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kayu99's review against another edition
5.0
Fascinating concept. The last 100 pages or so are a wild ride and putting the book down was not an option.
novelheartbeat's review against another edition
5.0
"Every hero I know is soaked in blood."
WOW, Beth Revis sure is a pro at science fiction! I was utterly blown away by the world Beth created. As far as world building goes, I think this book is one of the best I've read! Beth had me convinced that New Venice was a real place, it was SO vivid and realistic! This movie absolutely NEEDS to be a movie asap. I was so freaking impressed with everything - the cuffLINKs, the kinetic walkway (think horizontal escalator!), the Groveyard (a graveyard made of trees where ashes are buried instead of graves and bodies!), the robots, OMG! It was amazing, guys! There aren't enough words to explain how epic the world was. I want it to be a real place so I can visit it!
Oh, and did I mention there's a year?! I have this really strange hangup on years. If it's a future world and there's no year, it drives me CRAZY. But in this book, it's 2341! Holy crap, right? The world was so complex, and Beth explained everything with small snippets, so it was never confusing. I had a complete grasp on the world, I was able to picture it perfectly. Like I said, it was like it was a real place! There's also a little history lesson in the back, explaining FRX (FRX! Godspeed! FANGIRLING!), the Secessionary States, and the Secessionary War. It's incredible how much thought Beth put into New Venice and her story!
Also, I was pleasantly surprised at the random gory scenes! I didn't expect that from a Sci-fi novel. (Well, I guess I should have - I've seen Beth's panels and I know she loves blowing things up and killing her characters!) It was delightful :D *rubs hands together*
Oh, and secrets! Twists! DANGER! I loved the mystery aspect of this book too. Who is this Jack person? Why can't Ella remember him? Who altered her memories?! And there were plenty of surprises that I didn't see coming!
Spoiler
Ella altered her own memories?! To protect Jack?! Omg! And the idea of the Cy-clones was totally awesome!There's only one complaint I have about this book. You'll notice in my Assessment section that my feels were fairly low. I didn't connect to the characters quite the way I'd hoped, and I didn't have much feeling while I was reading. (There was plenty of excitement over the world at least!) I wasn't really on board with the romance, but thankfully it wasn't front and center. The world took the spotlight in this book!
If you love Sci-fi, I definitely recommend you pick this one up!
This review was originally posted on Novel Heartbeat. To see a breakdown of my assessment, please visit the full review here.
amarylissw's review against another edition
3.0
I tried reading Across the Universe and didn't care for it. At all. However, I'll usually give an author at least a second chance just in case it was that particular book and not the author. Apparently, though, it's the author.
The world-building is good. That much I can say positively. But the characters fall flat and I wasn't really a fan of the plot either. We have the elements for a good story, but with little development, nothing really seem to go anywhere -- I mean, sure, things happen, but I never really found myself caring. And the romance especially did not work for me.
Probably the last time I'm going to try a Beth Revis book. Having seen the author herself in person, too, I can say she's not my type.
The world-building is good. That much I can say positively. But the characters fall flat and I wasn't really a fan of the plot either. We have the elements for a good story, but with little development, nothing really seem to go anywhere -- I mean, sure, things happen, but I never really found myself caring. And the romance especially did not work for me.
Probably the last time I'm going to try a Beth Revis book. Having seen the author herself in person, too, I can say she's not my type.
alexperc_92's review against another edition
5.0
Beth Revis's books were the first ones I read even before I started blogging. I had found "Across the Universe" in the Greek edition yet I loved the English one more. So, when Beth announced her new novel, of course I had a mini party.
After almost a year of waiting and many reviews of other bloggers, I was able to read "The Body Electric". And wasn't I surprised.
The story takes place far in the future in Malta, which has changed over the years, and after a war, into a center of technology and androids. Ella lives with her sick mother and works with her godmother in a mental spa in which you don't go for massage but to live your happiest memories, a system Ella's mother invented. When Jack appears bearing cryptic messages about Ella's past and her father's death, everything crumbles.
Now, this book feels complete. It's a standalone yet there is an escalating pace with many turning points, cliffhangers in the end of each chapter and shocking truths which can make you gape at the book wondering (SERIOUSLY WHAT THE F*K?). I adored every part of it and when a sci-fi novel doesn't only stay on the world-building but also takes care to analyze the characters, then I have the best of its kind.
I liked Ella. Despite everything she's been through, she is smart and tries very hard to come in terms with the truths she learns through the book. She reminded me of Neo who is thrust in a world he didn't know it existed and fought in it.
