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A review by random_spider
Project 17 by Eliza Victoria
2.5
Tsk, Tsk, Tsk…how do I start with this one? 'Cause it's problematic.
I think this is my first Novella, since it's a little too short to be considered a novel. It has Filipino elements, but if you're looking into a Filipino inspired plot, this ain't it. I like its eerie, slumped, cyberpunk aesthetic, and the occasional unrestricted writing full of vulgarity earned some chuckles. The characters, though never deep, were at least emotive.
The story follows Lillian, a girl applying for a caretaker job to the Dolores brothers. It may sound tiny in scale, which it is at first, but it's not. I think is a shame since it could have done better if it stayed that way. At the third act, there was so much going on yet the stakes wasn't personally connected to the main character. Also, this is a fast paced book, yet I think it was too fast.
I believe Project 17 is a Sci-Fi and Crime? Maybe a Psychological Thriller plus Slasher? Or perhaps a Mystery or Dystopia? IDK how to definitively label a genre cause its all of them. "Wow! That sound amazing as it encompasses various readers' tastes." Um...NO, IT'S NOT! In my observation, what I've got here is a book with an Identity Crisis. It's better to focus on a few things and be excellent on them.
In the end of the day, it's some pulpy, info-dumping mediocre book that does not stand out from its genre peers. After months of break from Filipino literature, I am kindly disappointed. I think the narrative would work better in a different medium (like a short movie or an episodic show.) I'll rate this 5/10.
I think this is my first Novella, since it's a little too short to be considered a novel. It has Filipino elements, but if you're looking into a Filipino inspired plot, this ain't it. I like its eerie, slumped, cyberpunk aesthetic, and the occasional unrestricted writing full of vulgarity earned some chuckles. The characters, though never deep, were at least emotive.
The story follows Lillian, a girl applying for a caretaker job to the Dolores brothers. It may sound tiny in scale, which it is at first, but it's not. I think is a shame since it could have done better if it stayed that way. At the third act, there was so much going on yet the stakes wasn't personally connected to the main character. Also, this is a fast paced book, yet I think it was too fast.
I believe Project 17 is a Sci-Fi and Crime? Maybe a Psychological Thriller plus Slasher? Or perhaps a Mystery or Dystopia? IDK how to definitively label a genre cause its all of them. "Wow! That sound amazing as it encompasses various readers' tastes." Um...NO, IT'S NOT! In my observation, what I've got here is a book with an Identity Crisis. It's better to focus on a few things and be excellent on them.
In the end of the day, it's some pulpy, info-dumping mediocre book that does not stand out from its genre peers. After months of break from Filipino literature, I am kindly disappointed. I think the narrative would work better in a different medium (like a short movie or an episodic show.) I'll rate this 5/10.