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pause_theframe's review
5.0
This was such a brilliant book! I love a brilliant book filled with gore, deception and intrigue. I really get that this book combined all of them, with a great hint of longing and passion.
I loved the way the author created an entire world with problems far greater than our own, but close enough for us to be able to connect with them. We could easily see our world heading in the same direction and it is that small possibility of a link that makes the book so easy to connect with.
I found the main character exceptional. There was a great amount of depth and personality, throughout the story. He truly gave you a feel for the longing he had, his need to solve his past and the fear and pain of living in the time and poverty he was. All of this created a character who was very rounded, very easy to understand and connect with, which made me want him to have everything he was looking for.
I thought the pace was perfect. It really brought out the lasting pain and longing in each character, the waiting and hoping for answers and kept me guessing and wondering just where things were going next.
I look forward to reading the rest of the series!
**I received this book for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
I loved the way the author created an entire world with problems far greater than our own, but close enough for us to be able to connect with them. We could easily see our world heading in the same direction and it is that small possibility of a link that makes the book so easy to connect with.
I found the main character exceptional. There was a great amount of depth and personality, throughout the story. He truly gave you a feel for the longing he had, his need to solve his past and the fear and pain of living in the time and poverty he was. All of this created a character who was very rounded, very easy to understand and connect with, which made me want him to have everything he was looking for.
I thought the pace was perfect. It really brought out the lasting pain and longing in each character, the waiting and hoping for answers and kept me guessing and wondering just where things were going next.
I look forward to reading the rest of the series!
**I received this book for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
hectaizani's review
3.0
First in a series of three books about a dystopian future where the poor and orphaned are used for spare parts. Protagonist Daniel has had enough of that and is on a quest to get his bits and pieces back. Ends on a cliff hanger. Part two [b:The Face in a Jar|30658564|The Face in a Jar (The Defragmenting Daniel Trilogy #2)|Jason Werbeloff|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1466468175s/30658564.jpg|51204497] picks up right where this one leaves off (or so I've read on Amazon). Available on Kindle as an omnibus edition so you can read all three parts back to back if you're so inclined. I picked up the first one at some point and I'll probably get around to reading the rest just to find out if Daniel is successful in his quest.
bruxinho's review
4.0
Dystopian science fiction is something that has hit the big-time recently, so it's always nice to see a take that isn't the same old by-the-numbers story. Yes, the eponymous Daniel is just turning 18, he's part of the downtrodden classes, and of course he's going to have some sort of awakening that means he has to take action. That's generally how stories work.
What makes this book different, though, is how these things unfold. We're brought into a visceral, cruel world where Daniel finds care and help from those around him rather than being taken advantage of. He isn't even angry at the system that put him where he is - until they take away the very part of him that kept his anger at bay.
On the whole, it's an interesting concept, and an enjoyable, easy read. I'm glad it's part of a series, though, as it was over far too quickly (I finished it in a couple of hours), and left some open ends that I'm looking forward to getting resolved in the sequels.
What makes this book different, though, is how these things unfold. We're brought into a visceral, cruel world where Daniel finds care and help from those around him rather than being taken advantage of. He isn't even angry at the system that put him where he is - until they take away the very part of him that kept his anger at bay.
On the whole, it's an interesting concept, and an enjoyable, easy read. I'm glad it's part of a series, though, as it was over far too quickly (I finished it in a couple of hours), and left some open ends that I'm looking forward to getting resolved in the sequels.
qu073179's review
2.0
I think my dislike of this book, comes due to my own persnickety book needs. I need a book to first draw me in, be engaging, and go back to drawing me in when it has stopped being engaging. Simple and plain. This book drew me in, then LOST me. This was shortly after Daniel finds out his mother doesn't live at Porcuperry. Though I held out a little, there was nothing new to hold my attention. So, there I started to just quickly scan the rest of the book. I was hoping that something insatiable would perk me up again somewhere, but no, not for me. Reading the comments on Amazon, few agree with me. The book didn't cost a fortune, so who the heck cares. But the premise was so AWESOME, I thought I'd hit the motherload on thrills, but--- not so.
bookish_bunny98's review
3.0
Daniel is an organ scrubber, this job literally is just scrubbing organs with some green liquid, I can’t remember the name of it but everyone uses it to clean them. The organs he deals with are ones that are no longer needed or have problems. He works with a girl called Hooplah (strange name in my opinion, never heard anyone called that before) they play games with the organs and do weird stuff with them. They have competitions with each other on how many they can clean a day.