On the other hand there is Jack; he is strong and carries quite a burden yet his feelings for Ella left me and my poor heart pounding towards the end. Especially the scene with his memories was every girl's dream come true.
There aren't many characters in the book yet they fill every part of it, balancing the mystery, the sci-fi scenery and the feelings. The ending was something that can make any reader wonder what the future will do to them, but knowing what Ella and Jack passed, I am positive for them.
There were also some cameo appearances of "Godspeed" and "REF" from the first trilogy and I was surprised to see that they also made a movie!
This book is worth to have in your shelves and can make any demanding sci-fi reader love it!
After almost a year of waiting and many reviews of other bloggers, I was able to read "The Body Electric". And wasn't I surprised.
The story takes place far in the future in Malta, which has changed over the years, and after a war, into a center of technology and androids. Ella lives with her sick mother and works with her godmother in a mental spa in which you don't go for massage but to live your happiest memories, a system Ella's mother invented. When Jack appears bearing cryptic messages about Ella's past and her father's death, everything crumbles.
Now, this book feels complete. It's a standalone yet there is an escalating pace with many turning points, cliffhangers in the end of each chapter and shocking truths which can make you gape at the book wondering (SERIOUSLY WHAT THE F*K?). I adored every part of it and when a sci-fi novel doesn't only stay on the world-building but also takes care to analyze the characters, then I have the best of its kind.
I liked Ella. Despite everything she's been through, she is smart and tries very hard to come in terms with the truths she learns through the book. She reminded me of Neo who is thrust in a world he didn't know it existed and fought in it.
On the other hand there is Jack; he is strong and carries quite a burden yet his feelings for Ella left me and my poor heart pounding towards the end. Especially the scene with his memories was every girl's dream come true.
There aren't many characters in the book yet they fill every part of it, balancing the mystery, the sci-fi scenery and the feelings. The ending was something that can make any reader wonder what the future will do to them, but knowing what Ella and Jack passed, I am positive for them.
There were also some cameo appearances of "Godspeed" and "REF" from the first trilogy and I was surprised to see that they also made a movie!
This book is worth to have in your shelves and can make any demanding sci-fi reader love it!
lestaslettering's review against another edition
4.0
Been searching for this book for years and worried it won't live up to my expectations when I get around to reading it, but this was....worth it.
thegabecole's review
4.0
This was so fun! Review to come. :)
REVIEW:
I’ve mentioned before and will probably mention again, Beth Revis is one of my all-time favorite YA Sci-Fi authors. I very much credit Across the Universe for showing me I actually really like YA Sci-Fi and dual POV. Anything she writes is basically an instal-buy for me, but you can imagine how excited I was when I won a signed, limited print edition (aka: VERY excited).
While I did find the opening to be a little on the slow side, the rest of the plot more than made up for it. I generally expect action, explosions, swoons and lots of twists from Revis, and in those respects, The Body Electric did not disappoint. I was expecting some sort of Inception-type elements, which were definitely present, but the twists in the book went so beyond what I was expecting and I really enjoyed the direction the book went in.
The Body Electric is very Sci-Fi with a fascinating futuristic world set in Malta (which was totally fun to read about) with ties to the Across the Universe series that were really fun to come across. Between cyborgs, androids, nanobots and more, I was totally immersed in The Body Electric’s otherworldy-yet-not-unrealistic setting. As a bonus, the protagonist is a PoC and there are several PoC secondary characters, which was really nice to see.
I did notice that there were quite a few filter phrases throughout the work (which, to be honest, is more of a peeve I only notice because I’m a writer), and I did feel that the villain near the end bordered on a little too unequivocally evil—I tend to prefer my villains to be more nuanced and, at best, even somewhat sympathetic. But those flaws in no way ruined my enjoyment of the novel. I’m giving The Body Electric 4/5 stars, and I recommend it to those who like YA Sci-Fi rife with plot twists.
I can’t wait to see what Revis comes up with next!
REVIEW:
I’ve mentioned before and will probably mention again, Beth Revis is one of my all-time favorite YA Sci-Fi authors. I very much credit Across the Universe for showing me I actually really like YA Sci-Fi and dual POV. Anything she writes is basically an instal-buy for me, but you can imagine how excited I was when I won a signed, limited print edition (aka: VERY excited).
While I did find the opening to be a little on the slow side, the rest of the plot more than made up for it. I generally expect action, explosions, swoons and lots of twists from Revis, and in those respects, The Body Electric did not disappoint. I was expecting some sort of Inception-type elements, which were definitely present, but the twists in the book went so beyond what I was expecting and I really enjoyed the direction the book went in.
