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lainibop's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
annabelbright's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
simonrtaylor's review
2.0
Good grief. If boredom was rocket fuel, I'd be writing this review from the moon. Child builds a fascinating near-fufure world powered by AI. The author's background makes her insights particularly illuminating. Sadly, it's used to absolutely no potential. This is as gripping as a mountain of banana skins. "Alexa, write me a story which feels like a YA but without the plot".
bushph's review
4.0
*** Find this review and others on my blog! ***
Thank You to Little Brown Bookgroup and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. As always, all opinions are honest and my own.
This was such an intriguing book; both a blend of science fiction futuristic technology with a mystery. We follow Freya, who’s foster sister Ruby vanished many years ago and was never found. She’s currently living with her ex-boyfriend whilst working at store pretty like Ikea. She ends-up getting to try a new virtual assistant that forms a character and [personality based off information taken from the database for that person and can also supply you with knowledge and tailor adverts based off what you like based on your stored information. Creepy yet slightly cool!
Unfortunately, Freya’s virtual assistant starts taking on the personality of her missing sister and Freya starts to think that maybe there’s more to the assistant’s personality than just taking old, stored information from the cloud and that it could possibly be taking new information from Ruby’s current life as she could still be alive just unwilling to be found.
I loved the whole concept of the science fiction part of this book; it was very well done, and I can actually see our present-day world heading in that direct especially since we already receive tailored online adverts! The world building of this world really was brilliant, and I actually want to see more stories that are set in this world! I liked the idea of the whole virtual reality gaming and the suit that allows you to feel the world you’re in and I loved that there was the ‘technology free’ part where you could go and it was like stepping back in time.
The mystery element of this novel was well interwoven with the science fiction element of the novel. I would have liked to maybe see a bit more, but I think that’s only because Crime and Thriller novels are my favourite! There were twists through the book which kept you guessing and! I also enjoyed the outcome of the mystery and I didn’t see it coming.
I really enjoyed this and like I said, I’d love to see more stories that are set in this world and also more stories in this mystery/science fiction genre! I did feel like there was a little something missing which is why it’s jus 4-Stars, but I can’t quite put my finger on what it was that was missing.
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Thank You to Little Brown Bookgroup and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. As always, all opinions are honest and my own.
This was such an intriguing book; both a blend of science fiction futuristic technology with a mystery. We follow Freya, who’s foster sister Ruby vanished many years ago and was never found. She’s currently living with her ex-boyfriend whilst working at store pretty like Ikea. She ends-up getting to try a new virtual assistant that forms a character and [personality based off information taken from the database for that person and can also supply you with knowledge and tailor adverts based off what you like based on your stored information. Creepy yet slightly cool!
Unfortunately, Freya’s virtual assistant starts taking on the personality of her missing sister and Freya starts to think that maybe there’s more to the assistant’s personality than just taking old, stored information from the cloud and that it could possibly be taking new information from Ruby’s current life as she could still be alive just unwilling to be found.
I loved the whole concept of the science fiction part of this book; it was very well done, and I can actually see our present-day world heading in that direct especially since we already receive tailored online adverts! The world building of this world really was brilliant, and I actually want to see more stories that are set in this world! I liked the idea of the whole virtual reality gaming and the suit that allows you to feel the world you’re in and I loved that there was the ‘technology free’ part where you could go and it was like stepping back in time.
The mystery element of this novel was well interwoven with the science fiction element of the novel. I would have liked to maybe see a bit more, but I think that’s only because Crime and Thriller novels are my favourite! There were twists through the book which kept you guessing and! I also enjoyed the outcome of the mystery and I didn’t see it coming.
I really enjoyed this and like I said, I’d love to see more stories that are set in this world and also more stories in this mystery/science fiction genre! I did feel like there was a little something missing which is why it’s jus 4-Stars, but I can’t quite put my finger on what it was that was missing.
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aburnss's review
3.0
This book didn't stick with me much after I read it. The premise and story were interesting, I think especially pertinent in the day of big tech that we currently live in. It is fascinating to see a world where tech has so much power, but also sobering to realize that in many ways this is a reality we already live in. (Big tech's ability to influence elections, censor news, persuade opinions, recommend rabbit holes.. etc.)
I did really like it but something in the writing style didn't keep me hooked.
I did really like it but something in the writing style didn't keep me hooked.
kayto_couchpotato's review
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
loudgls89's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I loved the idea of this book and it started off very intriguing, but mid-way through it got a bit weird and hard to follow and the ending was unexpected.
The premise was great but it just didn’t turn out as well as I had expected from the blurb.
The premise was great but it just didn’t turn out as well as I had expected from the blurb.
andrewspink's review
5.0
Excellent. A page-turner that makes you think, address contemporary issues and shows great imagination.
lewis999's review
- Strong character development? Yes
3.75
Loved all the future tech aspects but there were quite a few predictable twists. Also, some aspects/storylines were not explored as throughly as they could have been - e.g. Chris, Otto..
zoereadsx's review
1.0
This book wasn't for me, unfortunately.
I really wanted to like this book and I was really interested because the concept sounded so cool!
But I found that the 'voice' in which the story was told was really confusing, maybe the first-person would have been better for me.
After a while I couldn't focus anymore on the story when I was reading it, I don't really know why, I can't place it. Maybe I should try reading this again another time.
I do think that it will be a good book to read if you like the writing style, and this sort of book.
I really wanted to like this book and I was really interested because the concept sounded so cool!
But I found that the 'voice' in which the story was told was really confusing, maybe the first-person would have been better for me.
After a while I couldn't focus anymore on the story when I was reading it, I don't really know why, I can't place it. Maybe I should try reading this again another time.
I do think that it will be a good book to read if you like the writing style, and this sort of book.