostages as Chloe tries to save them and herself. It was compelling to see how different people act and react under stress. The book has a wonderfully executed action thriller plot and good character development along with a low earth orbit setting that adds another dimension. The worldbuilding was excellent. I was transported into the terrifying situation Chloe and the hostages found themselves in. The epilogue contains some surprises that completely caught me off-guard. Themes include wealth inequality, social inequality, oppression, injustices, loneliness, relationships, lies, secrets, anger, moral and physical struggles, and much more.
Overall, this is an action-packed science fiction thriller that is also thought-provoking with complex characters and plenty of angst and suspense. It kept me guessing what would happen next throughout the novel. The author is a superb space action-thriller storyteller who kept me on the edge of my seat rapidly turning the pages.
Blackstone Publishing and Joe Pitkin provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for February 20, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
----------------------------------------
My 4.25 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
sungod's review
adventurous
tense
fast-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? No
3.5
katja_weinert's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
In "Exit Black", Joe Pitkin aims to captivate fans of action-packed sci-fi thrillers in a story marketed as —Die Hard meets The Martian with a sprinkle of Knives Out.
The setting is the Imperium, a space hotel with a past life as an orbiting lab. Dr Chloe Bonilla, a biophysicist, finds herself fighting against threats to her and a group of wealthy tourists caught by terrorists. These terrorists, who want to erase economic inequalities, demand an extortionate ransom, kickstarting a tense fight for survival.
"Exit Black" has a strong premise and has moments, delivering on its promise of action and suspense. However, the story sometimes loses its pace, and it didn't make me care enough about Chloe or the supporting characters, which - for a lover of character-driven narratives like me - dampened its overall impact. For me, emotional investment in characters is crucial for action scenes to truly hit hard and for the story's commentary on socioeconomic issues to resonate more deeply.
"Exit Black" offers an adventurous narrative filled with potential, showcasing creativity and ambitious themes. While I would have preferred a main character I clicked with, *Exit Black* demonstrates Pitkin's ability to imagine and explore the complex interplay of action, science fiction, and social critique, underscoring the challenge of balancing intricate themes within the broad scope of speculative storytelling. I liked it (3.5 out of 5), and think the wrap-up was executed well. I would definitely pick up another book by the author.
Blackstone Publishing and Joe Pitkin provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
The setting is the Imperium, a space hotel with a past life as an orbiting lab. Dr Chloe Bonilla, a biophysicist, finds herself fighting against threats to her and a group of wealthy tourists caught by terrorists. These terrorists, who want to erase economic inequalities, demand an extortionate ransom, kickstarting a tense fight for survival.
"Exit Black" has a strong premise and has moments, delivering on its promise of action and suspense. However, the story sometimes loses its pace, and it didn't make me care enough about Chloe or the supporting characters, which - for a lover of character-driven narratives like me - dampened its overall impact. For me, emotional investment in characters is crucial for action scenes to truly hit hard and for the story's commentary on socioeconomic issues to resonate more deeply.
"Exit Black" offers an adventurous narrative filled with potential, showcasing creativity and ambitious themes. While I would have preferred a main character I clicked with, *Exit Black* demonstrates Pitkin's ability to imagine and explore the complex interplay of action, science fiction, and social critique, underscoring the challenge of balancing intricate themes within the broad scope of speculative storytelling. I liked it (3.5 out of 5), and think the wrap-up was executed well. I would definitely pick up another book by the author.
Blackstone Publishing and Joe Pitkin provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
rilester's review
adventurous
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
cathepsut's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I had high hopes, based on <i>“Die Hard meets The Martian—with a dash of Knives Out“</i>. That would have been fast-paced fun with snark, action and a dash of oddball characters.
Sadly, this wasn‘t it. It lacked suspense. There was no narrative tension. It felt slow, didn‘t flow smoothly and lacked emotion. It was bland, almost like reading a lab report, not like a thriller in space involving criminals and a mass kidnapping.
The characters were without depth or emotions and felt like caricatures. I did not care for any of them.
Yes, about halfway into the book we finally got more direct action. Still, people dying in the off and getting shot without any graphic details—those events didn’t make for a thrilling experience.
A lot of the story felt like a list. She did this. She did that. She did the other. No emotions, no reflection, the events of the story had no discernible impact on the characters.
Mostly telling, not a lot of showing.
The character development consisted of rare, short and oddly disjointed looks into someone‘s past. Unrelated short snippets that left me confused rather than giving me character insights.
Do people really still use Skype? And mobiles work on space stations? Skyping home? Sounds strange.
The plot idea is nice enough, the execution just wasn’t very good.
Soundtrack:
Brian Eno - Ambient 1: Music for Airports
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher or author through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to give a positive review. Sorry, this wasn‘t for me.
I do not recommend this. I would not buy it for others.
chelseacrystal's review against another edition
1. The cast was too large and indistinguishable.
2. The plot and world building were in an intense battle of which there was no winner.
I had to tap out.
2. The plot and world building were in an intense battle of which there was no winner.
I had to tap out.
winlei's review against another edition
3.75
Pretty much Die Hard in space. I can’t be mad at that.
Also the first non-horror book I’ve been able to get into for months, cause it got me engaged - sci-fi & fantasy here I come!
3PVR
Also the first non-horror book I’ve been able to get into for months, cause it got me engaged - sci-fi & fantasy here I come!
3PVR
- Space Die Hard where the bad guys think they’re the good guys but they forgot secure the one hostage that’s gonna bring them down
- Class division
- Pew-pew-pew (the official noise guns make in space)
manonny's review against another edition
fast-paced
4.0
It was a fast-paced science fiction thriller.
From the beginning, with the description of the station and of the way the characters move, I had the impression of being in space. I really liked the format of the chapters going back a few minutes in time and describing the same events to us through the perspectives of the different characters. We experienced the action from every angle.
I was tensed throughout the reading, expecting something to go wrong for the main character as she hides, survives and fights back. It was a very entertaining story.
A must read for fan of Die Hard.
Thank you Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for providing the Arc.
From the beginning, with the description of the station and of the way the characters move, I had the impression of being in space. I really liked the format of the chapters going back a few minutes in time and describing the same events to us through the perspectives of the different characters. We experienced the action from every angle.
I was tensed throughout the reading, expecting something to go wrong for the main character as she hides, survives and fights back. It was a very entertaining story.
A must read for fan of Die Hard.
Thank you Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for providing the Arc.
thatweirdbookgirlie's review
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
An extremist group has taken over a space station turned hotel in hopes to take some riches from a group of people that can afford to spend a week in space (in this world, 85 million dollars.) They are being held for a large ransom in exchange for their freedom. Caught in the mix is a botanist, who has already been aboard as a researcher. This is a game of cat and mouse aboard a space station. Chloe is trying to stay away from the extremist group as she attempts to reach out for help. There are some scenes that are hard to grasp as someone who knows very little about space stations the biggest being the fight scene when Chloe is attempting to fix the ammonia leak. However overall this was an enjoyable story.
Thanks to Blackstone Publishing for distributing ARCs at NYCC 2023.
Thanks to Blackstone Publishing for distributing ARCs at NYCC 2023.