The Body Electric is very Sci-Fi with a fascinating futuristic world set in Malta (which was totally fun to read about) with ties to the Across the Universe series that were really fun to come across. Between cyborgs, androids, nanobots and more, I was totally immersed in The Body Electric’s otherworldy-yet-not-unrealistic setting. As a bonus, the protagonist is a PoC and there are several PoC secondary characters, which was really nice to see.
I did notice that there were quite a few filter phrases throughout the work (which, to be honest, is more of a peeve I only notice because I’m a writer), and I did feel that the villain near the end bordered on a little too unequivocally evil—I tend to prefer my villains to be more nuanced and, at best, even somewhat sympathetic. But those flaws in no way ruined my enjoyment of the novel. I’m giving The Body Electric 4/5 stars, and I recommend it to those who like YA Sci-Fi rife with plot twists.
I can’t wait to see what Revis comes up with next!
mlboyd20's review against another edition
5.0
4.5/5 Stars
I would like to thank the book tour coordinator, Xpresso Book Tours, and the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Doing so does not sway my review in any way.
I can honestly say that I wasn't sure what to expect when I started to read this. I had read the synopsis so long ago and it seems a bit unlike what I'd read previously from the author, Beth Revis, but I had been so entranced with Across the Universe that I just had a feeling that I wasn't going to be disappointed. Guess what? I wasn't! This is one of the most original stories that I've read in a long time that centers on artificial intelligence, a still young government infrastructure and a war that isn't really over.
Ms. Revis knows how to create strong characters, even those that are intricately weak, and with doing so, I found myself captivated with Ella Shepherd and the dynamics of her family and the loss she was dealing with and the loss she knew she would be soon facing. The construction of the story is well thought out and progresses without missing a beat, even when shifting from one scenario to another and back again. The world created is done with such a descriptive way that is not boring, nor cumbersome but quickly is imagined by the reader. Jack...someone who will not give up even when he finds out that things are not the same as they were.
Ella finds herself in the middle of something that she's not so sure for awhile which side is the right side. She discovers things that would have the average person on their knees, begging for mercy. She finds her way through all the chaos and turmoil with the guidance of a forgotten friend. She sees things that can never be unseen and in the end, it just makes her stronger and more determined than ever.
This is a great read for anyone who likes a good science fiction story, without the need to seriously stretch your imagination with what's being described. This is a story where the science fiction parts have been touched on in some popular movies and literary pieces but are strengthened with the knowledge that some of it is not so far fetched. A Stephen Hawking quote comes to mind as I think about The Body Electric, "Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change." Ella finds herself adapting to a lot of changes throughout this novel.
I would like to thank the book tour coordinator, Xpresso Book Tours, and the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Doing so does not sway my review in any way.
I can honestly say that I wasn't sure what to expect when I started to read this. I had read the synopsis so long ago and it seems a bit unlike what I'd read previously from the author, Beth Revis, but I had been so entranced with Across the Universe that I just had a feeling that I wasn't going to be disappointed. Guess what? I wasn't! This is one of the most original stories that I've read in a long time that centers on artificial intelligence, a still young government infrastructure and a war that isn't really over.
Ms. Revis knows how to create strong characters, even those that are intricately weak, and with doing so, I found myself captivated with Ella Shepherd and the dynamics of her family and the loss she was dealing with and the loss she knew she would be soon facing. The construction of the story is well thought out and progresses without missing a beat, even when shifting from one scenario to another and back again. The world created is done with such a descriptive way that is not boring, nor cumbersome but quickly is imagined by the reader. Jack...someone who will not give up even when he finds out that things are not the same as they were.
Ella finds herself in the middle of something that she's not so sure for awhile which side is the right side. She discovers things that would have the average person on their knees, begging for mercy. She finds her way through all the chaos and turmoil with the guidance of a forgotten friend. She sees things that can never be unseen and in the end, it just makes her stronger and more determined than ever.
This is a great read for anyone who likes a good science fiction story, without the need to seriously stretch your imagination with what's being described. This is a story where the science fiction parts have been touched on in some popular movies and literary pieces but are strengthened with the knowledge that some of it is not so far fetched. A Stephen Hawking quote comes to mind as I think about The Body Electric, "Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change." Ella finds herself adapting to a lot of changes throughout this novel.
alibrareads's review against another edition
3.0
This had some pretty intense imagery in some scenes that were borderline horror. It didn't drag on or anything, and I know I enjoyed it... Yet I feel like I don't remember a lot of the book already. I can't really recall how things got to how they did in the last 1/3 of the book.