The main story kicks off on Daniels 18th birthday, on his birthday he gets to go to administration to pick up his file to tell him who his parents are. He isn’t sure who his parents are because he is an orphan like Hooplah, hence why they are such good friends and seem to have clicked quite well. The day of his birthday he only cleaned 48 organs when he likes to do things in a multiple of 7, so you can imagine he was thinking things were going to go downhill from there on.
Find more on this review on https://angelicimpressions.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-organ-scrubber-defragmenting-daniel.html
The main story kicks off on Daniels 18th birthday, on his birthday he gets to go to administration to pick up his file to tell him who his parents are. He isn’t sure who his parents are because he is an orphan like Hooplah, hence why they are such good friends and seem to have clicked quite well. The day of his birthday he only cleaned 48 organs when he likes to do things in a multiple of 7, so you can imagine he was thinking things were going to go downhill from there on.
Find more on this review on https://angelicimpressions.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-organ-scrubber-defragmenting-daniel.html
amia's review
5.0
WOW! What an incredible book. It is so many things but I will try to describe it without any spoilers. It is a dystopian novel where the standard wealthy vs exceedingly poor is in play. But, that is the ONLY standard about this awesome novel. It is also about one person's desire for justice. And let me just say, if anyone deserves justice this young does. The book is also, at least, 80% pure horror with a healthy dose of terror. My heart beat was faster than normal throughout and I still feel very tense. I read through the night. I absolutely had to get to the end before I could put the book down. And now I have purchased book 2 in the series. I can barely think about sleeping but I will try and read more when I wake. Will I have nightmares? If not, I will be very surprised. Such wicked twists. You will have to read this to see what I mean.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author and even though he didn't ask, this is my honest review.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author and even though he didn't ask, this is my honest review.
stephbookshine's review
4.0
*I received a free ebook of this novel via Instafreebie. My opinions are my own.*
I should not have liked this book, but I absolutely did.
This is hard and dark dystopian sci-fi. There is graphic violence, murder, torture, strong language and some sexual content. But the plot and characterisation are strong enough to carry all of the above in context and keep you completely hooked on Daniel and his mission.
Daniel himself is a complex character. He is our main protagonist, but has issues with rage and abandonment, and sometimes makes morally dubious decisions. In other words, he is a real person. This helps carry the reader along, as the technology integral to the plot is fantastical (although not impossible, or even improbable, for the future). This is a future dystopian where organs and limbs can be transplanted as easily as getting new dentures or glasses. A world where bright green Rejek (to prevent organ rejection during transplant) can be bought over the counter, along with antibiotics. Where wearing glasses provides you with a constant stream of information about the world around you, including incessant context-specific adverts for products and services. Where different realities can be perceived by adjusting the frequency on your glasses.
Jason Werbeloff has created two distinct social strata in the world of this novel and the distinctions are not subtle. Those in the Gutter are treated as disposable organ banks, and used for both regular and torture porn. Worse than slaves, they have no human rights at all. They are objects to be harvested for any drop of value then thoughtlessly discarded. In fact they are less than objects, because Bubbler robots can buy Gutter organs to ‘become human’. Daniel lives in the Gutter.
Those in the Bubble are privileged from birth. If a Bubbler gets an inconvenient cough then they get a fresh, clean Gutter-lung. If a Bubbler gets off on violence to children then *Trigger warning* they get a Gutter child, a choice of implements and a soundproof room, with or without anaesthetic (I did mention the graphic violence earlier). There are a lot of ethical issues here, obviously, and the society depicted in the Bubble filled me with sick rage as a reader.