This did make me contemplate what it would be like to be a carbon copy of myself, yet different. Ella was a likeable main character!
The epilogue wasn't super satisfying and I feel like her relationship with Jack was glossed over. And you don't hear from her best friend or the other Zunzuna members. The very end scenes were exciting to read though!
This did make me contemplate what it would be like to be a carbon copy of myself, yet different. Ella was a likeable main character!
The epilogue wasn't super satisfying and I feel like her relationship with Jack was glossed over. And you don't hear from her best friend or the other Zunzuna members. The very end scenes were exciting to read though!
alienor's review against another edition
3.0
✮✮✮ 3,5 I love SF stars ✮✮✮
Ready to go to New Venice? Yeah? Let's go!
✸ The plot : The story takes place on Earth, in New Venice, on a time readers who read Across the Universe know : they talk about Godspeed, dammit! Of course I totally jumped - I was all, "Oh. My. Solar glass?". Understand : We deal with androids and FRX here.
This book belongs to the SF genre. You've been warned.
Here's the thing : I'm willing to explain the plot to you. I really am. But you know what? Less you know about it and more you'll enjoy it. Want to know a secret?
*whisper* I didn't read the blurb of The body electric before reading. Even now, I'd be incapable of summing up it → I totally trusted Beth Revis here. And despite the fact that the book doesn't end in my favorite shelf, I have no regrets.
Of course I guessed some parts and the story we are told isn't the most original and wonderful I read. But I was surprised sometimes, and always, always interested. That's all that matters, isn't it?
✸ First of all, because of the writing. Remember how I was impressed by the writing of Beth Revis in Across the universe? Thanks thanks thanks, she did it again. What's exceptional, you're asking? No metaphors and no so-called poetry, no impressive great show of style, no. But something only a few authors succeed in : to give us a SF story which is never boring. Maybe that can be explained by the fact that she uses tricks I'm a sucker for : fluid sentences and short chapters. The body electric is a fast-paced, action packed book. And you know what? I'll check all the books she'll write. Yep.
Nevertheless, this book doesn't reach the level of awesomeness of Across the universe, especially in two domains :
- The humor : This book isn't funny. Not at all. Nope. I kind of missed the inner monologues of Elder and Amy.
- The characters didn't move me at all. Be careful, I'm not saying they are bad, no, but they didn't strike me as being unforgettable.
✸ Ella doesn't seem like the average female lead I would appreciate : she isn't funny, doesn't know how to fight - Plus she's filled with a hardness I struggled to wash off, a sort of shell of indifference which never really disappears, even when she's worried about her mother. I must admit that I had a hard time connecting with her. Is it the consequence of a lack of characterization? Sure. Partly. But this also can be explained by her personality : she's not suited for being this relatable and kind heroine. No.
Yet I enjoyed following her. Why?
Because her reactions are healthy and trust me, that's pretty rare in young adult.
- She doesn't want to be touched by a guy she doesn't know, even if he's attractive. Actually she throws a fist at him when he tries. Good girl.
- She doesn't trust people she doesn't know. Hey! Isn't the exact warning all parents in the world give their children? Right? Too bad most of these heroines don't follow it.
❝You don't trust me." He says the words hollowly.
"Of course not," I say immediately. "I don't know you.❞
- She's able to see beyond the idealistic crap which are often thrown at young adults heroes. Let's discover a little example. During a reverie, a character says that :
❝Nothing more than family. You gonna fight for something, you fight for something that you're willing to die for. I wasn't willing to die for my government, Secessionary or UC. But I was willing to die for the people I love.❞
Okay, so call me cold-hearted, but I rolled my eyes at that.
And just after Ella thinks that :
❝I choke down a snort of derision. Idealistic mantras like that are what made the Secessionary War so bad.❞
- Even if she's not really confident, she doesn't hesitate to call others on their crap, given us the opportunity to smile so big it hurts - yes, I love heroines who can have repartee. Love it.
❝You don't know. You tell me Akilah's messed up, but you don't know how and don't know how to fix her. You tell me I am messed up, but you don't know how. You tell me that you had nothing to do with, but you. Don't. Know. Who. And you tell me I should trust you, but you know what? I don't know how.❞
✸ I struggled more with Jack. Don't get me wrong, his personality should appeal me : he's broody, loyal, courageous, sometimes funny. Yeaaah, he's all that. I think. He seems to be. No, really. I guess. Right?
I don't know him. I must admit that the fact he's a bit hollow drove me mad because hey! that guy seems really interesting, let's meet him, dammit! Sometimes we have insights of his very true personality and I was thinking, yes yes yes, go on, go on - unfortunately he always goes back in his corner full of shadows. How disappointing!
To sum up : I like it while I was willing to love it. What a shame.
❝His head dips close. "Don't forget, Ella," he says in a low voice, only for my ears.❞
Ready to go to New Venice? Yeah? Let's go!
✸ The plot : The story takes place on Earth, in New Venice, on a time readers who read Across the Universe know : they talk about Godspeed, dammit! Of course I totally jumped - I was all, "Oh. My. Solar glass?". Understand : We deal with androids and FRX here.
This book belongs to the SF genre. You've been warned.
Here's the thing : I'm willing to explain the plot to you. I really am. But you know what? Less you know about it and more you'll enjoy it. Want to know a secret?
*whisper* I didn't read the blurb of The body electric before reading. Even now, I'd be incapable of summing up it → I totally trusted Beth Revis here. And despite the fact that the book doesn't end in my favorite shelf, I have no regrets.
Of course I guessed some parts and the story we are told isn't the most original and wonderful I read. But I was surprised sometimes, and always, always interested. That's all that matters, isn't it?
✸ First of all, because of the writing. Remember how I was impressed by the writing of Beth Revis in Across the universe? Thanks thanks thanks, she did it again. What's exceptional, you're asking? No metaphors and no so-called poetry, no impressive great show of style, no. But something only a few authors succeed in : to give us a SF story which is never boring. Maybe that can be explained by the fact that she uses tricks I'm a sucker for : fluid sentences and short chapters. The body electric is a fast-paced, action packed book. And you know what? I'll check all the books she'll write. Yep.
Nevertheless, this book doesn't reach the level of awesomeness of Across the universe, especially in two domains :
- The humor : This book isn't funny. Not at all. Nope. I kind of missed the inner monologues of Elder and Amy.
- The characters didn't move me at all. Be careful, I'm not saying they are bad, no, but they didn't strike me as being unforgettable.
✸ Ella doesn't seem like the average female lead I would appreciate : she isn't funny, doesn't know how to fight - Plus she's filled with a hardness I struggled to wash off, a sort of shell of indifference which never really disappears, even when she's worried about her mother. I must admit that I had a hard time connecting with her. Is it the consequence of a lack of characterization? Sure. Partly. But this also can be explained by her personality : she's not suited for being this relatable and kind heroine. No.
Spoiler
and we are given the explanation of her lack of feelings. Sort of.Yet I enjoyed following her. Why?
Because her reactions are healthy and trust me, that's pretty rare in young adult.
- She doesn't want to be touched by a guy she doesn't know, even if he's attractive. Actually she throws a fist at him when he tries. Good girl.
- She doesn't trust people she doesn't know. Hey! Isn't the exact warning all parents in the world give their children? Right? Too bad most of these heroines don't follow it.
❝You don't trust me." He says the words hollowly.
"Of course not," I say immediately. "I don't know you.❞
- She's able to see beyond the idealistic crap which are often thrown at young adults heroes. Let's discover a little example. During a reverie, a character says that :
❝Nothing more than family. You gonna fight for something, you fight for something that you're willing to die for. I wasn't willing to die for my government, Secessionary or UC. But I was willing to die for the people I love.❞
Okay, so call me cold-hearted, but I rolled my eyes at that.
And just after Ella thinks that :
❝I choke down a snort of derision. Idealistic mantras like that are what made the Secessionary War so bad.❞
- Even if she's not really confident, she doesn't hesitate to call others on their crap, given us the opportunity to smile so big it hurts - yes, I love heroines who can have repartee. Love it.
❝You don't know. You tell me Akilah's messed up, but you don't know how and don't know how to fix her. You tell me I am messed up, but you don't know how. You tell me that you had nothing to do with
Spoiler
the android explosion that almost killed my mother✸ I struggled more with Jack. Don't get me wrong, his personality should appeal me : he's broody, loyal, courageous, sometimes funny. Yeaaah, he's all that. I think. He seems to be. No, really. I guess. Right?
I don't know him. I must admit that the fact he's a bit hollow drove me mad because hey! that guy seems really interesting, let's meet him, dammit! Sometimes we have insights of his very true personality and I was thinking, yes yes yes, go on, go on - unfortunately he always goes back in his corner full of shadows. How disappointing!
To sum up : I like it while I was willing to love it. What a shame.
❝His head dips close. "Don't forget, Ella," he says in a low voice, only for my ears.❞