These horrors are not depicted lightly, but dispassionately balanced between Daniel’s rage at his abuse in the Gutter, and wonder at the luxuries of Bubbler life, and Bubbler detective Kage Jackson’s general acceptance of the status quo (if distate at some of the gorier aspects).
Kage brings in a new viewpoint as our secondary protagonist, and despite his receipt of Gutter organs to facilitate his transition he is still a sympathetic character, which creates a central tension conflict when his aims are placed head-to-head with Daniel’s. Both are in pursuit of their own private goals, rather than a more heroic or noble crusade, at this point in the series anyway. Kage wants his identity to be taken seriously and to finally feel like he belongs in his body. Daniel wants his organs back. Because he feels that only the organs he was born with can make him whole again. Make him him again.
This is the root of the story, beneath the grime and Rejek and mindless consumerism: a search for the self. I will definitely be reading more as I need to know whether Daniel gets, if not his parts, at least some form of justice and/or peace. This is a disturbing read, that will haunt you long after, but I am still recommending it!
I should not have liked this book, but I absolutely did.
This is hard and dark dystopian sci-fi. There is graphic violence, murder, torture, strong language and some sexual content. But the plot and characterisation are strong enough to carry all of the above in context and keep you completely hooked on Daniel and his mission.
Daniel himself is a complex character. He is our main protagonist, but has issues with rage and abandonment, and sometimes makes morally dubious decisions. In other words, he is a real person. This helps carry the reader along, as the technology integral to the plot is fantastical (although not impossible, or even improbable, for the future). This is a future dystopian where organs and limbs can be transplanted as easily as getting new dentures or glasses. A world where bright green Rejek (to prevent organ rejection during transplant) can be bought over the counter, along with antibiotics. Where wearing glasses provides you with a constant stream of information about the world around you, including incessant context-specific adverts for products and services. Where different realities can be perceived by adjusting the frequency on your glasses.
Jason Werbeloff has created two distinct social strata in the world of this novel and the distinctions are not subtle. Those in the Gutter are treated as disposable organ banks, and used for both regular and torture porn. Worse than slaves, they have no human rights at all. They are objects to be harvested for any drop of value then thoughtlessly discarded. In fact they are less than objects, because Bubbler robots can buy Gutter organs to ‘become human’. Daniel lives in the Gutter.
Those in the Bubble are privileged from birth. If a Bubbler gets an inconvenient cough then they get a fresh, clean Gutter-lung. If a Bubbler gets off on violence to children then *Trigger warning* they get a Gutter child, a choice of implements and a soundproof room, with or without anaesthetic (I did mention the graphic violence earlier). There are a lot of ethical issues here, obviously, and the society depicted in the Bubble filled me with sick rage as a reader.
These horrors are not depicted lightly, but dispassionately balanced between Daniel’s rage at his abuse in the Gutter, and wonder at the luxuries of Bubbler life, and Bubbler detective Kage Jackson’s general acceptance of the status quo (if distate at some of the gorier aspects).
Kage brings in a new viewpoint as our secondary protagonist, and despite his receipt of Gutter organs to facilitate his transition he is still a sympathetic character, which creates a central tension conflict when his aims are placed head-to-head with Daniel’s. Both are in pursuit of their own private goals, rather than a more heroic or noble crusade, at this point in the series anyway. Kage wants his identity to be taken seriously and to finally feel like he belongs in his body. Daniel wants his organs back. Because he feels that only the organs he was born with can make him whole again. Make him him again.
This is the root of the story, beneath the grime and Rejek and mindless consumerism: a search for the self. I will definitely be reading more as I need to know whether Daniel gets, if not his parts, at least some form of justice and/or peace. This is a disturbing read, that will haunt you long after, but I am still recommending it!
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